10 Places To Visit In Nigeria During Christmas Holidays.

                               

“Christmas is like candy; it slowly melts in your mouth, sweetening every taste bud, making you wish it could last forever,” Richelle Goodrich once said. Unfortunately, it won’t last forever. But you can make it worth remembering when you do things you never did before, or go places you’ve never been before this season.

With only a few days to Christmas, every fun-loving person should be thinking of an amazing place to be with loved ones, aside the traditional trip to the village for extended family reunions.

From the place where nature is at its perfect form, to classic and ultra-modern environment, we present you a list of 10 unique places carefully selected from across the 6 geo-political zones in Nigeria to spend the Christmas vacation.

1. Tinapa Resort

Tinapa is a business and leisure resort located in Calabar, the beautiful capital of Cross River State in the South-south.

The resort offers amazing features like a casino, children’s arcade, an amphitheatre, retail and wholesale outlets for your shopping needs and an 8-screen digital cinema.

Located at the Calabar Free Trade Zone, you can equally seize the opportunity to buy electronic items at very cheap prices as well as check out some business opportunities within the zone.

Finally, don’t forget to attend the colourful Calabar Festival.

2. Obudu Ranch Resort

The Obudu Ranch Resort is one of the wonders of Nigeria and arguably the best vacation spot for anyone seeking to enjoy a holiday in an environment that offers a perfect blend of nature and modernity.

The resort features a water park, a golf course and horse riding, night club as well as bonfires. A walk through the forest of Obudu brings one closer to nature as you listen to beautiful birds singing melodiously to your delight.

If you are looking for a vacation spot to help you establish a lasting bond between you and your spouse or family, then Obudu is the perfect choice.

3. Abraka Turf and Country Club

The Abraka Turf and Country Club is situated along the bank of the serene Ethiope River in Abraka, Delta State.

The first thing that hits one on entering the facility is the expansive and well-manicured plants with horses grazing on the lawn, which provides every visitor a feeling of calmness and tranquility.

The resort features first class accommodation and catering services for people of different budgets, horseback riding, kayaking, canoeing, fishing and swimming in the mysteriously clear River Ethiope; the river is so clear that one can see fishes swimming in it.
If you are a lover of nature and serenity, the Abraka resort is the place to spend your Christmas.

4. Kofar Gamji Amusement Park

Kofar Gamji Amusement Park was the first amusement park built in the heart of the Kaduna City. Located along the Shooting Range New Extension, it is indeed the most visited place during celebrations such as Christmas.

It has wide lawns for relaxation, eateries, a swimming pool, and a terrace for couples who may choose to stroll hand in hand. The scenic view of the Kaduna River, which cuts across the park, is a pleasure to behold.

Kofar Gamji is also host to CD World Play Club, where comedians, dancers and other performers entertain guests.

5. Wonderland Amusement Park

This 330,000 square meters’ ultra-modern park located in Nigeria’s federal capital is unarguably the biggest and most equipped park in Nigeria.

The park offers leisure gardens for visitors’ recreation and rides as well as an amazing arcade. A visit to the Millennium Park would not be complete until one enters the popular Fulani Ranch that offers a variety of tasty local and intercontinental cuisines.

A host of other restaurants and shops are also on ground to cater for your needs while at the park. The park also boasts of a clinic for treatment of minor injuries.

With all these in place, you would be right to call the Millennium Park a fun haven.

So, if you are planning a family picnic, a group get-together or want to spend quality time bonding with your lover, then this park is highly recommended.

6. Yankari Game Reserve

This large wildlife park located in Bauchi State came into being in 1956 as a game reserve but was later turned into a national park in 1991.

The park covers an area of about 2,244 square kilometers and is home to about 50 species of wildlife such as lion, leopard, hippopotamus, antelope, elephant, and waterbuck as well as over 350 species of colorful birds.

The reserve equally boasts of a decent and affordable accommodation for visitors. If you visit Yankari this Xmas, don’t forget to take a deep in the warm spring. But remember always to guard your belongings against the baboons!

7. Oguta Lake Resort

Also, known as the lake of treasure, it is located in Oguta, a quiet town about 30 minutes’ drive from the ever-busy capital of Imo State, Owerri.

The most striking part of this park is the confluence of the Oguta lake which is blue in colour and the muddy Ulasi River, with both maintaining their unique colours.

Even an attempt to mix the two by scooping water from one to another will only leave a stain for a short while; this is better seen than read or imagined!

A deep into the Oguta Lake is also refreshing and safe as the lake is fresh water and does not harbor dangerous creatures.

For your pleasure, the resort equally features a golf course with 18 standard international holes, cruise boat services for that exciting sail you have always imagined, recreational park, standard lodging accommodation and excellent restaurant. It also allows you to enrich your knowledge of history by visiting relic of war constructed by the defunct Biafran Navy during Nigeria’s civil war.

8. Jos Wildlife Park

This 8 square kilometers park is arguably the most developed man made wildlife park in Nigeria.

It is a home to various wildlife species like lions, buffalos, crocodiles, hippopotamuses, horses, ostriches etc.

The park equally features various attractions like a superb restaurant, picnic pine forest, video viewing centre and so on.

9. Olumo Rock

This amazing granite rock used to be a place of refuge for the people of Egbaland in present Ogun State during intertribal wars in the olden days.

It has several spot caves, some of which are about 20 feet long and 25 feet wide. However, this rock has been modernized with elevator, eateries, and many more to serve as a tourist destination.

One can as well choose to take the staircase instead of the elevator to the top of rock. This serenity at the top of this rock is better experienced than told.

10. Port Harcourt Tourist Beach

Planning on a family vacation or picnic this Christmas, this amazing and scenic beach is the place to go.

The live performances of Cultural entertainers add to the fun.

The resort also offers restaurants and accommodation for all classes as well as sunbathing sites.

XMAS GROOVE: As Calabar Carnival Beckons..

The 2015 edition of the annual Calabar Christmas Festival was generally acclaimed be to a tremendous success when it climaxed with the Calabar Carnival, which, has been established as one of the foremost attractions in the line-up of events in the Nigeria’s tourism calendar.

Like those of other years, the last edition carnival had as its major feature, the usual 12 kilometres parade by the participating bands, namely, Passion 4 Band, Seagull Band, Master Blaster Band, Freedom Band, and Bayside Band; from the Millennium Park through select major streets in Calabar, to the UJ. Esuene Stadium, in what has assumed the status of ‘Africa Largest Street Party.’

But, the introduction of the governor’s band, comprising beauty queens and Nollywood stars as well as the Bikers Carnival (race), by the state governor, Professor Ben Ayade, spiced up the entire carnival content and re-enforced its value, perhaps, as Africa’s most priced tourism event.

Not a few applauded Ayade for the tremendous success recorded due to the innovations he introduced to the carnival, even when he was just six months in office, having been sworn-in on May 29th, last year.

At the close of last year’s Calabar Christmas Festival, most observers and participants agreed that with the success of the event, Ayade had kept the state’s tradition as the tourism destination in Nigeria.

Obviously elated by the success of the 2015 Calabar Carnival, Ayade , early in January 2016, commenced preparation for this year’s carnival by unveiling the 2016 Calabar Carnival Theme ‘Climate Change’ at a dinner staged in honour of sponsors of the 2015 edition.

“The carnival presents our people the opportunity to be happy even in the challenges of the year,” he said the carnival has gone global with millions watching it live via over 30 channels across the world and stressed the need why the business connection to the carnival must not be ignored to ensure the state benefits.

“As you know it is not a Calabar carnival, it is not a Nigerian carnival; it is indeed not an African carnival. It is a world carnival. Let us focus on this to ensure that we broaden the horizon of opportunities that will come and Cross River State will be better off for it,” Ayade said at dinner which held in the state.
Nothing short of last year’s standard of success is expected this year from the people based on feelers from town.

It appears Ayade has a Midas touch to events of the nature as streets corners and designated places in Calabar and most places the state are already bubbling with celebratory activities, an indication that the 2016 Christmas celebration is here again, and expected to climax on with the now famous Calabar Carnival billed for Wednesday, December 28 , 2016.

The governor had promised earlier in the year that the 2016 edition of the carnival would be the best and biggest since the event was established.

Apparently buttressing the seriousness he attaches to the state’s reputation as the nation’s tourism destination, Ayade who doubles as Cross River State Commissioner for Tourism, has ensured that preparations for this year’s carnival commenced early enough.

For instance, on Sunday, December 11th, a carnival dry run or carnival rehearsal was staged across the carnival route by revelers, who adorned colourful costumes and danced in response to the rhythms sounds that blared from musical instruments as they moved along the routes.

According to the state carnival commission, the dry run, the third of such in the last one month, is the last to be staged before the main carnival.
Earlier, on Sunday, December 3, a Bikers’ Carnival dry run was staged from Mary Slessor Roundabout to Efio-Ette Junction, preparatory to the Bikers carnival or display, slated for Tuesday, December 27.

Also flagging of the Bikers’ dry run, the state governor said it was to enable the riders get familiar with the carnival routes ahead of the main bikers’ carnival.
Flagging off the second dry run on Sunday, November 20th, the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Linda Ayade, said the carnival represents one of the unique platforms that showcase the rich cultural splendor of the peoples of Cross River State.

“Last year, the theme of the carnival focused on Climate Change, and how to make our environment better. This year, we are continuing with the theme and through our tourism efforts, things will get bigger and better.”

At the moment, commercial activities have peaked at the carnival village at municipal council ground, declared open by the governor on December 1, at the end of the Anti-Aids Day Walk.

The village which has about 200 temporary shops is a hub for leisure and other forms of merriment for fun seekers throughout the month of December to January, since it was established over a decade ago.
There are other interesting events lined up on different days to herald the carnival, considered as the climax of the month long celebration.

The events include carnival Christmas Day Music Concert, Sunday December 25; Street Party , Kings & Queens of Bands Competition and Pre Carnival Music Concert, slated for Monday, December 26; Youth Carnival and Cultural Parade, Tuesday, December 27; Bikers Festival Calabar 2016 by Metallic Knights Motorcycle Club, and Governor’s Ball, Tuesday 27; while Carnival Calabar, featuring: Africa’s biggest street party and other fascinating side attractions on the carnival route, and Nigeria’s Most Wanted Music Concert and DJ Grand Slam, Wednesday, December 28.

The Convertible/ Exotic Cars Parade, a fresh innovation introduced by Ayade, will hold on Thursday, December 29, the same day designated for Green Carnival, International Carnival Segment/Competition, International Artist Performance and Music Concert.

Added to entire package are the Tinapa Dark Knight Motor Drift Rally and Stunt Display, Green Ball Sponsors/Stake Holders Dinner and Unveiling of 2017 Christmas Festival/Carnival Calabar Theme, and the Calabar Rocks Music Concert and DJ Grand Slam scheduled for Friday, December 30.

After the successful hosting of the carnival, the star event for the Christmas festival, the organisers have slated the Fireworks Night to usher in 2017 for 12 midnight of Saturday, December 31 at the Millennium Park.

Speaking at the Millennium Park, while flagging off Sunday’s carnival dry run, Ayade promised that 2016 Calabar carnival will be bigger and better than the previous years.
He called on the people of the state to open their hearts and doors to receive tourists who will be trooping into the state for the carnival.

“The event which has become part and parcel of our state will be bigger and richer in content this year. So, we must continue to exhibit the hospitality nature we are known for in receiving visitors. “Cross River State will experience massive turnout of visitors to watch and participate in the biggest street party in Africa as it will be free, interesting, bigger and bolder,” Ayade who was represented by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. John-Gaul Lebo, said.

The governor praised the various carnival bands for their active and brilliant performances in the dry run.
He appealed to the bands to maintain the trend of their laudable performances during the carnival.

Chairman Cross River State Carnival Commission, Mr. Gabe Onah, said the Sunday event was tagged “dry run of celebrities” as some members of the Nollywood were in the state to participate in the event prior to the 4th edition of the “Cross River Movie Awards”
“This is the last dry run after two successful hosts; hence we expect a great show on December 28,” Onah said.

Given the importance of security for such magnitude of events the state police command has assured that it will leave nothing to chance to secure lives and property during the carnival, and indeed the entire period of the month-long Christmas celebration.
The state Commissioner for Police, Mr. Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, who spoke on the preparedness of his officers and men, said: “We have witnessed the first and second dry-run and there were no security hitches.

“The command is ever ready to provide adequate security for thousands of tourists that will be coming in for the festival.
“I want to assure you that we are working in collaboration with other sister agencies to ensure that the carnival period is celebrated peacefully in the state,” the commissioner said.

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has also given assurance that it would participate in providing security during the carnival.
Commandant of the NSCDC in the state, Mr. Clement Adesuyi, said: “I want to assure the peaceful people of Cross River and tourists that the state command of NSCDC is on alert to respond to all security challenges within the carnival period and beyond.

“Our men on uniform and those of the Intelligence Department will be deployed to strategic locations in the state to ensure a smooth carnival, and Christmas celebration.”

RESOLUTION: World’s Fattest Man Aims For Half.

A Mexican man believed to be the world’s most obese plans to undergo gastric bypass in the new year and reduce his 590 kilos (1,300 pounds) by half, his doctor said Wednesday.

The man known as Juan Pedro has diabetes, high blood pressure and chronic lung obstruction, and needs to reduce his weight dramatically to reduce his health risks, doctor Jose Castaneda Cruz said.

He said the man, who does not give his family names to media, would actually undergo a couple procedures along the way.

“It’s surgery that is going to be done in two parts. That is because of the high risk of complications he faces. So it’s going to be done in two parts, six months apart,” Castaneda told reporters.

In the first procedure, surgeons will remove more than three-quarters of the patient’s stomach.

And in the second procedure, his remaining stomach will be partially blocked, helping to give a feeling of fullness. Juan Pedro would also undergo intestinal surgery, his doctor said.

Castaneda wants him to lose 59 kilos in the first six months, which alone reduces his risk of obesity-related cancer by 52 percent.

Juan Pedro, 32, has a good chance of losing half his body weight by about six months after his first surgery, according to his medical team.

“Slowly but surely, I’ll get there,” Juan Pedro told reporters.

NEWS: Arik Resumes Scheduled Operations.

                           

Arik Air yesterday morning resumed scheduled flight services on both domestic and international routes after protesting workers and unions called off a strike late Tuesday.

The Guardian learnt that the airline had a slow start at the Lagos end of operations, as passengers were initially skeptical of flying the airline after the earlier disappointment.

But due to limited capacity of other airlines, passengers gradually went back to the Arik stand, at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), to make bookings and several of the morning flights flew on schedule.

A passenger for one of the Lagos-Abuja flights, Tunde Adegbite, said it would be quite difficult to come to the airline after the experiences of the last few days.

Adegite said: “But where other airlines are fully booked, and the only one that is available is Arik, what do one do? I only believe they will get their acts together and give us good services,” he said. His flight took off on schedule.

Spokesman, Banji Ola, said the airline had put in place extra flights to various domestic destinations between Wednesday, December 21, 2016 and Saturday, December 24, 2016 and had also upgraded aircraft on certain routes to a bigger capacity to cope with the backlog of passengers whose flights were affected by the strike.

Ola said additional capacity had been allocated throughout this week from both Lagos and Abuja to destinations such as Enugu, Asaba, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Benin, Warri, Uyo, Yola and others, to also enable many of our customers get to their destinations for the yuletide season.

It was learnt that Arik Air, at the meeting, agreed to pay the outstanding October salaries on or before December 23, while that of November would be paid on or before December 31.

“The unions are to submit the acknowledged copies of the letters forwarding membership forms of their prospective members to the NCAA and NCAA shall forward same to the management of Arik Air to do the needful.

“A committee to review the circumstances of all laid-off employees, made up of one member from each union and Arik Air, was constituted, to be inaugurated on January 10, 2017. The Hawker fleet employees are exempted from the review,” a communiqué, issued at the end of the meeting, stated in part.

AT LAST: Ibori Regains Freedom in London.

                           

After over four and a half years in prison, former Governor James Ibori of Delta State yesterday regained his freedom at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. An appeal judge, Mrs. Justice May, ordered the Home Office to immediately release him.

Ibori had already served more than half of the sentence he was given in April 2012, when Southwark Crown court judge, Anthony Pitts jailed him for money laundering charges, after he pleaded guilty a day to the commencement of the jury trial.

The release of the governor, who escaped prosecution in Nigeria by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and his possible return to Nigeria, could change the political landscape, especially in his South-South region of the former President Goodluck Jonathan. Although Ibori, who was still very politically active in London prison, was close to Jonathan’s predecessor, the late Umaru Yar’Adua, he and Jonathan are not the best of political friends. It was not clear at press time if the Federal Government would revisit some of the charges for which he was cleared in controversial circumstances before his ordeal in London. But his political leaning upon his return to Nigeria could determine his fate.

The Guardian contacted the EFCC on the matter yesterday but top officials said they would provide answers later.

At yesterday’s hearing at the Strand-based court, May opposed the unlawful detention of the former governor, much to the disappointment of the Home Office. As soon as Ibori’s legal team had secured his release, an aide contacted The Guardian, saying, “the legal team will brief you”, when asked about his release.

A member of Ibori’s team, Jonathan Chike Epele, later confirmed this in a telephone conversation. “Today we won a victory at the Royal Court of Justice, London, when we challenged the decision of the Home Office not to release Ibori who was due for release on the 20th of December, 2016. After serving his sentence, we were informed that the Home Office will not release him on the ground that his confiscation proceeding has not been concluded.”

The Guardian later spoke to Southwark Crown court sources, who acknowledged that there was a confiscation of assets direction hearing on February 3, next year, but it should not have been a basis for holding on to Ibori, as May had rightly ruled.

Epele told The Guardian that he explained to the judge that there was no ground in law on which Ibori could be further detained and the refusal of the Home Office to release him was unlawful. He added that the position of the government was totally unreasonable and not in accordance with any known prison, immigration or confiscation law.

It was learnt that Ibori should actually have been released earlier this year, but the Home Office used the same excuse to keep holding him at the Huntercoombe Prison in Oxfordshire, where he served the last leg of his sentence.

The Home Office confirmed to The Guardian around 5:47pm. that “Ibori has been released, but as a foreign national, we will be hoping to deport him.” When asked if a date had been set for the deportation proceedings, the Home Office Press Officer, Richard Mellor, said “no date has been fixed, but Mr. Ibori has served his time as a foreign national.”

Ibori who was governor between 1999 and 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was accused of stealing $250million belonging to the state government in February 2012.

Subsequently, he was tried and sentenced to 13 years imprisonment by Southwark Crown Court on April 17, 2012 after pleading guilty to corrupt charges.

Ibori had been arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates under an Interpol Arrest Warrant issued from the UK on corruption charges at the instance of the Metropolitan Police.

His travails that culminated in prison were triggered off by a petition sent to the EFCC by a group known as Delta State Elders and Stakeholders Forum, which accused him of misappropriating the state’s funds.

Meanwhile, reactions have been trailing his release from the London prison.

The Deputy National Chairman of PDP, South West zone, Dr. Eddy Olafeso who congratulated Ibori said it was important the Nigerian society allowed him to recuperate fully and take his time to integrate himself into the society before bordering him with anything.

“As far as I am concerned, the fact that he was sentenced over some offences and went to jail does not mean he should be condemned or stigmatised for life.”

On whether the PDP would be willing to accept the embattled former governor if he indicated interest in joining the party, Olafeso responded that Ibori did not at any point in time say he had left the PDP.

The Lagos spokesman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Joe Igbokwe said it was a big lesson for Nigeria because someone who ordinarily would have been free here was tried and jailed for corruption in London.

In his view, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, the National Publicity Secretary, Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere said Ibori’s case had clearly shown there was something wrong with Nigeria’s judicial system.

The news of Ibori’s release reverberated across Delta State yesterday with mixed reactions.

In Asaba, the meeting of the Delta Traditional Rulers Council was thrown into jubilation as the monarchs rejoiced with the Ovie of Oghara, Nobel Oyibo Estemitan

It was also learnt that work was temporarily suspended in the Government House in Asaba as the elated workers milled around to discuss the release of the former governor and the political implications for the state.

While Warri, Asaba and other towns remained relatively calm, Ibori’s hometown, Oghara, was in a joyous mood.

At Oghara, Ethiope West Local Council, there were pockets of celebration across the town to mark the release. A traditional festival was going on in Oghara yesterday when the news filtered in, the ceremony was enlivened and the chant of “Ibori”, “Ibori” could be heard among the cerebrating crowd in the street even though the other section of Ibori’s hometown wore a quiet disposition.

In Asaba and its environs, the residents rolled out their drums to celebrate the man they described as “Ibori, Odidigborigbo” and Delta’s strong man in politics.
The youths sang in Asaba- Ibo songs along Nnebisi road, Summit junction, Okpanam road and Anwai road dancing freely to the Asaba drum beats, thereby causing a serious traffic gridlock.

SEASON: Anambra Dreams Big For Christmas.

                                  

In few days, it will be Christmas. Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano in a bid to give the indigenes of the state the very best this yuletide has swung to action. The governor had earlier promised the completion of all construction works in the state at the end of the rainy season, and it is only coincidental that rainy seasons stop at the close of the year, which also ushers in the yuletide.

With the end of the rains, Obiano has commenced work in about 20 major roads in the state. This is in fulfillment of his promise to indigenes of the state that his government would commence massive construction of roads at the end of the rainy season. Speaking at the flag off of the roads, Obiano said contractors have been mobilised back to sites to commence immediate works on the over 20 major roads in the state, in keeping with his promise. Some of the roads being constructed in the South senatorial zone include; Ekwulobia-Ezinifite Road, Ezira-Umuomaku-Umunofia-Achina Road; Igwe Oluoha Road, Ihiala; Ndiukwuenu-Ufuma-Awa Road; School of Health Services Road, Nnewi; Oyeutu-Aguata-Utu Road; Chisco Osumenyi Road; Coscharis Umudim-Nnewi Road and Enem Hall, Otolo-Nnewi Road. In the central senatorial zone, work is currently on-going on many roads which include Aroma-Secretariat road and Aroma-Judiciary road and Amansea axis of the Onitsha-Enugu expressway. In the north senatorial zone, the Nteje-Umunya road and Umunya-Awkuzu axis of the Onitsha-Enugu expressway amongst others are currently undergoing rehabilitation.

The state Commissioner for Information and Communication Strategy, Ogbuefi Tony Nnacheta while announcing the commencement of construction work on the roads during a Town Hall meeting of ASATU held in Nnewi, appealed to communities in which these roads pass through to cooperate with the state government to ensure that the roads are well done for the benefit of those living in the areas. Nnachetta apologised for the inconvenience the current construction is causing commuters and motorists, adding that it was for the good of all.

Our Correspondent who took a nocturnal stroll around Awka, Nnewi and Onitsha, reports that massive decoration and beautification works are also being done on the three major cities of the state. In Awka, the three flyovers on the Enugu/Onitsha expressway were being decorated with Christmas lights, while streetlights are being installed on all major roads in the town.

In Onitsha and Nnewi, the same is being experienced, while the hitherto rowdy and riotous Upper Iweka junction, which plays host to several motor parks in Onitsha has been cleared and made out into a park, with colourful Christmas light adorning the area, making it attractive at night, just as decorations are also being done on major roundabouts in the city. It was gathered that the idea behind the works is to ensure a serene environment in the coming yuletide, as indigenes of the state return home for the celebration.

During an interview, Anambra’s Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, said the Christmas celebration and the quest for a memorable Christmas for Ndi Anambra now dominate the State Executive Council meetings. “As you can see, work has commenced in several corners of the state, following the end of the rains. The State Executive Council meets on Mondays and what dominates the meeting lately is our preparation for Christmas.

A lot of Anambra sons and daughters will be coming home from far and wide, and our primary concern is to make sure that the state is conducive for their stay. So in the area of infrastructure and security, we are working hard. I hope that when the people come and see all that the governor has been able to put in place, they will see reason why he should go for a second term in office,” Okeke said.

Okeke lamented the paucity of funds in the state, saying that most of the roads being rehabilitated by the state government were federal roads. He said the state decided to work on them because the citizens of the state were the ones feeling the impact of the bad nature of such roads, but it hopes to apply for reimbursement once work is completed on them. The deputy governor also stated that talks are still ongoing between the state and federal government for the repayment of N43 billion spent by the state government on federal projects in Anambra.

Okeke said Anambra State government is still hoping that the federal government would make haste to pay the money. According to the deputy governor, with a whooping sum as N43 billion, which the state had spent on federal roads in the state, the governor, who has adopted the slogan, ‘doing more with less’ will be able to move in and add more construction works to what it is currently doing in the state, and if deployed for execution of projects will go a long way in transforming the state.

Meanwhile, We gathered that with the approach of the 2017 governorship election which will come around November of next year, Anambra State governor, Obiano, plans to impress the people of the state with infrastructure and security to be able to win re-election then. Already, Obiano is being rated highly in these areas, and hopes to sustain them to impress the people of the state. In infrastructure, the governor is steadily building roads, and also putting streetlights in all major roads in the state.

In the area of security, Obiano has besides ‘Operation Kpochapu’, which is an Igbo word for clean up; a joint security operation which he launched at the beginning of his administration to fight criminal elements also launched operation Udoka Nma, which in English means; peace is the best. This security operation which was launched in Obosi, one of the towns notorious for violent elements he explained will work to ensure a safe yuletide for residents of Anambra and returning citizens of the state throughout the period.

Already, arrangements are in top gear in Anambra State among its residents for the Christmas, with monarchs of most towns and communities preparing for their Ofala festivals. The Ofala festivals are usually in most communities held at the close of the year, when members of the community from far and near return home to pay homage to their kings, and usually, it marks an anniversary of the coronation of the celebrating monarch.

We were in major parks in Onitsha and Awka to sample opinions on the level of preparedness of the transport company managers. At Ekene Dili Chukwu Transports, a luxury bus driver, Mr. Innocent Ogo told our correspondent that not much is being done in Onitsha office, even with the approach of the season. He said it is like that because the transport season does not commence for them at Onitsha until after the Christmas and New Year celebration, when returnees will be moving back to their base. “For now, we are preparing, but the season will be one sided because it is only from Lagos to Onitsha that the season will be holding, then by January, we will commence the return season.”

At ANIDS Park in Awka, a vehicle attendant said, “For now, the fare from Awka to Lagos is still N3,000 for the normal bus, and N4,000 for the air conditioned one. Here, our own season will not commence until after the New Year, when people will be coming back to their base. By that time, I think the fare may even rise to N8,000 or even N10,000 depending on the availability of fuel and also the kind of bus one is using.

On the whole, both from individuals, business men, civil servants and the government, Christmas is already in the air with every passing day in the month of December, and the state government is marking it in a special way with carnivals, which has already started with the Anambra Jubilee fair, a trade fair to support Anambrarians with shopping at a low price, and the forthcoming carnival to mark the closure of the six month celebration of the 25th anniversary of the creation of Anambra State.

BIAFRA: 16 Members of European Parliament ask EU to Challenge Buhari, DSS

Some members of the European parliament (MEP) have risen in support of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu.

The MEPs – 16 in number – in a joint letter have asked the European Union High Commission to take action on human rights abuses against members of the IPOB.

The letter addressed to the High Representative and vice president of the EU high commission Federica Mogherini said the unlawful detention of Kanu and the violence against IPOB members by Nigerian government must be looked into.

The letter which was dated Monday, December 19, said Kanu has been illegally imprisoned since October 14, 2015, despite being acquitted of all charges brought against him by the Department of State Services.

It was signed by Julie Ward, Ana Gomes, Bart Staes, Beatriz Becerra, Brando Benifei, Catherine Stihler, Ernest Urtasun, Eva Joly and Hilde Vautmans.

Others signatories to letter include: Jude Kirton-Darling, Kati Piri, Miapetra, Kumpula-Natri, Michèle Rivasi, Nessa Childers, Pascal Durand and Philippe Lamberts.

The letter read in parts: “The authorities accused Kanu and his two co-defendants, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, of trying to overthrow the Nigerian head of state by broadcasting secessionist propaganda on the underground media outlet Radio Biafra, which campaigns for the independence of Biafra from Nigeria. Kanu, Madubugwu and Nwawuisi deny all charges brought against them.”

“On 19th October in Abuja, the Chief Magistrate, Honourable Shuaibu, discharged Kanu of all criminal charges including the allegation of managing and belonging to an unlawful society, criminal intimidation and of criminal conspiracy. Shuaibu granted Kanu bail, of which all the conditions were met, but the Department of State Services refused to release him,” the letter said.

The MEPs said charges of criminal conspiracy, engaging in unlawful society and criminal intimidation were then withdrawn on December 16, 2015, but still Kanu, Madubugwu and Nwawuisi have not been released.

“On 17th December 2015, Justice Adeniyi Ademola ordered the unconditional release of Kanu from the custody of the Department of State Security Services, but this was not enacted.

“Kanu’s counsel has since appealed to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to help ensure his safe release, but to no avail. A court case on 5th October 2016 was later adjourned to 8th November, which has now been amended to 9th February 2017, due to the Nigeria Department of State Services failure to bring Kanu to court,” it said.

It also accused the Nigerian government of sending warnings to the ECOWAS community court sitting in Abuja not to intervene in Kanu’s continued detention and trial.

“It is clear that the fundamental human rights of Kanu, Madubugwu and Nwawuisi are being grossly violated. Human Rights Watch have reported of the violation of the defendants’ rights, including their right to a fair trial.

“What is more, the Nigerian Government is also reportedly violating the human rights of Biafran activists. Scores of Biafrans are in detention for attempting to hold or participate in peaceful assemblies,” the letter added.

It further accused the Nigerian government and security forces of using excessive force against pro-Biafran activists who have embarked on peaceful protest in Nigeria.

Referring to Amnesty International’s reports on cases of arrests, disappearance and torture of IPOB members by security operatives, the MEPs said, it is unfortunate that no investigations have been carried out.

“The right to peaceful assembly and association, as well as the right of freedom of expression, is protected by the Nigerian constitution. International human rights standards also require that law enforcement officials must, as far as possible, apply nonviolent means.

“It is clear that the Nigerian authorities are not operating with respect to the Nigerian constitution or the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.

The letter also said: “On behalf of the European Union, especially in respect to the EU-Nigeria partnership, the Nigeria EU Joint Way Forward, the developments of the 6th Nigeria-EU ministerial dialogue and the fact that Nigeria is a recipient of EU aid, we call upon you to:

"Advocate for the immediate and safe release of Nnamdi Kanu and co-defendants Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi,"

They also called on the EU High Commission to challenge the actions of the President Muhammadu Buhari, and the DSS in regards to the detention of Kanu, Madubugwu and Nwawuisi.

They called for an impartial investigation into the arrest, enforced disappearance, torture and killing of supporters and members of various pro-Biafran groups and denounce the unacceptable violence against Biafran supporters by Nigerian security forces.

They also urged the EU to do more to push the Nigerian government to safeguard human rights in Nigeria by calling for guarantees on the freedom of expression of all Nigerian citizens, including their right to protest without harm, and the termination of violence towards Biafrans.

NEWS: Nipost Set to Establish National Post Bank.

The Post Master General, PMG of the Nigerian Postal Service, Nipost, Mr. Bisi Adegbuyi says a National Post Bank is underway. He disclosed this yesterday, during the annual staff award and recognition ceremony of the Post held in Abuja. Adegbuyi said the plan to float the Post Bank was informed by the peculiarities and circumstances that will go into the Post banking system in line with the global best practice.
 With the collapse of some commercial banks in the rural areas due to lack of innovation and introduction of technology, the PMG explained that the new Post Bank as an agency bank will add to their revenue and do exactly what a Post Bank can do.
 “I think setting up Post Bank is in line with the global best practice, and I need to make this clarification very clear: whether a country needs a Post Bank is a function of its peculiarities. There is Post Bank in India and there is no Post Bank in Kenya, there is also no Post Bank in America. “If commercial banks today are closing their branches in the rural areas because of innovativeness and new technologies, I think it is now right for us to establish Post Bank in these areas.
 “What we will do as an agency banking will add to our revenue and do exactly what a Post Bank can do. All these plans are afoot. Our technical advisers have advised us to do a cocktail of payment settlement: agency banking and financial services that we can comparatively and advantageously go into without adding to our already heavy recurrent expenditure that is today a major albatross for Nigerian postal services.”
 On the impact of technology, the Nipost boss said deployment of technology will improve operational efficiency in the agency. “It depends on what kind of technology you want to deploy. We are currently talking to experts on how to reduce the recurrent expenditure content of the budget of NIPOST. “When you introduce technology into NIPOST you improve what is called track and trace, which is the soul of the service anywhere in the world: For somebody to post a letter or parcel and be able to track on day to day basis.”

SENATE: No Going Back On Magu’s Rejection, Ndume Not Our Spokesman.

                                 

The Senate tuesday rejected the submission of its Majority Leader, Ali Ndume, that the upper legislative chamber did not reject the confirmation of the acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu last week, insisting that Magu stands rejected.

The Senate last Thursday announced that in view of damning Department of State Services’ (DSS) security report on Magu, it could not confirm him as the substantive chairman of EFCC.

But Ndume, while answering questions from State House correspondents when he visited the Presidential Villa on Monday went rogue, stating that the Senate neither rejected Magu, nor did it indict the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, over the alleged mismanagement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) funds as reported by the media.

But the Senate, in a swift reaction to Ndume’s submissions through its spokesman, Sabi Abdullahi, said yesterday that the position on both Magu and Lawal remained unchanged.

He said: “The call to national duty is crucial. So, I am here based on a series of calls and text messages from you about what you thought were conflicting messages.

“It has become critical for the Senate to clarify issues. The Eighth Senate believes in its integrity. We uphold and promote the rule of law, which is the basic thing about our democracy.
“We are committed to doing things differently to stabilise the polity in the collective interest of Nigerians. I would like to make the following clarifications:

“I am holding the votes and proceedings of Thursday. We had two votes and proceedings because we had to go into a joint session to receive President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Our votes and proceedings are the official records of what transpired in the chamber. I briefed you on Thursday to the effect that the Senate announced that in view of security reports we were unable to confirm Magu.

“We then rejected and returned the nomination to Buhari for further action. But media reports emerging especially from interview granted by Senator Ndume meant we have to clarify issues.
“For the record, I am the official spokesman of the Senate and I intend to discharge this with honour and integrity because the sanctity of the institution is crucial to the sustenance of democracy.

“To clarify, I have only one point of reference, which is the votes and proceedings.
“The Senate also deliberated on EFFC with regards to the security report available but referred the other nominees for screening since nothing much was found on them.

“This is the only official position of the Senate. What I say, I say on behalf of the Senate. Nigerians should be guided. There is no ambiguity in what we said.

“The Senate is an institution and we are working with the constitution and whatever rules we use, our powers are drawn from the constitution.

“We also want the media to be guided in the matter because of some misleading news in the public domain.

“Even with respect to SGF, you as journalists can do your proper investigations. The genesis was the motion raised by Senators Kaka Garbai and Ndume, and the Senate decided to take a look at the abuses and the SGF was found to be part of the abuses,” Abdullahi said.

Abdullahi also dismissed the allegation that two contradictory reports were sent to the Senate on Magu by the DSS, arguing that the Senate only received one report through its clerk.

He said the Senate was not aware of any other report allegedly sent to the Presidency’s Liaison Officer, Senator Ita Enang.

Abdullahi also dismissed claims that the report relied upon by the Senate as the basis for Magu’s rejection was not signed, saying the upper chamber would not have taken a decision of that magnitude based on an unsigned report.

He also dismissed the notion that the discordant tunes from the Senate showed that there was a crack in the Senate.

According to him, there was nothing to suggest a crack in the Senate, pointing out that he was only stating that he was the Senate’s spokesman and only what he had said remained the Senate’s official position.

“Truth is sacrosanct. For every line of command, there is a line of communication. For the record, the leader that I know is Saraki and the administrative leader is the clerk to the Senate.

“As a rule, when you have a nominee, a security report should be sent to the Senate. The report we are talking about was sent to the acting clerk of the Senate.

“If you talk about two reports, which one is the second one? I heard that a report was sent to Senator Ita Enang, but I am not holding brief for him. He is a liaison officer and if there is any communication, Senator Saraki or the clerk are in charge.

“It will be unfortunate for anyone to say that the Senate will be subjected to a report sent to the liaison office. This does not undermine his office. He is one of the highest ranking officers. So let us not bring Ita Enang into the line of crossfire.

“It is the prerogative of the Senate and they have exercised that prerogative and we are all guided by processes. If President Buhari is going to resubmit the name for re-nomination, he must come with the necessary reports, either negative or positive.

“As for the report we got, it was signed. The Senate can’t just get a document from anywhere and work with it. Even petitions are signed, let alone a serious matter like this.
“The Senate leader is the Senate leader but I am the spokesman. He can’t do my job and I can’t do his job. He is my leader but we have different responsibilities.

“If occasioned by what he said, people are reading meanings from it, I am here to clarify the issues.
“Moreover, Nigerians are looking to all of us to take them out of the recession, so the media should also be guided to create a conducive environment for the leadership to avoid tensions,” Abdullahi added.

Abdullahi’s briefing came just as President Muhammadu Buhari tuesday met with Senate President Bukola Saraki at the State House, Abuja, behind closed doors.

Saraki spent about 50 minutes in the president’s office but did not speak with State House correspondents after the meeting.

It was not clear if the Senate’s refusal to confirm Magu or the corruption allegations against Lawal were discussed.

SEE THIS: ‘Paracetamol Making Women Deaf’.

                           

Women who take paracetamol or ibuprofen just twice a week could be damaging their hearing permanently.

Taking two painkillers a week for more than six years has been linked with significant hearing loss, with the drugs thought to cut blood supply to the inner ear and expose it to noise damage.

As many as one in 20 women suffering partial deafness could blame their painkiller use, a study has found.

The study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology, and first reported by DailyMailUK stated: “If this is a causal relation, it suggests that a substantial proportion of hearing loss attributable to use of analgesics (painkillers) is potentially preventable.”

The findings back up similar research in men, suggesting middle-aged women, who commonly take paracetamol and ibuprofen for headaches and back pain, should consider cutting down.

Senior author Dr. Gary Curhan, from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in the United States (U.S.), said: “Hearing loss is extremely common and can have a profound impact on quality of life.

“Finding modifiable risk factors could help us identify ways to lower risk before hearing loss begins and slow progression in those with hearing loss.”

Almost one in 12 women take paracetamol on two days of every week, the US study found, usually to ward off routine aches and pains. This could be only two pills over the two days, or a greater dose.

But paracetamol, ibuprofen and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs taken this often for more than six years raise the risk of developing hearing loss by nine per cent.

This was found by examining 55,850 women between the age of 44 and 69 – almost half of whom reported a hearing problem.

Around one in six people in the United Kingdom (U.K.) have hearing problems, which can leave people feeling cut off and lonely and has been found to speed up memory loss and dementia.

The study suggests this could be down to paracetamols, which most people think little of swallowing routinely but evidence shows can reduce the blood supply to the cochlea, or inner ear.

Paracetamol is also believed to deplete antioxidants within the ear, making the cochlea more vulnerable to noise-induced damage. Painkillers damage the tiny hairs within the ear which help us hear and have been linked in younger and older women with a higher risk of hearing loss.