Monthly Archives: November 2013

Presidency: Nigeria Does Not Have a Destitute Population of 100m

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Following the statement credited to World Bank Country Director, Marie-Francoise Marie-Nelly, that 100 million Nigerians are living in destitution or extreme poverty, the presidency Sunday debunked the claim as spurious and astonishing on a number of levels.
 
This  was contained in a statement issued by Chief Economic Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Nwanze Okidegbe.
 
He said Marie-Nelly's claim contradicted the position of the World Bank on the level of poverty in Nigeria.
 
Okidegbe noted that when  the bank’s Vice-President for Africa, Makhtar Diop, visited Nigeria  in May, he declared that poverty had fallen under the Jonathan's administration from 48 per cent to 46 per cent.
 
"Given our current population of about 170 million people, the Country Director’s imagination of 100 million Nigerian destitute seems to be based on a much higher poverty rate than that of her boss. The question that arises from this absurdity therefore is: who is right?
 
"According to the World Bank itself, to live in extreme poverty is to live on less than $1.25 per day, including the cost of accommodation, clothing, feeding, and other incidentals. $1.25 per day translates into N200 per day (or N6,000 per month). On feeding alone, a loaf of bread costs more than N200 in many parts of Nigeria while a plate of food, even from a roadside food vendor, costs about the same amount.
 
"More also, there are about 112 million active GSM lines in Nigeria. Even accounting for those who own more than one phone and netting out nearly 44 per cent of Nigerians who are under 15 years (and mostly do not have phones), this is not a description of a country with 100 million destitute living in extreme poverty," Okidegbe said.
 
According to him, the Jonathan's administration is undertaking critical reforms in all key sectors of the economy to create jobs and reduce poverty.
 
The chief economic adviser further stressed that the reforms in the agriculture sector had increased production and created many job opportunities.
"In recognition of the fact that growth in the agriculture sector is pro-poor, we are confident that the consistent growth being recorded in the sector is translating into further poverty reduction," he said.
 

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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.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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NAMA Begins Enforcement of $4,000 Charge on Private Jets

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The Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) will begin the enforcement of the newly-introduced general aviation charge today.
 
The agency said the charge would be paid by non-scheduled passenger flights.
It added that it would not give any flight start up until the pilot of the flight pays the charge, declares manifest of those on-board the aircraft and also submits the flight plan.
 
THISDAY learnt at the weekend that NAMA would be collecting the charge on behalf of other aviation agencies and confirmed that Nigerian registered aircraft in this category would pay $3,000 (N480,000),  per flight, while foreign registered aircraft would pay $4,000 (N640,000)  per flight.
 
A top management source in NAMA explained that one round trip would cost $4,000 and there would be no other charges, so henceforth private jets would no more pay for landing and parking charges and that the $4,000 include other services such as the use of General Aviation Terminal (GAT) facility and the movement of the passengers from the tarmac to the GAT facility.
 
The source said: “This is luxury tax for those who wish to have this special service and the money generated would be ploughed back to the agencies in a systematic way. That is the essence of the automation. So as soon as the money is paid it is automatically distributed to the beneficiary agencies.”
 
The source admitted that there was subtle increase in the charges compared to what the non-scheduled flight operators were paying before but justified it by adding that the agencies are providing special service to the private jet operators and there have been significant improvement in facilities such as the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria that provides the surveillance, improve VHF coverage for airspace communication for safe flight operations.
“What we are doing is in line with the recommendation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which recognises that charges should be recoverable. This is a luxury tax for this special service but we know that it is the passengers, not the airline operators that pay for this service, which by their lifestyle and nature of work, they need this comfort. We have an independent service provider that will ensure that maximum comfort is provided to the passengers,” the source said.
 
But many operators are critical of these charges, saying that they are outrageous, but Nigerians say that anyone that wants this exclusive service should be ready to pay for it, remarking that in other parts of the world such luxury taxes are also charged for this kind of service.
 
A travel expert, Ikechi Uko, said over the years many people who have private jets and who pay for charter show they have money but government is not getting anything from them.
“It is the opinion of many Nigerians that they should pay special tax to government. It is like using a private parking space; you have to pay for the infrastructure. Also in charging them this money, government is showing that it is not protecting the rich, as scheduled commercial operators are also paying many charges.”
 

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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.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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MEND Claims Responsibility for Kidnap of US Sailors

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The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and release for ransom of two American sailors off the Nigerian coast.
 
 
A statement purporting to come from MEND Sunday said it received $2million ransom for the sailors, mostly from the Nigerian authorities.
 
According to Associated Press (AP), United States officials had identified the mariners as the Captain and Chief Engineer of the US-flagged C-Retriever offshore supply vessel taken in the October 23 attack.
 
Analysts believe the militant group has lost much of its operational capability, but oil pipeline attacks and kidnappings are still common in the Niger Delta region.
Almost all foreigners kidnapped are released once ransoms are paid.
 

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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.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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VCs: Why Nigerian Universities Are Uncompetitive

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Vice-chancellors of Nigerian universities at the weekend ended their conference in Akure, the Ondo State capital, with a disturbing verdict that institutions in the country may not meet up in an increasingly competitive global knowledge economy.
 
The position of the vice-chancellors was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) held at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) which was attended by 60 members of the association and 70 other officers.
 
The verdict of the VCs, according to the communiqué, was sequel to the fact that teaching, learning and research take place in resource-poor contexts.
The VCs said the proliferation of universities without increased funding would pose challenges to the new public universities in Nigeria.
 
While noting that universities do not operate under the same circumstances having been established by various entities, they said inadequacy of funding by university proprietors was a major cause of declining educational quality in all universities.
“The availability of infrastructure such as energy and telecommunications is a critical need in Nigerian universities,” they stated.
 
They noted that funding from the private sector is inadequate because Nigerians do not know how to give to worthy causes.
 
In seeking alternative sources of funding, the VCs said philanthropy should be encouraged in order to have more advancement in the university system while differentiating between genuine advancement and ‘Cash and Carry Advancement’ that compromises on integrity.
 
They also stressed the need for universities to seek innovative sources of financing education, outside government and private proprietor funding through student loans and scholarships and private sector contributions.
 
Concerned by the frequent disruption in universities’ calendar, the VCs stressed the need to seek innovative and workable solutions to instability in the university occasioned by student and staff union issues.
“There is a need to put unionism in the right perspective to be responsive and responsible to nation building as it used to be,” the communiqué said.
 
While the VCs were at the conference, registrars of various universities met on the side to discuss the theme of the conference: 'The Nigerian University System and the Challenges and Prospects of Globalization' and resolved that the federal government should increase funding of public universities and extend financial support to private ones.
 
The registrars also recommended the review of curriculum of Nigerian university education to make it more entrepreneurial and need driven.
 
They also said vice-chancellors, as chief executive o fficers of the universities, should ensure the enforcement of desirable codes of conduct, including dress code, just as they said appointments of members of university governing council should be based on integrity and work experience in the university system and not only by political considerations.
 

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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.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Wamakko: G7 Govs Yet to Decide Whether to Leave PDP or Not

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Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko,  Sunday said the G7 governors were yet to decide whether to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or not.
Wamakko made the remarks after a meeting held by the G7 governors at  the Government House, Sokoto which lasted about four hours.
 
According to him, the G7 governors would soon make their decision known to Nigerians.
"We are yet to resolve whether to leave PDP or not but will make it known to the public whenever we make such decision," he said.
 
Wamakko said the essence of the meeting was to discuss issues of common interest among them.
He stated that the objective was to devise the best approach to protect the overall interest of the nation.
The meeting was attended by Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako, Jigawa Governor, Sule Lamido and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi while governors of Kano, Niger and Kwara States were represented by their deputies.
 
Others at the meeting include Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, New PDP chairman, Kawu Baraje, former governors of Kwara, Nassarawa and Gombe States, Bukola Saraki, Abdullahi Adamu and Danjuma Goje.
 
Meanwhile, the G7 governors have noted with dismay the way the federal government has blatantly refused to be responsive to issues of corruption that were raised by the legislature, civil society and the citizens.
 
In a communique issued to journalists in Sokoto yesterday, they governors decried the level of corruption in the country.
 
The communiqué, which was signed on behalf of the G7 governors by the Senior Special Assistant to Wamakko on Media, Malam Sani Umar, expressed displeasure at the way corruption was thriving with impunity in the country, especially corruption involving federal agencies, department and presidential appointees.
 
 
According to the communique, this include the failure of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to render proper account of transactions and remittances as required.
 
The communique also decried the continued shielding of those involved in the notorious Malabu oil block deal, which had been an issue of national concern.
 
It further lamented the way the Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) funds were being squandered and diverted for the prosecution of personal political agenda.
 
 
It maintained that the federal government should show an example of seriousness and urgency by instructing security agencies to commence investigation with a view to prosecuting the culprits.
 
"Arising from the foregoing, the governors strongly hold the view that in order to show good cause in fighting corruption, Mr. President as a matter of urgency should instruct security agencies to commence investigation on such allegations with a view to prosecuting the culprits," the communique read.
 
The communique also stressed that this was the only way the president could demonstrate his genuine commitment to fighting the menace of corruption as part of his agenda of transforming Nigeria.
 

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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.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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In Indonesia, the dead are removed from their tombs to change clothes

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In Tana Toraja, Indonesia, the dead are removed from their tombs to replace their clothing each year. The Toraja people have fascinating rituals surrounding death and the afterlife. 
 
When someone dies, their ritual states that the deceased are to be buried in the town they were born in (and not necessarily in the town in which they have died).
 
According to the Zombie Research Society website:
 
Further research into the term “Rolang” uncovered a Tibetan connection. This one is even more freaky. 
 
In this scenario, a holy man (a “ngagspa”) gets shut up in a dark room with the newly deceased and lies on top of the corpse, wrapping his arms around it and placing his mouth over the mouth of said dead person (EWWW! ). 
 
By breathing into the dead body’s mouth, the corpse is eventually revived, and leaps to it’s feet, attempting to escape the grasp of the ngagspa. 
 
The holy man must hold onto the thrashing corpse, or he will be killed. Oh, and he has to wait for it to stick out its tongue, so he can bite it off. Apparently the tongue makes a powerful magic weapon used in healing etc.
 
Most of the population is Christian, and others are Muslim or have local animist beliefs known as aluk (“the way”). 
 
The Indonesian government has recognized this animist belief as Aluk To Dolo (“Way of the Ancestors”).
 
Torajans, who lived in highland areas, identified with their villages and did not share a broad sense of identity. Although complexes of rituals created linkages between highland villages, there were variations in dialects, differences in social hierarchies, and an array of ritual practices in the Sulawesi highland region.
 
The picture below which was first placed on the Indonesian blog mamasa-online.blogspot.com, talks about a personal story involving the walking corpses of Tojara, Indonesia. But only recently the picture is gaining attention.
 
Source: triggspot.com
 

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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.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Exclusive photos from Peter Okoye and Lola Omotayo’s traditional wedding

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Finally Peter Okoye of P-square ties the knot with Lola Omotayo his long time girl friend and mother of his two kids the traditional way today in Lagos. The wedding took place at The Ark Lekki and decoration was by Wedding Guru, wedding planned and coordinated by Ngozi Akintujoye and Omorinsola Arodundade of Perfect Coordinators, who also planned the celeb wedding of Naeto C and Nicole Chikwe. Here is what went down in pictures…….

{gallery}stories/galleries/peter-okoye-wedding/{/gallery}

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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.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Man Béheads Another For Making Noise

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The Fomena Police have arrested a 20-year-old man for allegedly beheading a man and wounding another.
 
Samuel Quansah, alias Kwadwo Tabi, was arrested at Ahimase, near Nzema, in the Western Region, where he had gone into hiding a week after committing the crime at Akwanserem, near Fomena, in the Ashanti Region.
 
The Fomena District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr Daniel Amoah, told the Daily Graphic that the police had information that the suspect had sought refuge at his uncle’s house at Ahimase.
 
According to Mr Amoah, the suspect had since been remanded by the Fomena District Magistrate court to reappear on November 13, 2013.
 
Narrating the circumstances leading to the incident, the district police commander said at about 9.30 a.m on Monday, October 14, 2013, an argument ensued between Quansah and two brothers.
 
Mr Amoah said the suspect then rushed into his room for a double-edged machete and beheaded Philip Domey, 35, after inflicting multiple wounds on his elder brother, Benjamin Domey, 37.
 
He said Benjamin Domey was later resuscitated at the New Edubiase Government Hospital where he was rushed for medical attention.
 
According to Mr Amoah, the verbal exchanges began when Quansah, a small-scale miner, accused the two siblings of making unnecessary noise.
 
He said it was during the exchanges that Quansah sneaked into his room for a sharp machete and attacked the two siblings resulting in the death of Philip Domey and Benjamin Domey getting injured.
 
He said the police were still conducting further investigations into the case.
 
Source: Daily Graphic

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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.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Half Man Half Rabbit Hybrid Discovered In Haiti

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Let’s all hope that the half man half rabbit hybrid image going around the internet is as a fake as it sounds. The image which has been circulating the web is a photo touted to be a half-rabbit, half-human clone “discovered in Haiti.”
 
About a year ago, a Twitter user claimed, “A half rabbit, half human clone found in Haiti. It was made with genetic material from both mammals.”
 
Our take on this photo is it must be fake.
 
Are we wrong about this Haiti half-rabbit-half-human clone being fake? Comment below with your proof!

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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.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Man Sleeps With Best Friend’s Skeleton For 13 Years

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A 47 year old man from Brazil has been found living with the skeleton of his best friend who died 13 years ago.
 
Fabio Beraldo Rigol moved in to the cemetry after going broke and being abandoned by his family over his drug addiction.
 
The former broker only leaves to go into Santa Isabel, Brazil, to ask for food. He claims he found himself penniless and homeless after his business folded and he started using drugs .
 
He said: “I’m more afraid of the living than the dead. I’ve never seen a ghost. It gets a bit quiet here sometimes, but I’m not a big talker, so it suits me. I’m not very good around living people.
 
“I had to leave the house, and I ended up wandering the streets. One night it was raining hard. I don’t remember how, but when I woke up I was here in the graveyard.”
 
On most days he leaves the graveyard to ask for food in the town centre.
 
He said: “When it’s raining I stay inside. I never want for anything. When I need people there is always someone who gives it to me. God never lets me go hungry.”
 
But Mr Rigol said he doesn’t intend to stay in the cemetery until his own time comes.
 
He added: “I want to get out of here alive. I still want to have my own house, even if it’s just a bedroom and a bathroom. I want to go back to work if there’s a chance. My live hasn’t finished yet.”

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.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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