BBC picks interest in @Ciaxin’s disappearance

The disappearance of Ciaxon who twitted the picture of Soldiers during Sunday March 30th jail break,has gone international.

BBC report;

A man who live-tweeted from the scene of
an attempted jailbreak in the Nigerian capital
Abuja 12 days ago, has disappeared.
Activists believe he may have been arrested,
and have launched a Twitter campaign for
his release.

The hashtag #FreeCiaxon and the Twitter
handle @ciaxon have been trending in
Nigeria since late on Wednesday. There’s
also a lot of discussion about it on Facebook.
On 30 March, the man who runs the @ciaxon
account found himself at the scene of a
dramatic fight between Nigerian security
forces and detainees trying to escape from
the State Security Service (SSS)
headquarters.

It was big news in Nigeria. The SSS HQ is a
stone’s throw from the presidential palace, and the
detainees were – according to officials – suspected
militants from the notorious group, Boko Haram.
Official sources say more than 20 people were
killed.

Much of the news came from social media
sources at the scene – like @ciaxon. It’s believed
Yusuf Siyaka Onimisi – also referred to as Isiaka
Yusuf – runs @ciaxon. He tweeted developments,
including a series of images showing both the
attackers and Nigerian soldiers.
The pictures were
picked up by news outlets in the country. But
since then, there has been complete silence on
Twitter from @ciaxon. And the silence has not
been just virtual. Yusuf Siyaka Onimisi’s brother
Sanusi told BBC Trending that he has not been
able to reach him since that day. His car has been
left abandoned. “Nobody has given us any
information. We are in the darkness. It’s inhuman,
it’s very, very unfair,” he says. When a friend
contacted Yusuf Siyaka Onimisi’s workplace to
ask where he was, he was told he had been
arrested.

The SSS has not responded to confirm or deny
Yusuf Siyaka Onimisi’s detention. But Nigerians
have taken to social media to demand answers.
“How can you arrest people for taking pictures –
this is the 21st Century,” says Fola Lawal, a
Nigerian now based in Qatar, who started the
Twitter hashtag #FreeCiaxon. “I would have done
the same in his shoes. It’s called citizen
reporting.”

Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission has
started an investigation into his whereabouts.
High-profile figures, including the World Bank’s
former Africa vice-president Obiageli Ezekwesili,
have tweeted calling for his release. “It’s very,
very important this gets attention,” says lawyer
and writer Ayo Sogunro, who’s been researching
and tweeting actively about the case. Critics say
the government is trying to regulate social media.
The irony in this case, says Sogunro, is the tweets
from the @ciaxon account were broadly
supportive of the security forces.

Reporting by Cordelia Hebblethwaite

CORRUPTION: NIGERIA SUMMONS ZIMBABWEAN ENVOY OVER MUGABE’S COMMENTS

The Federal Government on Thursday
summoned the Zimbabwean Head of
Chancery over remarks credited to President
Robert Mugabe, which depicted Nigerians as
very corrupt people.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned
the Zimbabwean Head of Chancery, Stanley
Kunjeku, in Abuja to formally lodge a protest.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr
Martin Uhomoibhi, described Mugabe’s
comment as “vitriolic and denigrating on
Nigeria and Nigerians’’.

“We were very concerned when we read that
on the occasion of the 90th birthday of
President Mugabe, he took off considerable
time to vituperate about Nigeria.

He said Mugabe’s comments reflected “what
we consider to be a strong aversion of our
country, remarks which we consider
denigrating and un-statesmanly on Nigeria
and Nigerians in general”.

“He was reported to have said Nigerians are
corrupt people when he hosted service
chiefs on his 90th birthday.

“We want to present the strongest protest in
that statement; not only does it not reflect the
reality in our country, but to come from a
sitting president of a brotherly country is
most unkind and very dishonourable, ’’ he
said.

Uhomoibhi said the Zimbabwean president’s
comment was unfortunate, given the role
played by Nigeria in the liberation struggle in
southern Africa.

He said Nigeria had always stood with
Zimbabwe “shoulder to shoulder’’ since
independence and was one of the first
countries to congratulate Mugabe on his re-
election.

“At the point sanctions were imposed on your
country, Nigeria empathised with Zimbabwe,’’
he said.

Later, the permanent secretary told
newsmen that Nigeria’s reaction to
the comment was not belated, given that it
had been in the public domain since March
15.

“In our diplomatic parlance, we do not react
the way people would want us to react; we
have to verify and articulate our position,’’ he
said.

In his response, Kunjeku said Nigeria’s
protest would be forwarded to Harare.

Meanwhile, Uhomoibhi has condemned the
reported attacks on Nigerians in South Africa
last week.

“We condemn in strong terms, any acts of
racism, xenophobia and discrimination
perpetrated by whomsoever, including in that
particular country.

“We are appalled that these incidents occur
from a country that we hold in highest
esteem and which is a brotherly country to
Nigeria.

“We hope that due processes would be taken
so that this does not happen (again).”

The permanent secretary also called on the
South African Government to take
appropriate actions against those
responsible for the attacks.

He urged South Africa to abide by its
commitment to international standards of
behaviour and cordial relations between both
countries.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls
that on April 2 and 3, some Nigerians
were hospitalised in Pretoria after attacks by
organised gangs in South Africa.

Also, no fewer than 25 shops owned by
Nigerians in Johannesburg and Pretoria were
looted by the South African gangs. (NAN)

Source: Leadership Newspaper

SSS under attack

A boko haram suspect who was in detention at the headquaters of the state security service  in Abuja attempted a jail break early this morning,with heavy shoot that left many in panic.

Information from the s.s.s revealed that there was no challenge to the security of the Federal Capital Territory,adding that the shoot out was launched to send a message, that the security operatives were ready for any attacks.

According to a source who pleaded anonymity he said; “Of course our men are trained to expect such
scenario and the attempt was effectively neutralized. As a precaution and to send a
strong message, our boys released some shots to indicate that they were ready to confront any
eventuality. There is no cause for alarm and there is no threat to the peace of Abuja”

NIGERIA>NAIJA

As you all know this geographic territory has been in existence for 100 years,when Sir Fredrick Lord Lugard amalgamated the western and southern protectorate in 1914. That same year Flora Shaw Lugard girl friend, named the country NIGERIA,meaning the Niger area,but is Nigeria around the Niger area,are we naija?

I stand unbiased to say I love Nigeria and I am a Nigerian to the cor,and i think i am not a fan of i am from kano,i am from bayelsa, i am from Lagos,because we all are Nigerian, Yet it is a dent to every citizen of this country if we keep appraising naija,there is nothing like naija,this is not an accronym for Nigeria. so we all should quit the flirting of our tongues shouting naija,because indirectly you are saying the name Nigeria is a mistake. We should know that,we can’t change our identity,and the recognition of this country as Nigeria,any name aside this is a fluke,and an abuse which is meant be a punishable offence.

Many leaders have voice out the fact that we are not naija,people like the Minister of Finance,Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, and some other prominent Nigerians who are not specified here, yet all we hear is people,brand promoting this unanimous naija,funny enough some brand went ahead making it there signature tune,but is it worth it for someone to come out of no where and trample upon our image,no it is not done,we are “Nigerians not Naijas”.

I tell you categorically that our problem is not the ability to fight them, our problem is our inability to recognize the problems.. And this is one of a thousand unknown problem,we accommodate various mess damning the consequencies,we keep shouting change,but arent you part of the problem,we all are the promoters of the mess, now we’ve come of age,lets turn our back to the wrong we promote, as if it never happened, lets support Nigeria and say “NO” to naija,this is your mother land,whether you travel all around the globe, this is where you are going to come back.

As we celebrate the hundred years of existence,lets promote love,unity, and peace,because this are they bases for our existence. It won’t help if we keep celebrating what will not paint this nation positively,we are Nigerian not naija.lets promote this true nation,represent this blessed nation wherever you find yourself,remember we are Nigeria not naija

Happy centenerian celebration!

D’banj invests in agriculture,launches koko garri

Popular Nigerian musician,D’banj who is also known as eja nla (big fish) has invested in agriculture sector of Nigeria.

D’banj just lunch his product from is company, Koko holdings,on Thursday.

Dbanj is an ambassador of One Africa movement, an initiative which has the responsibility of encouraging the youth to invest in agriculture,and provide employment and food for the continent.

Dbanj made this  public after announcing in a short message to the youth,that He his launching his first product in five years.

“Finally here after 5 yrs.I can
proudly say #KokoGarri is the
firSt product of Koko Holdings,
thanks to God, @oneinafrica,
#DoAgric It Pays and
#Nagropreneurs. Join me youths,
we can do this.”

6 die in stampede at immigration employment tests venues across Nigeria

The Nigerian Immigration Service decided to
conduct a test for 3,000 vacant positions and the
number of Nigerian Youths that went to the various
test locations was overwhelming! Above is a
collage of the crowd at the respective venues of
the Immigration Service Test carried out in
stadiums across the country this morning.

The Abuja stadium which is to sit not more than
60,000 people had well over 80,000 youths and
only one entrance to the stadium was opened for
the applicants. It’s being reported that at least six
people died during a stampede at some of the
venues of the poorly coordinated test. The dead
are mostly from the Abuja venue. I hear a
pregnant woman was among the deceased.

The dead applicants have been taken to the
National Hospital Abuja morgue. May their souls
rest in peace…Amen.

It’s important to note that these applicants paid
N1,000 registration fee and there were over 2
million applicants…you do the calculation, that’s
about N2billion. We need the Minister of Interior
and Comptroller General of Immigration to address
what happened today. Continue to see more pics…

Source: Lindaikeji.blogspot.com

Confab: N4m Monthly Allowance For Delegates Too Much – CACOL

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL)
has reacted to reports that the Federal
Government plans to pay each of the 492
delegates to the national conference slated to
begin on Monday, a princely sum of N4 million
monthly, throughout the three-month duration
of the exercise.

The amount, according to CACOL Director, Mr.
Debo Adeniran, was too much, adding tha each
group should sponsor its delegates to the
conference.

Adeniran said CACOL was opposed to
government spending N7bn on the conference.

He said, “The hosting of the conference itself
is too expensive than it is supposed to be.
They have budgeted about N7bn, and if each
delegate will be paid up to N4m per month, that
accentuates the profligacy going on in the
National Assembly, where members who are
doing part-time jobs are taking more than full-
time salary.

“Every section of the society that sends a
delegate should have been asked to fund their
delegates. It is not supposed to be a money-
making venture to the extent that bribery and
corruption will now pervade the atmosphere”.

Adeniran argued that monetizing the
conference would make the delegates
compromise the stand of their people for the
stand of the authority paying them.

However, the Executive Director of the Civil
Liberties Organisation, Mr. Ibuchukwu Ezike,
who is also a delegate to the confab, called for
restraint because the purported amount to be
paid to delegates was still within the realm of
speculation.

Immigration Stampede A National Disaster – TUC

AN OFFICIAL OF THE NIGERIAN IMMIGRATION
SERVICE CARRYING ON HIS BACK, A FAINTED
FEMALE APPLICANT DURING THE SERVICE’S
RECRUITMENT IN IBADAN ON SATURDAY
(15/3/14).

As reactions continue to trail the death of
scores of job-seekers during a stampede at
the recruitment exercise conducted by the
Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, on Saturday,
the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has
described the incident as a national disaster
that shows the critical state of Nigeria’s
unemployment.

The TUC also called for full-scale investigation
into the matter, while also commiserating with
the families of the dead.

At least seven applicants were confirmed dead
at the National Stadium, Abuja, one of the
venues for the tests conducted simultaneously
by the NIS across the nation yesterday.

TUC president Comrade Kaigama Bobboi, said
the medical bills of those wounded during the
stampede must be taken up by government.

He said, “There is also need to probe the
amount collected from these young Nigerians.
Because this is just Immigration. Whatever
you see now will be replicated in police,
customs and other government agencies.

“This goes to show the level of unemployment
in the country. Our heart goes to the families of
those who lost their lives. May God grant them
the fortitude to bear their loss”.

Respond to charges against you and stop misinforming the public – Presidency tells Sanusi

Presidency attacks Sanusi again,press release below…

We have noted with disappointment, the
unrelenting attempt by the Governor of the
Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido
Sanusi to falsely portray his recent
suspension from office as an attempt by the
Presidency to bury his allegation that huge
sums of money due to the Federation
Account are unaccounted for by the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The Presidency wishes to reaffirm that
Mallam Sanusi’s suspension has absolutely
nothing to do with his unproven and
inconsistent claim that $49.8 Billion, $12
Billion or $20 Billion is missing from the
national treasury. Continue…

As was clearly stated in the letter suspending him
from office and confirmed by President Goodluck
Jonathan in his last Presidential Media Chat,
Mallam Sanusi’s suspension was wholly based on
the need for him to step aside while the weighty
charges of financial recklessness, gross
misconduct and persistent disregard for laid down
rules and regulations in the management of the
Central Bank made against him by the Financial
Reporting Council of Nigeria and others are
properly investigated.

It is most unfortunate that instead of trying to
provide some reasonable response to the clear
and unambiguous query of his official conduct as
Governor of the Central Bank, Mallam Sanusi has
cynically chosen to whip up public sympathy for
himself and anger against the Federal Government
by deliberately misleading unwary Nigerians and
the international community into believing the
falsehood that he is being punished for exposing
corruption.

In recent days, the suspended CBN Governor has,
following in the footsteps of others who have an
axe to grind with the government, taken to
spreading his false claims and allegations through
gullible foreign media correspondents, telling them
among other things that his threat to force
commercial banks to open up their books to
unravel the whereabouts of the “missing” funds
whether $49.8 Billion, $12 Billion or $20 Billion,
ultimately led to his suspension.

He also continues to make the mischievous claim
that the government is somehow involved in a
scam to divert huge sums of money from the
Federation Account through the misappropriation
of kerosene subsidy funds.

Mallam Sanusi’s allegations are patently untrue.
But Government is making no effort to bury them
as he falsely claims. Relevant committees of the
National Assembly are still investigating the claims
and the suspended CBN Governor remains free to
give evidence before them in support of his
allegations.

Furthermore, in keeping with its avowed
commitment to full transparency, openness and
accountability in governmental affairs, the Federal
Government has authorized the engagement of
reputable international firms for the recommended
forensic audit of NNPC accounts.

The Presidency condemns Mallam Sanusi’s resort
to playing politics with serious national issues.  His
suggestion that the phantom missing funds may
have been diverted to fund campaigns for next
year’s general elections is mischievous,
irresponsible and designed to incite other political
parties and members of the public against the
Federal Government.

The claim which amounts to cheap blackmail
against the government and was clearly made in
furtherance of a selfish personal agenda is most
unbecoming of someone who still holds the High
Office of Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The Presidency would not ordinarily have wished
to join issues with Mallam Sanusi who as CBN
Governor remains an appointee of the President,
but the very unacceptable manner in which Sanusi
has been misinforming the public made it
imperative that this statement be issued.

Reuben Abati

Special Adviser to the President

(Media and Publicity)

March 12, 2014

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Wins US National Critics Book Prize for “Americanah”

It’s been a week of non stop Chimamanda
Ngozi Adichie news. The Nigerian author is
clearly having the best month of her life as she
promotes her new book – “ Americanah“.

Here’s another reason for her to pop a bottle of
champagne; she has won the US National
Critics Book Prize for her novel Americanah.

The book was also named one of The New York
Times’ best books of 2013 (click here to read).

The National Critics Book Prize was first
awarded in 1974 and is open to writers of all
nationalities whose work has been published in
the US.