Nigeria: Blackberry Z10 Debuts in Nigeria

ALLAFRICA.COM

VANGUARD [08/03/13]

BlackBerry has launched the new Z10 smart phone which is the smartphone company's fastest and most advanced mobile smart device yet powered by BlackBerry® 10 in Nigeria.

The Z10 based on the the re-designed, re-engineered, and re-invented BlackBerry 10 platform, offers to give customers a powerful and unique mobile computing experience.

Waldi Wepener, Regional Director for West, East and Central Africa said: "We are excited to build on our success as the leading smartphone provider in Nigeria, with the launch of the new BlackBerry Z10 smartphone. BlackBerry 10 is not only providing a whole new experience for our Nigerian customers, but also more choice alongside our existing BlackBerry 7 devices.

Nigeria: Ciroma - FG Not Serious About Oil Search in North

ALLAFRICA.COM

DAILY TRUST [08/03/13]

By Hamza Idris And Abdulkadir Badsha Mukhtar

Damaturu — Elder statesman and former minister of finance Malam Adamu Ciroma has observed that five years ago nobody would have believed that Yobe State will be faced with grievous calamity occasioned by the Boko Haram crisis.

Speaking at a town hall meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan in Damaturu yesterday, Ciroma attributed the problem to the neglect of agriculture, health, education as well as the lackluster attitude of the Federal Government towards oil exploration in the Chad Basin.

Speaking later in a BBC Hausa interview, Ciroma insisted that granting amnesty to Boko Haram sect will help end the violence in the North.

Nigeria: Oil Blocs Revelation - Northern Senators Caged as PIB Sails Through

ALLAFRICA.COM

VANGUARD [07/03/13]

By Henry Umoru And Joseph Erunke

Abuja — AFTER three days of intense debates and contributions on the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, northern Senators were Thursday caged by their Southern colleagues and the bill unanimously scaled the second reading.

The resolution by the Senators to pass the bill was contrary to fears from some quarters especially with the initial stiff opposition from the lawmakers from the North that it will not see the light of the day.

The passage also came barely twenty four hours after the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, PDP, Akwa Ibom North/East called on President Goodluck Jonathan to revoke and re-allocate oil blocs where he raised alarm that the Northerners control 83 percent of oil blocs in the country, leaving a negligible 27 percent for the South where the oil comes from.

Kenya: Hassan Exonerates IEBC From Malpractice

ALLAFRICA.COM

THE STAR [07/03/13]

Photo: Capital FM

The IEBC chairman, Issack Hassan has defended the commission 

against malpractice allegations by CORD Coalition 

(file photo).  [SOURCE: http://allafrica.com]

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman Isaack Hassan has sought to clear the commission from allegations of malpractice in the ongoing vote tallying process.

Hassan has said that there have been no cases of counted votes being more than registered votes as had been earlier claimed by the Cord coalition's deputy presidential candidate, Kalonzo Musyoka.

Hassan instead said that the tallied votes are a reflection of how Kenyans cast their votes in the Monday elections. "The results we are releasing are the true verified results that are validated by all involved officers," he said.

Nigerian Senate vows to limit Jonathan, Alison-Madueke’s powers in petroleum law

PREMIUM TIMES [07/03/13]

By Ini Ekott

[SOURCE: http://premiumtimesng.com]

Senators said the PIB currently allocates too much power to the President and the Minister of Petroleum.

A Senate, polarized by the controversies of a new oil law, closed ranks Thursday to give the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, a second reading, but made it clear it will curb the “unprecedented” powers given the president and the petroleum minister, before giving the legislation final approval.

Nigeria: Fireworks in Senate Over Petroleum Industry Bill

ALLAFRICA.COM

DAILY TRUST [06/03/13]

By Isiaka Wakili

Photo: Vanguard   [SOURCE: http://allafrica.com]

The Senate's debate on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) yesterday sparked a rift between northern senators and their counterparts from the Niger Delta region.

The second reading of the bill witnessed a technical hitch as all the senators in the chamber first observed that copies of the lead debate given to them were different from what Senate Leader Ndoma-Egba was reading. Senate President David Mark quickly asked Ndoma-Egba to hold on for 10 minutes for the errors to be corrected.

Abia University Withdraws Kalu’s Bachelor’s Degree Certificate

CHANNELS TELEVISION [04/03/13]

The Senate of the Abia State University (ABSU) has approved the cancellation and withdrawal of the degree result and certificate awarded to former Governor of the state, Orji Uzor Kalu, for violation of the institution’s academic regulations.

Former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu

The Senate, in a press statement signed by the University Registrar/Secretary to the Senate, Ernest Onuoha, said the decision of the institution was based on the violation of the Academic Regulations of the university on Admission – by –Transfer, which rendered the offer irregular, ab initio and non –completion of the mandatory six semesters (three academic years of study)

Mr Onuoha said, “On the strength of the findings and recommendations of an investigative panel into allegations of breach of the extant academic regulations of Abia State University, in the admission process of the admission and graduation of Kalu Orji Uzor in the discipline of Government and Public Administration, of matriculation number 00/42226, the Senate of the university at its resumed 69th extra-ordinary meeting of March 1, 2013 and by a vote of 88 against three dissenting voices only, approved the cancellation and withdrawal of the degree, result and certificate awarded to him.

Another LASU student killed by suspected cultists

PREMIUM TIMES [05/03/13]

Agency Report

Damilola Damoche was the first to be killed last week  

[SOURCE: http://premiumtimesng.com]

Another student of the Lagos State University (LASU), simply identified as Kabiru, was on Sunday night allegedly killed by suspected cultists.

Sources told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Kabiru was shot dead at about 10:00 p.m. at Abeokuta St., Okokomaiko, Lagos.

Another student of the university, Damilola Damochie, a musician and 400 level Banking and Finance, was on Feb. 28 shot dead by suspected cultists at the institution’s main gate.

189 people wounded in Egypt clashes

KUWAIT NEWS AGENCY (KUNA) [03/03/13]

CAIRO, March 3 (KUNA) -- At least 189 people were injured on Sunday in clashes between protesters and security forces in Port Said in northeast Egypt, according to medics.

No fatality was reported from the site of the clashes, which took place before the Port Said Security Directorate, the chief of the Health Ministry's emergency department, Khaled Al-Khateeb said.

Nigeria: Crude Oil Theft Increased Astronomically Under Jonathan That We May Shut Down Our Facilities - Shell

ALLAFRICA.COM

PREMIUM TIMES [04/03/13]

Global oil giant, Shell, the largest producer of Nigerian crude, said on Sunday that it has witnessed a sporadic rise in crude oil theft in the last three weeks than it witnessed in the past three years.

"We have now witnessed a significant upsurge in the activities of crude oil thieves. The situation in the last few weeks is unprecedented.

"The volume (of crude oil) being stolen is the highest in the last three years. Over 60, 000 barrels per day from Shell alone," Mutiu Sunmonu, the Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, lamented to journalists on Sunday.

Mr. Sunmonu said apart from the astronomical rise in crude oil theft, the perpetrators have also become emboldened and more sophisticated.

"Over time, this whole crime has got a lot more sophisticated and you could see that the perpetrators are now setting up barge building yards; they are setting up storage facilities; they are setting up tank farms for storing the crude oil, prior to shipping out," he said.

Kenya: CNN Militia Video 'Stage Managed' - Kenya

ALLAFRICA.COM

CAPITAL FM (Nairobi)

By Simon Ndonga

Nairobi — The government now wants CNN to give an explanation over a video clip that shows alleged militia arming themselves in the Rift Valley, ahead of Monday's polls.

In the clip, it is alleged that the militia is arming with guns made from iron piping and bullets bought from the black market or from policemen tasked with protecting them.

The video also shows three men rolling on the ground with crude weapons, but Internal Security Permanent Secretary Mutea Iringo indicated that they are not aware of such activity and the journalist who did the story should give an explanation.

"We have seen that clip and we would like the person reporting to assist the police in getting to the bottom of the truth because this particular caption appears to have been rehearsed and the aim is to cause fear and despondency among Kenyans and this will not be tolerated," he said.

Egypt: Youth Do 'Harlem Shake' At Brotherhood HQ

ALLAFRICA.COM

ASWAT MASRIYA (CAIRO) [28/02/13]

A group of Egyptians will meet on Thursday evening at the Muslim Brotherhood's Mokattam headquarters to do the "Harlem Shake" dance, a Facebook page, that shows that almost two thousand people plan to attend, says.

"After the uprising, we thought we would witness changes in our lives, but that did not happen. We wanted bread, freedom and social justice... and now human dignity. Our dance today is to mock the reality that we are living in and protest against the government that does not lift a finger with what is happening," Faird Sayed, one of the organizers, told CNN Arabic.

"The dance is not just a message to Egyptians but the entire world. To mock society and traditions, the ongoing failures, the interior ministry, the Brotherhood and even ourselves."

Nigeria: Why Damino Damoche Was Killed

ALLAFRICA.COM

THE VANGUARD [01/03/13]

By Nnamdi Ojiego

Photo: Vanguard

Damino Damoche [SOURCE: http://allafrica.com]

Fact emerging has it that budding hip hop artist, Olaniyan Damilola, popularly known as "Damino Damoche," was killed due to his association with campus fraternity in his school, Lagos State University, LASU.

The attack was said to be a reprisal attack from a rival gang, as Damoche was alleged to be a member of the Eiye Confraternity.

Damoche was shot dead Thursday afternoon by suspected campus fraternity gangs outside the school premises.

Nigeria: Police Arrest 70 Over Murder of Lasu Student, Damoche

ALLAFRICA.COM
THE VANGUARD [03/03/13]

By Ifeanyi Okolie and Donald Arji

Photo: Vanguard

Damino Damoche [SOURCE: http://allafrica.com]

The Police has arrested not fewer than 70 persons in connection with the death of Damilola Damoche, a 400 level student of the Lagos State University, LASU, who was murdered in cold blood last Thursday by suspected cultists.

Vanguard gathered that the arrest was made by a combined team of the Area E police command who paraded the streets of Ojo, Iba, PPL, Igbo-Elerin, Igando, Okokomaiko, Iyana-Isashi and Onireke communities to fish out those involved in the clash.

Consortium Denies Granting NNPC $1.56bn Loan Facility

THISDAY [01/03/13]

Chineme Okafor

  MD, NNPC, Andrew Yakubu  [SOURCE: http://www.thisdaylive.com]

The lingering controversy on the alleged procurement of $1.56 billion crude oil forward sales agreement put together by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to offset legacy debts yesterday took a new twist when the consortium of banks involved in the deal denied granting the suspected loan.

A representative of the consortium of the Nigerian banks said to have facilitated the agreement, the facility remains an agreement for forward sale of crude oil and not financial loan.

Nigeria: Court Refuses to Quash N1.3 Billion Subsidy Fraud Against Oil Marketers

ALLAFRICA.COM

THISDAY [28/02/13]

By Akinwale Akintunde

Justice Lateefa Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court Wednesday refused to quash a N1.3 billion fuel subsidy charge preferred against two oil marketers, Aro Sunday Bamidele and Abiodun Kayode Bankole by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The oil marketers were charged to court alongside their company, A.B.S Investment Company Limited on an 18-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and uttering.

The anti-graft agency had alleged that the defendants fraudulently obtained N1.3 billion from the Federal Government for the purported importation of 30 million litres of petrol.

FG says it’s confused on Oyerinde’s murder case, police admits behaving unprofessionally

PREMIUM TIMES [27/02/13]

By Ini Ekott

House of Representatives is trying to make sense of the police, SSS investigations

Police and the SSS, admit they carried out the murder investigation without an autopsy

The confusion that has beset one of Nigeria’s most intrigue-filled homicides – the murder of Olaitan Oyerinde, the Principal Secretary of the Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole – peaked Wednesday, with the federal government admitting it is confused with the investigation, and could not charge anyone for the crime nearly a year after.

Nigeria: Clinton to FG - You Have Not Done Well With Oil Money

ALLAFRICA.COM

Leadership (Abuja) [27/02/13]

By Abiodun Taiwo

Former United States president Bill Clinton yesterday came hard on the federal government, saying it is regrettable that the country has not managed resources realised from oil money effectively.

Clinton, the 42nd president of the US, spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the 18th edition of the THISDAY Awards. He also lamented the growing rate of poverty in Nigeria. If the trend is not reversed, he warned, it portends a great challenge to the country.

"I would say you have challenges. First of all, like 90 per cent of countries who have one big resource, you haven't done well with your oil money. You should have reinvested it in different ways. You don't do a better job of managing natural resources," the former American leader said, adding that the country could only achieve its potential "if you bring economic opportunity to the people who don't have".

FG to partner Omatek on Made-in-Nigeria PCs

VANGUARD [27/02/13]

By Emeka Aginam

After a facility tour of its plant last Monday in Lagos, Minister of Trade and Investments, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, while commending state-of-art factory of one the nation’s leading indigenous computer manufacturers, Omatek, disclosed that the Federal Government would work with the company to make available made-in-Nigeria computers to educational institutions across the nation.

According to the minister, the the partnership was in line with the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan and the Local Patronage Initiative of the Ministry of Trade and Investment.

Partnership

Omatek, according to the Minister has taken the lead in innovation and quality. “We will like to partner with you as long as it does not break the law. We will be able to achieve the much-needed linkage between our abundant natural resources and the application of appropriate technology and production processes through the application of ICT in our schools and industries.

Nigeria: PDP in Unholy Alliance - Buhari

ALLAFRICA.COM

VANGUARD [26/02/13]

By Gabriel Ewepu

Abuja — Leader and presidential candidate of Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) has accused Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of an unholy merger with some public service agencies to hold to power by crooked means.

Speaking at the CPC Interactive Dialogue with its elected representatives yesterday in Abuja, Buhari said the country had been in the grip of bad governance under the PDP-led government since 1999, as it had manipulated some relevant government institutions to remain in power.

He said the only way to remove PDP was to have a strong and broader merger.