Dutch Police arrest Nigerians involved in wedding scam

Dutch police have busted a wedding scam involving Dutch citizens being paid to go to Britain to marry illegal Nigerian immigrants so they can obtain residency there, prosecutors said Friday.
The gendarmerie, responsible for border security, “detained 16 women and seven men this week on the suspicion that they travelled to Britain to enter into fake marriages,” it said in a statement.
“They are almost all of Dutch Antillean origin and were flown to Britain to get married”, mainly to Nigerian men and women, it added.
Once married, the Nigerians would get legal residency in Britain and access to state welfare. In return, the Dutch collaborators would be paid 2500 euros ($3,100) to 3,500 euros.
Members of the Dutch Caribbean community were used so they could be used as look-alikes for Nigerians’ real partners, who would be brought into Britain after the “wedding” to make the swap complete, prosecution service spokesman Wim de Bruin told AFP.
Called Operation Dutch Conclusion, the two-year investigation involved Dutch and British law and border security agencies and continental policing agency Europol.
Dutch popular daily De Telegraaf reported Friday that British law enforcement officers had made arrests at fake “weddings” with bride and groom on the verge of exchanging vows.
“We have seen wedding dresses with the price tag still on them being used by three ‘brides’ in one day, swapping the dress just outside the church,” the paper quoted an officer only identified as Michel.
Some 81 people have been arrested over the last two years, De Bruin said, mainly in Britain, of whom 66 have already been sentenced to between a few months and six years on human trafficking charges.
Those arrested in the Netherlands also face human trafficking charges, the statement added.
 DailyPost

Cold war in President Jonathan’s cabinet over subsidy probe

Investigations have revealed that the ongoing probe by the EFCC has caused a division in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) following the indictment of some oil marketers.
Although the procedure is done by the Presidential Committee on Verification and Reconciliation of Fuel Subsidy headed by Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, some ministers are unhappy with what they consider as overbearing influence of the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
They seem to be aggravated following her insistence that they should be punished when there could be room for restitution.
It was gathered that some ministers prefer that the indicted oil marketers return the subsidy money while she, Okonjo-Iweala wants full trial for the marketers.
Findings reveal that the some ministers were angry because Okonjo-Iweala was treating the matter like a personal issue without seeking for the input of other ministers.
The angry ministers were said to have been secretly working to undercut Okonjo-Iweala, with some of asking for her withdrawal from the cabinet saying she knows too much.
However, the President is said be on the ministers side because he believes in her ability and guide.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The truth is that some ministers are unhappy with the way the probe into the fuel subsidy scam was handled by Okonjo-Iweala. Their argument is that the process of investigation and trial could paralyse the oil sector, particularly the fuel supply system.
“But the Finance Minister insisted on bringing transparency into governance instead of giving soft-landing to the ‘untouchable’ marketers.
“In fact the release of the report of the Presidential Committee to the public and the uncovering of the 25 indicted marketers deepened the crack between Okonjo-Iweala and the ministers.
“There are handfuls who are engaging the Minister of Finance in cold war, which is apparent to cabinet members. They pretend to be tolerating her, but if they have their way, they would want the President to drop her.”
Responding to a question, the source said, “I think some oil barons are desperate to create a wedge between Okonjo-Iweala and other cabinet ministers.
Another source added, “All is not well between some ministers and Okonjo-Iweala for not protecting some interests. She stepped on powerful toes without looking back. That is why she has been receiving threats. My position is that it is normal in any Executive Council.
“You can imagine what will happen to the image of Nigeria if no action is taken against the fuel subsidy syndicate. What is important is that she is enjoying the confidence and trust of her boss.”
A source close to the Minister who begged for anonymity said, “I think I can only say that some cabinet members have not come to terms with the ongoing reforms of Okonjo-Iweala. However, they are gradually being integrated to appreciate it.
“The war against those who benefited illegally from fuel subsidy funds is not personal. It is also not aimed at undermining the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, or any cabinet member as being insinuated by some people. I can tell you that the Finance Minister is only complementing the reforms in the oil and gas sector. They enjoy the best of relationship.
“Most of the policies and decisions are meant to set the system right. If she had not acted the way she did, the government would have been rubbished.”
“For instance, the handling of the economy has enjoyed international support and approval. We have just obtained a positive rating by Moody Rating Agency. The Standard and Poor too also did the same with high score on the management of the nation’s external reserves.”
BusinessNews

Lagos State To Issue Residents Identity Cards

In its bid to be a truly world class city, the Lagos State Government is set for the registration of residents starting from January 2013. The move is aimed at registering over 20 million residents of the commercial capital of Nigeria which will help make the process of governance better as well as control the influx of illegal citizens.
Duly registered residents will be issued an Identity card after registration.
This was disclosed on Thursday by Lagos state Public Relations Officer, Mr Akiniyi who said that every Lagosian must ensure their information is included in the Lagos residents database.
According to him, “Government has the responsibility to cater for everyone residing in Lagos, regardless of the exercise to differentiate between legal residents and illegal immigrants.”
InformationNigeria.org

D’Banj returns with a new song and video, ‘Bachelor’

The Kokomaster, D’Banj, has released his new track and video – ‘Bachelor’. This is his second solo offering, after he broke up with Don Jazzy. Before this, Oyato was not well received and the former MoHits boss knew he had to step it up.
This video was directed by Sesan and featured cameos from Special Ed and his younger brother, Kay Switch.
 DailyPost

Side Effects Of Prolonged Use Of Computers On The Eyes

Whether at work or at home, computers have become a large part of our lives. Therefore, if you are suffering from persistent headaches, the reason maybe your eyes – staring at a screen for hours un-end daily, can cause discomfort to the eyes also known as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS).

Common signs and symptoms of eye problems associated with prolonged use of computer include:

• Headaches occur during computer work or shortly thereafter.
• Blurry vision while using a computer or an inability to focus well on the objects in the computer screen.
• Frequent dry or irritated eyes.
• Difficulty focusing when driving or doing other routine activities after heavy computer use.
• Neck or shoulder pain that may indicate increased tension or straining while using the computer.
• Occurrence Blurry vision.
• Difficulty refocusing no distant objects after using a computer.
• Difficulty seeing text or other materials clearly after using a computer.
• Pain in the arms and wrists when using a computer, which may suggest your computer station, needs an adjustment to serve you better.

The symptoms can increase frustration, increased irritation and they can have a real effect on your work performance. Some studies have linked routine and extended computer use with an increased risk for glaucoma and related eye diseases.
Children are more affected by eye strains more than adults as their home works, video games and other activities have direct link with the Electronic Screens of computer, TV and other multimedia programs in schools.
Computer-related eye strain is so common in children so much it has its own name: Vision Syndrome or CVSC (computer vision syndrome in children). Therefore, if your child spends more than one hour each day on the computer, there is a likelihood they may suffer from CVSC.
Fortunately there are many procedures to improve the eye health and reduce the impact of computer screens on eye. Wearing prescription lenses specifically designed for computer users easily relieves many symptoms including eyestrain.
There are also many other tools that can help relive eye strain and headaches:

• Use of Anti-glare screens can reduce eye strain.
• Taking frequent breaks during work on computer.
• Participating in eye exercises to help strengthen your eyes and reduce blurry vision.
• Taking a multi vitamin and mineral supplement to ensure your eyes get the nutrients they need.
• Increasing the font size of your computer screen to reduce eye strain.
• Using a larger monitor so you can see the print on your computer screen better. This is very helpful especially if you must read long documents or spend hours entering data or editing on a computer.

It is also important that computer users must recognize many factors that can impact their eye while using a computer; it includes lighting conditions and the length of time they work or play at a computer. Video games also contribute its hazards on eye. Eye strain can also develop from frequent gaming at a computer station.
It is also important that you give your eyes a rest and don’t spend this break in front of the T.V. This will allow your eyes to relax from the strain. Try alternating between computer and paper work.
You could try the 10:10:10 exercise. Have something else very close to your face, about10 inches away and stare at it for 10 seconds every 10 minutes. This can be a picture or some wording.
Also, cover your eyes regularly with the palms of your hand and open them into the darkness to let them rest. Blink rapidly while looking directly at the sun for short periods.
Like they always say, if ‘symptoms persist for more than 3 days, consult your doctor.’ I say if your eyesight is giving you troubles consistently, it’s high time you paid your Optometrist a visit.
InformationNigeria.org

Okada Ban: Accidents, Crime On The Decline – Police, SSA On Transportation To Fashola

The recent ban of motorcycle operators popularly called ‘Okada’ on 475 routes in Lagos may have started yielding the desired results if statistics churned out by the state government and police command is anything to go by.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transportation Mr. Sola Giwa, said, “Definitely, there were a lot of accidents caused by commercial motorcyclists in the Lagos metropolis before the restriction. Since the restriction on the 475 routes has begun, it is expected the rate of accidents will reduce and it actually has, although we are more concerned with the rate of compliance. And I can confidently tell you that the response has been great and we are definitely getting there.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ngozi Braide, also confirmed the reduction of crimes involving motorcycles since the enforcement began.
She said, “I can tell you that the rate of crime via okada has reduced drastically. Before the ban, I was getting reports of such incidents on a daily basis in my situation reports. Presently, I hardly get such reports; it has reduced drastically now. So, things are much improved.”
During the State’s Security Council meeting, the Lagos State Deputy Commissioner of Police for Operations, Mr. Tunde Sobulo, had on Wednesday announced the reduction in crime by motorcycle operators since the enforcement of the restriction on 475 routes.
Sobulo said, “The incidence of somebody taking an okada for N3000 from Iyana-Ipaja to go and rob in Lekki or Victoria Island has been curtailed. I thank the members of the public for their show of understanding on the issue; security agencies are getting the cooperation of the people on the enforcement.
“The accidents involving okada have been nearly reduced to zero. The use of okada to rob during traffic after closing hours has been reduced or even disappeared. Trailing people from banks to their houses via okada to go and snatch their money has also disappeared.”
InformationNigeria.org

Mitt Romney's disastrous ground game and 7 other behind-the-scenes revelations

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Romney's get-out-the-vote operation was comically inept. Obama barely prepared for the first debate. Romney spent $25,000 on victory fireworks. And more!

The presidential election is over, but the real story behind the race is only just emerging. After months of enough spin to make a washing machine envious, members of the campaigns are starting to let down their guard and dish some dirt to media outlets. From Mitt Romney's embarrassingly ineffective get-out-the-vote operation to President Obama's peevish attitude toward the debates, post-election autopsies have given political junkies a lot to mull over before they, yes, turn to the 2016 race. Here, eight behind-the-scenes revelations from the campaign:

1. Romney was shellshocked by Obama's victory
Romney genuinely believed that he would become the nation's 45th president, and was "shellshocked" by his landslide loss. "I don't think there was one person who saw this coming," one senior adviser told Jan Crawford at CBS News. Why was Team Romney so certain of victory? They simply did not believe that younger voters and minorities would turn out the way they did in 2008. "As a result," says Crawford, "they believed that the public/media polls were skewed" in Obama's favor, and rejiggered them to show Romney with "turnout levels more favorable to Romney." In essence, Romney "unskewed" the polls, mirroring widely mocked moves by conservatives to show their candidate with a lead, epitomized by the now-infamous website UnskewedPolls.com. Romney's defenders say he had plausible reasons to believe Obama's turnout would be lower; less charitable commentators say Romney and his aides were stuck in a conservative media echo chamber at odds with reality.

2. Obama's get-out-the-vote operation was amazing
Obama's ground game relied on "an extraordinarily sophisticated database packed with names of millions of undecided voters and potential supporters," says The New York Times. The database allowed Obama's army of field workers to target new voters, register them, and get them to the polls. On Election Day, it became clear that the Obama campaign had altered "the very nature of the electorate, making it younger and less white," says The Times. "The power of this operation stunned Mr. Romney's aides on election night, as they saw voters they never even knew existed turn out in places like Osceola County, Fla."

3. Romney's get-out-the-vote operation was hopeless
The Romney campaign "came up with a super-secret, super-duper vote monitoring system that was dubbed Project Orca," says Byron York at The Washington Examiner. The so-called "mega-app for smartphones" was supposed to "link the more than 30,000 operatives and volunteers involved in get-out-the-vote efforts," in a bid to coordinate everyone's efforts and maximize turnout, say Maggie Haberman and Alexander Burns at Politico. But Project Orca was a complete and utter failure. The program crashed on Election Day, which meant that "workers on the ground didn't know what doors to knock on," say Haberman and Burns. The campaign was flying blind, relying on CNN and other media outlets to track turnout. "The end result," says John Ekdahl, a Romney campaign worker, at Ace of Spades, "was that 30,000+ of the most active and fired-up volunteers were wandering around confused and frustrated when they could have been doing anything else to help."

4. Obama underestimated Romney's debating prowess
In the run-up to the first presidential debate, Obama "displayed little concern" about the challenge ahead of him, and "his impatience with the exercise was evident," says The Times. He ended up walking "into a trap that Mr. Romney's advisers had anticipated: His antipathy toward Mr. Romney — which advisers described as deeper than what Mr. Obama had felt for John McCain in 2008 — led the incumbent to underestimate his opponent as he began moving to the center before the debate audiences of millions of television viewers." As a result, the president spent the rest of the campaign making up for "what was arguably the most dismal night of Mr. Obama's political career."

5. Romney was desperate for money
"The GOP nominee emerged late last spring from a long and bruising Republican primary season more damaged than commonly realized," say Sara Murray and Patrick O'Connor at The Wall Street Journal. Romney "had spent so much money winning the nomination" that he had to spend the first weeks and months of the general campaign touring fundraising meccas in "California, Texas, and New York — none of which were important political battlegrounds." Romney raised about $800 million, but "paid a deep political price," giving the Obama campaign a large window of time to "define the Republican candidate on its terms."

6. Romney was beholden to Donald Trump
Perhaps the Romney campaign's "most fatal mistake was its tortured, 16-month quest to win the affection of rank-and-file conservatives via their most boisterous mouthpiece — at the expense of everything else," says McKay Coppins at BuzzFeed. That would be Donald Trump, the country's most famous birther. "Trump's appeal to the Republican base was undeniable," and Romney spent a fair amount of effort winning his endorsement. But the "Trump stunt did not end up sending Tea Partiers marching en masse to the primary polls," and Romney's new ties to birtherism "became, increasingly, a political headache." The Obama campaign linked Trump with Romney at every opportunity, and Trump "required constant maintenance by the campaign to keep him from going completely off the rails."

7. Ann Romney cried when Obama won
When it was all over on Election Night, the GOP nominee called Obama to concede defeat. "Romney was stoic as he talked to the president," says CBS News' Crawford, "but his wife Ann cried." His running mate Paul Ryan "seemed genuinely shocked," while "Ryan's wife Janna also was shaken and cried softly."

8. Romney had purchased victory fireworks
"Things didn't go as planned for Mitt Romney on Election Day in more ways than one," says Glen Johnson at The Boston Globe. "The Republican was prepared to celebrate his election as the 45th president with an eight-minute fireworks display within view of his party at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center." The Romney campaign reportedly paid $25,000 for fireworks that "had a patriotic theme, heavy on red, white, and blue colors."

Yahoo!News