Photonews: Standards Organization Of Nigeria Raids Fake Products Factory In Onitsha

Article: Nigerian Insurgency And Phantom Ceasefire

By Emeka Umeagbalasi

                                            

Various handling styles adopted by the Federal Government of Nigeria in its prosecution of war and counter terrorism against the Boko Haram terror group have failed woefully to address and tame the violence. Such handling styles have also exacerbated the country’s horrible human rights situations and emboldened the violent armed opposition groups in commission of atrocious crimes against the citizens of the country. From planning/intelligence to field battles; and from aerial assaults to negotiation/ceasefire to information dissemination and management, the results have been very catastrophic and marked with total failures. Unconventional reportorial approaches adopted by the Nigerian media in covering the insurgency warfare have also worsened the situation. Principles guiding modern war media coverage and report are hugely absent in Nigeria. These have deeply worried the Security & Safety Program of International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law.

News Release: Stakeholders Create African Customer Due Diligence Platform

Participants in the Afreximbank Customer Due Diligence Forum in Dakar

Stakeholders in the African financial services sector have established an African customer due diligence repository to assist in reducing costs incurred by financial institutions in meeting compliance requirements on African transactions and to mitigate other negative impacts of current due diligence requirements on African trade and trade finance.

News Release: Opening Of The Afreximbank Customer Due Diligence And Corporate Governance Forum

 Afreximbank President Jean-Louis Ekra addressing the press following the opening of the Forum in Dakar

The increasing costs confronted by African banks and financial institutions in complying with the constantly evolving compliance regulations imposed by the principal international financial centres has made it necessary to find standardized Africa-specific solutions to challenges in the financial services sector, Jean-Louis Ekra, President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), has told the first-ever Customer Due Diligence and Corporate Governance Forum organized by the Bank.

Article: The Owelle Rochas Okorocha You Don’t Know

Owelle Rochas Okorocha

By Kenneth Uwadi

Since May 29th, 2011, Imo State and her people have been witnessing ‘ Abracadabra’ in governance, lawlessness, insecurity, kidnapping , negative and half hazard polices, deceit and the more you look the less you see, showmanship, lies and falsification, lack of procedure and total neglect to lay down procedure and heavy debt burden to the incoming Administration .

News Release: Tanzania’s 2014-2025 Energy Reform Road Map To Success

In its recent Investment Policy Review the OECD cited energy in Tanzania as a “critical bottleneck” and that the problem of reliable energy was the top barrier to doing business in Tanzania. This view was echoed during the Tanzania panel at the Africa Energy Forum in Istanbul in June at which TANESCO and EWURA specifically addressed this point. (http://www.energynet.co.uk/fr/event/powering-africa-tanzania)

News Release: New Music By S-Team5: “Champion” & “Ring Your Body”

Introducing fast-rising Nigerian music group – the S-Team5 – with their massive debut singles and party anthems “Champion” & “Ring Your Body” .

Article: On Abia And Olisa Metuh’s Contrived Rating

Olisa Metuh

By Onuoha Amadi

Recently, the media reported that a so-called Peoples Democratic Party Performance and Publicity Tour led by  Chief Olisa Metuh, the party’s national publicity secretary visited Abia State on the watch of His Excellency, Governor Theodore Orji and rained accolades on the performance’ of the governor. The accolades came when while on the puzzling mission, the Metuh-led team which had a band of journalists in tow confessed what it called a "media conspiracy" against Governor Theodore Orji. It required little imagination to deduce that the main target of the excursion and attack is His Excellency, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of the state who anointed the current governor.  According to a report by a national daily, “This corroborates the earlier position of the state government that some sections of the media, whose annoyance is that Orji's towering achievements have dwarfed the purported records of his predecessor, Orji Kalu, have deliberately decided to propagate lies on the efforts of the governor to change the face of Abia.”

U-Report: Onitsha People Back Princess Stella Oduah For Senate

Stella Oduah

Report By Patrick Nnaemeka

The decision by Nigeria’s Former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah to yield to popular demand and step out to vie for the Anambra North Senatorial seat under the platform of PDP received a major boost yesterday when the Onitsha community fully threw their weight behind her aspiration.

Article: Orji Uzor Kalu And His Support For President Jonathan

Orji Uzor Kalu

By Olaniyi Olanike

The former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu is a politician and business mogul whose interests cut across national boundaries. He is a Nigerian so concerned about his country, Nigeria. How to remake Nigeria has been his concern. He has to be restless at this stage, because according to him, he might not have such strength to do all that he is doing for Nigeria today in the next 10-15 years.

Article: Unveiling The Masquerade

Musiliu Obanikoro

By  Kola Salau

As long as the priorities of those in government remain the interests of big business, rather than the people they hope to serve, the impact of voting is negligible and it is our responsibility to be more active if we want real change. Turns out that among the biggest culprit is 'Obanikoro' who spends most of his time at the meek heart of the political establishment and can't summons up the self-delusion to drag his nib across the box of truth. 

Article: Relocation Of APCON South East Zonal HQ To Onitsha

By John Mgbe

APCON is an  acronym   for “Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria”.It  is  a Federal  Government  regulatory  agency set  up  to  control  advertising in  all its aspects and  ramifications in  Nigeria. It  was  set  up under   Act 55 of  1988,  as  amended by Act  93 of  1992.APCON  is  the  umbrella  body  which ensures  decorum  in the  advertising   profession  as  it  co-ordinates  the    activities  of  a  wide  spectrum  of  advertising  groups  in  Nigeria.Some  of  the  groups  which  operate  under  the  canopy   and   strict  surveillance  of  APCON  include advertising  agencies,  media  independents, media  professionals  and  the  like.In  order  to   inject  sanity  and  discipline  in  the   advertising  profession,  APCON   has  a  number  of  departments  which  focus  on  several   areas  of  its  operations .One  of  such   departments  is  the   Advertising  Standards  Panel(ASP)  which   severely  monitors   all  advertisements  and  any  offensive  ones  are     censured. In  order  to   facilitate  efficiency   in  its  operations,  the  ASP  has   classified  products  into  “Controlled  Products “ and “General  Goods  and  Services”. It  is  mandatory  that  vetting   by the  ASP must  be   carried  out  on  all   controlled  products

News Release: Afreximbank’s Back-To-Back Trainings To Boost African Trade

 To achieve its mandate of expanding intra- and extra-African trade, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is holding a series of back-to-back training activities aimed at enhancing the finance capabilities of African financial institutions and corporates.

News Release: With Afreximbank’s $272 Million Facility, Heritage Concludes Enterprise Bank Acquisition

Afreximbank President Jean-Louis Ekra (left) exchanges documents with Ifie Sekibo, Managing Director of Heritage Bank, following the signing of the $272 million facility agreement.

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and Nigeria’s Heritage Bank today in Cairo signed the agreement formalising Afreximbank’s $272 million facility in support of Heritage Bank’s acquisition of Enterprise Bank from the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

News Release: Quality Of Life Issues Main Drivers Of World Social Science Forum 2015

For over four days policy makers and shapers comprising scientists, politicians, activists, civil society organizations, activists, labour and business leaders will gather at the Durban International Conference Centre (ICC) for the 2015 World Social Sciences Forum (WSSF), to be held from 13 – 16 September. 

News Release: Tanzania To Host The Economist Events’ Health Care In Africa 2014

 The Economist Events (http://www.economistevents.com) will be hosting their Health Care in Africa Summit (http://www.africahealth.economist.com) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania at the Hyatt Regency, The Kilimanjaro on November 18th and 19th 2014.

News Release: Supporting The Vectors For Innovation

For more than a year, experts and members of Senegalese civil society have been rallying together to plan the topics for the 15th Francophonie Summit programme (http://www.francophoniedakar2014.sn), which will focus on the themes from the previous Summit in Kinshasa – "Francophonie's women and young people: vectors for peace and actors for development".

News Release: General Electric Bags Two Prestigious African Awards

General Electric Company (GE: NYSE) (http://www.ge.com) picked up two awards at this year’s Africa Investor (Ai) Investment and Business Leader Awards. GE Africa was awarded Green Investment Initiative of the Year for the Power Africa initiative. In addition, GE’s global Chairman and CEO, Jeff Immelt was awarded Global Investment Personality of the Year. These awards are evidence of GE’s belief in the vast investment opportunities on the continent and the company’s commitment to the sustainable development of Africa.

Special Report: Text Of The Court Judgment Delivered In Favour Of The Founders Of Nigeria’s Newswatch Magazine

IN THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT
IN THE LAGOS JUDICIAL DIVISION
HOLDEN AT IKOYI
SUIT NO. FHC/L/CP/1367/2012
IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT
IN THE MATTER OF NEWSWATCH COMMUNICATION LIMITED
(RC 163545)
BETWEEN:
1.  MR. NUHU WADA ARUWA
2.  PROFESSOR JIBRIL AMINU                PETITIONERS
AND
1. NEWSWATCH COMMUNICATIONS LIMIITED
2. GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED
3. MR. JIMOH IBRAHIM    RESPONDENTS
4. NEWSWATCH NEWSPAPERS LIMITED
5. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION

Article: Just Before Affliction Arises The Second Time

Adebayo Alao Akala

By Kola Salau

When the Indian sage, Mahatman Ghandi said that “Politics without principle is one of the seven social sins”, he philosophically perhaps have Adebayo Alao Akala and his likes in mind as grave sinners.

Article: Weapons Of Mass Deception In The Church (Part 2)

Rufus Kayode Oteniya

In the first part (http://bit.ly/1wIQaky), I started with introduction of the topic by examining how the Church has derailed and slipped from the glorious past to an unenviable position that it is today and I promised to start looking at the different weapons deployed in the mass deception and destruction of the Church by the leaders and the congregants alike.

Article: Weapons Of Mass Destruction/Deception In The Church (Part 1)

Rufus Kayode Oteniya                          

This piece particularly has nothing to do with the present $9.3m money laundering scandal involving the president of The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and his private jet but a well-thought-out topic that is part of a project that I’m currently working on.

Article: On Presidential Debates

By Jaye Gaskia

There are some who will say I am in a cranky or cheeky mood these days depending on how generous or harsh they chose to be with their criticism. But truth is I am loving this period, this electioneering and campaigning period, and I am determined to do my utmost best to enable ordinary Nigerians make the most of the opportunity, as well as determined to contributing to shifting the discourse from personalities to programs, and from declarations and agendas to strategic plans.

Article: Before I Am Blindly Attacked

Jaiye Gaskia

By Jaye Gaskia

Before I am blindly attacked as an 'Atikuist', a 'Buhariist', or a Jonathanian; let me pose some questions. Even at this early stage of campaigns, are we asking the right questions? Are we being vigilant and holding all actors to account?

News Release: Skyvision Shortlisted For Three Prestigious Africacom 2014 Awards

SkyVision Global Networks Ltd. (http://www.skyvision.net), a leading global communication provider, today proudly announced that the company has been nominated for three prestigious AfricaCom 2014 Awards. SkyVision’s nominations are in the following categories: Best Connectivity Solutions for Africa, for SkyVision’s Hybrid Satellite and Terrestrial Network Solutions; Changing Lives Award, for their support of Ghana’s Crossover Academy and VSAT Innovation for Africa, for the SkyVision Active Series.

Article: Our Task Is To Set The Agenda For The General Elections In Nigeria

 By Jaye Gaskia

 According to the recently released 2014 Progress Report by the Africa Progress Panel on the condition of electricity and power generation in Africa; ' The total power generation for all of Sub-Saharan Africa minus South Africa is 28 GigaWatts [GW], an amount just about equivalent to Argentina's total power generation capacity'. The report further lamented concerning Africa's largest economy: - Nigeria, that 'Power generation in Nigeria has never exceeded 4,500MWs, while Power supply deficit for the country stands at 166,400MWs'. It further said that 'about half of world's population without access to electricity live in Sub-Saharan Africa'.

News Release: New Study Finds That Orange Maize Improves Vitamin A In Children

Photo Credit: APO

 Just ahead of World Food Day, a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (http://goo.gl/AwrAkl) has established that ‘orange’ vitamin A maize increases vitamin A storage in the body. This maize has been conventionally bred (non-GMO) to have higher levels of beta-carotene, a naturally occurring plant pigment that the body then converts into vitamin A.

Open Letter: A Case Against Return Of Criminal Entities At New Onitsha Bridgehead Car Park

Governor Willie Obiano

Ref: INTERSOC/05/10/14/ANSG/NG

His Excellency
Chief Willie Obiano
Executive Governor of Anambra State
Governor’s Lodge, Awka

Sir,
A Case Against Return Of Criminal Entities At New Bridgehead Car Park & Need For Protection & Maintenance Of Key Public Infrastructures
Your Excellency will recall that conversion of un-tarred portions of the Onitsha-Asaba Dual Carriage Way at Bridgehead into a car park and construction of same endeared Your Excellency to the heart of the people in the area particularly the traders of the Bridgehead Market. The major aim of the noble project was to clear and reclaim the area from the hands of some criminal entities that go with various names including Ukwu-aziza squad or Ogbaru Youth, among others. Another aim was to sanitize the area and make it environment friendly since it is a gateway into Anambra State and Southeast. Part of the aim also was to decongest the area by providing a befitting parking space for traders and others in the area to park their private cars. Before now, private cars litter the area causing congestion and other traffic jams as well as defacing the area, which is a major entrance into the State.

News Release: Mystery-Deaths Of Nigerians In Dubai

Oyamuyefa Alamieyeseigha; Photo Credit: Channels TV

Women Arise is in deep shock to learn of, yet soon again, mysterious death of another young Nigerian in Dubai, even as we have yet to finish with mourning of alleged murder of Toba (Tyler) Falode in same jurisdiction, recently.

Article: Resignation Of Dinesh Mahtani Another Irreparable Blow To UN Somalia Eritrea Monitoring Group

Dinesh Mahtani

By Sophia Tesfamariam

H.E. Osman Saleh, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Eritrea, in his Statement at the 69^th Session if the UN General Assebly said that, while the world had changed, the United Nations had remained “stuck in the past”.  Restoring the relevance and credibility of the United Nations to meet the challenges of the 21^st Century called fundamental restructuring the Organization. Eritrea's perspective was informed by its history…

News Release: Using Animation To Battle Ebola

United Methodist Communications collaborated with Chocolate Moose Media and iHeed to create an animation for West Africa that dispels myths about how Ebola is spread and promotes prevention. The video can be downloaded free at http://www.ebolavideo.org.

Article: Governor Okorocha And His Type Of Road Construction

By Emperor Iwuala

             

Towards the end of the year 2011, some of my readers used to see me as a cynic of the Governor Rochas Okorocha’s administration. Then, I remember that some used to call me all sorts of names. They pleaded that we should allow the governor to continue with his style. Unfortunately, we headed. But I think today all prophesies that the man, Rochas Okorocha is a Nebuchadnezzar possibly sent to strangulate Imo State are gradually coming to fulfilment.

U-Report: MOSSAD, CIA & SSS Planned To Abduct Shi'a Women In Zaria

Sayyid Ibrahim Alzakzky

Report By Stephen Lawan

The leader of Islamic movement in Nigeria Sayyid Ibrahim Alzakzky debunked a  Planned by CIA MOSSAD and SSS to kidnap young women of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria tomorrow on their way to attend ghadir eid celebration in Zaria.

Article: The Blind Bartimaeus Government In Imo State

Governor Okorocha of Imo State

By Kenneth Uwadi

The fate of millions of hungry looking, mal-nourished and oppressed Imolites will be decided soon as Imo prepares to go to the poll in 2015. It is clear that for Imo to be better again we must kick out the fat-cat Governor of Imo State Chief Rochas Okorocha in 2015. Okorocha has grown fat and sleek by preying on the hardship he imposed on the masses. In an immoral manner, this wicked, godless, notorious and dangerous fat-cat has looted Imo treasury dry and arrogantly displays the loot on AIT and Channels TV before the eyes of the very people he has stolen from.

U-Report: Tourism Hard-Hit By T.B Joshua’s Church Building Collapse

Report By Chika Goodluck-Ogazi and Emeka Nwachukwu

The tragedy that occurred on Friday, September 12, 2014 when a guesthouse located within The Synagogue of All Nations Church (SCOAN) premises, Ikotun, Lagos collapsed, may have begun to negatively reflect in the number of tourists visiting the country.

Article: Clement Owunna Is On A Mission To Change Okigwe Zone For Goo

Clement Owunna

By Sam Asoluka

For Okigwe senatorial zone change is in sight. The opportunity to turn round the fortunes of the zone for good is fast approaching. Purposeful and effective representation in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will be a reality if Mazi Clement Owunna is elected in the 2015 senatorial election.

U-Report: NHRC To Hold Public Hearing On Zaria Quds Day Killings

Report By Stephen Lawan

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) plans to hold a special public hearing on the gruesome killing of peaceful Quds protesters in which soldiers cruelly opened fire killing 34 members of the Islamic
Movement in Nigeria including 3 sons of Shaikh Zakzaky, and wounding over a hundred others.

Article: Where Did Fmr. Gov. Kalu Go Wrong Against Gov. Orji?

Fmr. Gov. Kalu (L) and Gov. Orji

By Olaniyi Olanike

In two separate series, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu who was former Governor of Abia State, published an essay titled, “My stewardship as Abia governor (1999-2007)”. It was published in The Sun editions of September 13, 2014 and 20, 2014. What has lured me to join my voice in the lucid expository treatises of the dude is that till this moment he published the article, some persons who had been deafening our ears with blackmails and vilifications of Kalu’s personality have all covered their faces in shame. 

Article: Leave TB Joshua Alone

T.B Joshua

By Sunny Ikhioya

I have followed the series of reactions trailing the disaster at the Synagogue Church of all Nations with a sense of shock and disbelief. It is as if some people have been waiting in the wings for the man of God to fail, forgetting that he is a mortal indeed, like the rest of us. No human can be God, so we must make our comments with a great sense of responsibility, in the spirit of fairness and objectivity.

Videonews: "A Cloud That Covers Nigeria... "- T.B. Joshua

Article: Down With Governor Okorocha's Government Of Thieves

Governor Rochas Okorocha

By Kenneth Uwadi

Officially and publicly, Governor Okorocha has not announced his intention to remain in power beyond May 2015, his terminal period as Governor under the military imposed 1999 constitution. Notwithstanding his ostrich game on this issue, all key economic and political features and manipulations going on under the regime clearly point only in one direction – his quest to remain  in power beyond May, 2015.

News Release: Beyond Obiano’s Poll Court Victories

Governor Willie Obiano

On 14th February, 2014, the leadership of our organization (International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law) issued a public statement titled “Processes of Filing and Determining Election Petitions’ Matters in Nigeria & Public Expectations from the Anambra State Governorship Election Poll Courts”. In the said statement, we not only pointed and cited relevant provisions relating to the foregoing in both the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended in 2011 and the Electoral Act of the Federation of 2010, but also concluded that issues canvassed by the opponent’s parties cannot judicially upturned the declaration of Mr. Willie Obiano as the duly elected governor of Anambra State by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Two topical issues for judicial determination were: Whether the Anambra Governorship poll of November 16, 2013 and its supplementary of November 30 were conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act of 2010 and whether Mr. Willie Obiano was involved, in the eyes of the law, in double or multiple voter registration.

Open Letter: Case Against Sen. Ike Ekweremadu (Alias Osita Anih)

Senator Ike Ekweremadu

His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck E. Jonathan, GCFR, 

President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,

Presidential Villa,

Asokoro, Abuja.

Dear Mr. President,

 

A Case against Sen. Ike Ekweremadu (alias Osita Anih)—An Open Letter to President Goodluck Jonathan

Article: X-Raying The Motives Of Overnight Artiste-Politicians In Nigeria

A Gathering Of Nigerian Politicians

By Theophilus Ilevbare

Just when we were coming to terms with the precipitousforay to the political scene of some entertainers like Gongo Aso crooner, Abolore Akande popularly known as 9ice, gospel singer, Kenny Saint Best and actor, Desmond Elliot, all of whom have in recent time declared their political ambition and aligned themselves with political parties, Tony Tetuila(reals names, Anthony Olarenwaju) has quickly joined the burgeoning list of Nigerian artistes vying for elective positions in next year’s general election. Even if the joke sounds too expensive and only himself believes it, popular stand-up comedian, Julius Agwu, thinks he can become the next governor of Rivers state. The list of intending artiste-politicians keeps growing as the bandwagon syndrome catches up with more of them. Before the end of the year, more artistes will throw their hat in the ring.

News Release: Customer Due Diligence Forum To Target Standardised Solutions For Africa

To develop Africa-specific and standardized solutions to challenges in the financial services sector and the area of corporate governance, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) will hold its first-ever Customer Due Diligence and Corporate Governance Forum in Dakar this October.

News Release: At 54, Nigeria Remains A Failed State

The leadership of International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law wishes to observe that the Federation of Nigeria has remained a failed State 54 years after her independence from clutches of colonialism that commenced in 1861 with the infamous signing of the treaty of cession between then Oba Desomu of Lagos and the representatives of the then British Crown. Coincidentally, year 2014 also marks one hundred years or centenary anniversary of the British formal colonial incursion into Nigeria with the amalgamation of the country in 1914.