Editorials Monday, September 22, 2008

Police roadblocks and Ndigbo

POLICE roadblocks are back with renewed vigour in Nigeria especially in the Southeastern states. There is no part of the Southeast geopolitical zone today that the pains of road travels have not increased because of reinforced police roadblocks sometimes mounted very close to each other. DAILY SUN>>>

Reflating the Stock Market

THE past three weeks have witnessed a flurry of measures by the Federal Government, regulatory authorities and other stakeholders, in a determined bid to shore up the eroded fortunes of the Nigerian capital market. On August 26, after a meeting with stakeholders [GUARDIAN NEWSPAPERS]

The closure of Channels Tv

The television station’s offence was that it caused to be broadcast a news bar that Nigeria’s President, Umaru Yar’Adua might resign from office on health grounds at a future date. The station claimed that it sourced the news item from another government body, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) [DAILY CHAMPION]

The Ministry of Niger Delta

THE Federal Government last week announced the creation of Ministry of Niger Delta to directly handle the affairs of the oil-rich region. The agitation for resource control has resulted in insurrection, thereby creating opportunities for criminals to take over the struggle. [NIGERIAN TRIBUNE]

CARTOON: A Banana Republic

SOURCE: DAILY SUN

Uganda And Tanzania Gets Its Pick For Face Of Africa

23-year-old Lucy Torr of Uganda

19-year-old Hellen Avelinus Ambrose of Tanzania

While Ugandan's pick Lucy Torr, a bi-racial of Canadian and Ugandan parents whose identity is yet to be known since she was selected over a week ago, 19-year-old Hellen Avelinus Ambrose was Tanzania's choice in M-Net Face Of Africa beauty contest, making her the fifth finalist to head to Zanzibar's Scenic Island in October for the Boot Camp where the top 10 finalists will emerge for the final showdown in Sun City, South Africa. Lucy and Hellen now joins Totwana, Albertina and Maria in the quest for the crown.

M-Net Face Of Africa 2008 Call Sheet

When M-Net Face of Africa casting crew and scouts finally announced Totwana 'Tito' Tema as the choice from Botswana and the first pick in this year's contest followed by the picks of Albertina Shigwedha and Maria Hiwilepo from Namibia, the good guess was other picks would be made public as soon as possible.

Apparently, the contest seems to be going through a lot of careful examination since its cross continental expedition began when Tema was selected in Botswana. Whatever the process, the results from Kampala, Uganda on September 6; Dar'es Salaam, Tanzania on September 9; Nairobi, Kenya on September 13; and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on September 16 are yet to be announced (Lucy Torr of Uganda rumored to have been the pick) with its next move to Lagos, Nigeria on September 20. It is becoming interesting and the nosy public wants some lights to be shed and we all wish this prestigious event the best.

Go Africa!

PHOTO OP: Victoria Njau, Kenya's Rising Star

Victoria Njau was born in Kenya 23 years ago and has a double major -- Biology and Business Management -- at the University of Texas in Dallas and aspires to enlist in medical school when she gets over her first degree.

She has submitted her bid for the 4th Annual Miss Africa USA Pageant 2008 which will be held at the Clayton County Performing Arts Center in Jonesboro, Georgia on Saturday, November 1, 2008. Njau said as the new Miss Kenya her 'desire' would be focussed on the Kenyan community in the United States and in the event she is crowned Miss Africa USA 2008, that she will "seek more sponsorship and support to continue making positive changes in the lives of Africans."

You go girl, and goodluck!

To check the schedule of events, visit Miss Africa USA

Photo courtesy of Dave McKeen

News Desk (Early Edition) Thursday, Sept 18, 2008

David-West seeks amnesty for militants
Former Minister of Petroleum, Professor Tam David-West has called on the Federal Government to grant amnesty to militants in the Niger Delta as a way to bringing about a lasting peace in the region and other parts of the country. READ MORE>>>

Navy sinks militants' boats, kills 12

Spokesman for the Navy, Lieutenant Way Olabisi, said the naval men were on routine patrol when the militants suddenly opened fire on them at a spot on the waterway. In the ensuing gun battle, the Navy sank the militants boats. READ MORE>>>

Anti-Jew, Muslim attitudes rise in Europe-survey

The Washington-based Pew Research Center's global attitude survey found 46 percent of Spanish, 36 percent of Poles and 34 percent of Russians view Jews unfavorably, while the same was true for 25 percent of Germans, and 20 percent of French. READ MORE>>>

NBC suspends Channels TV licence

THE National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the regulatory body for the broadcast industry, yesterday, suspended the operational licence of Channels Television following its Tuesday airing of the false report that President Umaru Yar’Adua might resign on health ground. READ MORE>>>

Iwu's recipe for sustainable democracy

At a recent lecture given at the behest of the Department of Political Science of the University of Nigeria , Nsukka, Professor Maurice Iwu, the Chairman of INEC, proposed a roadmap for the sustenance of the nation's democratic future. READ MORE>>>

Nigerian Born Ifetayo Fakoya For Miss Teen Queen UK Contest

Ifetayo Fakoya, 17, came to Hatfield, England when she was ten years old and attended all girls school in Hatfield. She is currently in the sixth form and working for her A-Levels and aspires to be an accountant by the time she's done with academics. If everything goes her way, it's anybody's game and she could be the next Miss Teen Queen UK.

She appeared on the cover of a local newspaper, Welwyn & Hatfield Times, her neck of the woods in England and she's enjoying every attention as the contest heats up.

She bumped into the Teen Queen UK Contest via its website and made up her mind to enter the 2009 contest in July next year and as a contestant, she has been to a professional photo shoot at Fairlight Studios in London. To vote for her, visit Teen Queen and text her first and last name.

Goodluck!

Photo courtesy of Welwyn & Hatfield Times

News Desk Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Nigerian Militants Step Up `Oil War' With Niger Delta Attacks

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, in an e-mailed statement today, said it attacked the Orubiri pumping station in Rivers state at 10 p.m. yesterday. A Nigerian military spokesman confirmed the raid. MORE>>>

Nigerian Government Closes Major TV Station

"The government is really serious about this report. It has shut down one of the main private TV/radio stations in Nigeria. It is called Channels TV. And not only that, the government also descended on the station with plainclothes security people, who chased out all the staff and sealed up the station... MORE>>>

Oil prices gain on US energy report

The US Department of Energy said Wednesday that crude reserves sank 6.3 million barrels in the week ending September 12 when US energy production was severely hampered by hurricane weather in the Gulf of Mexico. MORE>>>

Editorials Tuesday, Sept 16, 2008

The President's health and an anxious nation

THE return of President Umar Musa Yar'Adua to the country about a week ago is obviously a big relief to Nigerians, following speculations about ill-health that trailed his 17-day absence. [GUARDIAN NEWSPAPERS]

Oba Adeolu: exit of the ‘second calabash’

FIRST, it was Mrs. Elsie Olusola (Sisi Clara) who was snatched by death. She was followed by Joseph Layode (a teacher who, sometimes, deputised for the headmaster) and Oba Oluwole Amele, the Alara of Aramoko Ekiti (Councillor Balogun). [NIGERIAN TRIBUNE]

CARTOON: Naija Wahala

SOURCE: GUARDIAN NEWSPAPERS

News Desk Tuesday, Sept 16, 2008

CHRONOLOGY-Conflict in Nigeria's oil delta
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is responsible for attacks that have cut a fifth of the OPEC member's output since it emerged late in 2005. Below is a chronology of conflict in the Niger Delta since then. MORE>>>

Nigerian presidency denies resignation claim

LAGOS (AFP) — A report Tuesday by Nigeria's official news agency that President Umaru Yar'Adua may resign because of ill health set off renewed speculation about the leader and brought a furious denial from the presidency. MORE>>>

Nigerian economy grows 6.65 pct in Q2 2008-cbank

LAGOS, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Nigeria's economy grew by 6.65 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, against a lower revised figure of 5.54 percent in the first quarter, the central bank said on Tuesday. MORE>>>

From hellion to helper

Young Etim was miserable in the parochial school she attended beginning in kindergarten. The middle of seven children, she was ridiculed for her hand-me-down clothing. Most of the other kids were mean, she said, and also took potshots at her natural hairstyle. The teachers, Etim said, were racist and not much more understanding. MORE>>>

AIMS’ to Promote Islamic Banking and Finance in Africa

The Academy for International Modern Studies (AIMS), a Catham based Islamic Banking and Finance Institution has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Green Oasis Associates Ltd (GOAL) MORE>>>

Wenger changed my life - Kanu

The Nigeria legend is grateful to Arsenal manager Wenger, who signed him from Inter in 1998 and helped him bounce back to form and continue his career at the highest level. MORE>>>