AJAOKUTA STEEL CRUCIAL TO NIGERIA’S DEV – WADA

AJAOKUTA STEEL CRUCIAL TO NIGERIA’S DEV – WADA

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Kogi State Governor Idris Wada said yesterday that completion and successful take- off of the Ajaokuta Steel Company is the cornerstone of the nation’s development.

Wada stated this when he received the Ukrainian Ambassador to Nigeria Valery Vasyliev, President General of Ukrainian National Foreign Economic Corporation Eugine Kosic,  Vazmash Inpex LLC and Managing Director, REPROM Nig. Ltd  Attah Achimugu, who are technical  partners to the steel company.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, said the country would witness a new dawn when the steel plant becomes functional.
Earlier in his speech, the Ukranian Ambassador to Nigeria Valery Vasyliev said his country is the biggest exporter of steel and has the experience to turn around the fortune of the moribund steel plant.
Also speaking, President General of Ukrainian National Foreign Economic Corporation Eugine Kosic said since 1998, VAZMASH INPEX LLC, has been showing interest in the resuscitation of the steel plant, assuring that with the combination of world experts in the organization, the Ajaokuta Steel company will be a reality soon.
He said the steel plant is still intact despite many years of neglect, calling for the collaboration of government at all levels to make the project a reality.
He added that a working rehabilitation plan to make the steel plant commence operation has gotten the approval of the Federal Ministry of Steel.

PANIC IN IMO: Launched Rocket Lands In Residential Area

Confusion in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State: two teenagers launched a rocket which landed in a residential area scaring the people. 

Being the students of the Federal Government College in the area, the boys launched the device as part of a science project.

Residents of the Umuchime Ubahu community thought that it was a bomb. The people who live in the house where the rocket landed called the police.

The rocket had been expected to reach a maximum distance on 5 kilometres from the launch site but it went farther, which caused panic among locals. 

Commissioner of Police Muhammad Musa Katsina, however, dispelled fears of terrorism, saying the “amateur scientists”, who launched the home-made rocket, did not mean any harm.

Katsina, however, asked the residents to stay security-conscious and report suspicious movements to the police.

“There was no terrorism motive in the act. We enjoin people to go about their activities without fear,” Katsina said.

“The rocket has been deactivated and is safe. The components as discovered by the Police Bomb Disposal Unit do not contain any radioactive or toxic element."

“Because the boys intended no harm, no punitive measures will be taken."

He called the boys talented students improving their scientific skills and recommended to encourage them so they could achieve greater things.

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I’LL SOON RETURN TO THE BARRACKS —AL-MUSTAPHA

I’LL SOON RETURN TO THE BARRACKS —AL-MUSTAPHA

Major Hamza Al-Mustpha, former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to late Head of State General Sani Abacha, yesterday said he will soon return to the barracks in uniform as a soldier in active duty.

Al-Mustapha who was recently set free after 15 years incarceration for alleged involvement in the murder of Mrs Kudirat Abiola also said his tours of the country to speak with youths has nothing to do with the politics of 2015. He said he was continuing with his youth empowerment which he began in 1984 and continued even in jail.
Al-Mustapha met various youth groups in Lafia yesterday in preparation for their registration for a scheme that is expected to take them off the streets. He told newsmen that he will return to the barracks as soon as the court processes are served on the military high command for him to be accepted back as a soldier.
He said: “First of all, I was arrested wrongly, framed up, taken to court wrongly; persecuted, punished, humiliated beyond the definitions of the law, from all the judgments - the High Court, up to the Federal High Court, and the Appeal Court. The judgments given are well spelt out.”
The former presidential security aide said that over 22 million young people in the Northern part of Nigeria alone are on the street with nothing to do.
Al-Mustapha also paid homage to the Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Isa Mustapha Agwai I, and the Sangarin Kwandere, Alhaji Ahmadu Al-Makura
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I’LL SOON RETURN TO THE BARRACKS —AL-MUSTAPHA

I’LL SOON RETURN TO THE BARRACKS —AL-MUSTAPHA

Major Hamza Al-Mustpha, former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to late Head of State General Sani Abacha, yesterday said he will soon return to the barracks in uniform as a soldier in active duty.

Al-Mustapha who was recently set free after 15 years incarceration for alleged involvement in the murder of Mrs Kudirat Abiola also said his tours of the country to speak with youths has nothing to do with the politics of 2015. He said he was continuing with his youth empowerment which he began in 1984 and continued even in jail.
Al-Mustapha met various youth groups in Lafia yesterday in preparation for their registration for a scheme that is expected to take them off the streets. He told newsmen that he will return to the barracks as soon as the court processes are served on the military high command for him to be accepted back as a soldier.
He said: “First of all, I was arrested wrongly, framed up, taken to court wrongly; persecuted, punished, humiliated beyond the definitions of the law, from all the judgments - the High Court, up to the Federal High Court, and the Appeal Court. The judgments given are well spelt out.”
The former presidential security aide said that over 22 million young people in the Northern part of Nigeria alone are on the street with nothing to do.
Al-Mustapha also paid homage to the Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Isa Mustapha Agwai I, and the Sangarin Kwandere, Alhaji Ahmadu Al-Makura
.

I’LL SOON RETURN TO THE BARRACKS —AL-MUSTAPHA

I’LL SOON RETURN TO THE BARRACKS —AL-MUSTAPHA

Major Hamza Al-Mustpha, former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to late Head of State General Sani Abacha, yesterday said he will soon return to the barracks in uniform as a soldier in active duty.

Al-Mustapha who was recently set free after 15 years incarceration for alleged involvement in the murder of Mrs Kudirat Abiola also said his tours of the country to speak with youths has nothing to do with the politics of 2015. He said he was continuing with his youth empowerment which he began in 1984 and continued even in jail.
Al-Mustapha met various youth groups in Lafia yesterday in preparation for their registration for a scheme that is expected to take them off the streets. He told newsmen that he will return to the barracks as soon as the court processes are served on the military high command for him to be accepted back as a soldier.
He said: “First of all, I was arrested wrongly, framed up, taken to court wrongly; persecuted, punished, humiliated beyond the definitions of the law, from all the judgments - the High Court, up to the Federal High Court, and the Appeal Court. The judgments given are well spelt out.”
The former presidential security aide said that over 22 million young people in the Northern part of Nigeria alone are on the street with nothing to do.
Al-Mustapha also paid homage to the Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Isa Mustapha Agwai I, and the Sangarin Kwandere, Alhaji Ahmadu Al-Makura
.

Nigerian Female Billionaire, Folorunsho Alakija, Defeats Oprah Winfrey To Become Richest Black Woman In The World

Move over Oprah, Nigerian oil tycoon Folorunsho Alakija is now the richest black woman in the world with an estimated fortune of $7.3 billion.

Africa boasts of 55 billionaires - far more than previously thought - and they're worth a staggering $143.88 billion in total, according to pan-African magazine Ventures Africa.

Starting her career as a secretary in a bank in the mid 1970s, Alakija, 62, then studied fashion in London and returned to Nigeria to start a label, Supreme Stitches. But her biggest break came in oil.

In 1993, her company, Famfa Oil, was awarded an oil prospecting license, which later became OML 127, one of the country's most prolific oil blocks, by then-president Ibrahim Babangida.

The company owned a 60 per cent stake in the block until 2000 when the Nigerian government unconstitutionally acquired a 50 per cent interest without duly compensating Alakija or Famda Oil.

In May 2012, Alakija, a married mother-of-four, challenged the acquisition and the Nigerian Supreme Court reinstated the 50 per cent stake to her company.

She also has a charity called the Rose of Sharon foundation that helps widows and orphans by empowering them through scholarships and business grants.

Forbes magazine had estimated Alakija's fortune at $600 million, as of November 2012, but the magazine's editor-in-chief Uzodinma Iweala said his researchers were 'closer to the ground.' 

They noted that Brazilian oil company, Petrobas, was looking to sell its 8 per cent stake in OML 127 for $1.5- $2.5 billion, and extrapolated that if they managed to sell it for $1 billion, Alakija's 60 per cent stake would be worth at least $7.3 billion.

Iweala claims this and other estimates included in the report are actually 'on the conservative side' and said the magazine expect to unearth more African billionaires shortly.

The overall richest African is Nigerian manufacturer Aliko Dangote who is worth $20.2 billion. Twenty Nigerians are listed in total.

According to Forbes, Oprah Winfrey is worth $2.9 billion.

ASUU Strike Will Be Over Soon - Jonathan Declares

President Goodluck Jonathan promised yesterday to end the doctors’ and university teachers’ strike.
The teachers’ is over 90 days. Members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) are also on strike. The professionals are blaming the government for failing to meet up with the agreement reached with them.
Jonathan promised to end the strike when he received the leaders of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), led by its President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele.
Presidential spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati, in a statement on the meeting which reporters were prevented from covering, said the President promised to do his all to resolve all issues that caused disputes.
He said the government attached great importance to the medical and educational sectors.
He said: “I believe that we must manage both sectors in such a way that nobody engaged in them will think of going on strike again.
“We will continue to proactively evolve measures that will help us to permanently overcome the problems that lead to strikes by health and education professionals,” he added.
To facilitate rapid establishment of more centres of medical excellence in the country, President Jonathan pledged that the Federal Government would fully explore the option of creating a special intervention fund.
According to him, the recommendation of a special fund that will give low interest loans for the establishment of state-of-the-art medical facilities is a creative idea that will receive appropriate consideration from the government.
He said: “We are committed to working with professionals and the private sector to establish better medical facilities in the country and reduce the number of Nigerians who have to go abroad annually for medical reasons.”
Jonathan also assured the doctors that his administration would create the right conditions to enable doctors to stay at home and avail Nigerians of their acknowledged skills and expertise instead of migrating to other countries.
He said his administration was determined to correct the anomaly of Nigeria being so strong in human capacity in medicine, with about 25,000 Nigerian medical consultants currently practising in the United States , as confirmed to him by President Barack Obama; and yet being unable to treat many of its sick people in its own hospitals.
Jonathan said: “There is clearly a missing link somewhere and we will do everything possible to fix it. We will continue to work with professional bodies and all stakeholders to come up with more policies and actions that will help us overcome current challenges in our medical sector.
“We will work with the National Assembly to ensure the quick passage of the National Health Bill. We will take prompt action to reconstitute the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. We will also consider recommendations for the establishment of the Office of Surgeon-General of the Federation.”
“I believe that we must always do what is best for our country. We will review all the other issues you have raised and act accordingly. When things are done properly, issues of welfare and remuneration in the health sector will disappear,” the President said.
Dr. Enabulele assured President Jonathan of NMA’s support for his administration’s agenda.
He called for urgent reconstitution of the main regulatory body in the health sector, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria which was dissolved in 2011.
The NMA President also called for faster action on the passage of the National Health Bill and other issues related to the creation of a more conducive operating environment for doctors and other healthcare professionals such as remuneration, welfare and training.
The President was decorated with the emblem of the NMA by Prof. Umaru Shehu.
The NMA delegation included the Emir of Tsonga, Dr. Haliru Yahaya, the NMA Second Vice-President, Dr. Uche Ojinmah and the NMA Secretary-General, Dr. Akpufuoma Pemu.