Meteorological Agency Warns Of Severe Flood In 11 Nigerian States

August 8, 2016

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has placed 11 states in Nigeria on danger list regarding severe flood which will occur between August and October this year.
The states according to the Agency’s report on Rainfall Situation are Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Kaduna, Kwara, Nasarawa, Yobe and Zamfara.
The report said that the saturation of soil moisture in the affected states was due to cumulative high intensity rainfall in June and July.
“After thorough analyses of rainfall data from our observatories nationwide for June and July, we wish to provide the following information and advisories to the public, especially those in the affected areas. Soil moisture has either reached saturation, or near saturation levels due to cumulative high intensity rainfall in some parts of the country in June and July.”
The Agency said that soil in the affected states is no longer able to absorb more rainwater in the coming weeks which coincide with the peak rainy season.
The agency in its 2016 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction, had said that while many parts of Nigeria would experience lower than-normal total rainfall due to the effect of El Nino, flooding could still be experienced in such areas, particularly those that were naturally prone to it.
The SRP identified parts of the North-West, South-West and low-lying areas, as particularly vulnerable to flooding during 2016 rainy season.
These observations and projections were also in agreement with the 2016 Annual Flood Outlook that was released by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency.
NIMet advised governments, communities and individuals in these vulnerable parts of the country to take proactive actions such as clearing water channels and drainage, and also avoid activities that could block the free flow of flood water. [myad]

PDP Trustee Sets Up 18 Member Committee To Reconcile Sheriff, Makarfi

Greenbarge Reporters

August 8, 2016

The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has set up an 18-member committee to reconcile the Ali Modu Sheriff camp with the Ahmed Makarfi led Caretaker Committee.
The committee, chaired by a former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, is coming as last minute effort to save the upcoming national convention of the party.
Chairman of the party’s BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin, who inaugurated the committee on Monday, said that the Trustees would not sit by and watch the party destroyed by the lingering leadership crisis.
He expressed dismay that there are about 15 different court cases instituted by the various contending groups within the party, stressing the urgent need for a politician solution to the crisis.
He warned that allowing the cases to go on might leave the party in a permanent state of crisis.
He appealed to the litigants to withdraw their court cases and allow the reconciliation committee to resolve the differences so that the August 17 convention could hold.
Speaking shortly after the inauguration, Professor Gana assured that the committee would discharge its functions with every sense of responsibility, justice and fairness.
He pleaded with the Sheriff camp to allow the committee to resolve the crisis by making himself available for discussions. He hoped that at the end of the day, the party would go into the convention united.
Other members of the committee are Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun, Senator Ibrahim Ida, Hajia Inna Ciroma, Senator Biodun Olujimi and retired Air Commodore Dan Suleiman, among others. [myad]

Ex Militant Heads Waterway Security Taskforce In Bayselsa

Greenbarge Reporters

August 8, 2016

Former Niger Delta militant leader, Mr. Africanus Ukparasia, popularly known as ‘General’ Africa, has been appointed to chair the Bayelsa state Waterway Security Taskforce.
The Taskforce, according to the state governor, Seriake Dickson, is a new strategy to end the menaces of militancy, pipeline vandalism, pirate attacks, kidnapping and other criminal activities along the waterways and creeks of the state.
Inaugurating the Taskforce at the Banquet Hall of the government House in Yenagoa, governor Dickson mandated the taskforce to provide security agencies with required intelligence to deal with criminals.
The ceremony attracted youths and leaders from different parts of the state, including the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Tiwe Oruminighe and the state Secretary of the party, Mr. Marlin Daniel.
The chairman of the Taskforce assured the government of adequate security and intelligence gathering along the waterways of the state.
He said that criminals would no longer be allowed to take over the waterways to kill innocent people and subject travellers and traders to untold hardship.
He warned sea robbers and other criminals operating in the state to leave the creeks or face tough times.
Speaking on the choice of Africa, Oruminighe hailed Dickson for the appointment and said though the ex-militant leader is a member of APC, security is for everybody.
He said that governor Dickson, though a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), recently visited President Muhammadu Buhari to seek ways of solving the Niger Delta problem. [myad]

Rio 2016: Nigeria Should Not clap For Good Preparation But Luck – Fan

Greenbarge Reporters

August 8, 2016

A Nigeria sports enthusiast, Eze Onwuka has attributed the victory so far achieved by Team Nigerian in the ongoing Rio Olympic to share luck and divine intervention rather than good preparations for the games.
He emphasised that the victories so far were not because of the good preparation but the determination of the Samson Siasia-led team whom, he noted, wanted to make a mark for themselves.
Onwuka who spoke in an interview in Awka, the Anambra state capital commended the singular efforts of Dream Team V1 in the male soccer for defeating both the Japan and Sweden in spite of the poor arrangement
The enthusiast who is Managing Director, Rojenny Games Village, Oba, Anambra state, said that the Dream Team’s securing of a quarter-final ticket is a morale booster for the team that had turbulent build-up to the Games in Brazil.
Onwuka said that he was too excited about the ability of Team Nigeria to surpass their former performances even when it was clear that the athletes were not properly prepared for the global challenge.
“Our U-23 soccer team are doing well; I am happy with them after all the difficulties.
“Nigeria did not prepare for the Olympics; any country that goes to the Olympics for real business prepares for it in four or more years.
“And not to gather athletes for two months and send them to compete with the world’s best. “Luck gave us some fortunes in Atlanta 1996 but as a man who has invested in sports than any state government in Nigeria, l can tell you that we are not proactive.
“Our facilities are idle and no plans to prepare the athletes for victory, so it is still a trial and error thing,’’ he said.
Ezeowuka, who decried poor investment in sports in spite of its unifying factor, noted that sports rather than religion had kept the country together and should enjoy government’s attention.
“We have never invested in sports development as we should; the unity we are looking for in Nigeria can be got from sports.
“I think religion divides us but sports unite us.
“So, if there is any sector that should enjoy waver or subsidy, it should be sports not religion because it lifts more people especially the youths out of poverty.”
The U-23 male soccer team secured their quarter-finals berth after beating Japan 5-4 on Wednesday and Sweden 1-0 on Sunday. The team will play Colombia on August 10 in their final group game. [myad]

Ex Education Minister, Adeniran Eyes PDP Chairmanship

Greenbarge Reporters

August 8, 2016

Former Nigeria Minister of Education, Professor Tunde Adeniran has indicated interest in and picked nomination form for the chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the national secretariat in Abuja.
The Ahmed Makarfi’s faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has scheduled its National Convention for the next week’s national convention of the
Professor Adeniran who was also one time former Ambassador to Germany said his commitment to repositioning the party towards greatness and redirect it in actualising the dreams of the founding fathers informed his decision to seek the mandate of the delegates to the national convention.
“I want to assure all our party members and Nigerians at large that my venture into the chairmanship position of our great party has no other motive than to re-position, rebrand and put the party on the path of greatness. As a founding member, who has remained with the party in thick and thin and served in various frontline capacities, I possess the fortitude and experience to help the party achieve its objectives.”
Adeniran, who is a Professor of Political Science, picked the nomination form in the presence of party stakeholders and prominent stalwarts, including Hon. Oke Olusola Babatunde from Ekiti State, Hon Oluwole Oke from Kwara State, Engr. Chinedum Ekeh from Abia State, and Hon. Temitope Atte from Kogi State, urged the delegates and leaders of the party to entrust him with the responsibility of being the National Chairman in order to ensure its rebirth and the enthronement of good governance in the country.
“At this crucial period of our party and national polity, we need someone who has genuine interest of the party and is acceptable across boards; someone that has no integrity issue. I believe our delegates will appreciate the great need of the party for the personality I represent.”
Professor Adeniran was Minister of Education from June 1989 to January 2001, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany between May 2004 and January 2007, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) between 2009 and 2011, and Chairman and Director of the Directorate for Social Mobilisation (MAMSER) from 1987 to 1992. [myad]

Warri Monarch Wants Buhari To Investigate Alleged Sponsors Of Avengers

Greenbarge Reporters

August 8, 2016

A traditional ruler, the Ajuwaoyiboyami of Warri Kingdom in Delta State, Chief Ayiri Emami, has called on President, Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the 22 alleged sponsors, members and sympathizers of the Niger Delta Avengers revealed on Saturday evening by a splinter faction, Reformed Niger Delta Avengers.

In a statement, the Monarch said that icated his earlier position that some corrupt politicians trying to escape justice are the brains behind the militant group responsible for various cases of destruction of oil facilities in the Niger Delta.

“Nigerians should not take the report with a pinch of salt and President Muhammadu Buhari should ensure that the fresh revelation is properly investigated with a view to bringing all those behind the economic and political sabotage to book.

“I say so emphatically because these failed and corrupt politicians are determined to bring down the economy of Nigeria and rubbish the President Buhari’s administration before gullible Nigerians.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC), stalwart in Delta state, however, cautioned government not to allow any of them to escape justice in the name of peace talks. [myad]

Council For Sharia In Nigeria Says Shi’ites Are Not Muslims

Greenbarge Reporters

August 8, 2016

The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN) has said that members of the Shi’ites are not Muslims even as it insisted that those of them who were indicted in the December 12 to 14, 2015, clash with the Nigerian Army in Zaria must face the full wrath of the law.

In a communiqué read to journalists shortly after its meeting in Kaduna, on Sunday, the chairman of SCSN, Sheikh Yusuf Sambo Rigachikun, said the Shiites must be punished for their role in the clash, because according him, their (Shiites) attitude towards the Army was un-Islamic.

The communique read: “From the delivered lectures, it has become obvious that Shi’ism is not Islam and Muslims should acquire the knowledge of their religion, so that they are not derailed from the true teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).”

“From the little we heard about the submitted report of the commission of inquiry into the Military/Shi’ites clash last December, the council calls on the government to release the White Paper on the crisis. This will go a long way in curbing the menace of Shi’a in our society.

“The council condemns, in strongest terms, the call by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to its members to take up arms to protect themselves. It’s unbecoming of a body of clergymen to make such unguarded call. Meanwhile, we call on all Muslims to be law-abiding and be vigilant at all times.

“This comment does not only paint a negative picture for the association, but also evince its discomfiture in recent times. This, in part, informs the recent conjecture that the SGF is not a Christian,’’ the statement averred.

“The government of the day, led by Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, needs our collective support and prayers to survive these economic turbulent times. We call on all Muslims to be supportive and endure these harsh times which, by Allah’s grace, will be over with time.” [myad]

From Woman To Woman (PHOTO)

Greenbarge Reporters

August 8, 2016

The Representative of the Director General of Nigerians Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Hajiya Lami Tumaka presenting a souvenir to Hajiya Bola Muse, Governor of Women in Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) when the Association visited the Agency’s Head Quarters in Lagos, recently. [myad]

Avengers: Dokpesi Is Our Sponsor: It Is A Lie – Dokpesi

Greenbarge Reporters

August 8, 2016

Aspiring national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Raymond Dokpesi, has denied links with resurgent militant group, Niger Delta Avengers.

This was even as a splinter group of Avengers, Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), had issued a statement claiming that Dokpesi was part of those sponsoring the rampaging group that has claimed responsibility for several attacks on oil installations in the oil rich region.

The group’s confession was contained in a statement by its spokesperson, Cynthia Whyte on Saturday.

But speaking with the Punch, the DAAR Communications founder insisted that he had no “connection” with the separatist group.

“I don’t know who is giving that report; I don’t have any idea; I have never met any Avenger in my life I have no connection, association and I don’t know who they are. I have been committed to strengthening the unity and stability of the country.

“I don’t k know anything pertaining to any Avenger, I don’t know anything about any militant group. I have no connection, no association with any militant group, either on earth or anywhere in the world.”[myad]

Nigeria Shines In Table Tennis In Rio

Greenbarge Reporters

August 8, 2016

Aruna Quadri on Sunday restored Nigeria’s hope in the table tennis event in the ongoing Rio Olympic Games after beating Slovakia’s Yang Wang 4-1 in the men’s singles.

An elated Quadri after the match said: “in the Olympic first match to play Wang Yang was really so very difficult. You can never be sure.

“I find it difficult to read the spin on the ball when he defends and I made mistakes; then of course sometimes he will attack. It is difficult to really feel settled against him.

“I made mistakes; then of course sometimes he will attack with his forehand.

“I have played him twice before and both times I lost and I am happy I won the match.”

On Monday, Quadri is expected to battle against world number seven, Chinese Taipei’s Chih-Yuan Chuang, in the third round match of the men’s singles.

However, Egypt’s Omar Assar met his waterloo as the former African champion surrendered a 3-1 lead to lose 4-3 to Ukraine’s Lei Kou in the second round match of the men’s singles.[myad]

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