Niger Delta Situation Now Controllable - Obasanjo

President Olusegun Oba-sanjo yesterday stated that, despite recent hos-tage takings and the death of an expatriate held hostage in the Niger Delta, the situation in the volatile area is now controllable.

Though he described the recent development as “unfortunate and embarrassing”, he however declared that the situation in the area "is becoming more controllable."
The President, in a meeting with members of the Honorary International Investors Council (HIIC) in State House yesterday, also noted that in addition to the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Comm-ission (NNDC), the recent setting up of the quarterly meeting of the All-Stakeholders Council on the Socio-Economic Development of the Niger Delta, had "opened a new way of doing things" in the region.

Obasanjo, who attributed the problem of the Niger Delta to "accumulated neglect of the past," and the misconception by some groups, particularly the youth, that the neglect could be corrected overnight, admitted collective guilt of individuals, communities, oil companies, local, state and Federal Governments.
He, however, noted that the youth had now come to realise that "this is the first time that somebody is doing something" meaningful in the area, and the "communities are now condemning hostage-taking," as an uncivilised way of expressing grievances.

Referring to the construction of the multi-billion naira East-West highway by the Federal Government that would open up Niger Delta hinterland within the next four years, the President said the youth "are now seeing that we mean business" in tackling the long neglect of the area which could not be remedied overnight.

Nigeria Trade with Brazil now a record $4.9bn

Total volume of exports from Nigeria to Brazil last year amounted to $4.9 billion, Nigerian envoy to South America, Mr Kayode Garrick, said yestterday in Abuja.
Garrick, who also holds a concurrent accreditation to Paraguay and Bolivia, said within the period under review, Brazil exported goods and services amounting to about $900 million to Nigeria.

He said this in an interview at the on-going maiden Africa-South America summit, adding that this year, we hope to surpass that target.''
He said trade relations, especially between Brazil and Nigeria had been impressive.

Garrick said the summit would further strengthen existing relations between Africa and Nigeria in particular, with South America.
He said: “in the area of energy for example, Brazil has developed its bio-fossils and the use of ethanol as an alternative to fuel. This is the kind of diversification Nigeria could learn from.”

Paraguay has also recorded some strides in education, agriculture and bio-fossils. We share similar vegetation and climate.
The summit of African Union (AU) nations and the Community of South American Nations (CASA), Garrick noted, would endorse and implement commitment and realisation of what the South-south partnership had worked for over the years, to provide the regions with a platform for wider and more frequent consultations in the face of globalisation.

THISDAY Music Festival: the passion, the romance

Beyonce Knowles

American music diva, Beyonce Knowles has celebrated her 25th birthday two weeks ago. With this anniversary came the international release of her latest album, B'Day. Born in 1981 to Tina and Mathew Knowles,
It ha s been a busy weekend for Beyonce. She stole the show at the MTV Music Video Awards with a jaw-dropping performance of her new record. Not only that, the R&B Queen won Best R&B Video award for Check On It. Beyonce showed an aptitude for music before she could even talk. As a young girl, she would drown out everyone, including the church choir.

A normal childhood was not in the books for Beyonce. At 8 years old, she met LaTavia Robertson while auditioning for a girls musical group and Matthew Knowles, Beyonce's manager and father, later paired the two with LeToya Luckett. In 1992, cousin Kelly Rowland joined the group, and they performed together on Star Search.
Small gigs and much label-shopping later, the four beauties cemented their relationship by calling themselves Destiny's Child. In 1997, "No, No, No" became their first official single, and they got off to a big start as the track went multi-platinum. The girls were instantly popular in the media and impressed all with their self-titled debut.

Destiny Child, led by the incomparable Beyonce, had three top ten hits within the year: "Jumpin, Jumpin," "Say My Name" and "Bills, Bills, Bills." They became one of the best-selling female groups of recent memory after this second album sold more than nine million units worldwide. At the same time, it was announced that their single "Independent Women Part 1," off the Charlie's Angels soundtrack, had reached the largest audience ever in the recorded radio airplay -- 140.4 million pairs of ears.

Beyonce displayed a versatile style with this solo effort, creating the club hit "Baby Boy," the pop success "Crazy In Love" and the soulful "The Closer I Get To You" with Luther Vandross. Like her work in Destiny's Child, Beyonce wrote or co-wrote many of the tracks and performed her heart out on award shows to get the word out to a huge audience. She has emerged as a diva, making the best videos, catchiest songs and creating the most headlines. At 2004's Grammy ceremony, Beyonce took away five awards and was the biggest winner of the night. Rumors have swirled that she is involved with rapper Jay-Z, and talk of another Destiny's Child album has surfaced.

Busta Rhymes
'Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr. born on May 20, 1971, better known as Busta Rhymes, also Busta Bus or simply Bust, is an American hip hop musician and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the name Busta Rhymes (from former NFL football player George "Buster" Rhymes) after watching him perform.
Trevor was born in Brooklyn, New York, and is of Jamaican heritage. At the age of 12, his family moved to Uniondale, a suburb of New York City on Long Island, where he was raised and eventually met up with other rappers from the growing New York area hip hop community.

He graduated from George Westinghouse High School Downtown Brooklyn, the same high school attended by famous MC's Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z. He has a son named T'ziah born in 1993.
Busta Rhymes' musical career began as a member of the Hip Hop crew Leaders of the New School along with fellow Long Island natives C. Brown, Dinco D and Cut Monitor Milo. They began recording in 1991 with the album A Future Without a Past (Elektra Records), and soon gained an amount of fame.

Busta Rhymes' performance on "Scenario" is thought of by some as the performance which led to his becoming a fan favorite and eventually going solo. The Leaders Of The New School released their last album T.I.M.E. in 1993, after which Busta Rhymes began his solo career.

Busta Rhymes' debut solo album The Coming was released by Elektra Records in 1996. The album was a mix of ragga and hip hop, and it included the US and UK top 10 single "Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check." His follow-up, When Disaster Strikes... was successful in the US and sold well overseas. The album produced two hugely popular singles and videos in America, "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" and "Dangerous". The same year he released The Imperial as part of the Flipmode Squad, a collaborative project with rappers Rampage, Lord Have Mercy, Spliff Star, Rah Digga and Baby Sham.
1998 brought Extinction Level Event (Final World Front), the theme of which was an assertion that the world would end in the year 2000.

This year has seen the release of his seventh studio album, The Big Bang. The CD became his first Number 1 album of his entire career. The CD sold over 209,000 copies in its first week to earn the top spot on the charts.
The album also became his highest charting album in the UK, peaking at Number 19 there. Some of the album was leaked on the internet, and as a result several songs were left off the album and new ones added. The Big Bang featured more production by Dr. Dre than Busta's previous releases and appearances by Raekwon and Nas. The singles that have been released from the album are, "Touch It", "I Love My Bitch", featuring Kelis and Will.I.Am of The Black Eyed Peas, "New York Shit" and "In The Ghetto". Busta also had a stint opening for Carey's Adventures of Mimi Tour.

Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette Elliott is her birth name, but that name has since been submerged with her showbiz nomenclatures, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Missy Elliott, Misdemeanor. Born on July 1, 1971 in Portsmouth, Virginia, United States, Missy is one of the leadingn stars of Hip-hop/R&B. She is an established singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer.
Missy hit the headlines in 1996 and has remained a force to reckon with ever since. She dropped the "Misdemeanor" from her stage name in 2003, and now simply goes by "Missy Elliott". Missy Elliott is the biggest selling female rapper of all time, with record sales of 17 million total including US, worldwide, and single sales.

Elliott is one of the first female hip hop artists known for a series of hits including "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)", "Hit 'Em Wit Da Hee", "Get Ur Freak On", "One Minute Man", "Work It", and "Lose Control". In addition she has received recognition as one of the most successful songwriters of the modern music era, having crafted a number of hit records for artists such as Melanie B, Aaliyah, 702, Total, Ciara, Nicole Wray and Tweet, often with production-partner and childhood friend Timbaland.
She was the fourth female rapper to ever go Platinum, behind Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown and Da Brat.

Her debut album, released in mid-1997, was Supa Dupa Fly, which included "Da Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)", a blockbuster hit that established Missy as a major force in popular music. Other singles included "Beep Me 911," which featured 702, Timbaland, and Magoo; "Hit 'Em wit da Hee," featuring rapper Mocha and Lil' Kim and Timbaland; and "Sock It 2 Me," a moderate hit which featured rhymes from Da Brat and a cameo by Lil' Kim in the Mega Man-inspired music video. The critical acceptance of Supa Dupa Fly was mixed, though generally positive; many critics commented that the album tracks, some of which sampled Missy / Mosley hits such as "Can We" and "One in a Million", were far inferior to the singles. 1997 also saw Elliott perform on Lil Kim's girl-power anthem, a hit remix of her song, "Not Tonight".

Elliott's second album was just as successful as the first. Da Real World (1999, see 1999 in music) included the singles "All N My Grill," a collaboration with Nicole Wray and Big Boi (from OutKast), "Hot Boyz [Remix]" and "She's a Bitch".
Respect M.E. - The Greatest Hits is Missy Elliott's greatest hits album featuring hits such as Get Ur Freak On, Pass That Dutch, Lose Control and her lastest single We Run This. The ablum is due for a September 4, 2006 release.

Also Missy Elliott won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Special Effects in a Video with her single, 'We Run This'. During the MTV VMA's 2006 she performed alongside with Timbaland, with her first single The Rain (Supa Fly), during a tribute to music video director Hype Williams. Elliott appeared in the same outfit as she did in her first single video; a big plastic suit filled with air.

Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter, popularly known as Jay-Z, (or by a variety of nicknames including S. Carter, S.Dot, Jigga, Jay-Hova, Hova, and Young Hov) is an American hip-hop artist and current president and CEO of Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella Records. He has been one of the most prolific and successful American rappers of the past decade. Due to this sucess, he is sometimes considered to be the greatest rapper of all time.

He is admired for his ability to craft lyrics from memory, without the use of pen and paper; he claims his critically acclaimed album The Blueprint was written in only two days.
He is one of the founders of Roc-A-Fella Records, a hip-hop record label which also launched the careers of artists such as Beanie Sigel, Kanye West, Memphis Bleek, Young Gunz, Freeway, and Teairra Mari.

As of 2006, he was estimated to be worth around $320 million.
Carter was known as "Jazzy," a nickname which eventually developed into his stage name, "Jay-Z." The moniker is also a homage to his musical partner Jaz-O (a.k.a. the Jaz, Big Jaz) as well as to the J-Z subway lines that have a stop at Marcy Avenue in Brooklyn.
On November 25, 2003, Jay-Z held a concert at Madison Square Garden, which would later be the focus of his film Fade to Black. This concert was his "retirement party." All proceeds went to charity. Other performers included collaborators like The Roots (in the form of his backing band), Missy Elliott, Memphis Bleek, Beanie Siegel, Freeway, Mary J. Blige, Beyonce, Twista, Ghostface Killah, Foxy Brown, Pharrell and R. Kelly with special appearances by Voletta Wallace and Afeni Shakur; the mothers of Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur respectively.

There is still heavy speculation that he may come out of his "retirement" to record & release a new album in 2006, ten years after his first album was released.
Apart from being President and CEO of Def Jam Recordings, Jay-Z is also one of the owners and founders of the Roc-A-Fella empire, which includes Roc-A-Fella Records, Roc-La-Familia, Roc-A-Fella Films and Rocawear.
Jay-Z was featured on Beyonce's hit single "Crazy In Love." He made yet another appearance on Beyoncé's 2006 hit, "Deja Vu". The couple never publicly discuss their relationship and have been together for almost four years.

Last month, Jay-Z became the latest superstar to help the United Nations create awareness on a major crisis in the world. He has teamed up with the United Nations and MTV to get children involved in the fight against the worldwide water crisis. He cited statistics that 1.1 billion people live without clean drinking water and 2.6 billion lack proper sanitation.
Now, the rap superstar has a new favorite drink: water.

Majek Fashek
Majek Fashek is one of Reggae and Nigeria's most unique and important artists. We were with Majek at some of his first shows in the US, and we've been at some of his more recent concerts. He's had fans come and go, but there is a circle of us who have always been there. We've stuck it out with Majek though the thick and the thin, times good and bad. The road has not been straight… indeed it has meandered, and it has, the truth be told, been a bit rocky. Yet Majek is still singing and still believing. We often find ourselves fascinated by Majek perception of the world around him. He sees things in a unique light. Here is a man who has convictions and strong beliefs.

We prefer to think of it the following way. On some days, the stars align themselves, and things click. We've seen this happen with Majek both onstage and off. We've seen some of the best moments in live music come from Majek. The best are the moments we like to hold on to, the moments that burn into our memories. With Majek, you've got to know why he wrote the song, and what he was getting at. Sometimes, you have to push, dig deeper, to get the real meaning.
We found ourselves digging deep for the meaning of Majek's songs, philosophy and his view of the world around him.

I'm talking about Job, I dedicated that song to my late brother who was a Biafra soldier – you know he believed in God and things happened. At the same time, I start to realize life in its redefinition. Referring to the song lyrics "We are not fighting against flesh and blood, but spiritual wickedness in high and low places." So what I am trying to say is that Job was the son of God in the Bible. Job heard everything. Man, he was tempted by the devil to give up Jah will…Job tried, you know…
Just like what has happened to me in my career – because before I had a very big contract with Interscope Records, you know what I am saying… things happen and I was on some spiritual experience. Things like that – losing all the bucks, just like that… but still surviving!

CIARA
Ciara Princess Harris was born on October 25, 1985. She is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, actress, and dancer. Ciara made her debut in the summer of 2004 with the Billboard number one single Goodies. She is now set to release her second studio album The Evolution on November 14, 2006.
Ciara was born in Austin, Texas, and grew up in army bases in Germany, New York, California, Arizona and Nevada, since her father was in the United States Army. Her mother figured out that she wanted to pursue a career in music when she picked her up from daycare, and sung every song that was played on the radio. Ciara moved to Atlanta, Georgia when she was 8 years old.
One day, when she was 14, she came home from school and told her mom that she would like to become a singer, but her mom wasn't sure if she really wanted to do this.
She has said that it was seeing a televised performance by Destiny's Child while staying home from school one day that inspired her to pursue a career in music. In her early teens she formed the goal to become a professional singer. She once was a cheerleader for her North Clayton high school team, until she quit. She then joined a girl group called "Hearsay", worked on her songwriting, eventually left the group, got a publishing deal, and found a "musical soulmate" when she met producer Jazze Pha.

US Embassy Opens Abuja Consular Office

The United States Embassy in Nigeria yesterday opened the Abuja Consular Office with a call on Nigerians to avail themselves of a new window of opportunity for easy consular services. The US. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. John Campbell, stated: "The goal of the consular section is to facilitate travel between Nigeria and the U.S. –to encourage Nigerians to work, to seek business opportunities, to study in and to visit the U.S. for whatever their own private purposes, and then return home to share their experiences and to help build their own country."

According to him, the consular section is about facilitating people-to-people contact as well as a means of broadening bilateral relationship between the two countries.
"The United States and Nigeria are important partners in international diplomacy, African regional peacekeeping, promotion of democracy through the conduct of free and fair elections, alleviation of poverty through economic development, and energysecurity."

He said over 1200 regular student visas were issued to Nigerians students in 2006 stressing that the hope of the US. government was that educational travel to the US from Nigeria would increase. "The U.S. values its international students and seeks talented youth and adults the world over to contribute to our multicultural student base."

Ambassador Campbell assured that "We will strive to process all visa applications with efficiency and security, minimising the time and trouble needed apply for a visa."

Work Based from Home and Those Misleading Ads

When it comes to business opportunities, work based from home options should be considered. Work based from home has a many perks including tax advantages and there are solid business opportunities available. Work at home ideas, as they are advertised, may seem a bit confusing or overwhelming at first, but don’t need to be.

You need to sort through advertisements touting themselves as either “Business Opportunities: or Work at home”

You’ve seen them, especially in the classified sections of newspapers that read: “Business Opportunities: Work at home.” Like most people, you are probably skeptical when you see these ads in the paper and you should be. Unfortunately, there are always those out there who try to take advantage of your dream of having your own work based from home business. Single mothers struggling to take care of their children are often victims of this scam. There are a number of these ads that you should avoid. • Envelope stuffing is among the biggest scams out. With this scam, unsuspecting individuals are fooled into believing they can make a great income by simply stuffing envelopes. While a limited number of people will actually make money off of this, most don’t. Then of course there is the issue of ethics. • Assembling complex items that can take a very long time to put together, resulting in far less than minimum wage when broken down into an hourly rate. What’s more you will often not see any money unless the crafts or other objects you have assembled happen to sell.

These scams are certainly not worth your time considering that there are plenty of legitimate work based from home opportunities out there. Sound work based from home ideas simply require using your common sense and not falling for scams that are simply too good to be true.

Once you realize that these Business Opportunities: Work at Home ads are not the way to go when trying to establish your own work based from home business, it is time for the serious work to begin. Starting your own work based from home business is not necessarily an easy task and it does take time and work to get it going. Therefore, you need to start considering what type of work based from home business is right for you.

Take an honest look at your personality. Do you want to be your own boss, or do you prefer someone else take on responsibility for the business? Do you enjoy spending time on the computer, or would you rather be outdoors. Work based from home does not necessarily mean you have to stay inside the house, so consider all possible avenues to find the one that is best for you.

If you wish to start your own work based from home business then brainstorm. There are numerous types of work one can consider, among them:

• Freelance data entry • Freelance writing • Freelance graphic artist • House cleaning, janitorial, window washing or laundry services • Online translation • Online surveys • Plumbing, carpentry, electrical or other handyman services • Driving services • Snow or leaf removal • Landscaping • Phone answering services

The list of work based from home ideas could go on and on. It is limited only by your imagination.

Work At Home By Lucy Rodgers

Online Business | How to Start an Online Bankruptcy Forms Processing Service

Due to the dramatic increase in technology, business professionals now have the ability to outsource their skills and earn extra money working from home as a bankruptcy forms processor. Unlike an attorney or notary public, a bankruptcy forms processor does not have jurisdictional limits. In other words, a bankruptcy forms processor could live in Yellow Springs, Ohio and prepare bankruptcy petitions, pleadings, Motions and other court documents for attorneys practicing in California, New York or any other U.S. state.

In fact, a bankruptcy forms processor can set up a bankruptcy business in their home with very little money and earn a full-time income very quickly. This concept has also opened the door for attorneys practicing in other areas of law to open a sideline bankruptcy practice, and many of these attorneys seek a freelance forms processor to process their paperwork for them.

This is where you as a bankruptcy forms processor can fill a need that is becoming more popular as electronic filing procedures become more the norm. In fact, some states now require electronic filing of all court documents. Paper documents are only accepted by the court from consumers or in other rare circumstances. It will not be long before all the states will have electronic filing procedures in place and those resisting the change will be left behind.

A typical bankruptcy forms processing business might operate like this:

1. Client either downloads or is emailed a set of Client Intake Forms in PDF format to print and fill out at their leisure.

2. Client will fax or email their completed forms to the attorney or forms processor for review. If the attorney decides to accept the bankruptcy case, the forms processor can begin drafting the bankruptcy petition from the information provided on the Client Intake Forms.

3. Areas of the Client Intake Forms that are not properly completed by the client or containing statements that require a more detailed answer would be easy to take care of. The forms processor or attorney will simply call up the client and obtain the information. No appointment would be necessary.

4. After the drafting of the bankruptcy petition, the forms processor saves the document in PDF format and sends it to the attorney as an attachment on an email.

5. At this point the attorney may wish to meet with the clients to review their bankruptcy petition before filing, but it is not absolutely necessary. Some attorneys I worked for never meet the client face-to-face except when they showed up at court. They communicated with the client by email or telephone.

Note: Electronically filed documents do not require the client's signature so it is not necessary to meet the clients face-to-face before filing the bankruptcy petition. An attorney is provided with an electronic signature by the court that he uses to sign all electronic documents filed on behalf of the client he or she represents.

6. After the attorney receives the bankruptcy petition by email, he or she will save it on their computer under the client file name and begin the review. The attorney can either print out the bankruptcy petition and make changes with an ink pen, or review it on the computer screen and note any changes in an email to the forms processor.

7. After the attorney has approved or made changes to the bankruptcy petition, he or she will email it back to the forms processor. The forms processor will make the changes and prepare a final bankruptcy petition ready for electronic filing. The forms processor emails the final petition to the attorney for final approval.

8. Upon approval by the attorney, the forms processor will electronically file the bankruptcy petition with the proper court or email to the attorney for printing, copying and filing.

As you can begin to see, it would be very easy to start a forms processor service working from home. So if you were like me and are tired of the office politics and playing the mental games, you now have the opportunity to work from a peaceful home environment where you can focus more on each case and give your clients the personal touch that will set your business apart from the big companies.

** This article is a book excerpt from, "How to Start a Bankruptcy Forms Processing Service" by Victoria Ring, Certified Paralegal. More information is available online at http://www.50statenotary.com/bankruptcybook

Victoria Ring is a Certified Paralegal and Notary Signing Agent. She started the first electronic bankruptcy paralegal service on the internet (The Lawyer Assistant) to serve attorneys nationwide. Visit her website at http://www.50statenotary.com/bankruptcybook

Nigeria News: Investment Fund to Manage Excess Crude Proceeds - CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it is working on the establishment of a National Investment Fund (NIF) that will manage the excess crude proceeds account for the future benefit of the economy, especially when oil prices drop.

Speaking yesterday in Kaduna at the ongoing CBN seminar for finance correspondents and business editors, the apex bank's Director of Foreign Operations, Alhaji Mohammed Nda, also disclosed that between January and July this year, a total of N465.982 billion ($3.675 billion) crude oil revenue, accrued to the Federation Account, was monetised and shared among the three tiers of government.

Nda who was represented by a deputy director in his department, Mr Olu Adaramewa, said a NIF was necessary to manage the account into which the windfall realised from the ever rising oil prices in the international market would be deposited so that the country would be prepared for future fluctuations.

He disclosed that "the establishment of such a fund in Nigeria can serve the twin objectives of stabilising the volatility of fiscal revenues and creating a pool of capital that can provide an alternative source of foreign exchange earnings."

He also explained that, "it is a known fact that the build up in the nation's external reserves was attributed mainly to the upsurge in oil prices which is not sustainable. Indeed, high oil prices are already driving research into the exploitation and utilisation of alternative energy sources.

"Consequently, there has recently been a call for the nation to establish a National Investment Fund in which to invest excess earnings from oil in order to shield the nation from the uncertainty and volatility of oil prices."

According to him, "many countries have successfully established such a fund including Botswana, Venezuela, Norway and Sao Tome and Principe, to mention a few. In fact, most of these countries sterilise the proceeds from oil and other minerals and finance their budgets through other sources."

Also speaking further, Nda disclosed that between January and July this year, a total of N465.982 billion ($3.675 billion) crude oil revenue, accrued to the Federation Account, was monetised and shared among the three tiers of government, namely Federal, State and Local Governments.

The figure, he added, represented 20.98 per cent increase over N385.156 billion ($2.920 billion) recorded in the corresponding period of 2005.

He disclosed that, the un-monetised and unshared portion of the nation's burgeoning foreign reserves, (that is, the excess crude proceeds) meant for the Federation, as at the July 31, this year stood at $8.18 billion.

The apex bank's Foreign Operations director put the total value of the foreign reserves in the month under review at $38.07 billion, which also included $2.71 billion of Federal Government's component and $27.18 billion, representing CBN component.

He said the figure of the monetised and shared crude oil revenue for 12 months (January to December) in 2005 stood at N694.042 billion ($3.675 billion) as against N860.123 billion (N6.503 billion) of the corresponding period of 2004.

A breakdown of the figures showed that, in 2006, the amount monetised and shared in January totaled N75.188 billion ($589.714 million); N101.007 billion ($788.476 million) monetized and shared in February; N54.286 billion ($430.162 million) in March; N68.739 billion ($544.820 million) in April; N44.888 billion ($355.719 million) in May; N60.793 billion ($482.103 million) in June; and N61.078 billion ($484.521 million) in July.

Nda explained that the Federation component consisted of Sterilised Funds (un-monetised) held in the excess crude and petroleum profit tax (PPT)/royalty account at the CBN belonging to the three tiers of government.

This portion, he added, has not yet been monetised for sharing by the federating units. Adding that it "is ignorantly referred to as the reserves of the country."

He also said the Federal Government component consist of funds belonging to some government agencies such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), for financing of its Joint Venture expenses; Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and Ministry of Defence, for Letters of Credits (LCs) opened on their behalf, amongst others.

Similarly, he explained that the CBN portion consists of funds that have been monetised and shared and constituted 71.4 per cent of the reserves. This, he said, arose as the bank received foreign exchange inflow from crude oil sales and other oil revenues on behalf of the government.

According to him, "such proceeds are purchased by the bank and the naira equivalent credited to the Federation account and shared each month, in accordance with the constitution and the existing revenue sharing formula. The monetised foreign exchange thus belongs to the CBN. It is from this portion of the reserves that the bank conducts its monetary policy and defends the value of the naira."

While pointing out that the much-talked about accumulated reserves was dominated by the foreign exchange equivalent of the amounts that have been shared monthly among the three tiers of government for their annual budgets, Nda charged the Nigerian public to find out "how the monthly allocations of the federations reserves have been utilised as on the foreign exchange counterpart with the CBN."

"As the saying goes, you can eat your cake and have it. The criticism that the CBN is accumulating foreign reserves in the midst of poverty and unemployment is therefore misplaced," he said.

Nigeria News: Bitumen Fetches Federal Governent N3trn

Federal Government yesterday realised over N3 trillion ($20,498,115.39) from the financial bidding of two bitumen blocks and mining properties located across the nation.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Lesley Obiora, said at the financial bid for the Bitumen blocks and Mining Titles & Properties held in Abuja said the reformation in the solid mineral sector was the culmination of a major privatization exercise with four basic fundamental objectives.

Obiora disclosed that the privatisation exercise will eventually lead to creation of jobs and poverty reduction, while hoping that the two bitumen blocks can attract investments of $600 million each, over two years on exploration and production.

According to her, about $3 billion could be generated over five years if the investors build a local refinery, while the gold properties could attract investments of $25 to $100 million in exploration and development over a period of two years, adding that the

industrial minerals properties like Barytes could also attract investments of $3 to $5 million within a year of operation.

She announced that government will continue "to divest from ownership of mining operations, attract strong, credible players into mining sector, deliver fair value for past government investment and curtail huge waste of national resources."

According to her, the privatisation exercise was aimed to catalyze the rapid growth of the mining sector in the nation, noting that the privatised ones are relatively at more advanced stages of development than the Greenfield mining titles which are more readily available through the licensing procedure."Nigeria is endowed with at least 34 mineral resources in more than 450 locations across the country," noting that the growing global economic position of India and China is hinged on their ever increasing consumption of strategic minerals.

She noted, however, that despite the immense contribution of solid minerals in the nation before the oil discovery in 1956, the nation has experience "drastic decline in the level of revenue to one per cent"

In her remark, Director General of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Irene Chigbue said the reform in the sector was done in collaboration with MSMD which had 60 prospective investors pre-qualified.

According to her, out of these, 35 bids were submitted by 10 companies out of which five emerged as winners, while five others fell out due to bidding below the reserved prices for the resources.

Culled from AllAFrica

Obasanjo Seeks Senate’s Support for Transportation Project

President Olusegun Obasanjo has sought the understanding of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus in the Senate for the consideration of proposals for an inter-modal transportation system for the country.

The President had at a caucus meeting on Wednesday night at the Aguda House in Abuja, a stone’s throw from the Aso Rock Presidential Villa and the National Assembly Complex, appealed to the party’s senators to facilitate the passage of a supplementary budget seeking appropriations for the transportation system.

Speaking on the meeting yesterday, shortly after the Senate adjourned plenary to Tuesday next week, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, said the meeting did not have any political linkage.
He said it was essentially intended by the Presidency to brief the PDP Senate Caucus on its proposals for an inter-modal transportation system in the country.

He said: “Regarding our meeting with President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday (Wednesday night), we were briefed on the proposals for an inter-modal transportation system for the country.

“They took us through their target for the rail system, the inland waterways system and the road network and the airports also and how they can be interlinked to form a grid”.
Denying emphatically that the meeting had a secret political agenda, he stated: “I would like to say that there was no political discussion of any kind.”

Culled from Thisday

FG Licences 3 Power Generation Companies

Supertek Nigeria Limited, run by Mr. Joshua Gana, son of former Information and National Orientation Minister, Professor Jerry Gana, and three other private independent power companies were yesterday presented with Federal Government licenses empowering them to undertake electricity generation in the country. The three others are Farm Electric Supply Limited, which would be managed by a foreigner, Mr. Alistair Morrison, Ethiope Energy Limited, owned by Chief Olubiyi Sangowawa, and ICS Power Limited under the tutelage of Engr. Sam Uzoukwu. Supertek Nigeria Ltd will be located in Akwete in Abia State and is expected to produce 1000MW while Farm Electric Supply Ltd, will operate from Ota, Ogun State and was allotted 150MW.

Similarly, ICS Power Ltd, based in Alaoji, near Aba in Abia State is to generate 624MW and Ethiope Energy Ltd, situated in Ogorode, Sapele, Delta State, would produce 2,800MW. Minister of Power and Steel, Senator Liyel Imoke, who presided over the event, disclosed that with the additional capacity from these new companies, when merged with expected capacity of the various on-going Federal Government-sponsored integrated power projects, the country may well be on its way to meeting a target of 15,000MW national capacity by 2010. "With the generation capacity of over 4,000MW which will be added by these new licensees in the next few years, the country will certainly be making a big step towards achieving the target of 15,000MW by 2010", Imoke stated. According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC), these companies which had successfully scaled through the commission's technical and financial evaluation, will be adding a total of 4,574MW of electricity to the national power grid when their projects are completed.

One outstanding feature of the event, according to NERC, was that all the four companies are owned by Nigerians. Speaking at the presentation of the licenses in Abuja, Imoke also said the fact that the first four IPP companies to be licensed are all indigenous companies is a reflection that Nigerians are rising up to the challenge of developing the power sector. He said the Federal Government has responded to this initiative of local entrepreneurs by setting up a committee charged with the task of evolving a power sector specific incentive package to encourage more private sector investors into the electricity industry. "The President has established a committee on power sector specific incentive package under the chairmanship of NERC Chairman, Dr. Ransome Owan, to structure these initiatives", said Imoke. The committee is to conclude deliberations within one month and is expected to submit its report and recommendations by end of September, he said.

While commending NERC for facing up with the unique challenges of the power sector regulation, the minister noted that "an efficiently regulated power sector is 'sine qua non' for attracting private sector investment in the sector". Most of the Chief Executives of the new licensee firms, who spoke to THISDAY shortly after the ceremony said they hope to commence power generation within the next 2 years. The companies also said they would adopt a new technology in power generation known as 'Combine Cycle" method which would avail them the benefit of utilising both gas and ethanol energy sources to power their turbines. The Chief Executive Officer of Supertek Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Joshua Gana told THISDAY that the compamy intends to roll-out within the next two years. Managing Director of Ethiope Energy, Mr. Olubiyi Sangowawa called on government to assist the companies in cushioning the effect of the high risks involved in power projects through special incentives such as import duty waivers and gas price concessions. He also sought for a tax holiday of between 5-10 years for the pioneering power generation companies. He said the company would be making an investment of over $400m for it to achieve 1000MW target, adding that the first firing which will come in the next 12 months will gulp about $100m. Director-General of the Bureau for Public Enterprises, Mrs. Irene Chigbue, said Federal Government is in the process of putting up the necessary framework for a vibrant power sector, adding that the next stage of the process would be for the private sector to take up the challenge of setting up power projects.

Culled from Thisday

electronic voting systems | why inec dropped electronic voting

electronic voting systems

Sometime ago i reported that The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may drop the Electronic Voting Machine from the Electronic Voting System (EVS) following its deletion from the Electoral Bill 2006 by the National Assembly.

I came across an article recently that discussed on the problem with electronic voting systems. Particularly interesting here is the fact that the US has been in the path of electronic voting systems and it didn't work; some of the reasons given for its stoppage amongts many are quoted below:

"Computerized machines lost votes, subtracted votes instead of adding them, and doubled votes. Because many of these machines have no paper audit trails, a large number of votes will never be counted. And while it is unlikely that deliberate voting-machine fraud changed the result of the presidential election, the Internet is buzzing with rumors and allegations of fraud in a number of different jurisdictions and races."

go here for more on electronic voting systems

Nurse Employment | Nursing Jobs quota increased in the US

With the U.S Congress increasing the quota for nursing employment for Third World countries, opportunities abound for foreigners seeking greener pastures in the United States. Few professions are more noble, more important, more critically in need than nursing.

Nurse staffing provide an absolutely vital service to the community, and no Internet site for nurse jobs understands that more than Nursing Jobs.org. Founded by a nurse with more than twenty years of professional experience, we understand the unique needs of those looking for nurse jobs, and we believe you'll find everything you need here to make your nursing job search a success.

So if you are seeking a travel nursing job, log on to www.nursingjobs.org

Nigerian Business News | Make money writing articles

Like i wrote in Nairaland, making money on the Internet via article writing is possible but its hard work just any other job. I have also tried this means of making money on the net, and i can attest to the fact that its real, in fact i make between $100 - $150 a week.

So if any individual have any questions or comments to make send an email to kingsleyduru@gmail.com .

Regards

Nigerian News Blog | Where Are the President Obasanjo's Friends

Yesterday, Lt Gen. Aliyu Gusau (rtd), the only man standing amongst the musketeers or ‘Council of Elders,’ that teamed up in 1998 to persuade President Olusegun Obasanjo to run for the office of President, left his administration as National Security Adviser (NSA), a job he faithfully carried out in the last seven years.

Gusau’s exit left behind Chief Tony Anenih, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees chairman as the only man in that original team still in Obasanjo’s kitchen cabinet.

Gusau was perhaps the originator of the campaign to draft Obasanjo to the presidential contest in 1998 when the Abdulsalam Abubakar regime unfolded its transition programme for returning the country to a civilian, democratic dispensation. Gusau reached out to his friend General Ibrahim Babangida, ex-military president, as well as the Alhaji Atiku Abubakar led Yar’Adua Group known as the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) that provided the political structure which helped Obasanjo move round the country to contest the elections with minimum hassle.

Gusau was also said to have sold the Obasanjo candidacy to the Abubakar regime, a situation that made the Obasanjo for president project a fait accompli, since he was seen in many quarters as the official candidate of the military. To even seal this unwritten pact, the former Director of Military Intelligence and Chief of Army Staff was at the head of operations where he supervised the wheels and deals that eventually brought Obasanjo to power. In that campaign machinery, Lt. Gen Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) was incharge of fund raising while General Babangida was actively networking for the group. On the field, the PDM unleashed its foot soldiers who went round the country campaigning, preaching and disseminating the OBJ For President mantra.

At one end was Chief Tony Anenih who, because of his ability to settle naughty issues, providing a smooth playing field for the campaign machinery, was christened ‘Mr. Fix It.’ It was therefore not surprising to political pundits that among the first set to make the new president’s key appointments was the Zamfara born Gusau who clinched the job of NSA.

Yesterday, however, was a sad note and end for those sentiments and hopes built on an elder statesman and a friend to whom much was given, with the expectation that at the end of eight years, those who rallied to make the position possible would look back with minimum regret. Gusau’s exit, no doubt, is an anti-climax that completes the circle of the old brigade of friends now turned enemy of the president. According to Aso Rock sources, Gusau left in circumstances which left a sour taste in the mouth. Gusau’s exit is only a continuum of the massive loss of the president’s friends, admirers and sponsors, a phenomenon that is yet to abate at different levels.

Nigerian News | As INEC Explains Choice of April 2007... Iwu: Constitution Ties My Hands

Rejects Option A4 • Registers 2 more parties

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday explained its choice of April next year for the nation’s general elections that will draw the curtain on President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure, saying it was in strict compliance with provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

The commission’s Chair-man, Prof. Maurice Iwu, spoke at the release of its programme for the 2007 general elections in Abuja and explained further that INEC would not be able to announce the order of election until the National Assembly passed the Electoral Bill.

Iwu who also announced the registration of two more political parties, the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) and the Peoples Party Alliance (PPA), said that although it was desirable for elections to hold earlier than April so as to leave enough time for post-election litigations, he explained that the provisions of the constitution was rigid and had to be strictly complied with.

Obasanjo: Qualities of Next President

President Olusegun Obasanjo this morning listed qualities, which he said Nigerians could not afford to compromise while choosing the next President as doing so would reverse the gains of the last seven years of democracy in the country.

In his Democracy Day broadcast to the nation, Obasanjo said whoever aspired to lead Nigeria must possess “a track record of discipline, capacity to deliver, integrity, and the essence of humanity- the fear of God.”

To succeed in the search for such a leader, especially given the current search, Obasanjo said Nigerians needed to redefine the purpose of politics and leadership by abandoning old ways of thinking on power relations, explaining that appeals to sentiments rather than rational thinking had stunted the attainment of nationhood.

“We must, as Nigerians, transcend old, non-functional, even discredited basis of power arrangements and permutations that led us no where other than spreading hatred, suspicion, inefficiency, corruption, and the contamination of progressive conduct and values,” he said.

Nigerian News

Nigerian News | US, UK Warships in Lagos

The United States of America and the United Kingdom warships yesterday arrived the shores of Nigeria ahead of the Presidential fleet review scheduled to hold at the Elegbeta channel, Lagos to mark the Golden jubilee celebration of the Nigerian Navy (NN).
While warships from Brazil, Germany, South Africa and Ghana are expected to arrive Lagos before Monday, June 29, to participate in the international event.

The Director Naval Information, Captain Medani, while speaking with media men in Lagos, stated that President Olusegun Obasanjo is expected to review all fleet that will be taking part in the historic event which will begin with a sea power symposium organised for African Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS). The fleet review will hold on Friday, July 2, 2006.

Among the ships arriving for the review includes, a guided missile destroyer from the US, two frigates from UK and South Africa. Others are, a fast attack craft from Ghana, an ocean survey vessel from Brazil, a logistic ship from the UK. Nine ships from the Nigerian Navy fleet and four helicopters will also be participating.

Nigerian News - No third term for Obasanjo

Nigeria's Senate has thrown out a move to allow President Olusegun Obasanjo to seek a third term in office next year - an issue which has divided the country.

Opponents shouted for joy as the bill to amend the constitution was rejected.
Supporters of the third term bid spent days in talks trying to acquire a two-thirds majority in parliament.

Thank God!!!

Nigeria News - Fighting at the Nigerian National Assembly

Nigerian Politricks

In July, presidents of the eight most industrialised countries of the world, the Group of Eight (G8), will be holding the group's annual meeting in the Russian Republic to map out their global economic strategies. As is now customary with G8 meetings, leaders are invited from around the world to represent regional and global interests.

As we write this, authoritative information at our disposal has it that Thabo Mbeki of South Africa has been invited to the G8 meeting; so also has Sassou Nguesso of the Congo who is the new chairman of the African Union (AU). Against this background, it is certainly curious that at press time, Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo is yet to receive the invitation of the world's most powerful leaders.

Without doubt, this is a huge sea-change for Nigeria and our president. Last year in Gleneagles, President Obasanjo was one of the more prominent regional leaders at the G8 meeting in Scotland, leading the way in the campaign for debt relief which Nigeria got and then used to work its way out of the Paris Club of creditors. In fact, every recent G8 meeting has featured both Obasanjo and Mbeki, as conspicuously as possible, to state the case for Africa. And on every occasion, they did so with all the moral and persuasive force in the world.

READ MORE

Technorati

New Nigerian Blog in town

New Nigerian Blog in the Hood I am using this opportunity to share with my readers info on this new resource on small business in Nigeria.

The URL is http://naijabusiness.blogspot.com

Cheers

Nigerian News - Labour Says No to 3rd Term

Labour Says No to 3rd Term

I found this article today on thisday home page
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday, in Abuja restated its opposition to the third term bid of President Olusegun Obasanjo and state governors, saying that it had been steadfast on the issue.

Describing politicians as opportunists, the congress also deplored the part played by some former public office holders, including former Chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Audu Ogbeh, and former Inspectors-General of Police in the abuse of workers and citizens rights.

Every public officer must surely drink from the cup with which he feeds others as soon as he steps down from office, it warned public officers in a speech by its President, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, at the May Day celebrations held at the Eagles Square, Abuja. More

Nigerian News - INEC May Drop Electronic Voting Machine

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may drop the Electronic Voting Machine from the Electronic Voting System (EVS) following its deletion from the Electoral Bill 2006 by the National Assembly. INEC’s new thinking came to the fore yesterday during a stakeholders’ interactive forum organized by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) INEC, in preparation for the electronic voters’ registration exercise starting tomorrow.

The FCT INEC National Commissioner, Hon. Setley Daze, who disclosed this at the forum said: “INEC has not identified any electronic machine or vendor for the EVM for use for the 2007 elections. INEC only included it in the proposed Electoral Act. “If it comes, fine, because it would help as a pilot scheme. Even if we don’t get it, we have capabilities to conduct free and fair general elections in 2007 using the other three methods.” The other methods include the Election Management System (EMS), which was launched just last week, the Electronic Voters’ Registration (EVR) and Electronic Transmission Result (ETR).

Read More

Nigerian News - Jimoh Ibrahim Defies Regulator on NICON Insurance Corporation

Embattled Group Chief Executive Officer, NICON Insurance Corporation, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, yesterday faulted the directive issued by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) for him to step down as head of the insurance firm, affirming that he intended to stay in control as long as he lives.

Ibrahim who stated this yesterday in Abuja at the presentation of cheques to former NICON Insurance staff by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) for pensions and gratuity, noted that no law in Nigeria prohibits an individual who owns a company from running it.

“I have come to stay for life, only God can remove me because I bought NICON Insurance. It’s my company, I have 70 per cent of it. Insurance is a member of NICON Group. NAICOM can withdraw the licence of Insurance, it doesn’t matter,” declared Ibrahim.

NAICOM, the regulatory body for the insurance sector, had given Ibrahim a 21-day ultimatum to step down as the chief executive of NICON Insurance Plc and also demanded that the firm forward the name of a new CEO within 21 days.

NAICOM threatened to impose appropriate sanction on the company if the directives were ignored. Read More

Nigerian News - NAFDAC shuts Julius Berger clinic

The National Agency for Food And Drug Administration (NAFDAC), yesterday shut down all drugs outlets at the Julius Berger clinic located in life camp Abuja and put the clinic on hold.

Leader of NAFDAC enforcement team, Alhaji Hashim Ubale Yusuf, who led the delegation for the exercise, told newsmen that the agency ‘s decision to shut down all drugs outlets in the clinic was as a result of the presence of counterfeit and expired drugs, as well as products that are not registered by the agency. Read More

Nigerian News - Obasanjo Lobbies S/West Governors, Lawmakers

President Olusegun Obasanjo Tuesday night met with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, senators and members of the House of Representatives from the South-west to explain to them why he wanted to continue in office beyond 2007. Obasanjo has consistently avoided a "yes" or "no" response to allegations that he is scheming for an extra term of office. Continue

Nigerian Constitution Amendment Wahala

There was pandemonium yesterday at the Senate as the upper chamber of the National Assembly yesterday rejected a National Assembly Journal containing a Bill for an Act to Amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Second Publication), which proposed a three terms of four years each for governors.

The first journal circulated to senators did not contain a proposal for the amendment of Section 182 and this had created cracks in the ranks of proponents of three terms of four years each for President Olusegun Obasanjo and state governors. There were, however, indications that Obasanjo mandated the President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani, to ensure that Clause 182 of the proposed amendment was restored into the bill. See here for more details

Protesters Stone Obasanjo’s Convoy in Kano

On its way to Jigawa State enroute from Kano, the convoy of President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday ran into hundreds of protesting youths who hauled missiles at it in the ancient city. But in Jigawa, the president, while responding to a praise singer who urged him to damn the constitution and accept to rule for another 12 years, said he had no hand in such matters. The Kano incident had precipitated a violent clash between the supporters of All Nigeria People Party (ANPP) and the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), resulting in the destruction of about 70 vehicles while the stone-throwing youths chanted anti Obasanjo slogans. The supporters of both political parties were seen wielding dangerous weapons, which they also used to smash the windscreens of any vehicle that carried the posters of a rival party. It took the intervention of the security personnel to control the situation at Kofar Nasarawa at the heart of Kano metropolis when the warring youths engaged themselves in a skirmish. Consequently, some people suffered various degrees of injuries. Obasanjo was on his way to Kazaure, Jigawa state where the governor, Alhaji Saminu Turaki, received a traditional title of Turakin Kazaure.

Zenith Bank Becomes the first Nigerian Bank to Handle Nigerian Government Foreign Reserves

Zenith International Bank Becomes the first Nigerian Bank to Handle Nigerian Government Foreign Reserves .

When i first heard that zenith bank was going back to the capital market for more funds - i told my friends then that Zenith was all out to get their hands on the Federal government foreign reserves. I came to this conclusion when i heard that the CBN announce that any Nigerian Bank that has 1,000,000,000 US Dollars ( about 129,000,000,000 Naira) will be given 500,000,000 US Dollars to manage.

Now Zenith Bank Plc, in partnership with JPMorgan Chase, a United States-based leading global financial services firm, has been appointed as the first global custodians of Nigeria's foreign reserve which is projected to grow to about $50 billion by end of the year.

Way to go Zenith, i pray others Nigerian banks should do the same so that Nigerian banks can finally play their role in the African Financial scene.

Uphill Battle For 3rd Term As National Assembly Decides

While going through my the Website of Thisday Newspapers i came across this headliner -

Uphill Battle For 3rd Term As National Assembly Decides ... More members enlist in opposition camp.
An uphill battle appears underway over the move to elongate the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo beyond 2007 as the National Assembly reconvenes on Tuesday in Abuja to commence the second reading of the 1999 Constitution Amendment Bill 2006. The bill seeks to amend some sections of the constitution including the present two terms of four year each tenure for President.
Also, there are indications that more Senators and House members are abandoning the pro-3rd term camp to join forces with the group opposed to the idea. But there were indications on Saturday that the pro-third term legislators are set to make some adjustments to the contentious amendment bill.

More

Ronaldinho - A legend in the making...

Ronaldinho - A legend in the making...

While going through Nairaland today i saw this link showing pictures and videos of the world's best footballer in action. Enjoy

Ronaldinho

3rd Term: Governors Give 3 Conditions to Obasanjo

What is Nigerian Democracy turning into?
As the strategists of President Olusegun Oba-sanjo's tenure extension plan return to the drawing board, indications emerged yesterday that the governors backing the plan have given the president conditions for their continued support. Also yesterday, the publicity committee of the 2007 Movement, an assembly of federal lawmakers opposed to the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to permit tenure elongation for Obasanjo and governors, said it will take its case against the move to foreign envoys on Monday. But the governors, who met Obasanjo and the defunct National Assembly Joint Committee on the 1999 Constitution Review (JCCR) Chairman, Senator Ibrahim Nasir Mantu, separately last Wednesday demanded for the total restoration of Section 308 which dwells on immunity from criminal prosecution for the President, his deputy as well as governors and their deputies. More

Nigeria: Obasanjo's Score Card

I Just this Interesting link while Browsing the Net

The following graphic show the pains and gains of Obasanjo's regime over the past 6-7 years he is in office. As it clearly show we have more poor people, more unemployed, products cost more and the stress all these bring takes their toll first with the higher infant mortality and death rates and second with the general life expectancy declination. As for the gains more people can communicate on their mobiles, increase in literacy and of course the partial reduction/write-off of the country's external debt.

Source: Agodi

Nigeria Exits Paris Club Tomorrow

President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday announced that Nigeria will finally exit its indebtedness to the Paris Club tomorrow. Speaking before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Council Chambers, State House, Abuja, the President said the approval of NigeriaÂ’s Policy Support Instrument (PSI) by the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday, April 17, “means the last stage of our indebtedness to the Paris Club has been cleared. Noting that the Minister of Finance, Dr.(Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had already issued a statement on the debt settlement, President Obasanjo added that “by Friday, April 21, we would have cleared ourselves of all debts owed to Paris Club. More

Delta Militants Denounce Obasanjo's Plan for Oil Region, Threaten More Attacks

Militants targeting oil installations in Nigeria's southern Niger Delta on Wednesday denounced plans unfolded by President Olusegun Obasanjo to redress grievances in the impoverished region, vowing instead more attacks to increase local control of oil wealth.

Like I earlier reported President Obasanjo met with moderate Niger Delta leaders in the Nigerian capital Abuja on Tuesday and unfolded a plan to create 20,000 jobs in the region and invest in roads, education and health for its people. While hard line Niger Delta leaders boycotted the meeting, MEND dismissed Obasanjo's offer of "menial jobs".

Hear Them: "For 50 years the wealth of our people has been looted by the Nigerian government and it believes this injustice can be remedied by providing menial jobs to indigenes of the Niger Delta," MEND said in a statement emailed to reporters.

"What we have demanded is the control of our resources which the Nigerian government has so far ignored," it added.

"Our halt in attacks was more of a tactical suspension which has come to its end," it said. "At a time of our choosing we will resume our attacks with greater devastation and no compassion on those who choose to disregard our warnings." MEND claims to be fighting for the interests of the impoverished inhabitants of the Niger Delta, who live with no electricity or running water and feel cheated out of the oil wealth by Western oil companies and the government of Nigeria, the world's eighth largest crude producer.

Shebi I talk am

Government Announces Plan for Niger Delta

President Olusegun Obasanjo has announced the governments decision to make the development of the Niger delta a reality. The decision was announced yesterday at the Banquet hall of the presidential Villa, Abuja during the inauguration of a 50 member consolidated council on Social and Economic Development of Coastal states of the Niger Delta.

The president unfolded a massive short, medium and long term development programme for the oil producing states.

The short term covers the period from now to the next two years, medium term is from two years to five years and long term is five years and above.

Whether this solves the problem of the Niger Delta is something we must wait to see

Kingsley

Charles Taylor Was Arrested in a Liberian Embassy Car

According to The Daily Trust Newspapers Charles Taylor the embattled former Liberian President who was formerly a Guest of the Nigerian government was caught on the Nigerian border in a Liberian embassy car. The news raises questions about who aided in his escape from his Calabar home to the north of Borno state.

Eyewitnesses of Taylor's arrest last month said the diplomatic plate number of the jeep was 81 CD 85, as reported by Agence France Presse (AFP) and the Liberian newspaper The Analyst.

The Daily Trust can today confirm that this is a Liberian diplomatic number plate.

Embassies are designated specific numbers for their car registrations by the consular department of the Foreign Affairs ministry in Abuja. Number plates beginning with 81 are exclusively for the use of the Liberian government, an embassy staff member confirmed.

But the Charge d' Affairs of the Liberian embassy, Manfred Peters, said yesterday the car was not officially given to Mr Taylor by the embassy for his use.

He said: "There was no official contact with Mr Taylor before his arrest. Mr Taylor has been the guest of the Nigerian government. I am waiting for the Federal government's investigation."

The government's spokeswoman, Remi Oyo, said: "This is a matter for the Liberian government to answer".

The Range Rover jeep is still being held by Customs officials in the village of Ngala, Borno state, police said. Friends What do you make of this? A conspiracy or mere coincidence? Well only Taylor can say.

Nno - Inakwana - E-Kabo...

Welcome to Naija Sense...

Hi, This is my first post on NaijaSensen, A Blog Dedicated to Naija News,
Events and all things Nigerian. All content posted on this site will be
information gleaned off the street, homes, offices, markets, radio and
Television from Naija.

We also welcome contents and contributions from Naija people and friends of Naija.
Please Stay tuned as we keep you posted on the happenings in Nigeria.

Once again welcome to NaijaSense...