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Starcomms Shareholders Endorse Management Share Incentive Scheme
Shareholders of Starcomms Plc, Wednesday, endorsed the proposal by its Board of Directors to establish a management share incentive scheme for the benefit of the employees to spur them for increased p...

Standard Chartered Bank Acquires Advisory Firm
Standard Chartered has announced its full acquisition of the remaining shareholding in First Africa Group Holdings Limited ("First Africa"), a Leading pan-African Mergers & Acquisitions ("M&A"...

Fraud - Court Admits Asabe Yar'Adua to Bail
Abuja — An Abuja high court sitting in Gudu, yesterday granted bail to the widow of late Major General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, Hajiya Asabe Yar'Adua, who was allegedly accused by the Economic and F...

IMFB, Microfinance Banks Partners On Poverty Alleviation
Integrated Microfinance Bank Ibadan branch is organizing a Carnival Road Show on poverty alleviation in Oyo State. The event is scheduled for today Thursday 2nd of July, 2009. The float/carnival will ...

All is Set for My Father's Burial - Onoh Jr
Dr Joseph Onoh, speaking with reporters on the preparations for the father's burial yesterday, said all was set for his father's internment in spite of the disappointment by the state government. Ono...

I Want Amnesty Now - Tompolo
Warri — MILITANT leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, who was declared wanted by the Joint Task Force (JTF) on the Niger-Delta, May 21, has contacted Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, fro...

Media Are Heroes - Akunyili
Abuja — The Minister of Information and Communication, Professor Dora Akunyili has described Nigeria Media as "Heroes", saying despite control and sanctions placed on them, it remained critical ...

LG Commission Boss Tackles Graft in Oyo
CHAIRMAN, Oyo State Local Government Service Commission, Chief Kola Gbadamosi said some local government officials who used fake university certificates had absconded upon discovery that the commissio...

Freight Forwarders Decry Deplorable State of Roads
A group of freight forwarders under the aegis of National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents yesterday decried the deplorable state of the access road to the ports, saying: "The ...

U.S. Agency Donates 100 Laptops to Pupils
The first batch of laptops specifically designed for pupils in the world has arrived in Nigeria. Under a scheme known as one-laptop-per-child (OLPC), the vision of an American, Nicholas Negroponte, w...

NBA Tasks FG On Pact With ASUU
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), yesterday called on the Federal Government to respect its agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). It argued that government's resort to bla...

I04 Motorcyclists Arrested At MMA
As part of measures to stamp out armed robbery around Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja area, the airport police command has arrested no fewer than104 Okada riders and impounded their motorcycles in the...

Reps Probe $1.2 Billion Oil Bloc Scam
The House of Representatives has launched investigations into an alleged missing $1.2 billion oil bloc bid round fund that was supposed to be lodged into a provisional account on behalf of the governm...

Umuchinemere Procredit MFB Establishes Micro Insurance Scheme
The Umuchinemere Procredit Micro Finance Bank (UPMFB) Nigeria Limited, Enugu, in its efforts to empower and improve the well being of the active poor, is set to establish a micro insurance scheme for ...

Abia Assembly Asks Okiro to Redeploy CP
Umuahia — IN what appeared like passing a vote of no confidence on the state Police Command and other security agencies in the state, Abia State House of Assembly, has called on the Inspector-Ge...

Traders Task FG On Funding of Small Scale Industries
THE National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) has said that if the Federal government must achieve the set goal of becoming one of the top twenty economies of the world, there was the urgent ne...

Obi Hails Ola's Appeal Court Victory
Enugu — VICE Presidential candidate of the Action Congress (AC) in 2007 election, Senator Ben Obi, yesterday, hailed Bode Ola, the AC senatorial candidate for Ekiti Central for regaining his 'st...

EU urges dialogue, peaceful manner in Niger crisis
STOCKHOLM, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) on Thursday called on all political players to engage in dialogue and resolve the current Niger political crisis in a peaceful manner. "EU is gra...

Tension in Kano Over Murder of Islamic Cleric
Following security reports which indicated that Islamic fundamentalists in Kano State, and some followers of murdered Islamic cleric, Sheik Ja'afar Mahmud Adam were planning to cause violence, Inspect...

Our Tactics Are Changing - Amokachi
Players' ability to display some tricks with the ball largely determines their technical prowess. And Nigerians are talented in this art. But the tactical aspect of their game has always fallen below ...

UNICEF and partners bring hope to children accused of 'witchcraft'
UNICEF Nigeria Goodwill Ambassador Nwankwo Kanu with children at the Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network Centre in Esi-Eket, Akwa Ibom State, located in the South-South zone of Nigeria.

Secretary-general Deeply Concerned By Ongoing Constitutional Crisis In Niger, Calls For Restraint, Political Dialogue To Resolve Crisis
The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the ongoing political and constitutional crisis in Niger, which threatens to destabilize the country and undermine the progress made in recent years to ...

It Takes a Strike
editorial STRIKES have always had their place. For years, some have started condemning the regular feature the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has made strikes. Is there a year that passe...

Continuing Crisis Imperils Democracy - Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced deep concern about Niger's continuing political and constitutional crisis, warning that it threatens to destabilize the country and undermine recent progress...

Nigerian Senate Votes To Ban Gas Flaring Staring In 2011
(AFP)--The Nigerian Senate passed a bill Thursday to forbid oil companies from burning waste gas during oil extraction starting in 2011, which would end a practice that harms the environment, a seni...

Strike Demands - ASUU Wins Three, One to Go
Abuja — Three of the four major demands of the striking Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities [ASUU] were accepted by the Federal Executive Council [FEC] at its meeting in Abuja yesterda...

Niger President Facing Opposition to Extending his Rule
Political opponents of Niger's President Mamadou Tandja say they are determined to block a referendum to extend his rule. The White House says it is concerned about President Tandja ruling by decree a...

Nigeria,Algeria Set To Sign Trans-Sahara Pipe Deal Friday-Algeria
are set to sign an agreement Friday to launch works for the Trans-Sahara natural gas route, Africa's largest pipeline project by cost, a spokeswoman for Algeria's Energy Ministry said Thursday.

Again, Mimiko, Lawmakers in Trenches Over Council Chairmen
Governor Olusegun Mimiko appointment of caretaker committee for the 18 local government councils in Ondo state is raising ripples in the state house of assembly. The assembly on Thursday kicked agains...

Nyako's Deal That Nailed Opposition in Adamawa
Yola — A new political atmosphere is emerging in Adamawa State. Unfortunately it is not such that will give many reason to celebrate. The opposition in the state is gradually going into oblivion...

Nigeria - Physical attacks, threats and arrests highlight media's urgent need for better climate
MONTREAL, July 2 /CNW Telbec/ - Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Jean-François Julliard has written to President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua expressing deep concern about the problems bein...

Nigerian gas firm Nigaz gets web all of a twitter about 'racist name'
A marketing blunder in Nigeria has got online communities all of a twitter, after a joint oil and gas venture with Russia was named Nigaz.Russia's Gazprom and Nigeria's state-operated NNPC formed the ...

Protecting Our Travellers [editorial]
editorial DELTA Airlines poor treatment of hundreds of its passengers heading to the US appears to be the standard practice for most foreign airlines that operate into Nigeria. The passengers were s...

Oil Spill - Reps Order Shell to Pay N1 Billion Compensation to Rivers' Community
Abuja — The House of Representatives yesterday passed a resolution urging the Shell Petroleum Development Company(SPDC) to pay the sum of N1 billion to Joinkrama 1 Community of Rivers State. Th...

No Going Back on Awka, Nnewi, Onitsha Master Plans, Obi Insists
Awka — GOVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State says there is no going back on the implementation of the recently launched master plans for the three cities of Awka, Nnewi and Onitsha, pledging that ...

U.S. Criticizes Tandja's Bid to Keep Power
President Mamadou Tandja has undermined Niger's efforts over the last 10 years to advance good governance and the rule of law, President Barack Obama's spokesman said on Thursday. In a statement issu...

Rwandan convicts transferred to Benin
Arusha, Tanzania - Nine people definitively convicted by the UN-backed international court trying suspected ringleaders in Rwanda's 1994 genocide have been transferred to Benin, an official said on We...

NDE Partners Private Firm on Job Creation
THE National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and a private firm, Logine International Limited, have set up a joint committee to work out a frame-work that would lead to the establishment of Informatio...

Court Rules on Dispute Over Enwerem's Property July 14
Lagos — Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola of the Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed July 14 for ruling on the dispute currently rocking the family of late Senate President, Evan Enwerem, ove...

Absentee Legislators Embarrass Country at ILO [interview]
The recent 98th conference of the ILO was historic in many aspects. It not only coincided with the 90th anniversary of the ILO, it adopted the Global Jobs Pact designed to overcome job losses that peo...

Kwara Appoints Medview to Airlift Pilgrims
As preparations for this year's lesser Hajj, Umrah, intensifies, Kwara State goveernment has appointed MedView Airlines as the official carrier of its Muslim pilgrims. Secretary to the State Governme...

NDDC Executes 2,760 Projects in Eigh Years - Aginighan
Port Harcourt — ACTING Managing Director of the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Pastor Power Aginighan, has said the commission executed 2,760 projects in states under its authority s...

Artists are Like Beggars - Andrew Ikechukwu Emueze
In this modern age, it takes more than being able to paint with the brush or sculpture before one becomes a creative or renowned artist. For Andrew Ikechukwu Emueze being an artist is a dream come tru...

Benue Police Arrest 11 Vandals, 29 Others Wanted
Makurdi — Irked by the spate of destruction and vandalism of newly erected infrastructure in parts of Makurdi and its environs, the Benue State Police Command has arrested a team of eleven vanda...

Nigeria Slumps on Fifa Ranking
Lagos — Nigeria sinks lower on the monthly FIFA/Coca-Cola ranking, as it lost its number two position to become number four in Africa, and 34 in the world, according to the July rankings release...

PDP NWC Backs Emodi's Exco in Anambra
Awka — IN what was seen as a morale booster, the South East leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has conveyed the message of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to the ...

Princewill Settles Amaechi, Dokubo-Asari's Rift
Lagos — Leader of Organised Opposition in Rivers State,Tonye Princewill, has brokered peace between the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and Ijaw leader, Mujahideen Dokubo-Asari thereby en...

Mounting Fears Over Government Drift [opinion]
Lagos — At least two prominent Nigerians last week expressed worry over the drift in governance, and their views, coming at a time when the nation's education sector, appears to be at its very l...

Budget - Senate Takes N22.7 Billion From Health, Education For Roads
Abuja — Senators have approved cuts in the budget for education and health to fund road construction in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The approval on Wednesday came less than 24 hours af...

ASUU Strike Disrupts Fut, Minnaa's Post-UME Exams
Minna — The nationwide industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has disrupted the planned Post UME of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna....

Talking About the Niger Delta [opinion]
Lagos — President Umaru Yar'Adua finally unveiled the proclamation of amnesty for Niger Delta insurgents last Thursday. The offer of unconditional pardon is valid for 60 days (expiring October 4...

Goldcrest Communications, GMC Institute Nigerian Auto Media Awards
Lagos — In line with global practice where auto-journalists have become the recognized and credible body that bestows awards to deserving stakeholders in the auto industries, Goldcrest Communica...

Makinde's Sermon on Democracy
Lagos — Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, undoubtedly is a figure described by close associates as a clergyman with class. They also see him as a man who would ...

Re - Turai's Daughters And Nigerian Bachelors [analysis]
analysis Salisu Suleiman's piece, under the above headline, which appeared in Daily Independent of Thursday 21st May, 2009, summed up the dangerous and explosive situation Nigeria is in. This trend b...

APM Terminals Records 200 Days 'No Lost-Time Injury'
Apapa — For APM Terminals Apapa Limited, operator of the Container Terminal in Apapa, Lagos it was a landmark safety record. The company's operation recently recorded 200 days no-lost time inju...

Miramar's Nigerian community mourns shooting victim
Vote MIRAMAR - Sola Gafaru had considered moving from the North Miami-Dade strip mall after several burglaries and robberies, including one last year in which he was pistol-whipped and carjacked...

Mixed Views On Constitution Controversy
Niamey — Responses were mixed in Niger to union leaders' call for a 24-hour work stoppage on 1 July to protest a planned constitutional referendum to allow President Mamadou Tandja to remain in ...

Reps to Ban Sale of Fairly Used Tyres
Abuja — A bill seeking to "prohibit the use of second hand tyres in Nigeria and the need to ensure expiring date in newly manufactured tyres" has passed through second reading at the House of Re...

FEC Okays N13.87 Billion For Lagos Secondary Schools
Abuja — The Federal Executive Council yesterday approved an intervention fund for the Lagos-Eko secondary school project with the sum of $95million (N13.870b). The project is aimed at directly ...

Chevron, Lagos Collaborate on Medical Waste
Lagos — Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), operator of the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture, has built a medical incinerator project at the Epe General Hospital in collaboration with the Lagos State Gover...

Ending the Tussle on Kafin Zaki Dam [editorial]
editorial Abuja — The decision by the Federal Government to construct the Kafin Zaki Dam in Bauchi state in spite of the stiff opposition of the government and people of Yobe state raises the u...

Task Force Nabs 13 Over Refuse
Ilorin — The Kwara State Environmental Task Force last weekend apprehended 13 persons for violating various offences of the state monthly sanitation exercise

Policeman Arrested For Beating Suspect to Coma
Abuja — A Police Sergeant, Sule Lawal, has been arrested for allegedly beating a suspect to coma. The officer, attached to the police outpost in Utako (Berger Junction) Abuja was said to have re...

'ANPP's Review of GNU Medicine After Death'
Abuja — The purported plan by the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) to review its involvement in the Government of National Unity (GNU) is a 'medicine after death,' the Coordinator of ANPP's Flo...

Nigeria Spends N116 Billion Annually on Sugar Import - Dangote
Yola — The Chairman of Dangote Group of companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said Wednesday that Nigeria spends $800 million (N116 billion) annually on importing sugar that it can produce locally. ...

Threats Made me Part With N715 Million - Sam Edem
Abuja — Former Chairman of the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Sam Edem yesterday told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that threats made by the accused person in a fraud s...

EU says security situation in Niger Delta affects projects execution
The European Commission (EU) has said militant activities in the Niger Delta region have stalled the implementation of several of its micro projects aimed at accelerating socio-economic development in...

Bauchi to Grow Flowers in Water Satchets
Abuja — The Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA) will soon use packaged water polythene to grow flowers and other plants in nurseries.Dr Dije Bala, the Chairman of the agency, w...

Hajj 2009 - 563 FCT Intending Pilgrims Fail Screening
Abuja — Out of the 1698 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) intending pilgrims that took part in the just concluded screening exercise, 563 may not attend this years' hajj for failing the exercise t...

Lagos, Katsina Bag Environmental Awards
Abuja — The Lagos state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, and Katsina State First Lady, Hajiya Fatima Shema, yesterday bagged environmental awards in different categories organised by Federal Min...

The Mixed World of Orphans [opinion]
Olufela's story is not too different from Azuka Okafor, an orphan with the S.O.S. children's village in Lagos. He became an orphan when his 28 year old HIV infected mother gave up the ghost ,as a resu...

The Nation Urged to Add Value to Produce
Abuja — A food scientist has asked the Standards Organization of Nigeria to begin standardizing agricultural produce to enhance their competitiveness and to promote investment. Director of the ...

Fertilizer - Katsina Begins Soil Guided Application
Katsina — Katsina state government is to undertake a soil mapping exercise in selected locations across the state with a view to producing fertilizer that will be applied based on specific site ...

Shonekan Tasks Policy Makers On Economic Stimulus
Lagos — Former Head of State Chief Ernest Shonekan has implored policy makers to consider launching a stimulus package to help improve the nation's economy in the face of the global recession. ...

Accounting Board Partners NERC to Improve Standards
Lagos — The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Nigerian Accounting Standard Board (NASB) are collaborating to develop an accounting system to aid the determination of elec...

MURIC Decries Traditionalist-Imposed Curfews
Abuja — The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has expressed concern over the incessant, unilateral and illegal curfews imposed on whole communities by adherents of traditional religion especially in...

'Nigeria's Forest Resources Can Alleviate Poverty'
Abuja — Nigeria's forest resources have been recognised as having enormous potentials to contribute to poverty alleviation, sustainable livelihood of the rural people and mitigating effects of c...

Gazprom Nigeria Venture, Nigaz, Stirs Racism Debate
Abuja — Russian energy giant Gazprom has inadvertently walked into an online racism debate with the announcement of its new joint venture in Nigeria -- Nigaz. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ...

'N50 Billion Allegedly Stolen Not Traceable to PEF Account'
Abuja — The N50 billion allegedly stolen from the Police Equipment Foundation (PEF) could not be traced to the account of the foundation, a prosecution witness told an Abuja High Court yesterday...

Sanitary Inspectors to Inspect Premises
Abuja — The Federal Government has resuscitated inspection of premises by the sanitary inspectors known as Environmental Health Officers throughout the country. This was made known yesterday by...

Corps Member Moulds FRSC Marshal's Statue
Abuja — A corps member serving with the Gwagwalada Unit Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mrs. Obatolu Muibat, recently moulded the statue of an FRSC regular marshal at the c...

Fifa U-17 Draws Hold August Seventh
Abuja — World football-governing, FIFA has now set August 7 as the new date for the draw ceremony for the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals, which Nigeria will host from October to November this year.

Bank Staff Charged For Negligence
Abuja — The police on Monday arraigned another staff of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) before an Abuja magistrate court for allegedly posting N1.9 million to the accounts of fraudsters. It wo...

Beach Soccer - Nigeria Maul Mauritius 13-0
The national beach soccer team, otherwise known as 'Super-sand Eagles' mauled their counterparts from Mauritius 13-0 in their first match of the African Beach Soccer Championship in Durban, South Afri...

China, Nigeria seek to further military cooperation
Senior military officials of China and Nigeria pledged in Beijing on Thursday to further enhance military cooperation. The years after diplomatic ties forged between China and Nigeria has witnessed fr...

Professor Adelabu Assumes Duty as Uni Abuja VC
Abuja — The new Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja Professor James Sunday Adelabu yesterday officially took over the affairs of the university.Professor Adelabu was appointed Vice Chance...

Siasia Off to Europe For Rabiu
Abuja — Flying Eagles coach Samson Siasia may have given his wards a 10-day recess, but the coach himself is taking no such break as he headed off to Europe last week. Part of Siasia's trip is ...

'70 Million Nigerians Have No Access to Sanitation'
Abuja — Dr. Suomi Sakai, UNICEF representative, at this year's National Sanitation Day held yesterday in Abuja, has disclosed that less than half of the country's population have access to impro...

Karu Residents Want Phcn's Prepaid Meters
Residents of Phase I Federal Housing Authority Quarter, Karu, yesterday called on Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to install prepaid meters in their apartments, so that they can know the exact...

US condemns Niger third term bid
The US says Niger's President Mamadou Tandja has undermined a decade of good government in his attempts to stay in power beyond the legal limit.The White House says it is concerned at the actions of t...

Will ANPP Pull Out of GNU
Abuja — The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) is meeting in Abuja today over the political situation in country, especially those happenings that are dir...

Man in Court Over Land Document Theft
Abuja — A man, Zakari Suleiman was yesterday arraigned before an Abuja magistrate court for allegedly stealing a land document belonging to Shimat Venture Limited and using the same document to ...

Country is Drifting - David Attah [interview]
was spokesman for the late maximum ruler, Gen Sani Abacha. He had before then been Group Personnel Manager of the Daily Times, General Manager of Standard, two-time commissioner in Benue State and Mem...

Owerri to Host Federation Cup Semis
Abuja — The semi finals of this year's Federation Cup (formerly FA Cup) competition will take place in Owerri, Imo State this weekend. Nigeria Football Federation said yesterday that the first s...

Bada Explains Move For American Coach
Abuja — Ahead of the 2009 IAAF World Championship billed for Berlin, Germany in August, technical director of Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Sunday Bada insists the appointment of Lee Eva...

Nigeria Refused to Make Use of Me, Says Fashanu
Abuja — Contrary to widely held belief among Nigerian football fans that Ambassasor John Fashanu shunned the national team each time he was invited to come and represent his country of birth, th...

Environmentalist Wants Space on Highways For Trees, Flowers
Abuja — Prof. Emmanuel Obot, Executive Director of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), wants the Lagos State Government to provide spaces for the planting of trees and flowers on highway...

Council Denies Corruption at Delta Physical Education College
Lagos — CHAIRMAN of the Governing Council of the Delta State College of Physical Education, Mosogar, Chief Joseph Omene, has dismissed newspaper reports that the institution management has been ...

Uni Lag Debate Tackles Economic Meltdown
Lagos — Intended to provide a training ground for students and create a pool of talented and intelligent students who can represent the university and eventually the country anywhere in the worl...

Ambrose Alli Varsity Gets Acting VC
Lagos — Professor E.F. Alufohai, has been appointed Acting Vice Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State. He took over from the Vice Chancellor, Prof. D.O. Aigbomian whose ...