READ NIGERIAN NEWPAPERS, NEWSPAPERS

[Prince]

1. NBF News
2. The Champion
3. Vanguard
4. New Nigerian
5. Daily Trust
6. Leadership
7. This Day
8. The Daily Sun
9. Daily Independent
10.Guardian

[beibee]

i like this concept prince...
well done and thanks!

i can do all my shopping
while in the hood of my forum!

fine.

[Prince]

You get the point, you can still read your dailies while in NBF.

[vil]

Its a nice development prince .I like your concepts.Its inspiring

[Prince]

Thanks.

[furtune]

Is not a day job

[funshy]

Good idea my prince.

[affolly]

Prince, ma guyi.  Well done, Am a new member.

[beibee]

affolly...you're fully welcome!

[saleephraim]

 Cyber crime: Time to stop Nigeria’s dominance
 
Written by Suleiman Muhammad Odapu, on 06-09-2008 00:00
Views    22

Nigeria ranks third among the cyber crime committing countries in the world, according to a 2007 internet crime report released by the Internet Crime Complaint Centre (IC3), which puts the country alongside the US, UK and Romania among the top ten countries where internet crimes are perpetrated.

According to the report, in the US alone, "Nigerian letter fraud" (E mail scams emanating from Nigeria) constituted 1. 1 per cent of the 2007 top IC3 Complaint Categories received.  The report also revealed that the amount lost by individuals reporting fraud-type monetary loss in 2007 puts Nigerian Letter Fraud at 6. 4 percent, amounting to 1,922. 99 million US dollars.

IC3 noted that although Nigeria is in the top ten countries where internet crime is perpetrated, the country is, ironically, not among the first ten nations that complain to the IC3.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in its banking sector supervision report revealed that the banking sector lost 7. 2 billion naira to internet fraud.  However, the Chief Executive Officer of Global Network for Cyber Solution, Mr.  Segun Olugbile, believes the amount is in the region of N10billion.

In the international scene, Robert L.  Mallet, former US Deputy Secretary of Commerce, said that the US was giving more to Nigeria, yet losing more to Nigerians due to cyber crime.

"U. S.  citizens lose approximately $2 billion ($2,000 million) a year to Nigerian fraud, be it credit card fraud, insurance fraud, or 419 scam letters, or counterfeiting," he complained.  This amount, according to observers, totals about two-and-a-half times the value of total U. S.  exports to Nigeria.

Investigations by Weekly Trust reveal that Lagos, which is regarded as the "hot spot" of this appalling cyber trade, is yet to show any downward trend in the perpetration of the crime, despite efforts by the law enforcement agencies at track and arresting the teeming cyber fraudsters there.

Weekly Trust reports from Lagos say overnight browsing still booms in the city, despite EFCC’s ban and that the law is relaxed against the trend, but the spokesperson of the economic crimes watchdog, Femi Babafemi, in a recent reaction, said that the commission was up and doing in that regard.

He stated that the commission had carried out over 28 raids on cyber cafés since the new anti-graft agency’s boss, Mrs.  Farida Waziri, assumed duty, with 136 suspects arrested, explaining, "We arrested 60 suspects in the Southwest, 39 in the Southeast, 26 from the South-South and 11 in the North. "

He told Weekly Trust that the officials of the anti-graft body undergo regular training to equip them with the skills to curb cyber crime, insisting that the commission is competent to handle cyber criminality.

While efforts are geared towards curbing cyber crimes, the perpetrators are fashioning out new ways of outwitting the law enforcement agents to sap their victims of their hard-earned cash, sufficiently shielded from the law.

Weekly Trust investigations in Lagos reveal that the "yahoo yahoo boys" have now crafted new tactics, enabling them to take advantage of internet services provided by Fixed Telephone Companies like Starcomms, Zoom mobile, Visafone and Muiltlinks to perpetrate the crime right in the comfort of their sitting rooms, away from the prying eyes of the EFCC.

However, according to Femi Babafemi, the EFCC, in partnership with some experts, is developing software that could be used to monitor internet usage in the country with the particular aim of tracking and arresting internet fraudsters.

A recent stakeholders conference on cyber crime and cyber security issued a communiqué calling for a legislation on cyber crime, the establishment of Cyber Crime Reporting and Response Centre, Cyber Security Training Centre, Cyber Police and Forensic Commission and National Institute of Cyber Space Infrastructure Protection for Nigeria to battle the cyber menace.

Experts have argued that fighting cyber crime without any relevant legislation would lead to nowhere, arguing further that most anti-crime laws do not accommodate cyber crime, thereby making the crime difficult to be curtailed by the existing laws.

Against this background, some members of the House of Representatives, under the banner of the Certified Anti Money Laundry Specialists (CAMLSC), recently organized an interactive dialogue on Innovative Strategies to Combat Money Laundry and Cyber Crimes in Nigeria.

Speaking at the dialogue, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji.  Bankole, decried that recent anti corruption crusade had been focusing on individuals, neglecting the channels in which the corruption was taking place.  He restated the legislators’ commitment to fighting all forms of corruption, including cyber crimes.

Stakeholders in the Banking and Information and Technology sector also hold that unless concerted efforts are made, Nigeria will remain a leading nation in cyber crime.

[saleephraim]

 Cyber crime: Time to stop Nigeria’s dominance
 
Written by Ephraim Sale, on 06-09-2008 00:00
Views    22

Nigeria ranks third among the cyber crime committing countries in the world, according to a 2007 internet crime report released by the Internet Crime Complaint Centre (IC3), which puts the country alongside the US, UK and Romania among the top ten countries where internet crimes are perpetrated.

According to the report, in the US alone, "Nigerian letter fraud" (E mail scams emanating from Nigeria) constituted 1. 1 per cent of the 2007 top IC3 Complaint Categories received.  The report also revealed that the amount lost by individuals reporting fraud-type monetary loss in 2007 puts Nigerian Letter Fraud at 6. 4 percent, amounting to 1,922. 99 million US dollars.

IC3 noted that although Nigeria is in the top ten countries where internet crime is perpetrated, the country is, ironically, not among the first ten nations that complain to the IC3.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in its banking sector supervision report revealed that the banking sector lost 7. 2 billion naira to internet fraud.  However, the Chief Executive Officer of Global Network for Cyber Solution, Mr.  Segun Olugbile, believes the amount is in the region of N10billion.

In the international scene, Robert L.  Mallet, former US Deputy Secretary of Commerce, said that the US was giving more to Nigeria, yet losing more to Nigerians due to cyber crime.

"U. S.  citizens lose approximately $2 billion ($2,000 million) a year to Nigerian fraud, be it credit card fraud, insurance fraud, or 419 scam letters, or counterfeiting," he complained.  This amount, according to observers, totals about two-and-a-half times the value of total U. S.  exports to Nigeria.

Investigations by Weekly Trust reveal that Lagos, which is regarded as the "hot spot" of this appalling cyber trade, is yet to show any downward trend in the perpetration of the crime, despite efforts by the law enforcement agencies at track and arresting the teeming cyber fraudsters there.

Weekly Trust reports from Lagos say overnight browsing still booms in the city, despite EFCC’s ban and that the law is relaxed against the trend, but the spokesperson of the economic crimes watchdog, Femi Babafemi, in a recent reaction, said that the commission was up and doing in that regard.

He stated that the commission had carried out over 28 raids on cyber cafés since the new anti-graft agency’s boss, Mrs.  Farida Waziri, assumed duty, with 136 suspects arrested, explaining, "We arrested 60 suspects in the Southwest, 39 in the Southeast, 26 from the South-South and 11 in the North. "

He told Weekly Trust that the officials of the anti-graft body undergo regular training to equip them with the skills to curb cyber crime, insisting that the commission is competent to handle cyber criminality.

While efforts are geared towards curbing cyber crimes, the perpetrators are fashioning out new ways of outwitting the law enforcement agents to sap their victims of their hard-earned cash, sufficiently shielded from the law.

Weekly Trust investigations in Lagos reveal that the "yahoo yahoo boys" have now crafted new tactics, enabling them to take advantage of internet services provided by Fixed Telephone Companies like Starcomms, Zoom mobile, Visafone and Muiltlinks to perpetrate the crime right in the comfort of their sitting rooms, away from the prying eyes of the EFCC.

However, according to Femi Babafemi, the EFCC, in partnership with some experts, is developing software that could be used to monitor internet usage in the country with the particular aim of tracking and arresting internet fraudsters.

A recent stakeholders conference on cyber crime and cyber security issued a communiqué calling for a legislation on cyber crime, the establishment of Cyber Crime Reporting and Response Centre, Cyber Security Training Centre, Cyber Police and Forensic Commission and National Institute of Cyber Space Infrastructure Protection for Nigeria to battle the cyber menace.

Experts have argued that fighting cyber crime without any relevant legislation would lead to nowhere, arguing further that most anti-crime laws do not accommodate cyber crime, thereby making the crime difficult to be curtailed by the existing laws.

Against this background, some members of the House of Representatives, under the banner of the Certified Anti Money Laundry Specialists (CAMLSC), recently organized an interactive dialogue on Innovative Strategies to Combat Money Laundry and Cyber Crimes in Nigeria.

Speaking at the dialogue, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji.  Bankole, decried that recent anti corruption crusade had been focusing on individuals, neglecting the channels in which the corruption was taking place.  He restated the legislators’ commitment to fighting all forms of corruption, including cyber crimes.

Stakeholders in the Banking and Information and Technology sector also hold that unless concerted efforts are made, Nigeria will remain a leading nation in cyber crime.

[beibee]

welcome...well done.

[Joebaby]

Thanks for that intiative, you've save us some cool cash.

[beibee]

well...that's if you aren't paying
for internet use...

[Prince]

well...that's if you aren't paying
for internet use...

You don't pay your internet everyday, while you pay for the newspapers everyday.

[beibee]

that's correct[ in the office/home].

though you pay per minute/hour
if you're using the cyber-cafe.

[saleephraim]

Yar’adua takes charge
Yar’adua takes charge
Healthy-looking President Umaru Yar’adua yesterday resumed official functions and reasserted his authority 19 days after his last public outing, putting on hold the raging speculations about his health.

[Prince]

That's a good news, that our president is bouncing and healthy.

[saleephraim]

Nokia  Ramadan applications phone
 
Written by Ephraim S

Nokia has announced the launch of a range of mobile applications and content tailored for the Holy Month of Ramadan, a statement from Nokia in Nigeria, has said.

Building on last year’s offering, the statement said the new solutions are for free and come preloaded in select Nokia devices or as downloadable applications that extend to a range of Nokia devices.   It said the online applications can be accessed and downloaded on the compatible Nokia devices from anywhere in the world under www. nokia. com/ramadan.

"The overwhelming response and feedback that we received from last year’s offering allowed us to improve and expand this year’s application, making it a complete solution that gives Nokia users a single and easy access to many of the cherished experiences that Muslims like to be close to during the Holy Month," said Chris Braam, Vice President, Sales, Nokia Middle East and North Africa.

The 2008 Ramadan offering from Nokia includes the Holy Quran, which allows users to read, search, bookmark and listen to Quran recitation.   Other elements include Emsakya, Ramadaniat and Mozzaker.   Developed by ASGATech, the only Forum Nokia Premium Partner in the Middle East, all content of the Ramadan applications have been reviewed and approved by Al Azhar Al Shareef.

[saleephraim]

Firm launches free job search website
By Roseline Okere

ACC-SPECS Professional Services Limited has launched a website which offers free job search for the unemployed in the country.

According to the Managing Director of the company, Mr.  Olajide Hakeem, it was a part of the corporate social responsibility programmes of the company.

He disclosed that what any job seeker needs to do was to log into www. acc-specs. com and submit his or her resume and wait for a call from any interested organisation.

He added that the website also offers opportunities for organisations that are looking for candidates for particular jobs to get their desired choices at no extra cost.

Hakeem, who expressed concern over the level of unemployment in Nigeria, hopes to see a total reduction in the level of unemployed in the country through the free job package in the next few years.

Within three weeks in operating the website, he disclosed that the company had received a lot of resume and that some applicants have been fixed into some companies.

To reduce the number of unemployment in the country, Hakeen therefore suggested that governments should provide infrastructural facilities for the industrial sector so that they would be able to provide employment for more people into their organisation.

He said: "We all know that the industrial sector is the engine of growth of any nation.  If they can produce at full capacity, they will definitely need more manpower, but if they cannot, they will be forced to retrench instead of recruiting. "

Base on its determination to provide superior solutions to its clients, he said that the company's services had been delineated into three business competences to include information systems and process integration, accounting systems services, out sourcing and project management.

He stated that the company's approach was not just to implement software but also to provide intelligent solutions that would help its clients drive their businesses.

This approach, he said, required the company to view its solutions from three dimensions that included the people, technology, process and procedures.

He explained: "We approach our tasks with these three dimensions in mind.  We perform a system review to determine the alignment of the people, the technology and the process to meet the business requirement of our clients.  We believe that the information system must be aligned with the organisation's structure to support its business strategy. "

The company, he said, presently supports some products, which included Peachtree Accounting software, Dac-Easy Accounting, Sage Pastel Revolution, Seagate Crystal Report Writer, Perception Software, IFS application and Oracle 10g Database administration.

Speaking on knowledge management with Information Technology, Hakeem stated: "Earnings and profits are usually considered the key indicators of a company's success.  The underlying assets of that success include the classic production factor of labour, capital and real estate.  Although, any company must create, accumulate and maintain those assets in order to succeed, that is no longer enough.  Increasingly, a company's success depends on making the most of its collective knowledge.  And that means supporting the people and the most of its collective knowledge.  And that means supporting the process required to accumulate, structure and transfer knowledge effectively. "

[saleephraim]

GSM sicknesses
… Nigerians don’t believe that something kills, until someone drops dead
By Abdulwufa Ephraim Sale
Tuesday, September 9,

   
      More Stories on This Section

Janne Wilkins, a businesswoman in Dana Point, California, United States of America, have used cell phone for the last 10 years.  During the last several years she noticed, an increase in tension in her neck and shoulder areas.

Wilkins said, “For the last 10 years I have used a cell phone between 30 and 60 hours per week for business.  During the last several years I’ve noticed an increase in tension in my neck and shoulder area.  I also suffered with a ragging pain in my right ear whenever I used my phone.  Once I discovered the cell ship, those problems disappeared.

“Wilkins story is not different from that Car; Perkins, a banker in Carlshead, California.  Perkins said, “For months, I had felt a drilling pain in my shoulder that neither chiropractice nor massage could ease.  After just a few days of having the chip on my call phone, I woke up one morning to discover the pain gone! Over the next several days I noticed that I was bouncing out of bed quicker and had more energy all day long, more than I had had for quite some time.  Many people commented on how energetic I was.  My thanks to the entire cell chip team for bringing such a wonderful product and opportunity into my life. ”

For Jim Langley, a hotelier in San Diego, California, he feels less stressed after protecting himself from cell phone radiations using cell chips.  “When I was introduced to the cell chip, I was skeptical regarding its validity.  However, after putting the chip on my cell phone, I no longer get a hot ear after continued cell phone use and I feel less stressed,” he said.

Wilkins Perkins and Langley are not the only ones who have gotten relief from GSM diseases by protecting themselves with cell chips.

The development of telecommunications and information technology has currently become the wave of the future with its dire consequences.  Attention has been drawn by researchers to the concerns of Electro-Magnetic Radiation (EMR) emitted by cell phones, PDA’s, Bluetooth headsets etc, which have been linked to various stress-induced health issues.

According to Andra Spica, Managing Director, Niopro Technology, South Africa, “Your head and brain beat up significantly when you talk on your cell phone or cordless phone.  Most heat is generated in your ear canal, which is directly connected to your brain.

“What do microwaves, cell phones and cordless phones have in common? They all emit dangerous microwave radiation.  The good news is with microwave radiation you can boil water, cook meat, fry eggs, the bad news is with microwave radiation you can fry your brain.

“As we unwittingly subject ourselves to this overbearing external stress or everyday cell chips, Universal Chips Home Harmonizer and I-water appliance are now available at the facilities of Biopro technology Nigeria Ltd across the country to help protect us from the dangerous radiation associated with cell phone and cordless phone use, as well as the use of computers, laptops, microwave ovens, television sets etc.

“Our ground breaking technology of Biopro harmonizes and neutralizes the dangerous electromagnetic fields coming from the phones.  Thus, our revolutionary universal chips offer the most advanced dual action technology to address stress where we live, work and play.  Indeed, it is ‘ a must have’ for anyone who is concerned about the effects of electro-pollution. ”

“We invite everybody to witness this innovative technology which offers protection and safety to their family and workforce for healthy living and for the benefit of humanity,” he said.
Contributing, Mr.  Sam Iheanacho, Chief Executive Officer, Biopro technology Nigeria, said, “I’ve had cell chips since November last year, when I was introduced to it.  It is not because I am involved, I will not use any phone that does not have it.  And none of my family members will use a phone without cell chips.

“As a matter of fact, part of the reason I am involved in this is to ensure wellness of my people, Nigerians.  You know Nigerians have an attitude, we don’t believe something kills, until somebody drops.  But I am not going to wait to drop, before I take care of myself.

“I am doing what is expected of me to ensure that I am passing this knowledge and information.  If Nigerians get to know of the dangers of using a cell phone without cell chips.  I know they want to protect themselves.  The cell phone is a necessity thing.  Without the cell phone, many businesses will not thrive.

“You know how traffic in Lagos is.  Without the cell phone, many businesses will crumble, people will not talk of their families as often as they want to.  It is a necessary thing, but what we are doing is to complement and make sure we are safe.  Even when we are using it, we try to save ourselves.
According to Dr.  Remi Ajekigbe, consultant Radiotherapist and Oncologist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, “cell phones (GSM) can cause cancer of the head and neck. ” It was also gathered that other GSM sicknesses include infertility, migraine, stress, headache, weakening of the eardrum, low sperm count etc.

 

[saleephraim]

  SAD
. . . This man built office accommodation for police
…And received gunshot in return
By PHILIP NWOSU
Thursday, September 4, 2008
• Mike Okiro, IGP
Photo: Sun News Publishing

    *
      More Stories on This Section

Alhaji Zayeed Abiola is a well known businessman, who deals on imported rice and vegetable oil at the mile 2 estate area of Lagos.

He is a businessman of high repute who ensured that he obeyed the laws of the land and avoided any form of illegality or anything that would drag his name in the mud.

Neighbours described him as benevolent and pious fellow, who does not want to be rich while people around him die of hunger.
It was in recognition of his contributions to the development of Islam, among others, that he was recently turbaned by an Islamic group in the area.

In fact, he once told Daily Sun that he cherishes good name more than any material thing in this world, explaining that, “good name is more than gold.  I do my things, believing that there is judgment after the sojourn of man on earth. ”

Because of the volatile nature of the area where his business is situated, Alhaji Abiola often needs the assistance of the police, especially, in protecting him and his business against hoodlums and layabouts, who mill around the mile 2 area of Lagos.

He told Daily Sun that he tried to court the friendship of the police, not because he gets involved in criminal activities but for the fact that he believes that the police are capable of protecting him and his business.

Alhaji Abiola had had a cordial relationship with the police who he said had been very cooperative with him until July this year, when the once good relationship was dented by some bad eggs in the police force.

He told Daily Sun that the relationship between him and the police, particularly, the Okokomaiko area of Lagos, Area ‘E’ command in general and the FESTAC Town Division, was so cordial that he had to build office accommodation when there was demand for it.
Although, he quickly added, that he was not doing that because he wanted to take over the role of the government in equipping the police, but because he felt it was one of the things he could offer the police to properly do their job.

Despite his contributions, the police recently turned against him, shooting him on the leg, leaving him to die.

Narrating his ordeals in the hands of the policemen, Alhaji Abiola said: “On that fateful day, an Okada man ran to me to complain that some people were fighting with the driver of a trailer, which was parked somewhere in the estate.  Then, I came down from my bus and quickly followed the Okada man.  On getting there, I saw some drivers I could not even recognize. ”

He said shortly after he arrived the scene, some policemen in plain clothes arrived and before he could inquire from them what they wanted, they fired a shot which has now paralyzed his legs.
He said: “While I was trying to identify who the policemen were, some men in plain clothes emerged, and shot in the air, they made a lot of noise, they said, ‘you this baba, you don’t want to give us money;, when they were making noise, they were threatening us with gun, most of the people have to run away.
“Then, I moved closer to them because I know I am not a criminal and asked which money they were talking about.  The next thing I heard was another gun shot and the bullet hit me on the leg. ”

“I just fell down, I started crying for help.  I shouted for help, thinking they were armed robbers.  When the disturbances died down and they hid their car at the back of the park, about four or five of them came to see if I was dead, and they saw I was groaning in pains.  They did not help, they only said they were coming and left me to die.

Alhaji Zayeed mentioned one Inspector Idioh, as one of the policemen who led the attack on him.  He said: “These Inspectors had been threatening my life for refusing to give them bribe. ”
Daily Sun learnt that the victim was rescued by passersby, who also rushed him to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), where he is presently recuperating.
Alhaji Abiola, who is now confined to the wheel chair has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mr.  Mike Okiro, asking him to call the Area ‘E’ police command to order and to fish out the officers who shot him.

From his hospital bed, he told Daily Sun that all he wants is justice, especially, as the men who shot him carried out a deliberate act of vendetta for not giving them money.
He said: “I sought for nothing else but justice, from the police.  Let them fish out these men because, before they shot me I saw them. ”

But the Area ‘E’ command has remained adamant, putting the blame at the doorstep of armed robbers.  “It was armed robbers who shot Alhaji Abiola,” a senior police officer insisted.
Meanwhile, the case has been transferred to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Alagbon, even as the officers at the Area ‘E’ command have vowed to truncate any move by Alhaji Abiola to get justice .

 

 

[saleephraim]

FG RESTRUCTURES MINISTRIES. . . Niger Delta Ministry created

BY EPHARIM SALE
The Federal Executive Council [FEC] yesterday approved the rationalisation of Federal Government ministries, and further announced the establishment of a new Ministry for Niger Delta Affairs.
The new measure was part of efforts to fast-track and effectively coordinate the implementation of the seven-point agenda of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Mahmoud Yayale Ahmed said.
In the same vein, the next meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) will hold on Wednesday September 24, to allow the President enough time for the implementation of the restructuring exercise, a statement by the Special Adviser to the president on  Communications, Segun Adeniyi said.
The SGF who attended the weekly FEC briefing in his new capacity said that the Ministry of Niger Delta was created to address issues of development in the region, as well as tackle the problem of youth restiveness.
Yayale said that under this new structure which is expected to engender greater flexibility, give direction and focus to the administration, there will be 28 ministries instead of 30, with 42 ministers to cover the constitutional requirements for federal character as well as address the issues of equity and affirmative action in the country.
He said that the Ministry of Energy has been broken into two, while the Ministry of Power is to be manned by a substantive Minister.  Similarly, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources is to be headed by a substantive minister with a minister of state. 
Other ministries in the new dispensation, he said, are Finance, Health, Justice, Commerce and Industry, Foreign Affairs, Defence, Information and Communications, Labour and Productivity, Youth Development, Women Affairs and Social Development, Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Interior and  Federal Capital Territory Administration.  The National Planning Commission and National Sports Commission retain the same structure.
According to the new arrangement, the Ministry of Police Affairs has been restored to give necessary attention to the security imperatives of the nation within the ambit of the Seven-Point Agenda, while the Ministries of Education, Mines and Steel Development and Science and Technology who were hitherto having three ministers have been reduced to two each.
Other adjustments to the current ministerial structure are the restoration to their original concepts of the Ministries of Aviation; Transport; Environment; Works, Housing and Urban Development; Water Resources; and Agriculture and Rural Development.
The review of the current structure is predicated on the need to streamline and strengthen the mechanism for service delivery without sacrificing the objectives of the Public Service Reforms carried out at the twilight of the last administration.
President Yar’Adua has directed all Ministers to re-articulate the mandates of their Ministries, Departments in line with the requirements of the Seven-Point Agenda under the guidance of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Head of Service.
Meanwhile, the council has approved the award of contract for the maintenance and security of street light installations in the central Area and Maitama District of Abuja at the cost of 66,070,349. 10 Naira and 56,965,687. 75 Naira respectively.  The two contracts have a retainership period of 12 months each.
Minister of Information, Mr.  John Odey who made this known to State House correspondents said the council also approved the contract for the construction of Prototype Immigration State Command Offices in Maiduguri, Kano, Yenagoa, Katsina, and Asaba, and also approved the construction of a block of eight three-bedroom flats for Immigration Village in Abuja.  The contract is for 430,003,231. 66 Naira, and is expected to be completed in 12 months.
 He also said that the council approved the contract for the improvement of water supply scheme at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos at 290 million Naira.

[saleephraim]

The presidency yesterday distanced itself from reports in a news wire that President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua will resign after the proposed cabinet reshuffle.

It also ordered a probe into the alleged penetration of the government owned wire services, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by those who allegedly infiltrated into the agency equipment to plant news items and route same through NAN’s contact with its subscribers.

France news agency, Agence France Presse, (AFP) had picked a purported news item from NAN, with the headline "News Flash: ‘’President Umaru Musa Yar’adua may resign after cabinet reshuffle, on health ground’’.

The purported news flash was also received by many other foreign and local media organizations which created palpable confusion in the presidential villa, Abuja.

But in swift reaction, Special Adviser on Communication to the President, Mr.  Olusegun Adeniyi, who was also alarmed by the story, refuted the report saying that there was no truth in the story.

"It is absolutely rubbish.  There is no such thing.  The President has not resigned and there is nothing like that in the offing," he said.

Another key figure in the government who preferred anonymity described the report as unfortunate, noting that it goes beyond just the story, and attributed the development to the handiwork of political detractors who are bent on destabilizing the government.

He said: "Of a fact, the story or report certainly has security implication," even as he revealed that NAN equipment has been checked and it was confirmed that it did not emanate from them.

Another source in the embattled NAN explained that the story failed to conform to NAN news reporting styles; as the story "was not edited and also carried one name (byline) which shows that it was a reporter that just sent it".

According to the source, "this does not happen in NAN for a reporter to write a story and send even if you are the editor-in-Chief, the story must be seen by another eye and the name of the editor must be included.  This shows that it didn’t come from NAN. "

He pointed out the spelling error in the story like carbonate which he said there was no way the editors would have allowed such a mistake to go.

Another error he pointed out was that, NAN does not use more than two names, saying, NAN does not include the President’s middle name (Musa) in its style.

But NAN formally yesterday reacted to the development in a statement saying: "the management of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja disowned a news report being circulated to a section of the mass media, purporting it to have emanated from the agency.

"The story, which was sent via e-mail from an address: gencynig@yahoo. com, in Abidjan, Cotd D’Ivoire stated that ‘President Umaru Yar’Adua may resign after a carbinate reshuffle, on health ground’.  Managing Director of the agency, Mrs.  Oluremi Oyo, the agency had nothing to do with the story.

"The address is not that of NAN.  The poor grammar, as indicated in the wrong spelling of "cabinet" could not have

been that of NAN,’’ she added.

She stressed that some mischief makers, bent on using the

NAN platform, must be at work.  "The agency vehemently disowns the story in its entirety and will not have anything to do with speculative or unfounded reports," she stressed.

Oyo advised its subscribers to ignore such unpatriotic stories and to confirm from the agency in future, if any such stories are sent by mischief makers.

With effect from today, September 16, 2008, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has rested the following e-mail addresses: nanabujahq@gmail. com and nancommunication@gmail. com to send its news items.  NAN will no longer use any yahoo, or gmail, or hotmail. com address from this moment on.  The only authentic address NAN will be using from now on is: newsroom@nannewsngr. com repeat: newsroom@nannewsngr. com This has become necessary to ensure that NAN news items can be readily identified as opposed to those sent to you by mischief makers.  We use this medium to let you know that NAN will not have anything to do with any story from addresses other than newsroom@nannewsngr. com Signed: Alli Hakeem, deputy editor-in-chief Abuja Metropolitan Desk said.

Daily Champion’s check on the president and his activities yesterday was a sharp contrast to that of a president about to resign as his aides were preparing for the president’s trip to New York for 63rd General Assembly of the United Nations which he will address on the 24th of this month.

President Yar’Adua had security meeting and also received governors of Rivers Akwa Ibom and Kaduna states who were at the State House.

His health has been a source of concern even before he became President over a year ago and only recently, his 17 days stay in Saudi Arabia generated a lot of concern and apprehension.

At a time President Yar’Adua who was said to have gone for lesser hajj was rumoured to have died after a kidney surgery while in Saudi Arabia before the president returned to the country two weekends ago.

Meanwhile, heavily armed operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) yesterday invaded the Abuja premises of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and the Channels Television also in Abuja.

The operatives, who stormed the two media establishments seized all the security men at both premises and beat up those who insisted they must identify themselves.  This reporter who personally witnessed the invasion of the Channels Television office, saw the SSS men come into the IGI House located in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja where Channels TV has its Abuja office, engaged the security men of IGI in fierce verbal and physical combat forcing them to open their gates to allow their operational bus enter the premises.

After they had their way, the SSS personnel, numbering up to 10, climbed the stair case with speed and also descended on the security man who works with the Channels Television, because he inquired who they were and their mission.  Immediately one of them informed him that they were SSS operatives, the security man, demanded to see their identity, but was immediately descended upon by another SSS man, who gave him dirty slaps and shoved him violently aside.  This reporter who witnessed all what that happened, requested the security man to give way to them, since they seem to be from the office they had claimed.

Wanting to call the one who seem to be the most senior officer among them to explain to him the importance of properly identifying themselves, especially as there was no difference between the way his men acted and the way armed robbers invaded some media house out-stations in Abuja recently, the man brushed this reporter aside and ordered all the Channels Television station staff who were present to hands up in surrender, after which they locked the Abuja office door of the station.

After a few moments, they marched off all the Channels Television staff down stairs and asked them not to come back to the office until they were through with their mission.  At the NAN premises, staff of the organization who spoke with this reporter told of how they barricaded the entire premises, ransacked everywhere, took away some documents and whisked off some of their senior editors.

However, the staff denied that NAN ran any story concerning the resignation of President Umar Musa Yar’Adua, insisting that "the story is not from us.  It is not in our bulletin.  We do not know where they got it from".

The story has to do with the claim by the television station that President Yar’Adua may resign today after a cabinet reshuffle.  The presidency and Information Minister, John Odey had warned journalists of publishing materials which are sensitive to "national security" due to its implications, especially after the series of stories on the state of health of the President.

[saleephraim]

CORRUPTION MUST BE CHECKED — Yar’Adua

The universities’ workers across the country will begin a three-day warning strike today over the lingering monetization arrears, negotiation on salary structure and issues bothering  on 65 years as retirement age.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has already directed its .