Nigerian Embassies in US, Canada, Switzerland in huge debts; cannot pay bills, salaries

By Bisola Adeniran

Paucity of funds has hit Nigerian Missions abroad with a number of embassies unable to meet basic responsibilities like the payment of staff salaries, as well as electricity and telephone bills.
Saturday PUNCH gathered in Abuja on Thursday that complaints from some of the missions, especially in Europe and Asia, have become more strident.
As a temporary measure, some of the diplomats have resorted to dipping their hands into their personal savings or using their credit cards to get by.
The more enterprising ones among them, especially non-career diplomats, have reached out to their state governors to advance them funds before remittances are made from Abuja.
It was further gathered that some diplomats in Ireland, Canada, Belgium, Germany, United States, Switzerland and Japan are worst hit with the high cost of living in their host countries.
Some allege that salaries have not been paid since October 2012 due to non-remittance from Abuja.
When contacted, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru said claims that remittances have not been made since October 2012 were untrue.
He said, “As you are aware, the ministry is part of government and our budget is tied to the budget of the federation.

“The 2013 budget is still being processed. As we speak, we have received assurances from the Minister of Finance that everything is being done to ensure that our missions are properly funded.
“It is not true that we have not remitted funds since October, it is absolutely not true.
“I have constantly advised our officers to ensure the prudent management of the little resources available so that when there is a little delay they can sustain basic services.”
The Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa, Canada, where former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ojo Maduekwe holds sway, was so broke in October last year that it could not meet its financial obligations for two months.
It was learnt that the situation was so critical that Maduekwe paid a visit to Abuja, where he met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru.
A source at the Nigerian High Commission, said on the condition of anonymity that it was so embarrassing that staff, including non- Nigerians working with the embassy, have begun to complain openly.
The situation in Ottawa is not different from what obtains in several other Nigerian Missions including Geneva, Switzerland.
DailyPost

Meteorological Agency Predicts Excessive Rainfall in Sokoto, Kebbi Others

Abuja – The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) on Friday predicted normal rainfall in Nigeria during the year except in Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger and Kwara states, which might experience excessive rainfall. The Director-General of NIMET, Dr Anthony Anuforom, made the information known at the public presentation of the 2013 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) and Nigeria Climate Review Bulletin in Abuja.

He said the rainfall pattern in most parts of Nigeria was likely to be similar to that of 2012. “However, some areas in the North-western parts of the country, which also fall within the catchment area of River Niger, the total rainfall predicted for 2013 may exceed that of 2012. “Rainfall for 2013 is predicted to be normal over large areas of the country. The expected changes in the annual rainfall are well below normal in Abeokuta and above normal over Ibadan and Yelwa areas.
“The predicted rainfall for the Northwest areas of Sokoto , Kebbi, Niger, Kwara and environs is likely to be above normal in comparison to 2012,’’ he said. Anuforom advised relevant authorities to use NIMET’s updates issued regularly to control possible adverse impacts. He said the forecast was not automatic as the predictions could change due to climate change. Anuforom said the volume of rainfall for the year would range from 420 cubic metres spread over 120 days in the extreme North-East to 2,980 cubic metres over a period of 290 days.
“These forecasts are statements of probability and are based on the available scientific knowledge and data. “Man’s knowledge is still limited and, therefore, some margin of error within tolerable limits is not unusual. “The conditions that determine the rainfall pattern over Nigeria have become more variable due to the effects of climate change and global warming. “This is a big challenge for atmospheric scientists all over the world. NIMET will continue to monitor the trend in all parts of the country and publish updates as the rainy season progresses,’’ Anuforom said.
He explained that the early release of the forecast was to create good lead-time for adequate preparation against risks and hazards associated with weather and climate extremes. The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, who was represented by Mr Clement Dosunmu, the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, said weather information was important to humanity. She urged NIMET to fulfil to its mandate by ensuring that the information got to the end users in time.
“The information in these publications are useful for planning, decision-making and policy formulation, especially in those sectors of the economy that are sensitive to weather. “It is expected that the early release of the 2013 SRP will enable all stakeholders apply the information in planning and executing their activities in such a way as to reduce vulnerability to climate extremes,’’ Oduah said.
Naij.com

At Least 21 People Burned After Motivational Speaker Urges Them To Walk On Hot Coals

When someone tells you to do something stupid do not listen, you will get burned. At least 21 people have been burned after walking over hot burning coals for the motivational speaker Tony Robbins.
The news media reported that at least three people went to a hospital and most suffered burns of second or third degree.
Robbins hosted a four-day meeting called “Unleashing the Power of Within” in the San Jose Convention Center. Witnesses say that on Thursday, a crowd went to a park where 12 lanes of the hot burning coals were placed on the lawn.

His website promotes Robbins’ “Firewalk Experience” in which people walk on hot coals to bring out their power within.
Witness Jonathan Correll says he heard “screams of agony.”
Fire Captain Reggie Williams said organizers had a permit for a fire and emergency personnel were on alert.
InformationNigeria

Kemisola; Kidnapped & Released In Lagos Few Weeks After Relocating to Nigeria

The recent kidnap of 29-year-old Kemisola Ogunyemi, a lady who returned to Nigeria with her husband to bury her late mother and settle down has stirred up some apprehension among Nigerians living abroad who plan to return home.
Kemisola lost her mother on Wednesday 26th December 2012 and returned to Nigeria with her husband, Akin  from the United States for the burial after living there for about a year. Sadly, she was kidnapped at about 8.30pm in Ajah, Lagos on Sunday 10th February 2013.
She was kidnapped about one minute’s drive to her Abraham Adesanya Estate home in Ajah. A family member who spoke anonymously told Punch:
“Kemisola and her husband just got an apartment in Abraham Adesanya Estate. In fact, they moved in less than a month ago. The day she was kidnapped, she was coming back from a visit to her father who lives in Ikorodu. When she got to Jeffery Plaza, which is about a minute’s drive to her house, some men double-crossed her Murano Sport Utility Vehicle, took control of the car and took her away in it. We actually got the details from people who witnessed it around the plaza. They said the kidnappers shot into the air and zoomed away with her in the car.”
The following day, her SUV was discovered in the front of Ogombo Police Station, Ajah with one of her shoes in it. The kidnappers later called her husband with Kemisola’s phone, Punch reports.
“They called about 11.41 am on Monday. The speaker clearly sounded like an Igbo man. He said, ‘Where are you?’ But when Yinka said he was in the house, the speaker asked again ‘Are you sure? Are you sure you are in the house? Yinka insisted that he was in the house. He told them he wanted to speak with Kemisola and they gave the phone to her. Kemi sounded very distraught on the phone. She was begging her husband to please help her and do everything the men demanded.”
But it was learnt that the kidnappers disconnected the call after they instructed Yinka to call them later by 2pm on Monday. The kidnappers later called on Monday night and demanded N60 million for Kemisola’s release, the relation told Punch.
 “When they asked for the money, we were all shocked. We pleaded with them, but they were threatening to kill her. How do we get N60 million? We are not politicians. Yinka is just a salary earner while Kemisola has not even got a job since they got back to Nigeria.”
On Tuesday, the kidnappers called again with their own number, sounding anxious and insisting that the N60 million should be paid as soon as possible. She said the kidnappers called about 10 times repeating their demand and asking when it would be paid.
“The man who spoke on the phone said, ‘We will kill her if you don’t pay. We kidnapped two other women and we have already killed them because they did not pay what we demanded’.”
But thankfully, a family member, who spoke with Punch last night confirmed that Kemisola has been released.
“Kemi told us she was beaten brutally. They dropped her off along the Lekki-Epe Expressway around 8pm on Thursday. Luckily, she was able to get help from motorists and later contacted us. We paid the ransom on Thursday morning after the kidnappers played different tricks to ensure they evaded capture. They thought we had involved the police. We just thank God we have her back. But she’s not in any condition to answer any questions for now. She is resting.”
This unfortunate incidence coming just weeks after this family returned back home with the intention of settling down must have raised a lot of doubts about the decision and the security situation in Nigeria. The rate of kidnappings keeps rising daily and Nigerians are very upset about this.
Naij.com

Why Super Eagles Still Rank Below Cote d’Ivoire, Mali (Despite Winning AFCON)

Many Nigerians felt last Sunday’s victory for the Super Eagles in South Africa will automatically make them the number one team in the continent. That was not the case, even though the Nigerian team moved up 22 places to 30th position in the world and to 4th in Africa having previously occupied the 10th spot.
Two of the teams ranked above Nigeria in Africa, Cote d’Ivoire (1st) and Mali (2nd), were defeated by the Super Eagles en-route the Nations Cup final.
With questions and queries flying in the air over the February rankings released on Thursday, and whether it’s indeed a reliable ordering, here are the procedure involved.
What Is FIFA’s procedure for ranking teams?
The basic logic of these calculations is simple: any team that does well in world football wins points which enable it to climb the world ranking.
A team’s total number of points over a four-year period is determined by adding:

the average number of points gained from matches during the past 12 months and the average number of points gained from matches older than 12 months (depreciates yearly).
Calculation of points for a single match. The number of points that can be won in a match depends on the following factors:

• Was the match won or drawn? (M)
• How important was the match (ranging from a friendly match to a FIFA World Cup match)? (I)
• How strong was the opposing team in terms of ranking position and the confederation to which they belong? (T and C)
• These factors are brought together in the following formula to ascertain the total number of points (P).
• P = M x I x T x C

The following criteria apply to the calculation of points:

M: Points for match result
Teams gain 3 points for a victory, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a defeat. In a penalty shoot-out, the winning team gains 2 points and the losing team gains 1 point.

I: Importance of match
Friendly match (including small competitions): I = 1.0
FIFA World Cup qualifier or confederation-level qualifier: I = 2.5
Confederation-level final competition or FIFA Confederations Cup: I = 3.0
FIFA World Cup final competition: I = 4.0
T: Strength of opposing team
The strength of the opponents is based on the formula: 200 – the ranking position of the opponents
As an exception to this formula, the team at the top of the ranking is always assigned the value 200 and the teams ranked 150th and below are assigned a minimum value of 50. The ranking position is taken from the opponents’ ranking in the most recently published FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.
C: Strength of confederation
When calculating matches between teams from different confederations, the mean value of the confederations to which the two competing teams belong is used. The strength of a confederation is calculated on the basis of the number of victories by that confederation at the last three FIFA World Cup competitions. Their values are as follows:
InformationNigeria

Anambra Governorship 2014: Those Aiming to Succeed Obi

As the people of Anambra State wait for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release the timetable for the state's governorship election scheduled for this year, under ground politicking is taking place, as aspirants prepare to test their popularity.
Indeed, as the days go by, more and more aspirants are directly and indirectly joining the fray. While some personally want to contest, some are being asked by those who know their potentiality, to join the race. At the last count, there are no fewer than 42 aspirants in the People Democratic Party (PDP alone. Also, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) have many aspirants.
However, checks revealed that while some of the aspirants are serious, many others are pretenders.
In the race for the Anambra governorship seat are two former governors, who incidentally, were both removed by the court, for the current governor, Mr. Peter Obi to assume and continue office, at different times.
Below are some of the top contenders, including those who joined on their own and those being lobbied to contest.
Barr Dr. Obinna Uzoh:
This urbane, and unassuming politician hails from Ihiala, in Ihiala Local Government Area. He contested the state’s governorship election in 2003 but lost out in the PDP due to the imposition of candidate. Later, his campaign for the seat, on the ticket of the National Democratic party (NDP), was devoid of bitterness. The fact that the court eventually annulled the victory of Ngige and gave it to Governor Obi shows that the contest was not free and fair and therefore, Uzoh’s popularity cannot be rated with the outcome of the 2003 election.
Uzoh, who holds Bachelor’s degrees in Law and Business Administration, master’s degree in Marketing and PhD in Economic, from the University of Lagos and Lagos State University, has been under pressure to contest this year’s election. He has the support of Catholic Church youths, who openly endorsed him last year. Also, the South East Students Association has thrown their support behind him. He could be said to have won the hearts of youths because of his philanthropic gestures. He has offered scholarship to indigent youths in various fields, in Nigerian universities and abroad. He is completing a students hostel at the Catholic Youth Village, Awka, which will be commissioned on March 16, 2013, ahead of his 50th birthday coming up the next day.
Even when he was not talking about being Anambra governor, Uzoh has done much to help the downtrodden. Not long ago, he was among the first individuals to donate relief materials to flood victims in Anambra State. He also donated sachet and bottled water to the people of Amansea, whose source of drinking water was polluted by the dumping of corpses in the Ezu River. He also put on ground a tanker to fetch water and dispense to the villagers for one month, to solve the drinking water problem of the community. Also, he recently sponsored free rural health treatment in some communities Anambra.
Uzoh, as chairman of GOCUZ Group Limited, which is into rural electrification, oil and gas, law, properties, engineering etc, has run a successful business and has therefore, enough experience in economy. He said that his aim is to restore the glory on Anambra, through the transformation of its infrastructure, health care, education, commerce and industry, to create wealth and employment, etc.
If antecedent and what he has done to help the people of Anambra are the yardsticks to picking the governor, Uzoh stands a good chance of emerging in PDP and he has all it takes to beat other candidates in the contest proper.
Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige:
Despite the fact that the court said that the election that brought him into Government House, Awka in 2003, on the platform of the PDP, was fraudulent and therefore he must vacate office, Ngige has remained a popular politician in the state. Currently a senator on the ticket of ACN, he was governor for t three years, during which he had running battle with his political godfathers.
While in office as governor, Ngige, won the hearts of the people, with what he did as well as his resistance of political godfathers. Since he left office, he has had his eyes on the throne. In the last governorship election, in 2010, he came third. He was to contest the senatorial seat in 2011 and won with a little margin against Prof Dora Akunyili, former Minister of Information and Communication. If he contests for this year’s governorship election, he will remain as a senator, which his tenure would end in 2015. Therefore, if he loses the election, he will continue in office as senator.
Senator Andy Uba:
Senator Andy Uba, like Dr. Chris Ngige, was a governor of Anambra State. In fact, he would pass for the governor who served the shortest tenure, as he was sacked by the courts two weeks after being sworn in. He is presently the senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District.
Uba had served as Personal Assistant to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and commends influence and wealth. His generosity has endeared him to a lot of people, despite the fact that he contested the Anambra guber in 2010 on the ticket of Labour Party and lost.
Many Anambra people are however, critical of Senator Uba’s ambition for the governorship of the state. This not withstanding, his grip of the structure of PDP in Anambra gives him an edge in the party. However, some people believe that if he succeeds in picking PDP’s ticket he may not win the election. This is so because people remember the battle between his brother, Chris Uba and Ngige, especially the role they played in the flawed election that gave Ngige victory before the court sacked him.
Senator Annie Okonkwo
Senator Annie Okonkwo has represented Anambra Central Senatorial District in the past. He lost his reelection bid, when he could not pick the PDP ticket and also when he could not muster enough popularity as the candidate of Accord Party.
Now, Okonkwo is aiming at contesting the election. This is why he has been romancing APGA and of late the opposition coalition, Action Progressives Congress (APC). He has tried to be governor a number of times in the past and failed at various stages, either at nomination or actual election level.
Some people say he lacks the gift of the garb or the eloquence, which is essential for any politics. The presence of Senator Chris Ngige, from his local government area and senatorial zone, in the same APC makes Okonkwo’s ambition a mirage.
Prof. Chukwuma Soludo
Former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Soludo hails from Aniocha Local Government Area of Anambra State. He lost the guber election in 2010, to Governor Obi, after his controversial emergence as PDP candidate. In the last election, PDP stakeholders felt that he failed to go through the normal process and therefore have not forgiven him. Nothing at the moment suggests that these people have forgiven him. If they have not, it would be an uphill task for him to get the party’s ticket again.
However, Soludo’s recent encounter with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over his tenure as CBN governor may adversely affect his ambition.
Hon. Uche Ekwunife:
She’s a flamboyant member of House of Representatives. She tried her hands in the governorship race in Anambra State in 2010 as a candidate of the Progressive people Alliance (PPA) and lost. She has, at one time or another been a member of PDP, PPA and APGA.
Although Ekwunife is popular, which explains why she has been winning elections to the House of Reps, political analyst believe that the fact that she’s a woman will always count on her in a contest for Anambra guber seat. This is so because nothing has shown that Anambra people want a female governor.
Dr. Chike Obidigbo
Dr. Chike Obidigbo from Umunya, in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State is one of the highly rated governorship aspirants from Anambra North, which is saying that it’s their turn to produce the governor. Basking in Governor Obi’s promise to zone the seat to the senatorial zone, many aspirants have joined the race.
Obidigbo is reputed as one of the leading industrialist in Nigeria, with a record of more than 50 products. Although he has not contested any elective position, he is believed to have enough resources to fund his campaign, which is a factor most other aspirants cannot boast of. However, the fact that Anambra North is looking for a consensus candidate may be a minus for him, as Governor Obi appears interested in another aspirant.
Chief Akachukwu Nwamkpo:
Chief Akachukwu Nwamkpo, who hails from Okija, in Ihiala Local Government of Anambra State is the Special Adviser to the President on Technical Matters. He’s a classmate of President Goodluck Jonathan and has worked with him right from Bayalsa State and up till now.
At present, there’s nothing on ground to show that Nwamkpo is serious about being governor, except his belief that Jonathan will give him PDP ticket.
Prince John Emeka
Prince John Emeka from Mmiata Anam, in Anambra West Local Government Area, was the former Minister of Water Transport. He had earlier contested and won the senatorial seat for Anambra North Senatorial Zone, but the election was eventually mollified by the Supreme Court, which gave victory to Senator Mrs. Okadigbo, over the PDP senatorial primaries.
Emeka is, among other things, banking on the decision of Governor Obi to allow Anambra North produce the next governor of the state. Recently, he summoned a meeting of political stakeholders in the area, to intimate than of his desire to seek their mandate.
Hon. Victor Afam Ogene:
A member of the House of Representatives, he appears to be the only aspirant who has mustered the courage to post his posters around the state. He is from Ogbaru Local Government, in Anambra North Senatorial Zone. He is one of those who believe that the governorship of the state should be reserved for his senatorial zone, which has not produced the Governor of the state before now.
Ogene is a fine journalist and has done well in the House of Representatives, where he is representing Ogbaru Local Government. Political analysts said that if he is good at the House of Representatives, it is an indication that he could be good as a state Governor. The fact that he made it to the National Assembly in his first attempt shows his popularity and acceptance.
Naij.com

JIM OVIA JOINS NIGERIA’S USD BILLIONAIRE’S CLUB

According to a report on Ventures Africa, Jim Ovia, the founder and largest individual shareholder of Zenith Bank, is conservatively worth $1.1 billion.
Jim Ovia co-founded Zenith Bank in Nigeria in 1990, and made his fortune providing financial services to Nigerians. He successfully transformed Zenith bank from a small commercial bank into a fully-fledged financial services conglomerate with operations in investment, private and retail banking across Africa and beyond.
In 2007 he founded Visafone – a Nigerian mobile and fixed telecommunications provider. Ventures Africa reports that the firm has amassed a subscriber base of about 4 million and is worth at least $400 million.
He also owns an expansive real estate portfolio consisting of dozens of landmark commercial and residential properties including The Civic Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos and Aquamarine, an exclusive boat club catering to Nigeria’s richest folks.
His newly formed Quantum Luxury Properties signed a multi-million dollar deal with Marriott- the New York based global hotel group to develop a 150-room five star hotel on the Ozumba Mbadiwe Waterfront in Victoria-Island, Lagos.
Jim Ovia is 58 years old and is now the fourth Nigerian to be listed as attaining the USD billionaire status after Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga and Folorunsho Alakija.
AfricaOnTheRise