Vanguard (Nigeria) articles from December 2009

Vanguard (Nigeria) archives from December 2009

Kabba And the Micro-Macro Economics of Ajaokuta (2).
December 31, 2009... Byline: Timothy Asobele and Olumuyiwa Agunsoye KAINJI Power Station has to be enlarged as soon as possible to generate more horsepower to the Ajaokuta Iron and Steel Complex. If more Hydro Electric Power Stations are built on the River Niger,...

Review AMC Bill, Stockbrokers Urge FG.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Peter Egwuatu The approval being sought by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, from the National Assembly to establish an Asset Management Company, AMC, that would take over the bad loans associated with margin facilities obtained by...

More Ex-Govs for Trial in 2010, Says EFCC.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Emma Ovuakporie More former governors and top government functionaries serving and retired will face trial next year as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, concludes plans to file charges after it had carried out...

South East Govs to Inaugurate Council On State Creation.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Chidi Nkwopara and Vincent Ujumadu Governors of the South East geo-political zone have agreed to inaugurate an Elders Council to among other things, harmonise issues and agitations for a consensus state to be created for the zone. ...

Experts Task Professionals On Research, Medical Education.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Emmanuel Elebeke Healthcare professionals in West African subregion have been called upon to work together in the area of medical education, research and healthcare to enable Africa achieve self sufficiency in healthcare delivery...

Trips at N2.7 Billion Only.
December 31, 2009... BUDGET defences are replete with comic relief. It is the time of year when legislators play god? What do they do for the rest of the year? Those who invented budget defences had in mind robust sessions, devoid of sensationalism, where executives...

Terror Attack - CIA, FBI Quiz Farouk's Dad.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Lawani Mikairu TO unravel the mystery and puzzle called Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the 23-year-old Nigerian who tried to blow up a US plane, the father, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, was yesterday quizzed by American security operatives, the...

Between Branding And Overbranding.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Morenike Taire SOMEHOW, the Nigerian collective sense of the ridiculous was aroused when former NAFDAC Director General and erstwhile new Communications Minister Dora Akunyili announced upon receiving her latest brief, her plans to...

Why I Swore in New Chief Justice, By Kutigi.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Ise-Oluwa Ige IN SPITE of the controversy over his legal powers, the out-going Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, yesterday, in Abuja, swore in Justice Aloysius Iyorgyer Katsina-Alu as the 11th Chief Justice of...

Doctors in Diaspora Give Free Treatment to 1,000 Patients At Abavo.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Victor Ahiuma-Young NO fewer than one thousand persons suffering from various ailments were treated free in Abavo, Delta State, at the flag off of the free rural health programme organised by Delta Doctors in Diaspora (DDD). ...

Maryam, IBB's Greatest Critic - Madaki.
December 31, 2009... Former First Lady and the founder of the Better Life for Rural Women, late Mrs Maryam Babangida, has been described as a patriot and friend of the less privileged. In a tribute to the late Mrs Babangida, Colonel John Madaki (rtd), the former...

2009 - Strikes Compound Woes of Education Sector.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Olubusuyi Adenipekun The ability of the current Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Ominyi Egwu to come up with a Roadmap for the Nigerian education sector a few weeks after the removal of his immediate predecessor, Dr. Aja Mwachukwu gave...

The Thrills and Frills of Christmas (4).
December 31, 2009... Byline: Awa Kalu Often, more damage is done to the victims through improvised rescue. The question then is whether the rescue scenario painted above has any implications under the law. It has to be stated quickly that the law is happy with...

Mass Sack - Picketing of Erring Banks May Hold Early January.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Victor Ahiuma-Young INDICATIONS have emerged that Organised labour is planning to disrupt activities in the banking sector in the first week of January 2010, over the recent mass retrenchment in the sector which has seen over 6,000...

NJC More Than Ready to Discharge Its Constitutional Functions.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Danladi Halilu The National Judicial Council, the apex body for the nation's Judiciary, is one of the Federal Executive Bodies created under Section 153 of the 1999 constitution. It came into existence as a child of circumstance...

Constitution Review - Rights Groups Task N/A Committees (2).
December 31, 2009... Byline: Laja Thomas The rationale for the delisting of INEC as a Federal Executive body removes the requirement that the Chair must be a member of a political party. The participants therefore made the following recommendations. The...

Warring Ebonyi Communities Get Amnesty Boost.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Dennis Agbo THE President of Ebonyi Youth Assembly, Mr. Chinedu Ogar has pledged to sponsor vocational training abroad for the first ten youths of Ezza/Ezillo, who surrender their weapons to embrace the peace initiative of Ebonyi...

Enugu Residents Raise Alarm Over Epidemics Scare.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Tony Edike RESIDENTS of Enugu, the Enugu State capital have cried out over the heaps of refuse on major streets of the metropolis since the past three months. The residents called on the government to as a matter of urgency take...

Public Interest Litigation in Region (2).
December 31, 2009... Byline: Femi Falana In justifying its stand the Court acknowledged the struggles of oppressed peoples in many parts of the world, including South Africa. According to Hayfron Benjamini JSC: "In rendering this opinion therefore we must take...

Royal Father Scores Yar'Adua Low.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Tony Edike THE Traditional Ruler of Nike Community in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, Igwe Julius Nnaji, yesterday called on the Federal Government to wake up from its slumber, saying that Nigerians were yet to feel...

Gboko LG Chairman Gets Impeachment Notice.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Peter Duru Fresh crisis has broken out in Gboko local government area of Benue State between the council legislature and the Chairman, Mr. Simon Agua who has been handed an impeachment notice by the legislature on grounds of alleged...

Local Red Cross Restructures.
December 31, 2009... THE Nigerian Red Cross Society has embarked on a restructuring exercise to position the organisation for a quicker response to emerging challenges in humanitarian works. The exercise which affected its governance and the management arms saw...

Anambra - ADC Candidate Pledges 400,000 Jobs.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Enyim Enyim The African Democratic Congress, ADC, candidate for the 6 February 2010 governorship election in Anambra State, Chief Okey Nwosu, yesterday said he would provide 400,000 jobs for the youths and unemployed university...

Plateau Inter-Religious Council Condemns Bauchi Mayhem.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Taye Obateru The Plateau State Inter-Religious Council for Peace and Harmony, PIRPCH, has condemned the recent religious crisis in Bauchi, warning against hiding behind religion to perpetrate evil. The committee rose from a meeting...

Oyo AC Promises to Liberate People From Bad Governance.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Ola Ajayi Action Congress, AC, in Oyo State has assured the people of the state to expect landmark development that would usher in their liberation from bad governance and political oppression in the year 2010. While congratulating...

Bauchi Crisis Death Toll Rises.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Patience Ogbodo The death toll from the Bauchi religious crisis of 28 Monday has continued to rise following the reported death of some of those injured during the shootout with security operatives. Vanguard gathered from some of...

Terror Attack - Mutallab Spent Only 27 Mins in Country, Says Govt.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Lawani Mikairu Fresh facts emerged yesterday on the circumstances in which Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian suspected in the attempted attack on a U.S. airliner came into Nigeria before boarding a Delta airline to Detroit through...

Ekpo Predicts Final Berth for Eagles in Angola.
December 31, 2009... Former Nigerian international, Friday Ekpo has predicted a bright Nations Cup campaign for Nigeria, saying that the Eagles could go all the way to the final of the continental fiesta. The former national team midfield pearl said "I believe...

Nwoyo Fishing Festival - Ibi Traditional Ruler Solicits NTDC Support.
December 31, 2009... The Traditional Ruler of Ibi in Taraba State, Alhaji Abubakar Salihu Bawuro III has solicited the co-operation and assistance of the apex Tourism Regulatory body in Nigeria, the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation in fast-tracking the...

Imoke Says Nigeria Lacks Policy to Drive Tourism.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Jimoh Babatunde Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has decried the lack of articulated policy that supports tourism development and promotion in Nigeria as obtained in other countries in Africa. Speaking with journalists...

Judiciary Has Fared Fairly Well Under Yar'Adua Govt, But...
December 31, 2009... Byline: Ise-Oluwa Ige More than ten years before Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua assumed office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria , the Nigerian judiciary was sick. The malady in the justice system was so pronounced at the time...

Monarch, Four Others Dragged to Court.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Gbenga Akanmu Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Olumegbon of Lagos, Chief Fatai Lawal, Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the State Commissioner of Police and the Commander, RRS, CSP Hakeem Odumosu have been...

Five Arrested over Fuel Price Hike in Edo.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Gabriel Enogholase MANAGERS of five petrol stations in Edo State, caught selling petrol above the official price of N65, have been arrested by the State Petroleum Monitoring Committee in Benin. Chairman of the Committee, Lord Amen...

DELSU Provost Assures on Development.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Festus Ahon THE Provost of Delta State University, DELSU, Oleh campus, Prof. Victor Peretomode, has said the state government was committed to the development of the campus. Peretomode, who noted that the campus was gradually being...

Edo Labour Party Crisis Deepens.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Simon Ebegbulem THE crisis rocking the Labour Party in Edo State worsened yesterday as the chairmen of the party in the 18 local government councils of the state passed a vote of no confidence in the state chairman of the party, Dr...

No Excuses, It's Nations Cup Trophy or Nothing, Ndanusa.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Fidelis Ebu Sani Ndanusa, the minister and Chairman, National Sports Commission has given the Nigeria Football Federation and the Eagles a tall order that the African Cup of Nations trophy must be won in Angola. While responding to...

Benue A-G Appeals to Judicial Staff over Strike.
December 31, 2009... As Benue State government meets 90 per cent of the demands of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria,JUSUN, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice,Mr Chive Kaave, has appealed to them to call off their strike. Kaave who made the...

Elechi Forecloses Resuscitation of Nigercem.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Dennis Agbo Ebonyi State Governor, Martin Elechi has disclosed that Nigeria's Premier Cement factory, NIGERCEM, situated at Nkalagu in Ishielu Local Government Area of the state was now despoiled and beyond revival. Governor Elechi...

FG Bows to OPS on SIM Registration, as NCC Slates March 2010 for Exercise.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Franklin Alli The Federal Government may have bowed to the pressure mounted by the Organised Private Sector (OPS) on Subscriber Identity Module(SIM) registration as Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Wednesday, declared that...

Happily We Yawn.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Ikeddy Isiguzo CHIEF Patrick Olusegun Odegbami spent most of last week talking about how tough he thought the Nations Cup that starts for Nigeria on January 12 only eights days away would be. It must be patriotic instincts that...

Amodu to Hire Keshi or Foreign Coach.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Onochie Anibeze Coach Amodu Shuaibu appears to be learning fast.While the Presidential Task Force on the World Cup plans to hire a foreign coach for the World Cup if he fails at the Nations Cup in Angola, the head coach of the Eagles...

APMT Wins Cran Award, Fetes Destitutes.
December 30, 2009... WORLD's leading terminal operating company and operator of the Apapa Container Terminal, APM Terminals Apapa Limited has won the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) Award as the Best Security Compliant Terminal in Nigeria just as the...

Developing Entrepreneurial Spirit (Pt.1).
December 30, 2009... A recent collection of essays on entrepreneurial innovation in developing economies, titled 'Lessons from the Poor', mentions an aspect of Nigerian clothing design. Examining the traditional adire dye industry, author Thompson Ayodele informs...

Kano/Jigawa Customs Exceeds Revenue Target, Confiscates Contraband.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Godwin Oritse Operatives of the Kano /Jigawa Customs Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)collected N925, 751,969.34 between January and November 2009, N500,000.00 less its target. The Command at the weekend also made...

Boi Generates 815,000 Jobs in 4 Years.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Franklin Alli The Bank of Industry (BOI) has claimed to have helped manufacturing industries across the country to generate 815,000 jobs between 2005 and 2009. Investigation conducted by Vanguard showed that between the period...

Nants Expresses Concern Over 2010 Budget, Wants 10 Percent for Agric.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Godwin Oritse THE National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) has expressed concern over the recently released 2010 annual budget saying that "purposeful and responsive governments worldwide are committing more investments and...

Afribank Boosts Collections With Efficiency.
December 30, 2009... By leveraging on its sim plified service processing and robust banking information technology, Afribank Nigeria Plc has boosted its revenue collections nationwide for both private and public institutions. The Bank's monthly rating has also...

GTBank Completes N13 Billion First Tranche 5, Year Bond.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Peter Egwuatu Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc has completed the placement ( "Offering") of N13.165 billion Fixed Rate Senior Unsecured Bonds due 2014. At the Completion Board Meeting held yesterday in Lagos, the Bank finalised...

Sustaining Efforts on Industrial Revival.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Bolaji Kazeem It is obvious that the Industrial sector of the economy of Nigeria has experienced turbulent period of erratic power supply, faking and dumping, smuggling and high cost of production as well as lack of patronage by...

Dangote Laments Impact of Global, Local Meltdown on Businesses.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Ikeoye Oyetoro The President and Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has lamented the negative effects of the global and local meltdown on businesses. According to him, the outgoing financial year was...

Police Kill 6 in Akwa Ibom Bank Robbery.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Tony Nyong Six out of the more than twelve bank robbers that stormed the Ikot Abasi branch of an old generation bank in Akwa Ibom State are now six feet deep in the ground, as they were shot and buried in the Ikot Abasi burial ground...

Fire Guts House in Bayelsa.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Samuel Oyadongha A dawn inferno reportedly caused by electrical fault yesterday destroyed property worth over N.5 million at Igbogene suburb of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The inferno that started at a building housing some shops,...

NDDC Awards N20 Billion Gbaregolor Road Contract.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Festus Ahon CHAIRMAN, House of Representatives' Committee on Niger Development Commission (NDDC), Nicholas Mutu, said yesterday that the commission has awarded a N20billion contract for the construction of Gbaregolor/Ezebiri road...

Hong Consoles IBB.
December 30, 2009... Minister of State for Health, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, has condoled General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida over the death of his wife Maryam Babangida. In a condolence letter signed by the Minister and made available to Vanguard, he said, "it is with...

Country Names 24 for Angola 2010.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Jacob Ajom True to his words, Chief Coach of the national team, Shaibu Amodu, yesterday, had the last laugh as he was able to convince chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation to reduce the number of players to 24 instead of the...

Maryam - More Dignitaries Storm Minna.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Luka Binniyat and Wole Mosadomi Scores of dignitaries literally fell over themselves trying to condole former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, as the body of former First Lady, Mrs. Maryam Babangida, was buried...

Adamu Turns 57 Today.
December 30, 2009... All roads lead to the residence of FIFA and CAF Executive Committee member, Nigeria's Dr. Amos Adamu, as he turns 57 today. For over a decade now, the name Adamu has become synonymous with sports in the country. Until recently, Dr. Adamu was...

Korea Propose Elephants Friendly to Rehearse for Eagles.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Ben Efe South Korea Coach, Huh Junmoo, has requested for a friendly against Ghana or Cote'd Ivoire to prepare his wards against Nigeria ahead of their group B clash at the South Africa 2010. According to Korea Football Association...

NLC - Organising the Unorganised.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Funmi Komolafe and Daniel Emeribe For a number of years, organized labour has been deliberating on how to get the unorganized sector organized. Several workshops have been held but nothing concrete has taken place. Recently, the...

Pengassan Condemns Govt Over Workers' Right at Free Trade Zone.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Funmi Komolafe PETROLEUM and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), has expressed concerned over denial of workers's right in the country's Free Trade Zones (FTZ) especially freedom of association as enshrined in...

Swearing-in of CJN - Sagay, Falana, Others Express Mixed Reactions.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Dapo Akinrefon LEGAL luminaries have expressed mixed reactions over remarks by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, who stated that the out-going Chief Justice of the Federation...

Okogie, CAN Condole With Babangida.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Wole Mosadomi THE Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos Metropolitan See, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, have condoled with erstwhile military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, (rtd), on the death...

2011 - Mega Party Will Change Political Landscape - Jakande.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Laja Thomas As the 2011 elections approach, the Mega Summit Movement, MSM, proponent of Mega Party has been advised to make provision of basic education, tackling unemployment and the promotion of trade and commerce its cardinal...

Foreign Affairs, Defence Ministries Must Work Together, Says Maduekwe.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Chinyere Amalu Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence must work in closer consultations in order to maintain a stronger foreign policy for the overall good of the country, Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo...

Muslim Clerics Deny Al-Qaeda Links in Country.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Inalegwu Shaibu Muslim Clerics across Nigeria yesterday condemned the attempted bombing of a US airliner by Farouk Mutallab, a 23-year old Nigerian, just as they denied the existence of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda in the country. ...

FG Bans Retail of Bulk Lubricants.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Oscarline Onwuemenyi The Federal Government on Tuesday announced the ban, by January 1, 2010, of all bulk sales of lubricants to retailers nationwide. The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman, who made this known in...

Massob Denies Plot to Disrupt Anambra Election.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Tony Edike THE Movement for the Actualization of a Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has said that it has no plans to disrupt the February 2010 governorship election in Anambra State. The group said it had already arrested one of...

Anambra, Are We Cursed Or Are We the Cause?
December 30, 2009... Byline: Theo Eze IN 2002, the current governor of our state asked this question as he set out to convince us that our destiny can be changed upon his assumption of office as governor. That year, violent crime was perfectly under control...

Another Country.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Owei Lakemfa IN the dying weeks of the year, I have watched Nigeria from afar like someone in a different country. The happenings seem baffling. There was the usual silly clash between the Distinguished Senators and the Honourables...

Eyes On Anambra.
December 30, 2009... ELECTION related violence remains a major concern as the February 6 governorship election in Anambra State draws nearer. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and other commentators say Anambra would be a test case. What INEC...

Local Bomb Suspect Was in Yemen.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Lawani Mikairu Yemeni authority said, yesterday, that the Nigerian accused of trying to blow up a US-bound passenger jet was living there until a few weeks ago, while President Obama of United States of America has ordered full...

Aondoakaa - Limits of Legal Comedies.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Ikeddy Isiguzo You cannot make much progress running backwards - common Nigerian saying. WERE the issues at stake not serious enough to provoke constitutional crisis - and push the country to a brink again - Minister of Justice and...

Onuesoke Blasts Rights Group Over Ibori.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Emma Arubi FORMER governorship aspirant in Delta State, Mr. Sunny Onuesoke, has berated the state chapter of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, over its comment on the victory of Chief James Onanefe Ibori at the...

New CJN Takes Oath of Office Today.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Ise-Oluwa Ige The National Judicial Council, NJC, yesterday made a u-turn on the plans by its sitting Chairman and Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, to administer the oath of office on his successor, Justice...

PDP Chieftain Seeks Law On Assistance to Orphanages.
December 30, 2009... A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Mr Ken Imasuagbon, has stressed the need for the National Assembly to urgently pass a law that would compel government to render assistance to orphanages. Imasuagbon, who spoke...

Akogun Makes Case for Electoral Reforms.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Simon Ebegbulem MAJORITY Leader of the House of Representatives, Col. Tunde Akogun (rtd), has canvassed the need for genuine electoral reforms to be put in place by the relevant authorities, saying problems confronting the conduct of...

Ebonyi Budgets N76.2 Billion for 2010.
December 30, 2009... IN order to consolidate on its gains, fulfill promises to the people as well as meet unforeseeable challenges next year, the Ebonyi State Government has budgeted N76. 205billion, for the 2010 fiscal year. Governor Martin Elechi read out the...

Stolen Crude Evacuation Claims Two Lives in Warri.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Emma Arubi AT least two persons have died as a result of health hazards allegedly suffered from oil spillage arising from the evacuation of stolen crude from two seized vessels, MT Akuada and MT Hope, anchored at the Nigerian Ports...

'Yar'Adua Not Resigning Or Allowing Acting President'.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Ise-Oluwa Ige The Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN), yesterday, told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that President Umaru Yar'Adua would neither resign his office nor allow his Vice, Dr....

Setting Agenda for Education Managers in 2010.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Olubusuyi Adenipekun AS year 2010 rolls in tomorrow, the managers of the nation's education sector will be doing Nigerians a whole lot of good by making a new year resolution of taking the sector to an unprecedented higher level in...

85 Graduate From Universal School of Aviation.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Dayo Adesulu The Director of Studies, Universal School of Aviation, Mr Onifade Eedris Adekunle has called on youths and aviation industry stakeholders not to hesitate in contributing their quota to the upliftment of aviation industry...

Kabba And the Micro-Macro Economics of Ajaokuta.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Timothy Asobele and Olumuyiwa Agunsoye ONE of the greatest economic assets available to the Old Kabba Province of Northern Nigeria is the River Niger - the River Niger Old Shipping route and its associated water-power resources, which...

Al-Qaeda 'Groomed Abdulmutallab in London'.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Aliyu Adekunle Security sources have confirmed that Christmas Day airline bomb plot suspect, Abdulmutallab was recruited by al-Qaeda in London. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, was also an ex-president of the Islamic Society at...

Ondo PDP Asks Members to Return to Party.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Dayo Johnson AHEAD of the 2011 election in Ondo State, the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday called on its estranged and disillusioned members to return to the party. The party became polarized immediately...