Why does the Western world feed Africa with one hand while taking from it with the other?

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{/source}The world’s wealthy countries often criticise African nations for corruption – especially that perpetrated by those among the continent’s government and business leaders who abuse their positions by looting tens of billions of dollars in national assets or the profits from state-owned enterprises that could otherwise be used to relieve the plight of some of the world’s poorest peoples.

Yet the West is culpable too in that it often looks the other way when that same dirty money is channelled into bank accounts in Europe and the US.

International money laundering regulations are supposed to stop the proceeds of corruption being moved around the world in this way, but it seems the developed world’s financial system is far more tempted by the prospect of large cash injections than it should be.  

Indeed the West even provides the getaway vehicles for this theft, in the shape of anonymous off-shore companies and investment entities, whose disguised ownership makes it too easy for the corrupt and dishonest to squirrel away stolen funds in bank accounts overseas.

This makes them nigh on impossible for investigators to trace, let alone recover.
                     
It is something that has long bothered Zimbabwean journalist Stanley Kwenda – who cites the troubling case of the Marange diamond fields in the east of his country.

A few years ago rich deposits were discovered there which held out the promise of billions of dollars of revenue that could have filled the public purse and from there have been spent on much needed improvements to roads, schools and hospitals.

The surrounding region is one of the most impoverished in the country, desperate for the development that the profits from mining could bring. But as Kwenda found out from local community leader Malvern Mudiwa, this much anticipated bounty never appeared.

“When these diamonds came, they came as a God-given gift. So we thought now we are going to benefit from jobs, infrastructure, we thought maybe our roads were going to improve, so that generations and generations will benefit from this, not one individual. But what is happening, honestly, honestly it’s a shame!”

What is happening is actually something of a mystery because though the mines are clearly in operation and producing billions of dollars worth of gems every year, little if any of it has ever been put into Zimbabwe’s state coffers.  

Local and international non-governmental organisations say they believe this is because the money is actually being used to maintain President Robert Mugabe’s ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) in power.

True or not, it is clear that the country’s finance minister, Tendai Biti, has seen none of it. A representative of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, which sits in uneasy coalition with ZANU-PF, he says he has no idea where it is going.     

“We have got evidence of the quantities that are being mined, the quantities that are being exported but nothing is coming to the fiscus …. All I know is that it’s not coming to the treasury. So that is a self-evident question. It is not coming to us. That means someone is getting it. The person who is getting it is not getting it legally. Therefore, he’s a thief, therefore she’s a thief.”

Sadly, as Stanley Kwenda has realised, it is typical of a problem found all over Africa.

The continent is rich is natural resources that are being exploited for big profits, but the money is rarely used for the benefit of the people. Instead it goes to line the pockets of corrupt officials who then often smuggle it out to be deposited in secret offshore bank accounts in the developed world.

So who facilitates these transactions? And how and why does the developed world make it so easy to launder this dirty cash?

In this revealing investigation for People & Power, Kwenda and the Ghanaian undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, set off to find out. Posing as a corrupt Zimbabwean official and his lawyer, their probe takes them deep into the murky world of ‘corporate service providers’ – experts in the formation of company structures that allow the corrupt to circumvent lax international money laundering rules.  

It just so happens that the pair’s enquiries take place in the Seychelles but, as they discover to their horror, they could just as easily be in any one of a number of offshore locations (or even in the major cities of Europe and the US) where anonymous companies can be set up for the express purpose of secretly moving money and keeping its origins hidden from prying eyes.

Filmmaker’s view

By Anas Aremeyaw Anas

Despite the abundance of resources on the continent, success has been very elusive for many Africans. The narrative is one many are too familiar with: corrupt leaders force themselves into political office, then they work to undermine the progress of their people.

That is what leaves many African countries poor – corrupt leadership. It hinders progress.

What has kept this diagnosis of Africa from a cure is not immediately clear. Foreign aid, debt relief and the many notes of economic salvation have been applied. Not much has changed. Dreams fail for many young Africans. The trouble with Africa still looms large.

The need for Africa’s troubled state has inspired my career as an undercover investigative journalist.

Over the past decade, I have tried to focus on human rights violations, corruption and the many ills that plague society. Through many anti-human trafficking and anti-corruption stories, I have come close to answers.

Exposing bribe-taking police officers, public officials and other corrupt individuals has brought some change. This has been on the ground, yet many of the problems still persist.

This film, How to Rob Africa, takes this further by focusing on what many leaders in high office do that leaves the continent in a bad shape.

Decades into political independence, many African governments remain reliant on foreign aid, yet often as soon as this aid arrives it is spirited away into the personal accounts of the leaders who are supposed to be looking after the interests of their people – and ironically many of those accounts are back in the West.

It is no surprise that many Africans are left asking the developed world: “Why do you frown publicly about corruption, yet turn a blind eye to its fruits?”

What we sought to do in our investigation was to point in the direction of money laundering as a substantial contributor to Africa’s corruption – or at least one of the most important enabling factors – and the role played by corporate service providers in setting up structures to allow it to take place.   

In the Seychelles, we found how easy it is to rob Africa. We learned about the clever but brazen tricks and scams that can be used (for a fee) to disguise the origins of money and the identities of those who are moving it around.

We do not say that all of Africa’s woes are the fault of others outside the continent. Nor do we assume that criminality is the only reason why Africa, despite its many natural riches, has been kept in poverty.  

But we did come away wondering why the outside world feeds Africa with one hand and takes from it with another. Why cannot the resources for aid be directed into fighting this obvious problem? Is it not about time that something was done to stop those stealing our wealth, and those helping them steal it, from evading responsibility prosecution for their crimes?

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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2013: Nigerians Have To Review Their Religion, Education And Diet

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Read Time:7 Minute, 30 Second
Last week the Ogirisi of Igboland Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka organized a full fledge cultural event at Rojenny Tourist and Games Village Oba to mark the end of 2012. The one night event which involved various dancing groups, masquerades and music concert by youths was witnessed by visiting African Americans who were in Igbo Land to identify with their ancestral home. Prominent personalities also witnessed the Night event during which the host Chief Ezeonwuka fielded questions to journalists on the purpose of the cultural event, the state of Ndigbo, Nigeria and his assessment of year 2012.
The Excerpt
Firstly let us take your reaction on the death of Yakowa, Azazi and others who died in the Helicopter crash in Bayelsa last weekend?
It is most unfortunate that such prominent people had to die on a very short air shuttle. It is another sign of carelessness in some quarters which really have to be probed with utmost seriousness. It is sad and shameful to have such accident at this modern age of highly sophisticated and advanced technology. There is natural feelings that something was wrong somewhere and that is why the incident have to be probed with a serious view to avoid future occurrences. Permit me to use this opportunity to commiserate with the family of Yakowa, Azazi and others who died in the crash and charge those in position to probe the incident to do a good job to unmasked the circumstance behind it .
What is the reason behind the cultural night event?
The reason is to revive and promote the culture of Igboman which is on the thresh hold of being extinguished in the system. Our people have massively turned their back at the culture and tradition of our ancestors and the development is having negative impact on our day to day live. Things are changing for the worse. Other tribes are progressing ahead of Ndigbo because they respect the culture of their lands. People are dying untimely under unacceptable but avoidable circumstances. The crime rate is high. Armed robbers and kidnappers are terrorizing people in Igbo land. As I speak with you Igbo guys in Diaspora, in Abuja, Lagos and elsewhere are afraid of coming home for Christmas and New Year because of fear of being kidnapped or attacked by armed robbers. Worst of all most Igbo businessmen who have enough resources to invest in the land and provide subsistence activities for the youths are running away. They are taking their business to other part of the country or even aboard where they feel their lives and their resources are safe. The situation is very bad and dangerous toward the development and progress of Ndigbo and nobody is doing anything about it. The federal government appears to be incapacitated in check mating kidnappers and Armed Robbers in Igbo land. As matter of fact Ndigbo are doomed if we don’t find lasting solution to the menace of insecurity. I have told them that the solution is not running away they have to come back and let us joins hands to fight the problem. On my own as the Ogirisi Igbo with the mandate for conflict resolution among the people individually, family, community and general level, I have made recommendations in finding lasting solution to the problems facing Ndigbo. My recommendations includes according those who died during Biafra civil war the normal Igbo burial rite, this is one. Secondly I have told Ndigbo to stop depositing dead bodies in mortuary because it unholy and absolute nonsense. Storing dead bodies in mortuary is totally nonsense. Our antecessors in their wisdom and concern for the welfare of the succeeding children established it that when someone dies the person have to be buried immediately with the survivors according him or her the deserved burial rites, but today we have ignored that particular way of burial by storing dead bodies in mortuary. In Igbo land today the number of dead bodies in various mortuaries are alarming and I can tell you that their spirit are behind some of the problems we have in Igbo land now. Having said all these things I want you people to quote me anywhere that I have observed and said as Ogirisi Igbo that the causes of the problems of Ndigbo especially insecurity are traceable to the failure of the people to follow the cultural path of their ancestors. We have tried boys oyee, bakkassi boys, vigilante group with the Police and Army to no success. Let us go back to the root and appease our ancestors and the gods of the land. Some people mostly Christian would totally disagree with your recommendations on the ground that they are against their interest to involve in some cultural activities because they have negative implications of paganism? Such Christians are more dangerous with their activities than armed robbers and kidnappers. They brain wash the people with fake miracles, false prophesy and extort money from poor widows to build mansions, buy exotic cars and private jets. They are not models for good character and behavior among the people. They are agents of darkness who aid crime in the society. And except we reject them and go back to the way of our ancestors the society would continue to grow from bad to worse.
One of the major highlight of the cultural night you hosted is the presence of the African Americans. how come their visit to Rojenny?
They came to identify with Igbo land as their ancestral home land. There was a research which proved that Igbo land is the ancestral home of the African Americans. It was discovered that their fathers were those who were sold to white people from Igbo land as slaves during the slave trade and those who were convinced by the out come of the research came down from America to perform the ritual of cleansing at the palace of Eze-Eri in Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State. They were taken to a place called Omambala river where the Eze-Eri carried out the cleansing exercise to cleanse them from the abomination and stigma of slave trade. We invited them as part of tourist attraction in their land of origin.
What is your expectation in the on going review of 1999 constitution?
I am expecting noting because we need to review three major things that are far more important than constitution. The three things include our Religion, our education and our diet. I call it review of (RED) Religion, Education and Diet. You see it is high time for Nigerians to look at these three things critically. People commit grievous crime of extortion and get away with it in the name of religious practice. A lot people have lost their sense of reasoning and thinking because of religious practice. We have to look at it; we have to review it with utmost seriousness. Some of the churches have nothing to offer for the welfare of the society yet they are milking the society on a very fat note because the state and all worth not recognize them. Such churches mostly the so called Pentecostals are supposed to be shut down from operation completely. Then we talk about education, our universities are producing empty headed graduates with bogus certificate. No skill acquisition program in Nigeria university system. In other countries student are practically taught about carpentry, motor mechanic, and other things that should help them to be self employed on graduating. So we have to review our education mostly at the university levels. Lastly we have to review our Diet. The kinds of food Nigerians eat are terrible. I have told people around me that it is very bad to eat pounded cassava because pounded cassava which is called fufu or akpu is highly demonic. It is demonic in the sense that it has no nutritious ingredients capable to enhance one’s body or sense of reasoning. Most Nigerians don’t know that bad food contribute a lot to their sense of reasoning on the negative. Have you ever thought about the reason why Nigeria cannot be found in the field science and technology, why our athletes cannot win Olympic medal. It is because of bad food that people consume on daily basis. So my brother we have to look at the diet we take. India, China and other Asian countries did all these things reviewing their diet and other things before finding their way out of darkness to the light. And except we do same we shall ever remain in darkness and suffering.
What is your assessment of 2012?
Very poor. Nothing changed nor improved for the better. Corruption increased, armed robbery and kidnapping increased. Nigeria still remains darkness with out hope for steady power supply. More people died this year than last year. Is that a good sign of a growing country? So 2012 is a colossal failure and except we review RED we are going no where.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Pete Edochie Is Not Dead

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Read Time:31 Second

Contrary to rumour flying round that veteran Nollywood actor, Pete Edochie is dead, codewit.com can confirm that the actor is not dead as rumoured.

We got from reliable sources who know the actor too well that the legendary role interpreter is hale and hearty. Though we were unable to speak with him directly, but we got from good authorities that the death hoax is totally false with no iota of truth in it.

This is not the first time Pete Edochie is being trailed with death news. In 2011, he was rumoured to be dead until he dispelled the rumour later on.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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No Nation can rise above the level of its women

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Read Time:4 Minute, 13 Second

They experimented on the mental states of our women, it is our duty as men to gain knowledge of our creator and self, so we can restore them.

“The slave maker knew that he couldn’t make these people slaves until he first made them DUMB. And one of the best ways to make a man DUMB is to take his tongue, take his language. A man who can’t talk, what do they call him? A DUMMY. Once your language is gone, you are a DUMMY. You can’t communicate with people who are your relatives, you can never have access to information from your family—you just can’t communicate.

Also, if you’ll notice, the natural tongue that one speaks is referred to as one’s MOTHER TONGUE—MOTHER TONGUE. And the natural intelligence that a person has before he goes to school is called mother wit. Not father wit—it’s called MOTHER wit because everything a child knows before it gets to school, it learns from its MOTHER, not its father. And if it never goes to school, whatever native intelligence it has, it got it primarily from its MOTHER, not its father; so it’s called mother wit. And the mother is also the one who teaches the child how to speak its language, so that the natural tongue is called the mother tongue. Whenever you find as many people as we who aren’t able to speak any mother tongue, why, that’s evidence right there something was done to our mother. Something had to have happened to her.

They had laws in those days that made it mandatory for a Black child to be taken from its mother as fast as that child was born. The mother never had a chance to rear it. The child would be brought up somewhere else away from the mother, so that the mother couldn’t teach the child what she knew—about itself, about her past, about its heritage. It would have to grow up in complete darkness, knowing nothing about the land where it came from or the people that it came from. Not even about its own mother. There was no relationship between the Black child and its mother; it was against the law. And if the master would ever find any of those children who had any knowledge of its mother tongue, that child was put to death. They had to stamp out the language; they did it scientifically. If they found any one of them that could speak it, off went its head, or they would put it to death, they would kill it, in front of the mother, if necessary. This is history; this is how they took your language. You didn’t lose it, it didn’t evaporate—they took it with a scientific process, because they knew they had to take it to make you dumb, or into the dummy that you and I now are.

I read in some books where it said that some of the slave mothers would try and get tricky. In order to teach their child, who’d be off in another field somewhere, they themselves would be praying and they’d pray in a loud voice, and in their own language. The child in the distant field would hear his mother’s voice, and he’d learn how to pray in the same way; and in learning how to pray, he’d pick up on some of the language. And the master found that this was being done, and immediately he stepped up his efforts to kill all the little children that were benefiting from this. And so it became against the law even for the slave to be caught praying in his tongue, if he knew it. It was against the law. You’ve heard some of the people say they had to pray with their heads in a bucket. Well, they weren’t praying to the Jesus that they’re praying to now. The white man will let you call on that Jesus all day long; in fact he’ll make it possible for you to call on him. If you were calling on somebody else, then he’d have more fear of it. Your calling on that somebody else in that other language—that causes him a bit of fear, a bit of fright.[…]

For three hundred years we stayed at that level. Finally we got to where we had no language, no history, no name. The white man named us after himself—Jones, Smith, Johnson, Bunche, and names like those. [Laughter] We couldn’t speak our own language; we had none. And he then began to teach us that we came from a jungle, where the people had no language. This was the crime that was committed—he convinced us that our people back home were savages and animals in the jungle, and the reason we couldn’t talk was because we never had a language. And we grew up thinking that we never had one.”

Æmôwálé, Malcolm X

2Pac Gives His Opinion On African and Slave Names (Interview) {youtube}5AzIT779b4c&sns{/youble}

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Ghana’s AFCON defender involved in car accident

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Read Time:1 Minute, 17 Second

Defender Jerry Akaminko, who is part of Ghana’s squad for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations, was involved in a motor accident in the country on Friday night.


The Turkey-based defender survived with minor injuries as his Infiniti SUV crashed into a taxi, a bus, before veering into the woods in Koforidua.

The accident came just six days before the Black Stars travel to the UAE to embark on a training tour before the AFCON starts in South Africa on 19 January.

It was feared the accident could affect his chances of joining the Black Stars for the training camp in Abu Dhabi.

This comes after doctors declared him fit as he escaped with minor injuries which means he will fit and ready to join Ghana’s training camp.

But the defender is in danger of legal prosecution for his role in the accident as he was accused by by-standers as the cause of the accident because of his dangerous driving.

The Police in Koforidua have started investigations into the matter before deciding the next line of action.

The Black Stars will depart for Abu Dhabi on 4 January ahead of their participation in Africa’s flagship tournament in South Africa. 
 
Akaminko spent four seasons in Turkey with his first club being Orduspor in the Turkish second-tier before joining Eskisehirspor at the start of the season.


In June, he scored on his Ghana debut in the 7-0 win over Lesotho at the Baba Yara Stadium in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Ghana’s AFCON defender involved in car accident

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Read Time:1 Minute, 17 Second

Defender Jerry Akaminko, who is part of Ghana’s squad for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations, was involved in a motor accident in the country on Friday night.


The Turkey-based defender survived with minor injuries as his Infiniti SUV crashed into a taxi, a bus, before veering into the woods in Koforidua.

The accident came just six days before the Black Stars travel to the UAE to embark on a training tour before the AFCON starts in South Africa on 19 January.

It was feared the accident could affect his chances of joining the Black Stars for the training camp in Abu Dhabi.

This comes after doctors declared him fit as he escaped with minor injuries which means he will fit and ready to join Ghana’s training camp.

But the defender is in danger of legal prosecution for his role in the accident as he was accused by by-standers as the cause of the accident because of his dangerous driving.

The Police in Koforidua have started investigations into the matter before deciding the next line of action.

The Black Stars will depart for Abu Dhabi on 4 January ahead of their participation in Africa’s flagship tournament in South Africa. 
 
Akaminko spent four seasons in Turkey with his first club being Orduspor in the Turkish second-tier before joining Eskisehirspor at the start of the season.


In June, he scored on his Ghana debut in the 7-0 win over Lesotho at the Baba Yara Stadium in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Nigeria in the 2013 African Cup of Nation

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Read Time:1 Minute, 42 Second

Next year’s Africa Nations Cup will be Nigeria’s 17th appearance at the tournament proper after they sensationally failed to qualify for the 2012 edition in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea last year.

They have won the tournament twice, on home soil in 1980 and then in Tunisia in 1994.

They were also beaten finalists in 1984, 1988, 1990 as well as 2000, which they co-hosted with Ghana.

To qualify for the 2013 AFCON, they eliminated Rwanda and Liberia.

The Super Eagles dispatched of the Lone Star of Liberia 6-1 in the return leg of a final qualifier in Calabar and thus head to South Africa on an 8-3 aggregate.

Such a comprehensive result has restored some public confidence in the team after they failed to qualify last year for this year’s competition.

However, partly as a result of this failure they are not among the top seeds for the 2013 tournament meaning they could clash with the likes of hosts South Africa, perennial rivals Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and defending champions Zambia as early as the first round of this championship.

Former international skipper Stephen Keshi took over the team from Samson Siasia in November and has since worked with mainly players from the Nigeria Premier League.

As a result of this new focus, the likes of Gabriel Reuben, Papa Idris, Umar Zango (Kano Pillars), Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers), Henry Uche, Uche Kalu (Enyimba), Juwon Oshaniwa (Sharks), Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars) and Azubuike Egwuekwe, Chigozie Agbim, Sunday Mba (Warri Wolves) have become part of the national team.

However, only a handful of these players figured in the thumping of Liberia in Calabar as their Europe-based counterparts seized the chance to press for places in the final squad to South Africa 2013.

It will be very interesting to see the mix of NPL stars and their Europe-based colleagues for the forthcoming competition especially as for the 2008 and 2010 editions, no player from the domestic league made the final cut.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Nations Cup 2013: Nigeria coach accepts Shittu request

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Read Time:59 Second

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has accepted a request from Millwall’s Danny Shittu not to be considered for the Africa Cup of Nations.

The defender wants to concentrate on his club’s push for promotion to the English Premier League.

“Stephen Keshi has agreed Danny Shittu can stay away from the Nations Cup after he called him,” the Super Eagles media officer Ben Alaiya said.

Shittu was named in the Super Eagles’ initial squad of 32 players.

However before Keshi’s comments the Nigeria Football Federation had rejected Shittu’s written request.

The NFF had made it clear that they wanted to apply the full weight of Fifa sanctions on Millwall if they did not release the centre-back.

“We’ve made our position known to both the player and his club,” NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire told BBC Sport.

“There’s a standard Fifa rule on international call-up and we expect them to respect that.

“The rules are very clear and we are only going to wait and follow due process on this situation.”

Millwall boss Kenny Jackett had earlier said he expected Shittu to turn down Nigeria.

Nigeria will take on African champions Zambia, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso in Group C.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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The Bright And Dark Faces Of Fireworks

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Read Time:5 Minute, 10 Second

Last Tuesday there was a blast in Lagos from a warehouse stocked full of with fire crackers also known as bangers. The incident left one person dead and several injured. Lagosians reacted to the use of fireworks during Christmas  and New year.

MRS. Akinola woke up on Tuesday in good mood.  She had no inkling on her way to Jakanra market in Isale-Eko, Lagos  to buy goods for the new year sales that danger was lurking at the corner. She was hoping to return to her shop in Ikotun on time. She had bought some items and was in the process of buying more when she heard a loud noise. Then flames and thick smoke began to issue from a three-storey building  close by. Confusion reigned as everyone  fled for dear life.Mrs. Akinola was no exception. She dropped her items and scampered for safety.

“We thought it was an helicopter that dropped a bomb. We  looked up and down, we did not see anything. Many people were wounded in the stampede that ensued. I saw blood everywhere. It was later we got to know that it was an explosion from one of the warehouses loaded with fireworks,” she recounted.

According to her, it was a banger thrown inside a transformer that led to the explosion.

“It has affected my business. People do not come to the market to buy fireworks as before. The government should not ban the sale of fireworks. The buyers and the sellers should just take precautions to prevent such an ugly incident. That is the solution. The products are made in China. We have different types of fireworks. Let them ban the ones that can endanger our lives,” she said.

Christopher Nzere, another  trader in the market, said government should not ban the sale of fireworks because some people depend o the sale  to feed their families.

“What they should do is to control the importation of fireworks. Some of them should be banned. The solution is let everybody be careful. If you want to play with fireworks be careful; don’t do it in public places,” he said.

In Festus Iweobi’s opinion, government should go after the importers

“All these ones that are booming like guns can even kill with their noise. They  are supposed to ban those loudly explosive ones. I don’t buy fireworks  for my children. I feel it is just a waste of money. I don’t like banger, let them ban it,” he said.

Mrs. Ngaju Chiamaira does not like bangers. “If there is a way to ban it in Lagos State, let them ban it. In Delta State, there is nothing like banger. They can ban it through the importers. If they can ban it, then next years’ Christmas there will be nothing like banger because this is the season,” she said.

Mrs. Bamgboye Olabisi urged people to buy toys for their children instead of fireworks.

“People should forget about the fun of it. Although it is entertaining, I don’t like it because of the hazards. I cannot use my money to buy it. I prefer to buy toys for my children.”

Ester Nelo, a trader, said that the government should create a recreation centre where people can enjoy the fun of fireworks. “It is for fun, it is once in a year. They should not buy it for under- aged people. They should create a place for people to enjoy it. Even if I bought I will not give them to my children. Every year policemen keep arresting the consumers while leaving the importers,” she said.

Mrs. Badru Biodun, a trader who sells fireworks,  did not want the government to ban it. Instead, she want the government to provide enabling environment for the sellers. “Let them monitor the sellers. We want the government to provide enabling environment for us. The fireworks explosion has adversely affected our market; only those not aware of what happened are coming to buy. But it is safe to use fireworks; only consumers should not throw it inside the house. Let them not throw it on another person. Once they throw it on the ground it will blow up and quench,” he said.

Everybody loves bangers during Christmas, she declared . “Even pastors and military men buy it. They also use fireworks for military events. We have been in this business of selling fireworks for many decades such an explosion has never happened. Let them go and investigate what actually led to the explosion. It was pure sabotage. Banning bangers is not the solution,” she insisted.

One of the consumers who was not aware of the explosion of fireworks in Lagos said that what happened is enough for government to ban the use of fireworks.

“Although I used to be a lover of fireworks, and  give to my children. They are small children about 14 years. Henceforth, I am not going to buy it again. Every year, the government says fireworks has been banned, but you still see it in the market. Blame the government, not the consumers for that. We are only wasting money on fireworks. We don’t derive any benefits from it. Let the government ban it and impound any one coming to the country.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of police (DSP), has said that the situation is under control.

Also, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Adeyemi Ibirogba, has dismissed rumours that the explosion had anything to do with terrorism.

Ibirogba explained that the explosion was as a result of fireworks that caught fire inside a store in the densely populated area of Lagos.

He also dismissed reports of casualty, saying: “There was no casualty. The commissioner warned Lagosians to desist from the use of fireworks during the Yuletide to prevent a reoccurrence. He urged security agents in the state to ensure people comply with the order banning fireworks during this period

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Nigeria: Pomp, glamour as Calabar carnival peaks

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THE Calabar Festival climaxed Thursday with the Cross River State capital, otherwise known as the Canaan City, bursting in a frenzy of celebrations.

As early as dawn Thursday, the city woke up to the sound of festivities as people began to set up for the carnival. The Millennium Park was the gathering point, and the mood and colours at the park were those of joy and celebration, with the participating five bands in the yearly feast making their ways to the starting point.

By 11a.m, the Acting Governor, Efiok Essien Cobham, accompanied by his wife and other dignitaries, including the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, and wife as well as Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, arrived at the park to a deafening ovation by the people.

And by 11.15a.m, the acting governor moved to cut the ribbon, after which he made the traditional declaration: “Let the show begin,” and the people responded with joy. From that point on, the carnival assumed a new dimension with the five competing bands – Passion 4, Freedom, Seagull, Masta Blasta and Bayside engaging in a feat of musical gyration, artistic and well choreographed dance steps in a highly entertaining manner that “threw the audience into spellbound celebration.”

Besides the five bands, other non-competing bands, such as the visiting Brazilian Samba group and Vai Vai entertained the audience as they went on the 14- kilometre street parade that terminated at the U.J.  Esuene Stadium for the final showdown among the competing bands. The event lasted into late hours. The winning band was yet to be announced as at press time as the celebration was still on.

Chairman of the Carnival Commission, Mr. Gab Onah, described this year’s edition as classic, adding that the carnival has gone full swing and now has a brand identity that everyone was willing to be associated with. The presence of over five countries and high-ranking personalities from around the country and outside, he said, is a testimony to the height that the 32-day festival itself has reached.

This will be the first time in history the Calabar Festival is holding without the governor in attendance, as Governor Liyel Imoke is on annual vacation. see more photos

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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