Posted by Jane Okinedo on October 24, 2009 at 12:02am
Every so often, a story breaks that so unbelievably stupid that it makes one shudder with disbelief at the lack of judgment by Nigerian government officials. We should collectively ask whether the people we designate to manage our affairs, including the President of the Federal Republic have ever been tested for common sense. The answer would be obvious. The latest example of this disreputable policy would be almost laughable if it weren’t so tragically flawed as it involves a Nigerian diplomat who was assassinated in the line of duty in the Czech Republic.Picture this. The year is 2005. A Czech citizen allegedly loses over one million Euros in a 419 Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) investment scam said to have been masterminded by some Nigerian con men. Unable to recover his money, the Czech citizen storms the Nigerian embassy in Prague, Czech Republic where he opened fire, killing a Nigerian Diplomat inside his office in cold blood. The Federal Government through the Nigerian Embassy in Poland with concurrent accreditation to the Czech Republic retains a group of Nigerian lawyers to represent the Nigerian Government and the family of the deceased; in the substantive matter of MUDr. Jiri Pasovsky, Case No. 45 T 21/2004 at the Municipal Court in Prague, as well as before appellate jurisdictions in the murder trial.The case goes to trial and the suspect charged with the killing of Mr. Michael Lekare WAYI is sentenced to eight (8) years imprisonment. Outraged by the paltry sentence, the lawyers inform the FGN of their intention to appeal within the statutory 8-days deadline. The FGN says wait for instructions from Abuja; the lawyers also ask to file a civil suit against the culprit and the Czech government for damages to the deceased’s family. They were again advised to wait until the statutory three-year limitation has run out. To crown it all, the FGN has not honored its obligations towards the Counsel they retained and after four years of trying to navigate the bloated Nigerian bureaucracy, the Presidency informed the lawyers that the FGN was not aware that one of its Diplomats had been killed in the Czech Republic, let alone being familiar with the retention of the legal services in question.This is 2009 and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is Umaru Musa Yar’adua; the Foreign Minister is Ojo Maduekwe and the Justice Minister is Michael Aondoakaa. Together with officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Poland and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these cast of clowns who are actors in the unfolding tragic-comedy of errors. Nigerians are not in doubt that the people pretending to be managing the affairs of the nation are irresponsible. Our people know for a fact that Yar’adua's PDP government are doing far more than disservice to the people, far more selfish than the nation has ever known and far more unreliable and undependable to put in anything for the good of the nation; They do not care about anything; they just steal, steal and steal.The facts of the five-year long saga remain intriguing and reveal a government that has absconded its responsibilities towards its citizens as well as immobilism and lack of coordination amongst various government departments – from the Presidency to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to the Nigerian Embassy in Poland. The Federal Government is now facing a payment order lawsuit to the tune of 150,913.21 Euros being unpaid legal fees for professional legal services rendered by Law Allianz firm retained to represent the Federal Government of Nigeria and the family of the deceased; Mr. Michael Lekare WAYI in the substantive matter of MUDr. Jiri Pasovsky, Case No. 45 T 21/2004 at the Municipal Court in Prague, Spalena as well as before appellate jurisdictions in the murder that took place inside the Nigerian Embassy, Prague, Czech Republic.Documents obtained exclusively by Huhuonline.com indicate that on February 10, 2005, the Nigerian Ambassador to Poland, Nuhu N Bajoga Audu duly contracted the Law Allianz firm by signing a certificate of authority authorizing the attorneys to hold brief for the government and the deceased in the case. The task was executed as mandated and the lawyers have been engaged in a frustrating exercise to get payment for their services. In another petition addressed to President Yar’adua’s office, the lawyers explained that after four years of futile efforts to get the Nigerian government pay their bills, they were left with no other option than to file the payment order lawsuit before the statute of limitation runs out. The petition, signed by Edward Asu Esq, lead counsel, enjoined President Yar’adua to use is high office to seek an amicable solution to the matter.Said the petition: “We filed the first demand for payment through the Nigerian Embassy in July 2005 and received a response Ref. No. ENP/PER/44/Vol 1 (Exhibit G). We replied timely. After this reply, we heard nothing from the NE Poland. When the NE Poland ceased to communicate with us, we filled the same demand for payment a second time directly to HMFA, Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, the Nigerian Embassy, the Director, NIA and the HMJ, Chief Akinlolu Olukinmi and your honourable office, the Presidency. About a Month or later we received a single and only correspondence from your honourable office, Ref. No. SH/COS/09/A/154 dated 12th July 2005 and signed by Ado Ma’aji, for the Chief of Staff to the Presidency. (Exhibit H). We were basically called names as the author claimed that your esteemed office did not know about such a case and neither was your office familiar with the retention of our professional services. This response begs the question, how come the highest office in the land does not know about the assassination of one of its senior diplomats inside her territory? Assuming the office of the Presidency is not aware of this incident as the writer claims, then, it introduces an even more vexatious question, why were the Permanent Secretary of MFA and deputy director of NIA in attendance at the trial? Is it feasible that the MFA and NIA did not advise the office of the Presidency about these events? We think not. There seem to be more questions than there are answers. Our opinion is that our demand for payment was intercepted and returned the MFA to prevent embarrassment; but like every light lamp that cannot be hidden under a bowl but placed on a lamp stand, this correspondence shall return to hunt them…Under Czech rules, the statute of limitations for filling suit is three (3) years, thus, based upon counsel’s advice we were forced to file a payment order suit prior to this date. We advised NE Poland in writing prior to filing this payment order suit. We cannot and refuse to be at the mercy of the FGN for services that we already rendered and expenses paid out of our own pockets. It is noteworthy to state that at trial, the facts and evidence manifestly showed that the late WAYI may have been murdered because the FGN allegedly did not fulfillment (alleged) legal financial obligations – repayment of the investment - to the culprit, MUDr. Pasovsky. Do you see a connection there? In the words of the statesman Benjamin Franklin, "to try and fail is at least to learn. To fail to try is to suffer the loss of what might have been." Apparently, irrespective of whatever anyone might think, there seem to be a nexus and pattern of behaviour here. Having being forced to file suit we have nothing to loose as it stands but we continue to hope that the FGN resolves this matter amicably and out of court by settling our invoices. In this light, our position remains unchanged. And as the late Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) would say, "Stand up for what is right even if you are standing alone". Unfailingly, we shall continue in this regard.”“We reiterate that it is not our intention to humiliate or tarnish the image of Nigeria but as already explained herein, we have run out of all other options and had to institute legal proceedings due to the statute bar provisions, even though we tried our utmost best to refrain from brining legal action. Given the circumstances we rather choose to exhaust all avenues for consultations and amicable resolution of the matter which have proved unsuccessful till date because all our demands have not been dignified with an acknowledgement or response including our second demand for intervention to your esteemed office. “
Read more…
FOR the first time, Bollywood, rated the largest movie producer in the world will meet Nollywood, the second largest producer of movies in terms of titles at the Ion International Film Festival (IONIFF) billed for Port Harcourt in December. Already, Parminder Vir OBE has been appointed programme consultant for the session aimed at connecting the two movie industries.advertisementAn award-winning film and television producer of drama, documentary, current affairs and entertainment with over 20 years experience, Parminder has worked with BBC, ITV, Channel Four and Carlton Television. Her credits include Babymother, reggae musical, with acclaimed documentaries such as Algeria Women at War, The Sex Warriors and the Samurai. She is also the Managing Director of PVL Media Consultants, which specializes in accessing multi cultural markets and raising private equity finance for film and media businesses as well as a non-executive director of Goldcrest Films, advising on investment of an EIS Film fund.A former manager in charge of Ingenious World Cinema, an equity fund set up by Ingenious Media Investment, investing in feature films from the emerging markets, Parminder is pleasantly surprised at the positive reception Bollywood movies had enjoyed in Nigeria for over 50 years."Nigerians have been watching Bollywood movies, embracing the songs, fashion and stories of the film culture. I am always amazed at the ease with which Nigerians will recall the names of the Bollywood stars, the dialogue and even sing the songs, given that this is not their language or culture. Over the years, I have become a great admirer of the Nollywood film industry, which is very similar to the Bollywood film industry with their "can do" attitude. In the absence of government support, both have created an industry which contributes substantially to the wealth of the nation."As part of the programme for the IONIFF, leading Bollywood producers will be invited to share their experience of the industry, its cultural and economic value, and explore collaboration opportunities for Nollywood producers to work with the Indian film industry. There will also be a panel discussion on new models of financing media in terms of developing creative and financial partnerships and accessing new market.The synergy between both movie industries will also be buttressed by celebrating the stars of the world's largest film industries by inviting a major Bollywood celebrity to attend the festival as guest of honour.Meanwhile, in a bid to empower the emerging talent during the festival, the organisers of the event has announced the opening of entries for the workshop series which will be held alongside the international film fiesta in Port Harcourt.According to the Creative Director, Omcomm, Caterina Bortolussi, the workshop series registration officially commenced on October 1 and would run till October 30, to allow interested individuals submit entries for the workshop on Omcomm website. The 3-day workshop, which will be handled by international recognised instructors in the world of cinema is open to filmmakers, students and creative minds from all over Nigeria. It will focus on screen-writing, digital cinematography + lighting, sound composition, budgeting + networking + financing.Attendees will learn amongst others how to develop story from an idea and shape into screenplay, the basic techniques of digital cinematography and lighting, the role of art director, the function of music in film in creating an atmosphere; examining the step-by-step on how to create a budget, and how to develop a strategy to obtain finances for their films.In the spirit of promoting intellectual development and participation of young talents, the organisers waive the course fee, while interested participants are expected to pay a token of N2, 500 as registration fee for the workshop that is expected to parade Julie Dash, John Demps, Kennard Ramsey and Brenda Doby-Flewellyn as facilitators.Julie Dash is an accomplished African American and the first woman to have a full-length general theatrical release in the United States. Her work, Daughters, was listed in O Magazine among its fifty greatest Chick Flicks, while she was honoured earlier this year at the twenty-fifth Annual Newark, with her film Daughter of the Dust, rated as one of the most important cinematic achievements in Black Cinema in the 20th Century.Doby-Flewellyn is principal and cofounder of Film Bankers international. She's one of the premier finance professionals in the entertainment industry. She has financed more than 100 feature films and television series with budgets raging from USD 500.000,00 to USD 50.000.000,00John Demps, who is expected to handle cinematography and lighting workshop, has a long list of television movies, documentary films, studio and independent feature to his credit. Kennard Ramsey, facilitator of the Sound Composition workshop, is an established Hollywood film composer. His work has been released in the Sundance, Toronto and Berlin Film Festival.
Read more…
Naija!!..some of the U-17 World Cup Media Centres for journalists don't have PCs and internet access..24hrs to the competition starting..& who went to fumigate the pitch,turning the grass frm green to brown.. wat a "great" nation we live in!!JUST like that, I felt a resurgence of inspiration to look forward to another two or three weeks of excitement in sports on African soil, courtesy of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup competition holding in Nigeria from this weekend - and a good outing for the Eaglets. For all it is worth, the best of youths from across the world would be on the big stage to showcase talents in the game of soccer. Reminiscent of the recently concluded Under-20 category in Egypt, football fans should expect no less in entertainment in the cadet championships in Nigeria, starting with the qualifiers in eight centres from October 24.This optimism of course is against the background of the recent deserved victory of Ghana's Under-20 squad in Egypt, a product of skill, hard work, resilience of the boys - all stemming from the organisational capacity of the local football administration. The last factor I believe was a demonstration of re-ordered societal values over a period, following some difficult years for that country on the economic, political and social planes. Credit for that renewed spirit which the Black Satellites ably applied and presented to the world in Egypt of course should go to those leaders who emerged about a decade ago with sincere minds to promote the best of human and Ghanaian values. The focus and the will to make Ghana work again did the magic; the people too were ready to make sacrifices in the interest of the nation. They were toiling while Nigeria slept.The new Ghanaian spirit is the picture Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola - an ardent soccer buff himself - tried to cut in his piece yesterday 'Football is life' where he recommended to Nigerians "a return to the basics", just as Ghana "rebuilt her institutions and entrusted them to men and women who had been tutored in the traditions of the best human values", paving the way for a workable economy, political life and democracy.Any true Nigerian who desires the best for his country should feel depressed by the retrogression in sports development - all sports - in the country, football in particular. There has been no conscious effort to develop the game of football beyond the mediocre level local administrators have carried it and are so contented with their ignorance. They are impervious to criticism even when it is clear their best has not been and might never be good enough for the country.For now, the system only encourages managers to just 'pick and play' for major competitions. What we have on ground is a garbage in-garbage out situation. That is why the Super Eagles would always wait till the very last game of the qualifying rounds of a global competition to determine their suitability for a place among the world best. That is why football administrators would resort to hiring prayer warriors to cause the heavens to effect the downfall of another country's team to allow an easy passage for Nigeria, as if the big stage is reserved for unserious countries.Nigeria '09 is likely to present our youngsters as truly worthy representatives in youth football, thanks to the FIFA-ordered Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests. At least we will now be in a position to truly assess our capabilities for success at that level because real under aged sportsmen are going to step forward to compete. The same goes for other countries in the competition anyway. If at the end we excel, it should call for true celebration of the stuff the country is made of in youth football. But should we wait for FIFA to order tests on bones and teeth or kick against passport-declared ages to tell us what is right?At present, it is a bit difficult to assess the capability of our boys; they are literally rookies - hardly unknown and untested, except for their training tour to Qatar . The only hope the country can hold on to for a rewarding outing is coach John Obuh's assurance to the nation that he has assembled quite good 'shooting stars' who are capable of holding their own on any day. We give him the benefit of the doubt as we pledge our support. It's just that Obuh and his wards should not come back to apologise for some unexpected slip (that has been the fad for a while among our sportsmen). Whatever he needs to do to make an apology become irrelevant should be perfected now.There's nothing bad in being champions again for the fourth time. A champion ought to attract respect really. Ask the losing Germans at Korea 2007. Ask the Brazilians at Egypt '09 against Ghana (for the first time I saw Brazilians crying). The are in a better position to stress that winning is everything. As defending champions at Korea 2007 exploits, the Eaglets are now the team to beat and that is likely to exert some pressure on the boys. But it's all part of the game. At this level, there is nothing like home advantage in a World Cup; that of course would have worked in favour of the Koreans two years ago.A fresh opportunity has been presented by the current FIFA Under-17 show to rebuild a national team that Nigerians can be proud of in the future. Not all them are likely to graduate to that level but at the same time not all them would be discarded as unsuitable. Even from the jaded list featured by coach Samson Siasia in Egypt, there are some promising stars for the future. With proper management of these human resources and other latent talents waiting in the wings, a good manager with an eye for quality will get Nigeria back on the winning path again.Interestingly, many academies are springing up round the country to train and reshape the young ones. This is a good step forward. What remains is to systematically tap and harness the resources for the good of the nation. It is one step to developing world-beaters in the round leather game. The country has had enough of heartaches from its national teams. The Golden Eaglets too would do well to realise that the sky is the starting point for them as they expose their talents to the world in the next few weeks.Africa has never had it so good with FIFA, with the staging of four major global competitions in the continent within a space of time: the Confederations Cup in South Africa, Under-20 World Cup and Under-17 World Cup in Egypt and Nigeria respectively this year, capped by the senior World Cup in under a year from now in South Africa. That is enough for Africa to reciprocate the confidence of the FIFA President Sepp Blatter in the organisational ability of the people and the growing level of the game in the continent.The cup is not beyond the Eaglets' reach if they apply themselves to the task at hand. They have the chance to lift it like any other participating team. That is the same spirit Cote d'Ivoire captain and hit-man for Chelsea FC Didier Drogba is displaying already on the chances of his national team at South Africa 2010. That man's level of confidence is amazing. Africa has risen in global football, perhaps it's time for her to shine at all levels of the FIFA-organised competitions especially at South Africa 2010.
Read more…
Osun House bans smoking in public places
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
OSUN State House of Assembly has passed a bill prohibiting smoking in public places into law.
While passing the bill into law, the Speaker, Honourable Adejare Bello, appealed to the media to assist in promoting healthy living by sensitising the public to the dangers in tobacco smoking.
Honourable Bello said though smoking was a matter of choice, but the government must be able to protect non-smokers from dangers attached to it, hence the need for the enactment of the law.
Entitled Osun State Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Bill, 2009, the bill prohibited smoking in any part of an enclosed or partially enclosed public place or workplace.
According to the letters of the bill, tobacco smoking was prohibited within 500 metres radius of facilities like schools, health centres, sporting areas and any other place prescribed by the government for public use.
Smoking is also to be prohibited in court buildings, factories, cinema halls, theatres, video houses, disco halls and any other entertainment facilities at any time during which it is open to the public.
The state commissioner for environment is empowered to approve any part of the public places as a designated area for the purpose of smoking.
Any person who contravenes the provisions of the bill risks, on conviction, a fine of between N10,000 and N20,000 and or a jail term from three to six months, while a corporate offender shall be liable to a fine of N250,000.
Read more…
The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday in Abuja approved the issuance of provisional licences for the establishment of seven new private universities in the country. Nigeria currently has 96 universities, comprising 27 federal, 35 state and 34 private universities.
The seven private universities are Wellspring University, Evbuobanosa, Edo State; Paul University, Awka, Anambra State; Rhema University, Obeama-Asa, Rivers State; Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, Osun State; Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State; Godfrey Okoye University,
Ugwuomu-Nike, Enugu State, and Nigerian Turkish Nile University, Abuja.
Speaking at the post FEC briefing, which was chaired by Nigerian president, Umaru Yar'Adua, the Minister of Information, Dora Akunyili, and her Minister of State counterpart, Ikra Bilbis, said the Minister of Education, Sam Egwu, presented a memo to the council seeking the approval for the issuance of provisional licences for the establishment of the new private universities.
Mrs. Akunyili said FEC approved the memo after considering the country's rising population. "Considering our rising population and this administration's desire to improve skills and enhance standards as one of the seven-point agenda Council, therefore, considered and approved the issuance of provisional licences for the establishment of the seven (7) private universities," she said.
The Minister of State for Education, Aisha Duku, who also spoke at the briefing, said the universities had to undergo rigorous screening before getting the provisional licences.
Ms Dukku added that currently, out of the 96 universities in the country, only 34 are privately owned, and that more universities are needed to take care of the millions who need admission. She said that over one million candidates applied for university admission this year through the Joint Matriculation Examination and only about 220,000 could be accommodated.
She also said contrary to popular opinion that private universities are concentrated in one part of the country, the seven approved private universities are evenly distributed. Two of them are situated in each of the three zones in the South, while one is in the Federal Capital Territory.
Read more…
It’s well known that, a loving and caring couple will always respect and cherish each other. There can never be a room for snapping, let alone fight .The question is what’s on the mind of a man who uses fist to settle differences with his wife at the slightest provocation. Could it be that he is fade up with the marriage? A lot of articles, seminars, and marriage counselors have concluded that the lust for the forbidden fruit is always instrumental to the cause of such demeaning thing.Whatever is the cause, physical attack has never made any wife more loving or caring. You can’t tear a wife to pieces and expect her to meet your emotional needs. It will be better for couples to avoid the worn-out accusation and complaints that trigger off crisis.But the irony of the situation is most wives would never admit that they have been battered. Even with bodily harm. And, these remains me of the popular adage that says;”Marital problems are best resolved in bed”. This means couple can resolve battering case without legal action. Many wife- battering cases have come and disappeared without the intervention of the third party. Many people who have intervened in such cases are perceived as enemies when the case is finally resolved.Before a husband starts to physically attack his wife or commit any other “marital blunder”, something fundamental has changed in the marriage. When the partners were in their rosy days; they displayed love in public, because they have something unique which they must show to the world that they are romantically bonded. And, those proof quickly disappear during wife battering.That feeling that pushes a man to fight is accumulated anger which he ignored or buried alive in his subconscious. It’s not always noticeable. But can always turn out to become grudges and hatred towards the wife if unexpressed.One top of that, we are in a society where men are regarded as “Mr. Right”. Even most parents displayed it the family circle. So, their children grow up with the unrealistic ideas and practice it in marriage. They simply believe that being severe to their wives is aimed at producing a well-disciplined wife. And justify their rage emotional bursts in the name of wife- battering. When the outburst finally becomes the pattern of parental conduct, their children –especially the male ones may copy it and go along with it for the rest of their life.SOURCE http://luvisgrate.blogspot.comRead more…
Principle of CrowdBird of the same feather flock together. Those who’re negative minded and always complain would always flock with people who behave alike. And, those who’re creative and productive also flock with others who’re the same, because human beings tend to relate with people of the same behavior. And they’re greatly affected by whom they associate with.And, you can never earn extra income when you surround yourself with people who talk you down. They wouldn’t try anything new nor encourage you to try something new. They’re also trapped in those old ways of doing things that have little or no result. They’re so afraid of failure and can spend most of their time planning to avoid mistakes. This die-hard attitude affects everybody in the circle of their friend. People with such mindset never conquer anything great.Lose of Hope and Negative ThoughtThe greatest threat that poses a crisis for humanity today isn’t disease or war. It’s the loss of hope and negative thoughts. All over the world, there are regions marked with extreme poverty caused by hopelessness, fear and anxiety. Whether it’s personal or on a national level, it’s doesn’t matter how much hope one may start a means of livelihood with. Reality always forces people to lose interest quickly.Everybody desires to be successful. To succeed, you must think success even in the midst of life threatening challenges. If you continually think or say,’’ I can’t.’’Not me. I can’t succeed in this business. I am poor. How can I live on this poor pay? I bet my shirt only negatives, like poverty, illness and failures will surround you.Lack of Financial Knowledge.No matter how dry a desert may be, if a river begins to run through it, it will become fertile and living creatures start to revive in it. This simply means that, no matter how financially broke one may be, once he acquires the right financial knowledge and apply it, he’ll experience financial freedom. Every modern civilization today passed through the acquisition of knowledge and skills. And every vocation needs some kind of skills to succeed including earning extra income. Doctors read medicine, lawyers read law and to earn extra income what do you do? Simply get the right information now!source http://realjobzonline.blogspot.comRead more…
Have you visit Dubai lately? Is your visit to Dubai on holidays or for business?Probably you have an Investment or a Property in DubaiWell you should be asking me; why am I so particular about Dubai?Before I tell you why, let me give some information about DubaiDubai is a city in the United Arab Emirates that is built around the principles of free trade, foreign investment, and sound business practices.In 2002, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai had a vision to create the city of the future.Dubai and the UAE's future is focused upon creating a business and tourism environment second to none which centers around incoming foreign investment from commercial institutions and individual investors.Now back home in Lagos Nigeria, some thing is about to happen, the government of Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola SANIs embarking on a project called the “Mega-City Project” a functioning city compeer to New York, Paris or TokyoLagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital and Nigeria’s former capital struggles to serve both as West Africa’s finance-cum-business hub and as one of the region’s biggest port.It is fast out spaced efforts to plan for growth. A resent census found 8 million residents making Lagos Africa’s most populous city after Cairo; the UN expects that the figure to reach 20 million by the end of the next decade. The governor thinks it will even get bigger. He says that Lagos must plan to be a “mega-city” of 40 million souls by mid-century.What chance has he of crafting a functional city and where is he going to get the space I mean the land?Tow striking questionsLEKKI: Ibeju-Lekki is a local government area in the Epe Division of Lagos State, Nigeria.Original name: LekkiGeographical location: Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria, Africa geographical coordinates: 6° 25' 0" North, 4° 6' 0" East (http://www.maplandia.com/nigeria/lagos/ibejulekki/lekki/)Take a drive to Victoria Island, find your way through Ozumba Nbadiwe down to Lekki first roundabout, tell me what you see, that is just a tip of the ice bag, drive on to Ajah , be careful do not look too mush, I think its better you take a walk or fly on an chopper if you can afford it, why? This is because of the massive construction and reconstruction going on along that root, which includeExpansion road constructionReal EstateIndustrial EstateHotelsShopping MallsBanksSchoolsRefineryAirportEtcA new city on the AtlanticOn like Dubai where the authorities had to sand filed to get more space (land)Lekki can still boast of virgin land,There are two phases in the Lekki vicinity, which are Lekki phase I and Lekki phase II. Lekki phase II is considered to be one of the most expensive places to live in Lagos state. This is due to the latest housing developments which are being created on the Lekki phase II axis. It has been predicted by many that the Lekki Peninsula vicinity would be the best places to live and work.A word of advice for people looking to get properties. Many people focus on Lekki phase 1 and the prices of land in Lekki phase 1 keep going up daily. As a matter of fact, prices have tripled in the last one year. There is a lot of infrastructural development which is going to be taking place on the Lekki Epe axis. Every part of this axis will be developed up to Epe why? The extension of the mega city project fall on that axis, the Lagos State government has sited the LEKKI FREE TRADE ZONE on that locationSummary:The Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos State is a perfect location for investors interested in agri-processing, clothing and textiles, food and beverages, forestry, mining, pharmaceuticals, retail, housing and tourism.LANDYou can purchase plots of land in good locations around Lekki-Ajah, and the Lekki-Epe axis at very affordable prices, with original documentation, c of o and governor's consent.For more information on land matters along Lekki-Ajah and Lekki-Epe axis which include The Free Trade Zone long on to http://tinyurl.com/cutou9 for more info on the LFTZ.
Read more…
Posted by 9jabook.com on October 20, 2009 at 8:38pm
THE continued influx of strange persons into Lagos has sent the state police command to the drawing board.
Among other measures evolved by the police to ensure that there is no security breach in the state are provision of updated security tips to residents, crackdown on the sale of dangerous weapons in unauthorised places, and close up on persons with suspicious movement.
The state police commissioner, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, who spoke on the development yesterday, urged the residents to be security conscious and to report all suspicious movement and gathering to the nearest police station.
Akpoyibo said the police was disturbed by the trend because most of the persons trooping into the state had no defined mission or means of livelihood.
Also, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, has urged Governor Babatunde Fashola to check the rising level of immorality, nudity, indecency and pornography in the state.
In a statement made available to journalists yesterday by Gabriel Osu, the Director of Social Communications, Lagos Archdiocese, Okogie warned youths to be wary of the implications of patronising nightclubs because of the danger inherent in such acts.
Akpoyibo told journalists that the mode of entry of the strange persons had become a concern to his command.
He said: "What I intend to do is to simply provide Lagos residents with updated security advice and tips. This is predicated on our determination to promoting proactive policing propelled by intelligence-driven strategies. The command has observed with deep concern the unusual influx of young men, with no defined mission into Lagos metropolis. These young men, who usually arrive from different parts of the country in large numbers and sometimes in groups of fifties and above, have neither any known place of abode, nor any feasible means of sustaining their stay in the city.
"Their influx and mode of entry into the state have raised some security concerns within the law enforcement circle, thus necessitating close monitoring and surveillance of their activities and lifestyle by the state police command. While the command is conscious of, and will continue to respect the constitutional rights of all citizens to freedom of movement and association, we wish to advise that such rights must be exercised and enjoyed within the confines of the law," he said.
Akpoyibo, therefore, urged Lagos residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious gathering to the nearest police division.
"The command therefore wishes to enjoin all Lagos people to remain vigilant and report any suspicious gathering, assembly or movement within their localities to the nearest police station."
He also warned against indiscriminate display and sale of offensive weapons and other dangerous items.
The police chief said his command had also observed "with concern the indiscriminate display and sale of dangerous tools such as knives, cutlasses, cudgels, scissors, hammers, at traffic jams along major highways as well as inner city roads within the state. Apart from the fact that these hawkers obstruct vehicular and human traffic thereby endangering lives and property, hawking or trading on the highways and, other unauthorised places, is in itself an offence under the relevant state laws. The indiscriminate display of these dangerous items in the streets also makes them easily accessible to criminals and persons with criminal propensities who could use them against the society."
He advised dealers, sellers and hawkers of such items to desist from displaying, selling or hawking them in the streets and highways.
Akpoyibo said persons found violating this order would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the relevant laws of the land.
"In addition, law-abiding Lagos residents are encouraged to desist from patronising hawkers of these implements which could easily be converted to tools of terror. This, we believe, will serve as a strong disincentive to their illicit trade. Finally, with the 'ember months' now with us, we wish to re-assure the people of our determination to ensure a crisis and crime-free Yuletide period. We plead for their continued support, co-operation, prayers and understanding, trusting that God will see us through," he added.
Reacting to the increasing number of nude clubs in the metropolis, Okogie lamented that evil had taken over in the state.
He said: "The way things are going, when girls of between the ages of 15 and 25 dance nude and throw caution to the winds, with boys and men as onlookers, is sending to the society a wrong signal, it is pertinent danger; we are sitting on loaded gun.
"Night clubs are increasing in Lagos, those closed earlier are reopening with impunity with a change of name. I hope this is not making mockery of Lagos as a mega city, city of excellence and city of aquatic splendour"?
To check the ugly situation, Okogie said the state government should not allow brothels to operate nightclubs, while gambling should be outlawed.
Parents and guardians were also charged to curb the excesses of young people.
According to him, "it is contrary to the feelings of the people of this state. They are defying government in all intents and purposes. Government must do something now to stem the tide of the evil sweeping across the state. Some prominent persons are among them, some top civil servants are with them, and they lure innocent girls into prostitution. Too bad! Government must look into the immorality in the state urgently before this evil overtakes us."
Read more…
The 2008 Batch C National Youth Service Corps members ended their one-year compulsory national service with passing-out parades (POP) held in all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday.
In Lagos, the event was held at the parade ground at the Ikeja Cantonment. According to the state coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Ladipo Laniyan, this batch of corps members, who started their service on November 4, 2008 was made up of 1,399 when they were posted to the state. Some were redeployed to other states mostly for health reasons while more were redeployed to Lagos.
Mr. Laniyan said 2,013 corps member satisfactorily completed their service while seven are to be remobilised for abandoning their places of primary assignment.
The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, was represented by the commissioner for Special Duties, Tola Kasali at the event. In his speech read by Mr. Kasali, the governor appreciated the contribution of the corps members to the development of the state.
“At the beginning of your service year 12 months ago, I drew your attention to the various challenges of national development. I am happy to note with interest that you have contributed your quota to nation-building. I wish to formally acknowledge your unparalleled individual and collective contributions to your host communities in the area of community development projects,” he said.
The occasion also featured presentation of awards to some outstanding corps members. Michael Olorunfemi, from Kogi State, a graduate of Human Kinetics, was awarded the best corps member in the batch. He won it for a beautification project he carried out at the Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat. He said he did it because he wanted to compliment the efforts of the state government.
After the match past, some of the corps members danced, as the corps band, made up of those still serving, played different tunes while others took photographs and congratulated one another.
However, in spite of the excitement, most of the corps members expressed fears. Some of them that spoke to NEXT expressed uncertainty about their future.
Felicia Oboma, a graduate of Biochemistry said she is really scared because of the level of unemployment. “We are going to join the labour market like millions of other graduates. It is not funny. The situation is really bad. One is passing out, you don’t know what will come next. Our country is really in a bad time. I’ve started applying in different places hoping that I will be lucky,” Ms. Oboma said.
Kayode Mosaku, a graduate of Botany from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, said he has left the future to chance.
“I will try all the options possible, throw my CV to everywhere possible and hope for a good response from somewhere. I have friends who have finished NYSC like two years ago and are still at home without jobs. So I think this NYSC programme is not working. If all the money that is used to run the programme is invested in us, maybe someone might be able to set up, since jobs are not available,” Mr. Mosaku said.
Read more…
Hey ladies wat do u fink? wen I first saw dis I cudnt help but laff, this article is preposterous!1. A man will pay #2 for a #1 item he wants. A woman will pay #1 for a #2 item that she doesn't want.2. A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband. A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.3. A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man.4. To be happy with a man you must understand him a lot & love him a little. To be happy with a woman you must love her a lot & not try to understand her at all.5. Married men live longer than single men - but married men are a lot more willing to die.6. Any married man should forget his mistakes - there's no use in two people remembering the same thing.7. Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed. Women somehow deteriorate during the night.8. A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't. A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change & she does.9. A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.10. There are 2 times when a man doesn't understand a woman - before marriage & after marriage.
Read more…
Posted by Eddy Etuk on October 19, 2009 at 11:30pm
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, goes the a popular quote of William Congrave. And though a jilted woman can indeed be dangerous, a recent incident in Lagos might just show that hell has no greater wrath than disturbed lovers. If you’ve ever seen two snakes doing the preliminaries of copulation, you will get the driftQuadrat Yusuf, the landlady of 46 Ilupeju Road, Lagos recently suffered a broken arm in a brawl that developed from a heated argument over her alleged disturbance of two young lovers. Christian Onuoha, a Medical Engineering graduate of Yaba College of Technology and 27-year-old Hope Ezenwa, a tenant of Quadrat’s, were alleged to have used an iron rod to break the right arm of the landlady, an offence for which they were promptly arrested by the Police.Across Nigeria gathered that trouble started when Hope, who rented an apartment from Quadrat, brought in her lover, Christian, to live with her. This arrangement did not go down well with the landlady and, though Hope still had a few months before the money she paid as rent would expire, she was asked to pack out with her boyfriend.As fate would have it, one day, in an act reminiscent of village boys smoking out rats from their holes, the landlady decided to place her charcoal stove beside Hope’s window and commence cooking. When the lovers could no longer endure the smoke, they complained vociferously. And since there was no love lost between landlady and tenant, a shouting match ensued. Soon, it degenerated into physical assault. In the process, the woman’s hand was alleged to have been broken by the suspects. But they argued that the woman “fell from the chair during the fight and broke her hand”.The landlady was referred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, where doctors are treating her. And the lovers have been charged with assault before a magistrate’s court in Lagos. When the charge was read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of N100,000 each, with one surety each in like sum. The matter was thereafter adjourned till 2 November 2009.
Read more…
It's not difficult to makea woman happy.A man only needs to be:1. a friend2. a companion3. a lover4. a brother5. a father6. a master7. a chef8. an electrician9. a carpenter10. a plumber11. a mechanic12. a decorator13. a stylist14. a sexologist15. a gynecologist16. a psychologist17. a pest exterminator18. a psychiatrist19. a healer20. a good listener21. an organizer22. a good father23. very clean24. sympathetic25. athletic26. warm27. attentive28. gallant29. intelligent30. funny31. creative32. tender33. strong34. understanding35. tolerant36. prudent37. ambitious38. capable39. courageous40. determined41. true42. dependable43. passionate44. compassionateWITHOUT FORGETTING TO:45. give her compliments regularly46. love shopping47. be honest48. be very rich49. not stress her out50. not look at other girlsAND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU MUST ALSO:51. give her lots of attention, but expect little yourself52. give her lots of time, especially time for herself53. give her lots of space, never worrying about where she goesIT IS VERY IMPORTANT:54. Never to forget:* birthdays* anniversaries* arrangements she makesHOW TO MAKE A MAN HAPPY1. Show up naked2. Bring alcohol
Read more…
From Sex for Money
To Babies for Money Our Desperation has come a long wayIt may sound incredible, but it is true. Many Nigerian ladies now bear children for men just for a fee. They are all over town, in Lagos and other parts of the country, looking for men to conceive for, not as wives but simply for commercial purposes. And once they are delivered of the babies, they hand same over to their ‘customers’ and move on.
It seems that with the nation’s economy teetering on the precipice and millions of Nigerians experiencing excruciating hardship, as a result of the global financial meltdown, some of the citizens are, characteristically, adopting survival strategies with a touch of ingenious creativity. In this case, women are giving good accounts of themselves in the game of survival.
our investigation revealed that the pregnancy-for-money has become a lucrative business, to the extent that many Nigerian ladies find it attractive. The men they bear children for may not be acquaintances or people they know. The bottom-line is the money involved. Conception could be through artificial insemination or sexual intercourse. To play the role, the ladies charge between N150, 000 and N200, 000. This sum, however, does not include antenatal bills.
While investigating the story, our undercover reporter got six young ladies to have babies for him for a fee. One of them, who claim to be carrying a three-month pregnancy currently, agreed to hand over the baby to him whenever it was delivered.
Agnes, as she identified herself, was not keen to disclose the source of her pregnancy. When asked who was responsible for the pregnancy she wants to sell, she retorted: “How I got pregnant is not the issue. If you want the baby, I will give it to you when I deliver and you pay me. That’s all.”
Indeed, getting the pregnancy-for-fee ladies is like a piece of cake. As soon as we broached the idea to one Miss Joy (surname withheld), a 25-year-old factory worker, she had no objection. To her, it was a familiar path. It seemed that she had done it before and was not averse to doing it again. And it was the Delta State indigene, who later introduced three of her friends or acquaintances who are also in the business.
After gaining Joy’s confidence, the reporter told her that he knew some childless couples who were also interested in such a deal. She thought about the proposal briefly and said she would arrange it if adequately motivated. In her words: “Na your money go waka for you.”
Joy charged a consultancy fee of N5, 000 and got to work. Within 48 hours, she got other ladies who would join her in the deal. She actually told the reporter that she could arrange as many of such ladies as there are clients because, according to her, it was a common practice among girls in Mushin and Ajegunle areas of Lagos, where she resides with her aged parents and siblings. She said she has connection with other ladies outside as was reported a few months ago. Her asking price was N300, 000 to give up the baby boy.
One of the commercial mothers, Tonia, said: “If any guy wants me to have a child for him, I will consider it if he can pay me up to N200, 000. He will also pay my medical bills. He will pay the agreed sum in three instalments: He will pay me the first one when I take in; the second will be when the pregnancy is about six months old while the final payment will be after delivery. We can be making love from time to time until full term.”
Another “baby factory”, who gave her name as Sonia, 26, said she could accept N130, 000 but that the man would handle her upkeep until she puts to bed.
Busty and lively, she said she wouldn’t mind living with the man from about the fourth month of the pregnancy so that the man would continue sleeping with her, as couple do. However, unlike Tonia, she would collect half of the agreed sum shortly after she becomes pregnant and the other half when she puts to bed.
On her own part, Becky, who hails from Edo State, said that she would accept to render such service if the man would pay N100, 000, provide her accommodation as well as foot her other bills until she is delivered of the baby. She said the man has to take care of her as his wife during the period of the pregnancy.
Another lady in the business, who simply identified herself as Patience, an indigene of Cross River State, said: “When we agree and the man gives me belle, I go tell my senior sister that I want to travel. Then the man will give me where to stay until I born am.”
She said her pay-off was a lump sum of N150, 000, which she intends to use to start a business.
While all the ladies said they were ready to go for tests before the consummation of the deals, they pledged not to relinquish the custody rights over the babies they are rented to bear once money exchanged hands
Originally sent in By Eddy Etuk thanks Eddy ! Re Edited/Rewritten from Sun Magazine by Noelene Joshua (Webmadam 9jabook.com)
Read more…
Posted by 9jabook.com on October 19, 2009 at 8:55pm
Ordinarily, it is supposed to be a symbol of law and order where crack detectives of the Nigeria Police Force ply their trade with finesse and professional dexterity, unlocking the key to several knotty criminal cases with scientific precision.
Onovo, IGP
The difference, however, is that the victims are no longer cows, sheep and goats, but human beings who though, are not slaughtered in the true sense of it, but are made to pass through the valley of death.
Welcome to the torture chambers for operatives of the dreaded Special Anti-Robbery Squad [SARS] of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, where extra-ordinary and weird practices allegedly reign supreme. Here, President Umaru Yar’Adua’s rule of law is alien and consumed by rule of the jackboot, and the operatives, menacingly dangling sophisticated firearms almost round the clock, are the kings of the jungle. Reports indicated that in this kingdom, there is a queen in the form of a female statute before whom suspects brought in must pay homage and give a deep kiss as a first step in the process of baptism into the “kingdom of hell”.
Expectedly, it’s a frightening tale of pains, agony and sorrow as several residents of the FCT who have the misfortune of being guests at the SARS operational base in Abuja , recounted their experiences. As suspects, each had been taken into custody at separate intervals and days over alleged criminal and sundry offences. But at the end of the energy and blood sapping grilling sessions in the interrogation process, those who are lucky to come out alive from the alleged torture chambers are united in their experiences: A miraculous escape from “Abuja House of Horror”.
Among the latest victims is Mr. James Onu Chukwudi, 28, an indigene of Ebonyi State, who returned to Nigeria about two months ago, after a sojourn in China . A 2005 Political Science graduate of the University of Lagos , Chudi, as he is fondly called, was a guest of the SARS men about two weeks ago for just a period of eight hours. But like a scar which had defied all remedies to smoothen, he says images of his experience in the hands of his “captors” would remain indelible in his mind for ever:
JOURNEY TO THE GULAG
“I came back to Nigeria from China on August 2, 2009. This Eco Solar Gem in China , they are into solar energy. So I have been going from one conference to another to tell them the advantage of solar energy. On getting to Lamonde Hotel at Area 11 in Garki two weeks ago, but I don’t really know the exact date. I went there to submit a proposal about the solar energy. I met and discussed with the man I saw there, one of the receptionists. I asked him if they would be interested in solar. He said I should come back later, that I should just drop the proposal.
Thereafter, I went into their supermarket in the hotel and bought a recharge card of N1,500. I gave him N2000, and he gave me N500 as balance. Then, I left the hotel. After about two hours, he called me and said I should come back to the hotel, that the woman in charge of the hotel has accepted my proposal and that I should come and negotiate with her. On getting there, the chief security officer and other guys surrounded me. They said out of the N2000 I used in paying the recharge card, N1000 note is fake. I said how? I was really embarrassed because I went there with my friend who is a PA to a member of the House of Assembly, Darlington Okereke. I told them I don’t know anything about it. God knows that I don’t know. I told them I don’t know anything about the N1000 note that is not genuine. Before you know it, they took me to their security room and then called the guys from SARS who came with their Hillux van and took me to their base at former abattoir, near Area One.MERMAID AS FIRST LADY
I was kind of scared when we got there. Those guys, young boys, were well armed. And the most difficult people to deal with are people that are not reasonable. I tried to explain to them that I don’t know anything about the fake money. If I had known about it, if it was intentional, I wouldn’t have come back when called upon after leaving the hotel. I had submitted a proposal that contained my name, address, phone number, e-mail, and website. But despite all my explanation, they said I should put it down in writing. So I did.
One remarkable thing is that immediately I arrived at the SARS office, the place was scary. There is this statute that looked like a mermaid. They tied a red cloth on the head like a scarf, and they painted her lips. When you are walking into the office, it is just at the corridor, close to the doorpost to their torture room. The place it seemed was an abattoir where they slaughtered cow. And there is this big iron door through which you enter the torture room. This scarystatute is hung by the door. I can’t remember the exact date, but I think it was the day Nigeria played Venezuala and we lost 1-0, because there is a TV there and they were showing the Venezuala match.
Immediately we arrived at the office and I walked through that place to the interrogation room, one of them just slapped me. He said “are you stupid, don’t you see our first lady there? That is how they describe that statute. They said I should go back and salute her, so I had to go back and salute her. They said I should kiss her. I had to kiss her before I was ushered in. And because I had not been to a police station before in my life, the picture they painted was scary. So they were threatening me. One of them, one arrogant guy who can barely speak English Language, the guy slapped me and said I should tell them Ok, that we’ve been minting money and all that. I said I don’t know anything about it and God knows I don’t know.
Being outside the country is not a big deal, because I should know our currency. But this thing they are talking about, I don’t know. The guy said I should pull off my shoe. I pulled my shoe. Then he said I should pull my shirt. I pulled my shirt. He now pointed at my tummy and said this big belly, you’ve been stealing money and all sorts of assault. But then, I had to call my wife on phone and asked her to bring some money. One of them actually sold the idea to me. He said ah, these people will kill you o; you have to give them something. And because they seized my two phones, I said Ok, I actually used his phone to call my wife and asked her to bring some money. When she came, I gave them N5,000, for them not to put me inside the cell. That N5,000 was just for me to stay at the counter. I stayed there and after putting down my statement, those guys who brought me left.
HORROR
One thing that surprised me was that after sometime, they brought about 10 young guys. They said whether they were fighting or something else. Maybe, they had respected me a bit because I was putting on suit. But the way they handled those guys, I have never seen that type of maltreatment. Even if they were confirmed armed robbers, I haven’t seen that kind of maltreatment. They stripped them; they were beating them. There is this place that probably served as drainage when they were using that SARS office as abattoir. Water constantly flows there. These boys were asked to lie down there, and they were telling them “fuck the water, fuck the water”. Again, they said “if you can’t fuck the water, show him how to fuck”. And while they were doing that, they were beating them. I said, oh my God, what is going on here.
I was shocked because I used to see Abuja as a decent and lawful place unlike Lagos which I usually call madness. I used to think that Abuja is more serene and the police are civil. I never knew things like that also happen in this kind of place. One of the SARS guys [name withheld by us], this guy is a good guy. He is not among the guys that brought me, but he works there. He is a good guy. He didn’t like what was going on there. There was this other suspect who was brought in there because he sold goods on credit or something like that and his employer brought him there.
So, this guy was not happy with what was happening. He was saying this kind of cases, you don’t bring them here [SARS]. He said this is madness. He was one of the officers at the counter that night. And I was also kept at the counter. That was how I had the opportunity to interact with him. It’s like this guy was on a special duty there, because if he was part of the system, he would have been used to it. But it was apparent he wasn’t because he didn’t like the whole thing happening there. I told him the only way this thing can stop is to reach out to probably The Sun newspapers because of the detailed investigative stories. He said yes and even promised to be of assistance. And that was how I contacted The Sun.
I REGAINED FREEDOM AFTER PARTING WITH N20,000
I was arrested from Lamonde Hotel at about 6.30pm on that fateful day and was detained at SARS till well over midnight before I was released. We had to wait for those that took me there with their Hilux van. When my wife came, we waited until when they returned, they said I should give them N15,000. I gave them the N15,000 because I didn’t want to sleep there. But then, there was a guy I was using his phone apart from the first officer [name withheld] and I had promised I was going to buy him recharge card to replenish the one I used with his phone.
When those guys returned, I had given this guy N1000 for the recharge card and gave them the balance of N14,000. But after counting the money, they said it was not up to N15,000, that it was N14,000. I pleaded with them to allow me go home, that even if it meant depositing my two GSM handsets, I would do so and come back to collect it the next day with the balance of N1000. One of them just shouted at me that I wasn’t serious and slammed the door at me. So, I had to beg this other guy whom I had given N1000 for recharge card, to give the money back to me. He agreed and I had to send my wife to go and get the N1000 from him. That was how I regained my freedom.
At the Lamonde Hotel, while I was being held at the security post before they invited the police, I was begging the chief security officer, pleading that I am innocent of the allegation. That I knew nothing about the fake money. Since they said N1000 out of the N2000 I used to pay for the recharge card I bought is fake, I even gave additional N2000 to the guy who sold the card to me. Yet, the CSO still called in the SARS people. Last Saturday, I was in a taxi on my way to Gwarimpa and the driver was telling me something that further aroused my curiosity. The taxi man said he had just dropped off a lawyer at that SARS office and that the lawyer was complaining about the way they are handling his client. And what is the offence of his client? It is because he did a contract and he owed somebody N2million. He has paid N1.7million out of the amount and it is just remaining N300,000. The lawyer was wandering how somebody could be taken to SARS because of a mere debt which is civil. I told the taxi driver that same place, I’ve been there and it wasn’t pleasant. It’s not just me, people are talking about that place and something has to be done. It is a House of Horror”.
Is the Abuja SARS office really a satanic den where the absurd holds sway as being alleged? Jimoh Moshood, a Deputy Superintendent of Police [DSP] and spokesman of the FCT police command would not be drawn into such a conclusion. But he simply pleaded for any of the victims to come forward to his office and share their experiences with him to enable the police to investigate and fish out those involved.
“I cannot comment on those allegations without investigations. Please tell the man from whom N15,000 was allegedly taken as bribe and all others with complaints to come to my office so that we can investigate and find out those involved. Tell him to come to the PPRO’s office to see me. I would be waiting to see him”, he assured in a telephone chat with Daily Sun, when contacted for comments on Chudi’s horrible tale.
Read more…
France & Denmark have banned it from the country..._(http://www.funzug.com/index.php/informative-zone/red-bull-=-slow-death.html)_RED BULL - slow death ...RED BULL - slow death ...RED BULL - slow death ..._(http://www..funzug.com/index.php/informative-zone/red-bull-=-slow-death.html)_Do NOT drink this drink anymore!!Pay attention; read it all_(http://www.funzug.com/index.php/informative-zone/red-bull-=-slow-death.html)As a public health safety, please pass on this email to all the contactsin your address book especially those with teenage children?This drink is SOLD in all the supermarkets IN OUR country and ourchildren ARE CONSUMING IT ON A TRIAL BASIS, IT can be mortal.RED BULL was created to stimulate the brains in people who are subjectedto great physical force and in stress coma and never to be consumed likean innocent drink or soda pop.RED BULL IS the energizer DRINK that is commercialized world-wide withits slogan:'It increases endurance; awakens the concentration capacity andthe speed of reaction, offers more energy and improves the mood. All thiscan be found in a can of RED BULL , the power drink of the millennium.'RED BULL has managed to arrive at almost 100 countries worldwide. The REDBULL logo is targeted at young people and sportsmen, two attractivesegments that have been captivated by the stimulus that the drink provides.It was created by Dietrich Mateschitz, an industrialist of Austrianorigin who discovered the drink by chance. It happened during abusiness trip toHong Kong , when he was working at a factory that manufacturedtoothbrushes.The liquid, based on a formula that contained caffeine and taurine, causeda rage in that country. Imagine the grand success of this drink in Europewhere the product still did not exist, besides it was a superb opportunityto become an entrepreneur.BUT THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS DRINK IS ANOTHER THING:FRANCE and DENMARK have just prohibited it as a cocktail of death, due toits vitamin components mixed with GLUCURONOLACTONE', a highly dangerouschemical, which was developed by the United States Department of Defenseduring the sixties to stimulate the moral of the troops based in VIETNAM,which acted like a hallucinogenic drug that calmed the stress of the war.But their effects in the organism were so devastating, that it wasdiscontinued, because of the high index of cases of migraines, cerebral tumorsand diseases of the liver that was evident in the soldiers who consumed it.And in spite of it, in the can of RED BULL you can still find as one ofits components: GLUCURONOLACTONE, categorized medically as a stimulant. Butwhat it does not say on the can of ,RED BULL are the consequences of itsconsumption, and that has forced us to place a series of WARNINGS:1. It is dangerous to take it if you do not engage in physical exerciseafterwards, since its energizing function accelerates the heart rate and cancause a sudden attack.2. You run the risk of undergoing a cerebral hemorrhage, because RED BULLcontains components that dilute the blood so that the heart utilizes lessenergy to pump the blood, and thus be able to deliver physical force withless effort being exerted.3. It is prohibited to mix RED BULL with alcohol, because the mixture turnsthe drink into a " Deadly Bomb " that attacks the liver directly,causing the affected area never to regenerate anymore.4. One of the mai_n components of RED BULL is the B12 vitamin, used inmedicine to recover patients who are in a coma; from here the hypertensionand the state of excitement which is experienced after taking it, as if youwere in a drunken state.5. The regular consumption of RED BULL triggers off symptoms in the formof a series of irreversible nervous and neuronal diseases.CONCLUSION: It is a drink that should be prohibited in the entire worldas when it is mixed with alcohol it creates a TIME BOMB for the human body,mainly between innocent adolescents and adults with little experience..Forward this mail to Everyone and Let them know about this.._(http://www.funzug.com/index.php/informative-zone/red-bull-=-slow-death.html)BEST REGARDS
Read more…
It may sound incredible, but it is true. Many Nigerian ladies now bear children for men just for a fee. They are all over town, in Lagos and other parts of the country, looking for men to conceive for, not as wives but simply for commercial purposes. And once they are delivered of the babies, they hand same over to their ‘customers’ and move on.It seems that with the nation’s economy teetering on the precipice and millions of Nigerians experiencing excruciating hardship, as a result of the global financial meltdown, some of the citizens are, characteristically, adopting survival strategies with a touch of ingenious creativity. In this case, women are giving good accounts of themselves in the game of survival.Investigation revealed that the pregnancy-for-money has become a lucrative business, to the extent that many Nigerian ladies find it attractive. The men they bear children for may not be acquaintances or people they know. The bottom-line is the money involved. Conception could be through artificial insemination or sexual intercourse. To play the role, the ladies charge between N150, 000 and N200, 000. This sum, however, does not include antenatal bills.While investigating the story, an undercover reporter got six young ladies to have babies for him for a fee. One of them, who claim to be carrying a three-month pregnancy currently, agreed to hand over the baby to him whenever it was delivered.Agnes, as she identified herself, was not keen to disclose the source of her pregnancy. When asked who was responsible for the pregnancy she wants to sell, she retorted: “How I got pregnant is not the issue. If you want the baby, I will give it to you when I deliver and you pay me. That’s all.”Indeed, getting the pregnancy-for-fee ladies is like a piece of cake. As soon as the reporter broached the idea to one Miss Joy (surname withheld), a 25-year-old factory worker, she had no objection. To her, it was a familiar path. It seemed that she had done it before and was not averse to doing it again. And it was the Delta State indigene, who later introduced three of her friends or acquaintances who are also in the business.After gaining Joy’s confidence, the reporter told her that he knew some childless couples who were also interested in such a deal. She thought about the proposal briefly and said she would arrange it if adequately motivated. In her words: “Na your money go waka for you.”Joy charged a consultancy fee of N5, 000 and got to work. Within 48 hours, she got other ladies who would join her in the deal. She actually told the reporter that she could arrange as many of such ladies as there are clients because, according to her, it was a common practice among girls in Mushin and Ajegunle areas of Lagos, where she resides with her aged parents and siblings. She said she has connection with other ladies outside Lagos, who are also in the network. To show that she meant business, Joy offered her three-year-old love child for sale a few months ago. Her asking price was N300, 000 to give up the baby boy.One of the commercial mothers, Tonia, said: “If any guy wants me to have a child for him, I will consider it if he can pay me up to N200, 000. He will also pay my medical bills. He will pay the agreed sum in three instalments: He will pay me the first one when I take in; the second will be when the pregnancy is about six months old while the final payment will be after delivery. We can be making love from time to time until full term.”Another “baby factory”, who gave her name as Sonia, 26, said she could accept N130, 000 but that the man would handle her upkeep until she puts to bed.Busty and lively, she said she wouldn’t mind living with the man from about the fourth month of the pregnancy so that the man would continue sleeping with her, as couple do. However, unlike Tonia, she would collect half of the agreed sum shortly after she becomes pregnant and the other half when she puts to bed.On her own part, Becky, who hails from Edo State, said that she would accept to render such service if the man would pay N100, 000, provide her accommodation as well as foot her other bills until she is delivered of the baby. She said the man has to take care of her as his wife during the period of the pregnancy.Another lady in the business, who simply identified herself as Patience, an indigene of Cross River State, said: “When we agree and the man gives me belle, I go tell my senior sister that I want to travel. Then the man will give me where to stay until I born am.”She said her pay-off was a lump sum of N150, 000, which she intends to use to start a business.While all the ladies said they were ready to go for tests before the consummation of the deals, they pledged not to relinquish the custody rights over the babies they are rented to bear once money exchanged hands.
Read more…
As Pope John Paul II was dying; he sent for James Ibori and Peter Odili to come to the Vatican .When they arrived, they were ushered to his bedroom.As they entered, the clergyman held out his hands and motioned them to sit on each side of the bed.The Pope grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled and stared at the ceiling.For a time, no one said anything.Both Ibori and Odili were touched and flattered that the old Pope would ask them to be with him during his final moment.They were also puzzled because the Pope never gave any indication that he liked either one of them.Finally, Ibori asked, "Fader, wettin make you ask dTwo of us to come here?"The old Pope mustered up some strength and said weakly,"Jesus died between two thieves...I will like to die like him"
Read more…
Posted by 9jabook.com on October 14, 2009 at 8:16pm
It has been reported that on November 1, 2009, the government of President Yar’Adua would commence fully the total deregulation of the downstream oil sector. This means that Nigerians must be prepared for a regime when government withdraws any semblance of protection of the consumer against unguarded pricing of petroleum products.
It must be stated for those who argue that deregulation would eventually lead to low pricing of petroleum products, and who are excited at citing the example in the telecommunications sector, that although diesel and kerosene are no more “subsidized” by government, their prices remain so high that manufacturers and other businesses which rely on their generators for electricity are running at a great loss as they must buy diesel at exorbitant prices for their generators, even as the government has been so deceptive and incompetent in all its highly publicized efforts to generate electricity for the public.
President Yar’Adua and his party, the PDP (which can fittingly be called Poverty Distribution Party) have been deriving tremendous satisfaction from seeing Nigerians suffer. While President Yar’Adua collects more than N2 million a month as “Hardship allowance”, he has no plan or thought for that Nigerian who is struggling to survive in a country that Yar’Adua and his murderous group have taken captive. While each Senator of the federal republic collects a daily allowance of 600 USD (I mean US dollars, not naira) as “lunch money” (Senate president, David Mark collects more than 1000 USD a day for “lunch”), the Nigerian worker is expected by those heartless killers to survive on N7, 500 or N5, 000 a month and to put in good service at work.
In the 2009 budget, N60 billion was voted for “Constituency projects” of the choosing of federal legislators. Each geo-political zone got N10 billion, which amount is under the control and use of the federal legislators in those zones. Each Senator, for instance collects N45 million every quarter for their senatorial district. Proper accounting is absent; the money is used up by those senators and nothing happens. Those guys in power, at the goading of Yar’Adua, are lynching our people! More than N1.2 trillion is spent to pay the salaries of less than 18,000 public officials in Nigeria! But the poor man and woman on the street must be made to suffer more and “sacrifice” for Yar’Adua’s seven-point agenda. Where is the conscience of Yar’Adua and his group of looters of our commonwealth?
In all these, I can hear so loudly the complicit silence of our religious leaders and “men of God”. If a founder of a church, with millions of worshippers, a General Overseer or Bishop, whose words carry great weight, maintains disturbing silence in the midst of this raping and oppression of a nation, they will give an account on the day of reckoning. Recently, the Sultan of Sokoto spoke out against the poor governance in the nation. That was a flash in the pan. I don’t know how President Yar’Adua responded secretly to silence the gentleman. It was reported that Bishop Oneikyan of Abuja also spoke against the present absence of good governance in Nigeria, and the PDP government reacted to silence him one way or the other. It goes to show the impact that those “men of God” can make if they (and they are so many) speak persistently without ceasing against the wickedness in high places. I would not want them to hide their words in bland euphemisms; they must speak out plainly and pronounce woes against wicked rulers such as Yar’Adua, David Mark, and the many governors who are destroying our nation.
But our men of God frolic with those thieves who have no compassion for Nigerians. They attend “Thanksgiving services” and “Holy Ghost” meetings, where conspicuous seats are reserved for them. So, our religious leaders have become a problem rather than the solution for a nation that has lost her conscience. Our traditional rulers are silent too. They only make pretentious noises when they suspect they are no longer getting from our corrupt political rulers the patronage they think they deserve. At that very moment of self-service they speak, ostensibly for the downtrodden. As soon as government accords the expected patronage they retire into their cocoons to enjoy their catch; the people are left tired and without a shepherd, exposed to any inhuman policies of government, such as the deregulation of the oil sector, without reliable and regular power supply, without effective public transport system, without social security system to assist the weak and poor in our midst etc.
This man went to commission a university in Saudi Arabia during the closure of Nigeria’s public universities under his watch. President Yar’Adua comes back to Nigeria, and surprises of all surprises, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) gives him an award! What a nation! What students!
If the NLC wants to be taken seriously, they must insist on the following while they shut down the entire nation:
1. The immediate reduction in the salaries and allowances of all public officials to reflect the national minimum wage. The highest paid public official must not earn more than 40 times national minimum wage.
2. The suspension of the planned deregulation of the downstream oil sector until the following are done:
Public power supply is 24 hours a day without interruption.Importation of petroleum products is replaced by sufficient local refining in refineries located in Nigeria.i. Standard railways are built to link all the six geo-political zones.ii. All federal roads are built into international standards.iii. A highly organized social security system including universal health care, college tuition assistance, old age care, and family assistance is put in place.iv. All basic amenities such as potable water, public health care facilities must be a given.v. No serving public official (including the president) must seek health care abroad.
1. The upward review of the national minimum wage to N250 an hour or N40, 000 a month.
2. A total ban on importation of generators within one year, to remain enforced until public power supply is regular and uninterrupted.
3. Public expenditure on education, beginning with the 2010 budget should be a minimum of 26 percent of the total budget.
4. The passage into law by 2010 of a new Electoral Act, which reflects the recommendations of the Justice Uwais committee.
The nation needs a total shut down; a bold confronting of the excesses of government. If labor has anything to offer, this is the time. If Nigerian students have anything to give for the growth of the nation, this is the time. The minimum I ask for is that our “men of God” should not keep quiet until Nigeria becomes a place of praise. They rail at the little sinners in their congregations and mingle with Nigeria’s oppressors and looters. They strain at gnats but swallow camels. This silence is ungodly. Nigeria is in need of voices that will cry in the wilderness of our looted land. The NLC, NANS, and all Nigerian scholars must redeem themselves. What is the value of our education if our nation continues to flounder and we hold our peace?
Read more…
