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Presenters Abuja Sam Deckon
Presenters Abuja Sam Deckon
| FG apologies Nigerians over failure to deliver 6,000MW of electricity at the end of December 2009 |
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The Federal Government has apologized to Nigerians for its inability to generate and distribute the 6,000 megawatts of electricity as at the end of December 2009. Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan, offered the apology in his New Year message to Nigerians. He said the promise was made in view of the fact that power was a basic necessity in a technologically-driven world. Meanwhile, government says it remains focused in the actualization of its promise of ensuring peaceful and credible elections in the country. Vice President Goodluck Jonathan said 2010 represents a watershed in government’s efforts to conduct peaceful and credible elections and to consolidate on the nation's democracy. Dr Jonathan also challenged Nigerians to be God-fearing in whatever they do. However, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, has predicted a new national order in the country in spite of the country's troubles. Speaking at the New Year vigil mass at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos, the Archbishop said in spite of the evils that besiege us as a nation, all is not lost; Nigeria is redeemable. He urged leaders at all levels to rise up to the challenge of a new Nigeria by playing their roles sincerely as selfless leaders. Speaker, House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole says the Lower House would continue to abide by the constitution in the conduct of its functions in 2010. Honorable Bankole said the house would also intensify its oversight functions regarding the 2010 appropriation bill. He said the house had not had communication on the president’s assent to the supplementary budget, adding that he could not confirm whether the president had signed the budget. Action Congress has warned National Assembly not to plunge the country into another-wasteful years of dictatorship, through its in-activeness towards ailing President, Umar Yar’Adua. AC spokesman, Lai Mohammed, said it would be very painful for the country to lose the democracy it spent the greater parts of its life agitating for, as a result of self-interests. Alhaji Mohammed however, advised agencies entrusted with the statutory responsibility to act fast concerning the matter in order to save Nigeria from another dark days. Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan says late Maryam Babangida would best be remembered for her charisma and creativity. Dr Jonathan said this when he paid a condolence visit to a former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, at his hilltop residence in Minna. He said the Office of the First Lady has always been there but until Mrs Maryam took over, most Nigerians did not know that such an office existed. Meanwhile, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has extolled the late Mrs Maryam Babangida for her vision and dreams. Chief Obasanjo said he was particularly impressed with Maryam’s concern for the plight of rural women. Obasanjo described Maryam as a committed family woman, considering the practical ways she handled her family affairs and even those of her extended family. A Federal High Court in Lagos has frozen N346bn and £11m in six Nigerian banks allegedly belonging to the former Chief Executive Officer of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola. Justice Tijani Abubakar also placed an interim forfeiture order on Mr. Akingbola‘s alleged assets and choice properties in Lagos, the United Kingdom, Dubai and Accra, Ghana. The judge also granted the application of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for Mareva Injection to temporarily freeze Mr Akingbola‘s assets all over the world. Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday ruled that Former EFCC Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu can challenge his demotion. The court ruled that Malam Ribadu had the right to challenge his dismissal notwithstanding a section of the Police Act requiring officers and the rank and file to first seek and obtain the permission of the Inspector-General of Police before going to court. Justice Adamu Bello dismissed the submission of the defendants that Malam Ribadu’s suit was an abuse of court, spent, obsolete and incompetent. However, one of Malam Ribadu's lawyers, Charles Musa expressed the desire of his client to come to Nigeria at anytime to testify, but noted that Malam Ribadu's life is under threat. He thanked the court for upholding his client's right to challenge his dismissal. But counsel to the Justice Minister, Anthony Malik, declared the government's readiness to defend its decision in demoting and dismissing the former police officer. The case was adjourned to March 27, 2010. The Federal Government has thrown more light on the failed attempt by a Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, to bomb a United States aircraft. Government said further investigations showed that Abdulmutallab spent less than 30 minutes in Nigerian Airport before boarding the flight to Amsterdam. A statement by Information Minister, Dora Akunyili, said the suspect arrived in Nigeria on December 24 from Ghana. Meanwhile, United States President, Barack Obama has received reports on the security lapses that allegedly allowed a Nigerian to smuggle a bomb onto a transatlantic airliner. He ordered the reviews after denouncing "systemic" failures in the handling of the alleged bombing attempt by Farouk Abdulmutallab on Christmas Day. President Obama said he would study the preliminary reports over the weekend before meeting security chiefs next Tuesday. An Ethiopian minister has denied reports that millions of people need urgent food aid after failed rains. Disaster Prevention Minister, Mikitu Kassa said government was helping those hit by the drought. Mr Mikitu said the report was "not evidence-based", adding that it is baseless; it is contrary to the situation on the ground. Countries around the world are holding celebratory events to welcome in 2010. New Year arrived first in the South Pacific. At midnight local time fireworks were set off over Auckland's Sky Tower in New Zealand. Spectacular displays were also enjoyed in London and Paris and other capital cities across Europe. BUSINESS Nigeria Labour Congress has threatened to take action over the ongoing retrenchment in the banking sector. It asked government and Central Bank to warn the boards and managements of the banks, which have started laying-off workers to reverse their actions in the interest of industrial peace in 2010. The NLC, in its New Year message, signed by its President, Abdulwaheed Umar, also called on the Federal Executive Council and other public officers not to allow the poor health of President Umaru Yar’Adua to derail the government. An aviation consultant, Chris Aligbe says the Nigerian aviation industry has fared not too bad in 2009. While assessing the state of the Nigerian aviation industry in the year ended, Mr. Aligbe said the air space is improving everyday. He told correspondent Johnson Ayedun that quite a lot has been done in the area of safety, but lamented on the poor state of Airport terminals, especially the runway. ENTERTAINMENT Performing Musician Employers’ Association of Nigeria has urged Federal Government to set up a music censors board without further delay. PMAN President, Dele Abiodun, said the industry is currently witnessing all sorts of lyrics and languages that are offensive to the listeners. He said the board which should be patterned after the Nigeria Video Movie and Film Censors Board would set a new moral tone. SPORTS 2009 has been described as a bad year for sports in Nigeria. Sports Analysts, Bode Oguntuyi said aside from qualifying for 2010 World Cup in South Africa, other sports where the country used to hold sway, performed below average. Mr Oguntuyi told sports correspondent, Lawal Sherif, that it was unfortunate that results were not commensurate to huge funds committed to sports development in the country. Nigerians have been urged to support the Super Eagles, in the belief that together 150 million fans, 11 players and 1 Guinness, can unite in the power of the Nigerian spirit as the team starts preparations for Africa Cup of Nations 2010. Managing Director Guinness Nigeria Plc, Devlin Hainsworth, also announced the launch of an official Guinness® “Power of Naija” football song. The song which will enjoy airplay in radio stations across Nigeria celebrates Super Eagles, inspires them to Reach for Greatness and to achieve victory. He also announced the Launch of the SMS-based Guinness® National Consumer promotion which will run though out the duration of the Nations Cup. TODAY IN HISTORY January 1st 1973 - West African Economic Community was formed by Benin, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Upper Volta ODD SIDE OF NEWS Fargo police said an apartment tenant who set empty beer cans in front of his door to alert him to intruders ended up fighting with an alleged burglar. Sergeant Bill Ahlfeldt said police were called after a report of two elderly men attacking each other. He said a 61-year-old man who lives in the same building was arrested on suspicion of burglary. Ahlfeldt said the man appeared to be intoxicated, and it's possible he believed he was entering his own apartment. |