BMW Recalls Model X6 In Which Sambo's Brother Got Into Fatal Accident

Top German automobile producer BMW announced the recalling of 156,000 cars and sports utility vehicles in the United States because of possible engine problems, which comes soon after Nigeria's Vice President's brother died in the accident involving one of such models.
According to the information provided by NY Daily, 128i, 328i, Z4, 135i, 335i, 528i, 535i and 640i cars, so as many X3, X5, and X6 SUVs, will be recalled starting from May.
The company officials explained that bolts that hold a camshaft housing can loosen and break. It may consequently result in the reduced power or stalling thus increasing accident risk.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that dealers would replace bolts free of charge.
It would be recalled that the younger brother of Nigeria's Vice President Namadi Sambo, Captain Yusuf Sabo Sambo (Retd), was driving a BMW X6 when he got into a fatal accident.
Naij.com

VP Brother’s Death, Abducted Schoolgirls Expose Govt’s Double Standard’

By ISAIAH BENJAMIN

The Kaduna Salvation Movement (KASMO) has lamented the hypocrisy and insensitivity of government in Nigeria, accusing the political class of playing double standard.
The group observed that since Vice President Namadi Sambo brother’s death, most activities at federal and state levels have been paralysed under the guise of paying condolences, while about 230 girls have been abducted for over two weeks now and nothing concrete seems to have been done for their release.
In a press statement issued by the chairman of the group, Mr Mohammed Musa Soba, and made available to newsmen yesterday in Kaduna, it viewed as “disgraceful and despicable the double standard of our political leaders both in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities and moral obligations placed on us by our different cultures and respected religions.
“It is ironic that while the entire country is being traumatised by the abduction of over 230 innocent school girls and the continuous killing of innocent souls across the country, not even a condolence visit was paid to the families of the bereaved and the distressed. But when the brother of Vice President Namadi Sambo, Captain Sabo Sambo died in a motor accident few days ago, the business of government was abruptly brought to an end with the postponement of even the weekly federal executive council meeting.
“While we sympathise with Vice President Sambo over his brother’s demise, we condemn the attitude of turning personal issues into state matters while the real issues that border on the security of lives and property of ordinary Nigerians are treated with levity and criminal contempt.”
Leadership

THE RISE AND FALL OF TV PROGRAMMES IN NIGERIA

 BY ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM Leadership (Abuja)


From the late 70s to the 90s, Nigeria was known for her rich and educational TV programmes that informed, educated, enlightened, persuaded, integrated and at the same time entertained viewers. But today, the love for these programmes has been overtaken by the trend of parents not having much time to scrutinise what their children or wards do before and after school. ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM writes on the need for parents to go back to the old days while looking at some important television programmes.

TV was for the elites. There was always this joy to catch up with some of the programmes on air back then. For those who had the opportunity to own or see a TV in the 70's to early 90's when juveniles then who got to know much of TV during the mid 80's and most of the early 90's, the TV experience then was of a nostalgic feeling now.
There is no doubt that the then generations and before confirm that these present generations are getting adulterated TV content and programmes like which are not in any way contributing to the life of the present generation of youths.
A flashback to the early 70's -90's, TV programmes were of entertainment and education value that even parents needed not persuade their children to embrace them.
Though there were no 24hr TV broadcast at that time, but for the period of six hours of TV operations, TV was truly fun for its various viewers. One could remember when by 4pm, viewers were first greeted with music for an hour with the coloured strips adorning the TV and sometimes most residents had to stay tuned while someone tried to turn the antenna to get a clear picture of a favourite programme.
After the national anthem was played to introduce the line-up of the day's programme which might not last up to 12am, the DCA (duty continuity announcer) would read the programme line-up for the day while some interesting cartoons followed. This was almost the tradition during weekdays until the 9pm network news on the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), which many parents don't miss for anything no matter what kind of job they do. They prefer to skip meals instead of missing the network news.
By that time, children were expected to have gone to bed or just compulsorily listen to NTA network news.
News line uncovers many happenings around the country from weird spiritual happenings to investigative work. But today many have been taken away by politics and insurgencies.
Taking a drive through the past, there is no doubt that generations then always weep for the present generations for what they have missed; good and educating TV programming.
How would one quickly forget The Village Headmaster, one of Nigerian's longest TV drama series back then? The good acting prowess of Oloja of Oja land played by Dejumo Lewis, Gorimapa, Sisi Clara, Teacher Oghenem, Councillor Balogun and others that made this TV drama one of the best from Nigeria.
Uchokwu was a court drama that involves and Igbo translator who always gives the wrong message to the people.
How would one also forget Things Fall Apart of the Pete Edochie (Okonkwo) fame? Also was The New Masquerade which had the likes of Chief Zebrudaya alias 4:30, Ovloria, Gringori, Clarus, the one and only late Prince Jegede Sokoya and his troublesome Apena (late Christy Essien) wife.
Other great programmes back then were Cock Crow At Dawn, Mirror In The Sun, Ripples, Behind The Cloud, Adio Family, Basi & Company, Second Chance, Samanja, Sura the Tailor, Koko Close, Awada Kerikeri.
What about Ultimate Power, of the Ishawuru fame?
In addition, there were Third Eye, Mind Bending, Pot of life, Magana Jarice, Mind your language, Hammer House of Horror, Soul Train, CI5 (The professionals) which was a British detective TV drama series that featured our own veteran actor, Olu Jacobs, and many others.
While the adults were busy enjoying the above TV programmes, their children at that time also had the cause to be excited staying glued to TV when finally allowed to, as parents then always lock their TV with padlocks because it was a box TV unlike the developed flat-screened TV set that are obtainable today.
At school, children were seen in groups discussing most of these notable TV programmes while some popular social clubs were formed.
Children and even adults were treated on a Sunday with captivating programmes like Tales by Moonlight, which was a reason most children would always want to be at home by 6pm.
Furthermore, Sesame Street, Voltron, Super Ted and Robin Hood were some of the programmes that thrilled viewers.
On Saturday morning, Cadbury breakfast show wakes you up with interesting comedy, cartoons like Pinky and the Brain, whose mission is to take over the world.
Kiddie's Vision 101 helps in upgrading and testing the intellect of children and more of such programmes would really help in the moral development of the youths. Also was Rintinti (the police dog).
How can one forget Dr Who which was also one the best TV programmes for the kids back then before the Superman, Tom and Jerrys of this world took over?
The lists of these good and great programmes are many. Mentioning them only makes one sit and cry for the present generation of kids who have now become something else due to the adulterated TV contents they are now being exposed to.
The new TV content and trend is music and dance based which is filled with lots of degrading moral value fillings. What mostly sell TV content nowadays are X-rated contents. This is eminent in our present music videos, reality programmes and so on.
Though many have asked and wondered where we all got it wrong from, but that still remains a puzzle yet to be unravelled.
The new crop of juveniles has argued that those TV programmes that wowed viewers in the past did so because there was not much competition as we now have. Their point is that back then; it was mainly the NTA and maybe LTV that were providing TV contents to Nigerians.
According to Mr Matthew Thompson, a pundit in the industry, the blame has to be shifted to the NBC who don't scrutinise programmes before they are aired. He said unless they are given much power to ban any programme with erotic content, the decadence would continue.
He said: "I don't know why we are crying over spilt milk. After all, they government has the power to say these are they programmes that would benefit out children. NTA is seen from many quotas as very local but on the contrary, they are the best. They are now competing favourably with other media, their programmes are always better."
"When the only thing people watch in Nigeria is violence, war, sex, erotic scenes and sometimes even porn, what do you expect from a generation with keen interest? Parents now are more interested in the money they would get from politicians, and politicians are more interested in being an American. There is no way things would get better unless we change our attitude and go back to the drawing board. Thank God for the national conference, at least it may also help in fashioning ways of putting these diseases to an end," he frowned.
What is still obtainable in school curriculums today are some of these TV stories which were acted to give viewers more understanding to what the books are saying.
The Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) should see this as a matter of urgency and take the bull by the horn.
Nigeria is a country made of traditions and culture which is also enshrined in its constitution. More values should be placed on education and information.
And most programmes that are not of benefit to the youths of Nigeria should be scraped to bring back sanity for a better tomorrow.

How the seed of Boko Haram was sown when I was a kid — Ex-Minister Nweke

Ibanga Isine

Frank Nweke 

 

The Director-General, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, Frank Nweke, Jnr. has advised the Nigerian Government to properly fund education and healthcare to reduce unemployment and insecurity in the country.
Mr. Nweke, a former Minister of Information, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES in an interview, said the high level of insecurity and unemployment in the country are caused by the failure of government to address the core needs of the citizenry.
He noted that the quality of education in Nigeria does not offer the needed skills for young people to function in a technologically-driven world.
Besides, Mr. Nweke argued that only a healthy and educated population can contribute to national growth and development.
In an emotion-laden voice Mr. Nweke said, “As a child, I watched as the seeds of Boko Haram were sown in Maiduguri, where I grew up.  As we were taken to school every day, we saw the kids sitting under trees being indoctrinated.
“As we returned from school in the afternoon, we saw the same children at the roundabouts, begging for alms and as we went to catechism in the evening, we found them back under the trees receiving their own religious studies.
“Majority of them did not attend any formal school. Today, they have become the cause of insurgency to the nation; a nation that failed them.”
He insisted that leaders of Nigeria at all levels failed millions of children and young people by paying lip service  to education, healthcare and social welfare.
Unless the country deliberately creates workable educational, healthcare and welfare policies and implement them consistently, insecurity, ignorance, poverty and disease will continue, he said.
The former minister of information said it was wrong for the government to classify education and healthcare as social issues, noting that they were core to attaining national growth and development.
He argued, “No country can develop by accident. Development philosophy, development strategy, implementation of programmes and policies of government must be deliberate and has to be consistent and sustained.
“Education and health should not be classified as social services, these are not social services. These are core economic issues that drive development.
“Why do you classify them as social? How can we expect to make progress without an educated and skilled populace? How can we make progress without a healthy populace?
“If you have an educated but unhealthy population, you cannot make progress and when you are healthy and uneducated, you cannot make progress.
“Genuine progress is driven by education and effective healthcare. That’s just the truth of the matter. These are the two things that drive economic development and human progress.”
Mr. Nweke therefore called on the government to consciously educate its citizenry, impart skills in them and make them healthy.
He drew attention of the government to its Ghanaian counterpart which has a Ministry of Children’s Affairs, adding that that government understands the concept of sustainable and wholesome development.
He said, “Ghana has a Ministry for Children’s Affairs; it underscores the fact that they understand the concept of sustainable and wholesome development.
“They understand that from the point of conception to nursing and other phases of a child’s life; is when the life of a human being can be nurtured.
“That is when countries begin to prepare their people to be responsible citizens and lay the foundation for their education and health and overall well-being.”
This post is supported by the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme, funded by DFID and managed by a consortium led by the British Council

Exclusive: Nigeria favors local firms in $40 billion oil contract awards

By Emma Farge and Tim Cocks

DAKAR/LAGOS 

(Reuters) - Nigeria has awarded most of its long-term oil contracts worth an estimated $40 billion a year to local companies, according to a confidential list seen by Reuters, meaning global traders need to partner with them to access crude from Africa's top producer.
Global commodity traders, refiners and Nigerian dealers jockey at an annual tender for access to the OPEC member's prized crude oil, which is easy to refine and produces more high-value fuels.
The contracts cover around 340 million barrels of oil, worth close to $40 billion annually based on current Brent prices, and run for a year, though they can be renewed. They were allocated to just 28 companies, versus around 50 in 2012, the last time they were awarded.
In a break with tradition, no contracts were given directly to global trading houses Glencore Xstrata (GLEN.L), Vitol VITOLV.UL, Trafigura TRAFGF.UL or Gunvor, with only Switzerland's Mercuria winning a contract, according to a list that four industry sources verified as accurate.
The trading companies that missed out on direct oil contracts declined to comment.
The list, released by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), is preliminary and subject to revision. NNPC officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
"It's incredible to have an OPEC member selling its oil this way. There's one international trading house and barely any refiners on the list," said a senior oil trading source who formerly bought Nigerian crude oil.
Instead, several Nigerian oil companies featured on the annual list for the first time, such as oil trading company Hyde Energy, oil and gas firm Springfield, and Barbedos Group, a conglomerate that also provides luxury aviation services.
Long-established Nigerian oil trading firms Taleveras and Aiteo were also named on the list, which was circulated to winners last week.
Nigeria's policy has been to increase the role played by local firms, both in operating oil blocks and trading, with the official aim of ending decades of control over the business by foreign majors.
However, several industry sources said the allocations favored powerful businessmen close to President Goodluck Jonathan's administration ahead of what are likely to be closely fought presidential elections set for February next year.
SHARING THE PIE
Nigeria is one of a small group of major oil producers that allocates its crude directly to trading houses, offering middlemen an opportunity to make margins through reselling the crude.
Although many large trading houses were absent from the list, they may have other ways of accessing the oil.
As in Nigeria's upstream sector, where Glencore recently submitted a bid as part of a consortium of local companies for $3 billion in energy assets, partnerships with domestic firms can help global traders get a share of the business.
Vitol may have indirectly won a share of the Nigerian exports to market via a Bermuda-based firm called Calson, in which it is a minority shareholder.
"It's not that the Swiss traders are being left out, it's that they're forcing them to share their pie with the indigenous companies," said an industry source in Nigeria.
Another way for traders to access oil is to buy the contract off a winning firm at a premium.
A number of other former winners were also absent from the 2014/2015 list, which will take effect from June. China's Unipec, the trading arm of top Asian refiner Sinopec Corp (600028.SS), as well as Azeri state oil company Socar, were former contract holders and did not feature on the new list.
West African governments such as Ghana, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast, which used to refine Nigerian oil in domestic refineries, formerly had contracts that were not renewed, according to the provisional list.
"BRIEFCASE TRADERS"
Non-governmental organizations, such as Switzerland's The Berne Declaration, have criticized Nigeria's sales method, saying it is opaque and offers no guarantee the oil is sold at fair value. The government has repeatedly denied there is any lack of transparency in the process.
London-based think-tank Chatham House estimated in a report on Nigerian oil last year that local traders could score up to 40 cents a barrel, amounting to around $5 million a year on 12 cargoes, just by "flipping" the contract to a bigger trading company.
A 2012 study commissioned by Nigeria's Oil Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke and headed up by former head of the anti-corruption agency Nuhu Ribadu criticized the sales system whereby contracts were given to "briefcase traders with little or no commercial or financial capacity".
Diezani Alison-Madueke said at the time that there were no informal contracts and everything was done on official tender, not by any discretionary awards.
A portion of Nigerian oil is also sold via swap deals whereby crude oil is given in exchange for imported fuels.
Producers operating in the West African country such as Italian oil group Eni (ENI.MI) and oil major Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) also sell some oil directly or refine it themselves

Ize-Iyamu Group set to dump Edo APC for PDP

By Charles Igbinidu

The  struggle for supremacy in Edo State branch of the All Progressive Congress (APC) may soon snowball into a split as the Group loyal to the former National Vice Chairman, South-South of the ACN and now a chieftain of the APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is set to dump the Party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) It would be recalled that the Ize-Iyamu group made up mainly of the supporters of former Governor Lucky Igbinedion played a pivotal role in helping Governor Adams Oshiomhole to neutralize Chief Tony Anenih in Edo State.
The Ize-Iyamu group was previously members of PDP who left for ACN as a result of the perceived overbearing influence of Chief Anenih in PDP.
ionigeria.com can authoritatively report that in furtherance of the goal of returning to PDP, Pastor Ize-Iyamu led some members of his Group including members of the State House of Assembly and some legislators at the national level to meet with PDP at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday. At the meeting, the Group pledged their loyalty and support to President Goodluck Jonathan and assured him of their backing in 2015.
The crisis in the Edo branch of APC is closely linked to the politics of who should succeed Oshiomhole as governor when his tenure expires. While Pastor Ize-Iyamu wants to be the next governor of the State, Oshiomhole’s body language seems to be in favour of his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu.
Ionigeria.com investigations revealed that the Presidential Villa meeting was preceded by a series of meetings between Ize-Iyamu and the leaders of PDP in Benin City. The PDP, it was further gathered is working very hard to bring back most of its former members in the State who are now in APC. The arrow heads of the PDP rapprochement in Edo South Senatorial Zone include Senator Roland Owie, Brigadier General Samuel Ogbemudia, and Chief Gabriel Igbinedion.
To achieve their goal, Chief Tony Anenih was told to stay away from the politics of Edo South and focus on Edo Central and Edo North.
Preparation for the movement of Ize-Iyamu and his group to PDP is expected to be concluded before the planned rally of the Party in May. President Jonathan is also expected at the rally.
Meanwhile, Governor Oshiomhole is said not to have given up completely. He is still making efforts to meet with the group but Pastor Ize-Iyamu seems to have irrevocably made up his mind.

Soccer Match Fixer Claims He Helped Nigeria Reach 2010 World Cup

Wilson Maj Perumal

By PM News, Lagos

A Singaporean match-fixer has claimed the he helped Nigeria and Honduras qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Wilson Raj Perumal, a self-confessed match-fixer who was part of a syndicate that has been placed at the heart of a sophisticated network responsible for fixing hundreds of matches around the world, claimed in a new book that he assisted Nigeria reach the World Cup through his activities.
In his book, he detailed a meeting with a football official in which he promised to help Nigeria qualify for the World Cup in return for free rein in organising three warm-up matches and a cut of the money Fifa provides for hosting a training camp during the tournament.
First, he claimed to influence three players on his payroll to help Nigeria to victory in one of their qualifiers. Then he claimed to have promised the Mozambique FA a $100,000 bonus if they were able to hold Tunisia to a draw, to stop Tunisia from leapfrogging Nigeria and seizing automatic qualification. Mozambique secured an unlikely 1-0 victory.
“My plan had worked and I was the unsung hero of Nigeria’s qualification to the final rounds of the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa,” writes Perumal. “Ferrying Nigeria and Honduras to the World Cup was a personal achievement. ‘Fuck,’ I considered. ‘I got two teams to qualify for the World Cup but I cannot tell anyone.’”
He also claimed to have attempted unsuccessfully to bribe referees at the World Cup itself. Perumal, who served a year of his sentence in Finland after promising to co-operate with the authorities, claimed to have had a hand in or profited from fixed matches all over the globe, from Latin America to Serie A.
Perumal admitted to being part of a syndicate that fixed a string of international friendlies by bribing corrupt officials and compromised players, but this is the first time that he has claimed to have influenced World Cup qualifiers.
Perumal was arrested in Helsinki in 2011 and sentenced to two years in prison. He agreed to co-operate with the authorities and implicated his fellow Singaporean Dan Tan, alleged to be at the heart of the fixing and gambling ring that placed bets on illicit Chinese markets.
Last year Europol alleged that more than 380 professional matches in Europe and more than 300 matches played in Africa, Asia and central and South America were under suspicion as the scale of the activities of match-fixing gangs from eastern Europe and Asia became clear.
Perumal’s book, written in conjunction with the investigative journalists Alessandro Righi and Emanuele Piano, details the huge sums of money he won and lost – up to €3m in a single night – and the huge reach of the match-fixing syndicate.
Perumal also alleged that during a trip to England in 1995 he tried unsuccessfully to bribe two Premier League goalkeepers. Perumal was rearrested last week in Finland on an international arrest warrant. The arrest is believed to relate to an earlier conviction in Singapore, rather than to match-fixing.
Kelong Kings, by Wilson Raj Perumal with Alessandro Righi and Emanuele Piano, is available to buy as an e-book. A self-published paperback will be on sale shortly.