Rasheed Olaoluwa Takes Over As New Bank Of Industry Managing Director, Promises To Improve Service Delivery

May 20, 2014

The immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of UBA Capital Plc, a pan-African asset management and investment banking group, Rasheed Olaoluwa has taken his seat as the new Managing Director of Bank of Industry.

Olaoluwa has been the Chief Executive Officer of UBA Capital Plc from January 2013 to May 2014. He was also an Executive Director at the UBA between March 2008 and December 2012.

He was reported to have played a key role in the expansion of UBA’s operations into 18 countries in sub-Saharan Africa within three years, recording exponential growth in the bank’s deposit base and profitability during his tenure.

Olaoluwa started his career in the financial services industry with Arthur Andersen and held various senior roles in marketing and relationship management.

A statement from Mrs. Hadiza Olaosebikan of the Media Unit of the bank, in Abuja today said that Olaoluwa has just taken over the leadership of the bank from Waheed Olagunju , who has been acting Managing Director.

The statement quoted Olaoluwa as saying that urgent steps will be taken to improve on BOI’s service delivery to enable it meet the unemployment challenges facing the country, especially in the areas of wealth and job creation.

The new managing director solicited the cooperation of the bank’s management team to strengthen the operation of the bank for global competitiveness.

Olaoluwa also tasked the management and staff to ensure that the bank was at par with some of the world’s leading development finance institutions.

He said that the task of increasing the contribution of the manufacturing sector to Nigeria’s gross domestic product could not be undertaken by BOI alone.

“For the bank to effectively deliver on its mandate, the institution would have to work closely with other relevant stakeholders toward addressing the non-financial issues facing the manufacturing sector and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises.”

Borno Governor’s Aide Describes Asari Dokubo As A Jester

Greenbarge Reporters

May 20, 2014

Special adviser on Communications and spokesman to Governor Kashim Settima of Borno state, Isa Gusau has described the ex Niger Delta militant, Alhaji Asari Dokubo as a jester with whom his boss will not trade tackle.

Gusau who reacted to some media reports yesterday quoting Dokubo as alleging that no girl was abducted in Chibok, Borno state and that Governor Shettima and his party, All Progressives Congress (APC) staged a political scam on the kidnap to‎ hit at President Goodluck Jonathan ahead off 2015 elections said the ex militant is only trying to be a hero by default.

“Governor Shettima is too serious minded to reply Asari Dokubo who is just a joker as most Nigerians regard him. As a onetime journalist covering the Niger Delta, I had come in direct contact with ‎Asari when he organized a rally in support of late Gaddafi in Port Harcourt and also when he organised the 2011/2012 Isaac Boro lecture in Port Harcourt which he kept interrupting, taking over the microphone from people like respected lawyers, like Festus Keyamo. He was intermittently speaking without protocol and without shame.

“He is just a joker. No reasonable Nigerian takes him serious. He was reportedly saying that Chibok abduction was a sham. I won’t be surprised if by next week the same Asari Dokubo will lead another rally to counter the one he just held. Last year, Asari was reportedly speaking against Presidency. Now he has changed the tune. We don’t know what happened but that is how he is; he uses the media for personal interest and some sort of blackmail.”

Gusau said that Dokubo wants to be regarded as a hero, adding: “but I tell you that no one sees him as such in the Niger Delta that I had covered.

“He is trying to force unwilling public to see him different from who he is but like the saying goes, ‘you can fool some people for sometimes, but you cannot fool all the people all the time,’ Asari dubiously took advantage of Isaac Boro event to say what he said so that the procession would seem like a support base for his isolated opinion.

“I saw some pictures of some girls in one house displaying some placards. From the faces, I think he probably assembled some of his immediate and extended family members and gave them placards. One person wrote on all the cards the same writing, all of which look like a sort of Mickey Mouse scene in cartoon series.

“How can Governor Shettima reply a jester; how can he respond to such a play by Asari that falls far below the standard of Nollywood acting when he (the governor) is busy working very hard with all relevant bodies to find ways to secure the freedom of his precious daughters in captivity?”

Hurricane Exodus’ Just Begun, Say Niger Delta Militants-Own Up Recent Attack On Port Harcourt Refinery Facilities

Greenbarge Reporters

May 19, 2014

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has taken responsibility for the sabotage yesterday, on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Refinery Jetty pipelines in Okrika, Rivers State of Nigeria .

“This attack is line with our on-going operation ‘Hurricane Exodus’, which was intended to bring down the entire refining facility.

“This facility was infiltrated by a few of our fighters with the aid of our internal agents within the NNPC contrary to speculations that the sabotage was carried out by “pipeline vandals and oil thieves.”

These were contained in a statement MEND issued today even as it has been confirmed that the

bomb fragments are the same used in the Warri Refinery explosion of Tuesday, 22 October, 2013 .

MEND went on to say: “We will persist with our attacks on the Nigerian oil industry due to the inaction of President Goodluck Jonathan who continues to rely on an unsustainable and fraudulent Niger Delta Amnesty programme which is only a guise to line the pockets of Goodluck Jonathan, his wife Patience, Jonathans cronies and members of the Amnesty Committee whose sudden wealth remains unchallenged by the Nigerian media. The entire Amnesty process is a fraud on the people of Nigeria who are being promised peace in the Niger Delta, in the absence of justice.

‘Hurricane Exodus’ is still on course!”

Chibok Girls: Governors Jang, Uduaghan Ask Nigerians To Support Government

Greenbarge Reporters

May 19, 2014

The Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang and the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, have called on Nigerians to support the Federal Government in the search for the abducted female students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno state.

Jang, who is a factional Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, said in a statement in Abuja today, called for a united Nigerian front against Boko Haram, even as his Delta state counterpart said that the prevailing situation in the country required the cooperation of all .

Governor Jang warned that divisions along ethnic or religious lines would only exacerbate the situation, adding that religious leaders should mind their utterances as regards insecurity in some parts of the country.

Dr. Uduaghan also asked the security agencies not to relent in their effort to track down and rescue the Chibok girls even as he commended them for their sacrifices at ensuring that Nigerians enjoy a peaceful nation.

He called on Nigerians to pray for the safe return of the girls, adding that what was needed was the cooperation of all and not to trade blame.

“We all need to come together with one voice and condemn the abduction and also pray for the safety of the girls wherever they are. It is not the best time for name-calling.”

Students Sell Hard Drugs On Campuses To Make Money, Says Jadi, Drug Administration Boss

Greenbarge Reporters

May 19, 2014

The Commander of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Suleiman Jadi has said that many students in universities and polytechnics have been caught selling hard drugs on the campuses to make money to survive the hard time.

He said that such students engage in drug peddling for survival on their campuses, even as he called on the authorities of tertiary institutions to ensure effective monitoring of their students.

Jadi who made spoke today when he paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye, Prof. Isaac Asuzu also advised the institutions to empower their security officers to effectively monitor the activities of students indulging in smoking Indian hemp or illicit drugs.

He promised to deploy officers of the agency to institutions to organize seminars on drug abuse and cultism.

The Vice Chancellor commended the agency for its concern on the safety of students, even as he urged it to organise seminars for both staff and students in order to educate them on the dangers inherent in drug abuse.

Asuzu promised to partner with the agency to achieve the desired objective of eradicating drug peddling among students.

America Cannot End Boko Haram In Nigeria, Says Director In Office Of Nigeria Security Adviser

Greenbarge Reporters

May 19, 2014

The Director of Policy Strategy in the office of the National Security Adviser, Ambassador Layiwola Lasehinde has made it clear that America cannot bring Boko Haram to an end in Nigeria even as he said that it will still take much longer to end the activities of Boko Haram and other acts of insurgency.

“It took American 10 years to locate Bin Laden and when you are talking of resources, American government spent huge amount of money in search of Bin Laden who was sitting in a house close to a military station.
“America cannot solve the terrorism problem in Afghanistan and they were there for years, spending $1m everyday. They were also in Iraq, spending $1m everyday also. In fact, what they have achieved there now was worse than when they got there.
“We are not saying that we will not get to the end of terrorism in Nigeria, but don’t expect a quick resolution. It is a virus that had entered the political body of the country and it will be extremely difficult to remove it because there are many disgruntled people all over supporting them.”
Lasehinde spoke today in Abuja at a symposium organized by the United Nigerians Forum with the theme: “Nigeria of our dreams.”
He said that there will be no meaningful development in the affected region until there is peace adding that doctors sent there have been kidnapped and killed.
“If you try to build anything there, you will be massacred. So peace has to be returned there first to achieve meaningful development in the area.”
He said the European Union and the Department for International Development are already involved in a comprehensive strategy to ensure transparency in the development of a blue print for the area in line with the International best practices.
The initiative, he added, has long term, short term and medium term measures to rejuvenate socio-economic activities in the region.
“The prime program will be jointly funded by the federal government, states and the development partners, which had pledged several billions of naira for the execution of the programme.
“The government had also put in place, a victim support program. The office of the NSA had designed two programs to combat terrorism and from discouraging young people from buying into the concept of terrorism.”
He, however said that the Federal Government has remained focused despite the security challenges posed by the activities of the Boko Haram sect in the north eastern part of the country.
Lasehinde said the office of the NSA had also started a programme to protect critical assets of the country by compiling the comprehensive list of their current locations, and condition of the assets.
Under the arrangement, he said the strategic assets including government and private buildings such as NNPC headquarters, police headquarters, secretariats, educational institutions, and other facilities, would be fully guided against terrorists attacks.

Other prominent Nigerians like Human rights activist, Mike Ozekhome, Former Presidential spokesman, Mr. Segun Adeniyi, Mr. Umar Farouk, Dr. Inusa Tanko, Hajia Ramatu Bala_Usman, Hajia Aisha Bako, Dr. Kunle Fagbemi, and Mr. Bankole Afilaka, among others, also spoke on the occasion.

Oritsejafor, CAN President Establishes Private University In Warri

Greenbarge Reporters

May 19, 2014

Information reaching us has indicated that the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayodele Joseph Oritsejafor has come up with a university, owned by him. The university, Eagle Heights University is located at Omadino in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta state.

Oritsejafor, who is Founder/General Overseer of Word of Life Bible Church, had only in early November 2012, acquired a private jet.

Information from the oil city of Warri, Delta State said that arrangements are already in top gear for the ground-breaking opening ceremony to be conducted by President Goodluck Jonathan on June 3.

It was gathered that Oritsejafor’s church had since obtained a licence from the national Universities Commission (NUC) for the establishment of the university.

No Amount Of Conspiracy Will Stop Jonathan From Second Term, Says Asari Dokubo- We’ll Take Battle To Enemy’s Camp

Greenbarge Reporters

May 19, 2014

Leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Asari Dokubo has made it clear again that no amount of conspiracy will stop President Goodluck Jonathan from going for a second term in office, promising that the Niger Delta militants are ready to take the battle to the enemy’s camps.

Asari Dokubo, whio described the abduction of female students of Government Girls Secondary school, Chibok, Borno state by Boko Haram as a scam, insisted that the governor of Borno state and some top northern opposition politicians know the whereabouts of the girls.

The militant leader who spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt at an event to mark Isaac Adaka Boro’s day, led hundreds of I jaw youths on a protest march through major roads in Port Harcourt. He said that the protest was a march towards freedom, stressing that all the ex militant leaders are solidly behind President Jonathan.

“Our enemies are not sleeping; but we will take the battle to the enemies where ever they are… they have been tempting us; and pushing us. Today is a great day, not only in our lives, but also in the history of the Niger Delta. Perhaps, this may be the greatest day in the Niger Delta; this is because we are going to demonstrate to the world how and what we feel about oppression.

Our political office holders have not learned how to stand and fight; at all times, they shift ground to those who have sworn to make us play the last fiddle; those who have told us to our face that they were born to rule; while we were born to be ruled; I wish to restate that I was not born to be a drawer of water or hewer of wood. I was born to be equal to all others; no matter who they are; or where they come from. How long shall we wait while strangers take their turns to exploit, exclude and marginalize us; with all the painful sacrifices we made.”

Militants Sack Libya’s Lawmakers, After Crossfire That Leaves 2 Dead

Greenbarge Reporters

May 19, 2014

Militants have announced the suspension of the Libyan parliament after they assaulted lawmakers. This came last night after crossfire erupted near the parliament building and the roads from and to Tripoli International Airport, leaving two people dead and more than 60 injured.

Colonel Mukhtar Fernana, speaking on behalf of the assailants loyal to a retired general, announced that the country’s constitutional assembly would take over the parliament.

He added that the acting Prime Minister, Abdullah Al-Thinni’s government will serve as care-taker cabinet until new general elections are held.

The militant group loyal to Gen. Khalifa Haftar launched an assault on Libya’s parliament on Sunday afternoon. Some of the militants dashed into the parliament building to expel the lawmakers, forcing a session to adjourn.

Haftar led his self-proclaimed ‘national army’ into Libya’s second largest city of Benghazi at dawn on Friday aimed at purging the city from ‘terrorists,’ leaving at least 79 dead and around 140 wounded, local media reported.

Fernana said that last night’s attack on parliament was not a coup, but “a correct way of following the revolutionary spirit,” adding that the country can’t be a hotbed or an incubator for terrorism.

In response, Libya’s interim government defined Haftar’s action as a “coup,” and Libyan Justice Minister Salah al-Marghani early on Monday condemned Fernana’s statement as “expression of political opinion by using armed force.”

The North African country has witnessed a drastic escalation of violence and become a major base of extremists since the downfall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Full Foreign Military Operations Begin In Chibok As UK’s RAF Sentinel Arrives

Greenbarge Reporters

May 19, 2014

Foreign military operations are believed to have commenced in Chibok, Borno state to recue the 275 female students abducted on April 14^th by members of Boko Haram, with the arrival of the UK’s Sentinel R.1 ASTOR aircraft in Ghana, from where it will fly missions over the heartland of the Nigerian militant group Boko Haram, some 1,500 km to the northeast. Source.

A Raytheon Sentinel R.1 Airborne Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR) aircraft of the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) deployed to West Africa on 18 May to join the international effort in the rescue mission.

The dispatch of the aircraft from its base at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire followed a regional heads of government security summit in Paris on 17 May to co-ordinate military and intelligence responses to the continuing Boko Haram insurgency in northeast Nigeria.

The Sentinel R.1 is to be based at Kotoka International Airport in Ghana’s capital Accra for the mission over Nigeria, which is 5 (AC) Squadron’s third over Africa since 2011.

Senior UK military sources told IHS Jane’s on 18 May that the aircraft and a ground liaison element would be integrated into the international intelligence, surveillance, targeting, acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) campaign being developed to counter Boko Haram’s operations.

A UK liaison team led by Brigadier Ivan Jones, the head of the UK’s Joint Force Operations Headquarters has since arrived in the Nigerian capital Abuja. The brigadier, whose headquarters is held at high readiness to deploy to crisis zones at short notice, described in a media interview how his team was working with Nigeria and other countries to develop an “information picture” of the area where Boko Haram operates.

The UK deployment followed the arrival in Abuja of a 30-strong team from US Africa Command (AFRICOM) on 6 May.

US Air Force (USAF) Beechcraft MC-12W Liberty aircraft based at Niamey in Niger began flying over northern Nigeria on 12 May, according to US government sources. They were joined by USAF Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) flying from US Naval Air Station Sigonella on Sicily. The USAF also bases General Atomics MQ-1 Predator UAVs at Naimey but there have been no reports to date of them participating in operations over Nigeria.

President Francois Hollande announced at the 17 May conference that French aircraft in the region would be available to join the operation.

The French Air Force is well placed to intervene from its large base at N’Djamena in Chad, which is close to the Boko Haram heartland. French aircraft at the base include a detachment of Dassault Rafale and Dassault Mirage 2000 fighters, as well as Boeing KC-135FR tankers. A pair of French General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper UAVs also deployed to Niamey in January this year, putting them within range of northern Nigeria.

UK military sources say the international advisors have established two distinct co-ordination hubs or cells in Abuja. One is embedded into the Nigerian army headquarters in Abuja to assist in developing land operations against Boko Haram. The other – led by the United States, United Kingdom, and France – is focused on building the information picture of the crisis zone and co-ordinating airborne ISTAR, satellite imagery, and signals intelligence assets to best effect.

The airborne ISTAR assets now in theatre give commanders a combination of ground moving target indictor (GMTI) radar to provide wide area surveillance with a mix of synthetic aperture radar and electro-optical sensors for close-in target identification.

The overall air operation is being co-ordinated by AFRICOM’s air component at Ramstein Airbase in Germany.

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