Governor Yahaya Bello Shouts Down State University Students Over Threat

July 3, 2016

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state has asked students of the state University at Anyimgba to stop threatening his government with protest over the none reopening of the institution.

The governor said that the students, under the canopy of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) should direct their anger at the lecturers, who he said had not reciprocated the good gesture of his government.

A statement on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kingsley Fanwo said: “it is incredulously ridiculous to insinuate that Gov. Yahaya Bello is not sensitive to the plight of the students at the state-owned university which has been on strike for months.’’

The statement said that the government is working hard to make state-owned tertiary institutions world class citadels of learning, recalling that shortly after his inauguration, the governor assured authorities of various higher institutions in the state of his determination to reposition tertiary education in the state.

“The Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) told the whole world that they were going on strike because of unpaid salary arrears owed by the previous government.

“But, out of commitment to the need to prioritize education, Gov. Yahaya Bello has paid six months salaries to the university staff since assuming office on Jan. 27.

“The latest being the four months salaries paid even as he awaited the final report of the staff verification exercise.

“The state government negotiating team has continued to engage ASUU on the need to resolve the industrial dispute and reopen the university.”

The statement said that directing an outburst at the government, in spite of its efforts, was “the height of irresponsible activism and misplaced intervention.

“NANS should have been properly informed about the real reasons why salaries were delayed; hundreds of millions of state resources have been going into ghost pockets.’’

The state government said in the statement that in a bid to tackle corruption, the government called for a scientific and holistic staff verification exercise which its reports had been astonishing.

“We expect the student body to commend the government for blocking the leakages which have been depriving the students their bursary and improved facilities on campuses.

“Since the completion of the staff verification exercise, salary payments have been ongoing as over 80 per cent of the workforce has received their salaries.

“The present administration has restored credibility to the civil service, overseeing the ongoing Lokoja township road project, ensured a cleaner environment through proactive measures and set the state on progress.”

The statement advised NANS to get right its facts before accepting and publishing misleading notions. (NAN). [myad]

Lagos Traders End 20-Year Conflict, Relocate From Alade Market

Greenbarge Reporters

July 3, 2016

After 20 years of sustained resistance, all traders in Alade Market have finally relocated to a newly built alternative market on Sunday. By the action of the traders, the way is now cleared for the redevelopment of N6.9 billion ultra-modern shopping mall.

The traders finally relocated with the intervention of the Lagos State Government, Ikeja Local Government and the Iyaloja of Alade Market, Chief Aina Adenuga. He said that all legal allotees in the old market have started moving into the alternative market.

All parties were said to have agreed to the relocation plan after a series of meetings at the weekend with the Sole Administrator of Ikeja LGA, Abiodun Taiwo, and representatives of the state government among others.

The decision of all the parties to relocate from Alade Market ended a 20-year conflict, which undermined the proposal to redevelop the market to Alade Shopping Mall valued N6.9 billion.

The parties, therefore agreed that the concessionaire of the Alade Shopping Mall, the Masters Reality Int’l Concepts Limited should erect a billboard indicating that the old market had been relocated to the new one.

Also, the parties set up a relocation committee headed by the immediate past Executive Secretary of Ikeja LGA, Alhaji Adekunle Dally-Adeokun. Other members include the Managing Director of Masters Reality Int’l Concept, Mr. Lai Omotola and the Iyaloja of the market.

The parties agreed that the relocation committee should ensure that all traders “relocate from the old market on or before July 18, the date set aside for the inauguration of the alternative market.”

The parties warned that all illegal occupants under the aegis of Concerned Traders in Alade Market should desist from disrupting the relocation of the old market to the alternative place.

After the meeting at the weekend, the sole administrator noted that out of the 299 allotees in the old market, 260 had collected their allocation papers after paying the allocation fee of N150, 000. [myad]

Germany Beat Italy On Penalties To Reach Semi Finals

Greenbarge Reporters

July 3, 2016

Jonas Hector fired Germany into the semifinals of Euro 2016 at Italy’s expense after an epic round of 18 penalty kicks that saw players from both sides produce stunning misses in Bordeaux yesterday.

World Cup holders Germany won the shoot-out 6-5 after a tense match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra time, and their reward is a semifinal with the winner today’s last quarterfinal between hosts France and Iceland.

Joachim Loew’s side had appeared to be heading for the win in regulation time after Mesut Ozil pounced to give them a 65th-minute lead. But Italy clawed themselves back into the game when Leonardo Bonucci levelled from the penalty spot 12 minutes from the end of normal time after a Jerome Boateng handball.

After no goals were scored in extra time, Ozil, Thomas Mueller and Bastian Schweinsteiger all failed from the spot for Germany, usually so reliable from 12 yards. But after Simone Zaza and Graziano Pelle missed for Italy and Bonucci was denied by Manuel Neuer, Matteo Darmian’s failure to convert the Azzurri’s ninth kick allowed Hector to become Germany’s hero.

The game had been billed as the pick of the quarterfinals, but large spells of the game in Bordeaux were uneventful. Germany talisman Schweinsteiger again started the game on the bench but was introduced after quarter of an hour to replace Sami Khedira, who came off with a groin injury.

Schweinsteiger found the net just before the half-hour mark but his effort was disallowed for a foul on Mattia De Sciglio. With a semifinal against either hosts France or Iceland up for grabs, a cautious approach from both sides was to be expected.

Indeed, Germany coach Joachim Loew sprung a surprise by moving away from his usual 4-2-3-1 formation in favour of a 3-5-2 to replicate the Italian set-up, dropping the previously excellent Julian Draxler as a result.

The World Cup holders went on to dominate possession throughout but Gianluigi Buffon was untroubled by a Mario Gomez toe-poke while the veteran goalkeeper also easily saved from a Mueller shot late in the first half. Italy responded in kind, Emanuele Giaccherini seeing his cutback go all the way to Stefano Sturaro, whose his low drive had power but was deflected out for a corner.

Germany moved up a gear immediately after the restart, Gomez smartly laying the ball off for Mueller to hit a left-foot drive that was turned behind by the backtracking Alessandro Florenzi at the far post.

The Germans were beginning to control proceedings and the opener arrived soon after. Gomez pounced on some slack defending by Florenzi before finding Hector in space to the left of the penalty box. The full-back’s attempted cutback came off Bonucci but fell to Ozil, who fired past Buffon from close range to give Germany a 65th-minute lead.

Germany’s confidence was now soaring and Ozil found Gomez in space with a great chip, but the striker’s outrageous flick was superbly saved by Buffon and the offside flag came up anyway. Italy looked down, but they were not out.

An unmarked Pelle got his left foot to Florenzi’s low cross but fired off target, and minutes later the Azzurri pulled level after the ball came off the arm of Boateng in the area. Hungarian referee Victor Kassai immediately pointed to the spot and Bonucci stepped up to beat Neuer low to the goalkeeper’s left to spark wild celebrations. It was the first goal Neuer had conceded at the tournament after four successive clean sheets.

There was a minor scare for the Germans with three minutes left when Eder found De Sciglio on the left and the AC Milan midfielder saw his powerful drive ripple the side-netting.

Into extra time they went and Germany came closest in the additional half hour, substitute Draxler pouncing on a poor headed clearance from Andrea Barzagli to send an overhead kick just over, before both sides settled for penalties. [myad]

EFCC Arrests Ex Osun Deputy Governor Over Alleged N700 Million Loot From Ex NSA

Greenbarge Reporters

July 3, 2016

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the former deputy governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore over alleged misappropriation of about N700 Million, part of the loot from the embattled former National Security Advisr (NSA), retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki.

The EFCC had, last month in a statement by the Head, Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, declared Omisore wanted in connection with a case of receiving and misappropriating the amount from NSA between June and November, 2014.

Authoritative sources from the Commission confirmed Omisore’s arrest on Sunday, saying that “he is currently being detained. Yes, he has been arrested, detained and undergoing interrogation. That’s what I can say for now.”

Uwujaren said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain has been elusive and refused to report to the Commission after invitation was extended to him on April 7, 2016 requesting him to come and make clarification on the ongoing investigation.

Instead of responding to the Commission’s investigation, he said, Omosore had approached the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.

“Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf consequently ordered that Omisore should only be arrested through a due and legal process.”

According to him, the EFCC had thereafter obtained a warrant to effect the arrest of the politician. [myad]

Policemen Arrest Soldier Smoking Indian Hemp In Kaduna

Greenbarge Reporters

July 3, 2016

Men of the Nigeria Police have arrested a soldier for smoking Indian hemp in Kurmin Mashi area of Kaduna State.

The soldier was trailed to the area by men of Operation Yaki who arrested him while smoking the substance Sunday afternoon.

It was reported that when the police officers arrived the ‘smoking zone,’ the soldier, who was clad in his full military regalia tried to run but was overpowered by the heavily armed officers who arrested and bundled him into their van.

One Zakari, a roadside recharge card vendor, confirmed that the soldier has been a regular guest in the area.

“He comes here every day to smoke. The worst thing is that each time he comes here, he foments trouble.

“If you dare tell to him, he will beat the hell out of you.” [myad]

Sultan Asks Muslims To Look Out For New Moon For Eid – El-Fitri

Greenbarge Reporters

July 3, 2016

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has asked every Muslim in the country to look for the new moon between Sunday and Monday for the Eid el-Fitri.

The Secretary-General of the council, Is-haq Oloyede, in a statement on Sunday, said the council, under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, enjoined all Muslims to look for the moon.

Oloyede said the Sultan has therefore put in place a National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC), to that effect.

The Shehu of Borno and NSCIA Deputy President-General is among the 34 Muslims across the country as members of the committee.

“NMSC has advised the President-General that the crescent of Shawwal should be searched for on Monday, July 4, 2016 equivalent to 29th Ramadan 1437 AH.

“If the crescent is actually sighted by informed persons on Monday night and His Eminence is so advised by the experts, he would declare Tuesday, July 5, 2016 as the first day of Shawwal (‘Id day).

“If, however, the crescent is not sighted on Monday night, Wednesday, July 6, 2016 automatically becomes the first of Shawwal 1437 AH (‘Id day),” Oloyede said.

He enjoined Muslims all over the country to be on the lookout for the directive of the President-General of NSCIA on the completion of this year’s Ramadan fast.

He said as soon as the NMSC confirmed the sighting of the crescent, the committee would advise the president-general of the NSCIA, who will announce the completion of Ramadan and the observance of `Idul-Fitri’ prayer.

“Muslims are also strongly advised to fast for six days between the second and the end of Shawwal,” Mr. Oloyede said.

The secretary-general also said Muslims should see it as necessity, paying `Zakatul-Fitri’ with the intention of lifting the hearts of the indigent members of the community.

“The council urges all to ensure the delivery of Zakatul-Fitri to the appropriate recipients –the poor –and guard against its diversion by any agent or intermediary,” he said.

Mr. Oloyede said Ramadan might come and go, the lessons in it must continue to reflect in the lives of Muslims.

“The council encourages Muslims to continue praying for peaceful co-existence in Nigeria, as they keep the virtues and gains of the sacred month as a spiritual guide towards accelerated development as individuals and a nation,” he said. (NAN). [myad]

Government Sets Up Panel To Restructure Nollywood’s N3 Billion Grant

Greenbarge Reporters

July 3, 2016

Federal Government, at the weekend, inaugurated a committee to review and restructure the N3 billion grant earlier granted the industry as a way of making entertainment industry more viable.

Through the project, the Federal Government had implemented specialist training programmes in Nigeria and abroad in which 247 practitioners have been trained to improve their technical and professional capacities in the entertainment industry.

So far, a total of 113 film projects, employing 2,436 people, have been co-financed through grants from the fund at the cost of N799 million, while an Innovative Film Distribution Programme has been designed to support viable solutions in film distribution and the prevention of privacy.

Inaugurating the committee, in Abuja, during a meeting convened to brainstorm on how to address the challenges of the sector, Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, said time had come for investors in the sector to start getting returns on their investment.

She said that the desire to reposition and restructure the fund was borne out of the need to stimulate investments in the entertainment industry owing to its job creation potentials.

“This grant programme was conceived to support the industry and it’s a reflection of the importance of the entertainment industry on the Nigerian economy. What we have come here to do is to look at the outstanding parts of the programme as yet unimplemented, to review them to ensure that they are still appropriate where the industry is today and where our objectives lie for the industry. We want to ensure sustainability. Three billion naira is not enough if we are going to give out money. What we need to do is to find a sustainable way to support Nollywood. We will be inaugurating a committee to review the programme, restructure it if necessary and to come up with an implementation plan with measurable and demonstrable deliverables and outcomes so that we ensure that we get maximum value for the industry and for the Nigerian people.”

While challenging the operators in the sector to be firm in tackling the issue of piracy, the Minister of Finance, said that most of the people who have worked hard to come up with creative movie don’t get to benefit from their investments owing to piracy.

“We need to improve distribution to ensure that the investments to make a film actually gets the desired return. What do we do about piracy? How can we make this fund to ensure that we cut down the opportunities for those who simply sit back and wait for others to invest and then cream off the profit?” [myad]

Standard Organization Blacklists 23 Electrical Companies For Failing Compliance Test

Greenbarge Reporters

July 3, 2016

The Standards Organization of Nigeria, (SON) has blacklisted 23 electrical companies operating in Nigeria for alleged failure in the laboratory test of the regulatory body.

The Head of Ekiti state office of the agency, Mrs. Serah Idowu who said this in a statement in Ado Ekiti at the weekend, said that the affected companies were involved mainly in the production of electrical items such as bulbs, plugs, wire and cables.

She said that findings showed that many of the items manufactured by the affected companies had flooded most of the nation’s markets and outlets.

She explained that SON decided to expose status and activities of the erring manufacturers so as to curtail possible fire outbreak in homes and offices which the fake and sub-standard products are being used by unsuspecting members of the public.

She said that the alarm had also become necessary in view of the threats such cable posed to lives and property of Nigerians through avoidable fire outbreaks.

She said that out of 24 companies whose electrical products were tested and examined by the Laboratory and Compliance Unit of the agency in Ekiti state, only one of them scaled through.

She threatened to make public, list of the erring 23 companies if they failed to withdraw all their electrical items from the market and stop further production of such substandard products.

The SON boss disclosed that a meeting had already been summoned with those behind the companies and their distributors where they hope to receive the last warning, as well as obtain undertakings from them not to further put the lives of people at risk.

She warned that after the meeting, products of recalcitrant ones would be confiscated by the agency wherever they are found while their owners would be made to pay a minimum of N1million as cost of destruction. [myad]

The Anger Of Megaphone, By Yusuf Ozi-Usman

Greenbarge Reporters

July 3, 2016

There was a “terrorist” attack on yours sincerely a few hours ago and only God, the Almighty gave him the courage to survive it. I mean verbal attack which could ordinarily have led to heart attack, in these days of cardiac arrest.

The attack came from a friend and former colleague, who is now the spokesman of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), simply because the man he referred to as ‘who goes by the name Yusuf Ozi-Usman’ allowed to be published on his online newspaper platform, content of a petition written and duly signed and forwarded to the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) by residents of Chibiri in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). To be sure, the petition was signed by the chairman and secretary of Chibiri Community, Alhaji Ibrahim Sani Chibri and Samuel Etsu Eto respectively. They alleged in the petition that the AEDC staff by name Ahmed collected N5,000 from a pastor in the area but did not restore his electricity supply; that he also asked another person to give him N5,000 and that when the man could afford only N3,000, he angrily disconnected his supply.

However, when the AEDC spokesman wrote a rejoinder which was supposed to be directed to the petitioners or to address the point they raised, he beamed his anger on the messenger and the institution he represents, i.e. Yusuf Ozi-Usman and Greenbarge Reporters. He went personal.

The AEDC spokesman made us to know that he carried out investigation and found out that the staff of his company were not extorting money from customers and that there was no illegal mass disconnection. According to him, there was no such thing as disconnecting those who have been paying their bills as well as even those who are using pre-paid metres. On this, one would say, in fairness to the petitioners that AEDC spokesman either did not carry out any investigation or was just trying to defend the company, if it is its policy, which is contrary to the legal framework under which it is operating.

The AEDC spokesman then went on to quote copiously from the sms (text) messages which Yusuf Ozi-Usman sent to him in respect of the disconnection of his electricity supply. Of course, none of the text messages looked beggarly. Indeed, the author of the messages launched complains to the AEDC spokesman that despite that he had been paying the bills (servicing his old debts which came through charge that did not reflect what he consumed), the company’s staff, led by one Ahmed still disconnected him and wanted him, the AEDC spokesman to intervene. For instance, in May, Yusuf Ozi-Usman paid N15,000 out of the outstanding debt of N42,000. And on June 1^st, he paid another N10,000 whereas on June 27, he also paid N5,000. And before then, for the past three years since he entered the house, there was no month he would not pay something to AEDC.

Why Yusuf Ozi-Usman even wanted the AEDC spokesman to intervene (not through begging but to help restore his right) was because Ahmed ordered the disconnection of his supply less than 30 minutes after he brought the new bill. And, there was obvious hatred written all over him as if Ozi-Usman had offended him anywhere before.

In fairness to the AEDC spokesman, he took the matter up and after Ozi-Usman paid the reconnection fee, he was given his cable, but that was the beginning of another headache. The same Ahmed went ahead to disconnect the energy from a distance, covering not less than ten houses, including of those who are on pre-paid metres and those who have been servicing their debts like Ozi-Usman.

As reflected in the text messages the AEDC spokesman quoted, when Ozi-Usman contacted him, he tried to get the area manager on phone to plead on behalf of his friend to restore his supply, not on the basis of favour, but by virtue of the fact that he has been servicing his debt and that it remained just N12, 000 to clear. But the AEDC spokesman personally called Ozi-Usman to say that the area manager was not picking his call. This gave a picture of conspiracy, by the area manager and Ahmed, to unnecessarily deny not only Ozi-Usman but several customers the joy of enjoying electricity supply.

The AEDC spokesman even went as far as quoting the text message in which Ozi-Usman was seeking for advert from his company for the Greenbarge Reporters, as if he doesn’t know that newspapers, and of course, online publishing depend largely on adverts to survive and it is through soliciting for adverts from friends and friendly organizations and companies that such adverts can be obtained. Being a friend and a colleague, was there anything wrong in Ozi-Usman soliciting for advert from the AEDC spokesman, and of course, the AEDC which news items the spokesman had been forwarding and being published in Greenbarge Reporters with no cost to the company? In fact, the same message seeking for adverts was sent to a number of the friends of the Greenbarge Media and Communications Limited either as individuals or companies or organizations. They include friends in NNPC, CBN, NAFDAC, some banks and so on.

Why would the AEDC spokesman not kindly look inwards and contribute to correcting the rots therein, which are obvious to those who look at issues with objective mind, to avoid running into deep trouble, mainly, legal, in no distant future?

That is to say, Yusuf Ozi-Usman is not the issue. [myad]

New Police Boss, Ibrahim, Visits Niger Delta Creeks

Greenbarge Reporters

July 3, 2016

The new Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris was in Niger Delta Creeks on Saturday, to assess the level of security situation, against the background of the renewed militants’ activities, including blowing up of pipe lines. During the visit, Ibrahim (middle) took time to meet with community leaders.[myad]

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