This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
Messages - smartoo
126
« on: March 19, 2014, 08:40:45 pm »
1. There’s a difference between sadness and depression, and though that doesn’t take away from a diagnosis, it is empowering as a distinction. Though you may feel depressed, a person who has depression is not always a “depressed person,” in whatever way — hyperbolic or otherwise — that phrase has come to mean. I was diagnosed with clinical depression, anxiety, and obsessive tendencies when I was a teenager, but I probably exhibited symptoms of depression long before that. Still, I didn’t understand why sometimes I would just feel sad, and sometimes I’d suddenly just find everything to be entirely too much and shut off from the rest of the world at the drop of a hat. Those moments were stronger than your run-of-the-mill sadness. Slowly, you learn to distinguish what is just feeling sad and what is depression, and you begin to strategize when it comes to seeing each one through. 2. One of the most useful strategies I’ve found, plain and simple: make it a point to laugh every day. Especially on the days when things just feel godawful and sad and like there is nothing really worth laughing about, I force myself to laugh — and to make myself laugh if I can. I think up little jokes, I talk to friends who I think are funny, I watch a show I really love, anything to just remind myself that you can be sad and laugh in the same day, and even at the same time. Your depression is only one facet to you, no matter how much it may loom over you and cloud the rest of your emotions, but forcing a little bit of laughter in daily works wonders. (Honestly, it’s when I’m saddest that I tend to make the most jokes. It provides for a good distraction). 3. Still, there are some days when things just hurt. That’s nothing to run away from. That’s something to embrace as — wait for it — normal. The expectation that life is supposed to be breezy all the time is dangerous. It’s not breezy all the time, even to the most well- adjusted individual. Expecting life to always be easy leads you further down the rabbit hole of feeling terrible when you’re trying to force yourself to be better, to be less depressed, to just “snap out of it.” Sometimes, you can’t. Often, you shouldn’t. My bad hours and days happen most when I’m forcing myself to take a break and can’t escape my own thoughts and fears and anxieties with work or friends. Things will just hurt, and I’ll find myself wondering if people on the subway know that the girl sitting next to them is fighting off a panic attack — they have to know, right? Oh god it’s so obvious is usually my train of thought — or I’ll sit in the shower and just let the water run over my body, or I’ll listen to sad music and just cry. Because you can’t always escape those emotions. Every now and again, it just hurts for no reason at all, and it becomes tiring to try to outrun the heaviness of it all. Sometimes you just have to feel it. 4. I know a bad day doesn’t mean a bad life. We all know that. Maybe it’s time to learn that a bad month or a bad few years or a bad experience or relationship doesn’t either. I know I have a good life, filled with amazing friends and a wonderful family. I genuinely love my job (and a lot of people, with or without depression, don’t always feel that way about their jobs, so I know that makes me a little weird in its own merit). I have tons of things to be thankful for, and I am thankful for them. My brain is just wired a little differently — whether it’s chemical imbalance or a rocky adolescence or just too much emotion zooming around my head is up for debate. It’s probably a combination of the three, and none of those hold any bearing on how I value the world I’ve made for myself. It’s just an entirely different matter I’m dealing with. You can have a wonderful life and still be depressed. The latter doesn’t mean you’re any less grateful for the former. 5. I know I am lucky that my depression is, for the most part, manageable. It really can be. Most forms of depression are, and whether that is due to medication, therapy, exercise, or a combination of those or anything else varies from person to person. I hated the way medication made me feel, and I know that was probably a matter of not finding the proper medication or dosage, but after cycling on and off more pills than I care to remember, I had to make the decision that I didn’t want to send my body through any more chemical roller coasters in the hopes of finding what might work for me. I began running and eating a plant-based diet instead, and that works for me. Some people find the right dosage on the first try, if medication is what they want. Some people aren’t so lucky, and they do try multiple prescriptions before finding the right thing. A lot of people go to therapy. Some people turn to exercise, or other methods of sorting their brains out. No one choice is better than the other. No one coping mechanism is for more “serious” or “mild” cases of depression than the other, and no one prescription is a cure-all for every form of depression. We’re each all trying to deal in our own way, and however that way is made manageable is the way you ought to go. 6. … You know the dementors in Harry Potter? I wish those were real creatures. Really, I do. Explaining away something with spectral, undead, happiness-feeding evil creatures that suck your soul out of your body and leave you as a dark shell is A) a pretty accurate description for depression anyway, and B) sounds a lot cooler than synapses misfiring and needing to get some endorphins pumping in my brain again. Also, I’d like an excuse to eat chocolate like that. 7. If I let you know I’m feeling depressed, I’m genuinely not trying to drag you down with me. If anything, knowing that another person I love and care about feels affected by a mood that, for the most part, I largely can’t help is enough to make me feel guilty on top of the myriad of emotions I’m already sorting through. It’s not a good feeling. I’m not asking you to try to “fix” me, or to take on the burden of my sadness — I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Letting someone know you’re depressed is not a cry for help — it’s just a method of reaching out and hopefully feeling less alone. 8. There are entire days where you feel like a completely normal human being – whatever that is. And there are days when it feels like winter is endless and everything is just overwhelmingly heavy, but talking about those days feels like dwelling. You have to sift through them, of course, but sometimes it helps to just enjoy the good days for what they are. Understanding why they’re good sort of defeats the point — sometimes you just have to revel in the fact that you feel good. Analyzing it would only put stress on it, and I imagine that sometimes people who don’t have depression aren’t all that consumed with breaking down the concept as to why they’re happy — they just are, in that moment. And someone who has depression often needs to cling that much more tightly to the good days, and enjoy them for what they are. 9. You don’t have to look like the stereotypical “sad person” to have depression. After all, tons of really successful people — including comedians, who always seem to be the antithesis of what people imagine depression to look like — have had depression. Some of them beat it, some of them cope with it, and some of them unfortunately don’t. You never know what kind of battle someone is facing. Sometimes, even putting that much more effort into how you look or how you present yourself can keep your demons at bay, if only for a few hours or a day. If that is all you need to get through another moment in the here and now, then that will serve as enough. Beautiful things often come from the most tortured places, and making art and laughter and culture from a place of depression is no different. 10. I don’t want you to treat me like I’m fragile. This isn’t about being “lesser” for experiencing a human condition. This is about being honest about something that a lot of people deal with. And I don’t always need to talk about the stuff that’s on my mind, but sometimes, it does help to sort things out. But there is a difference between going to a friend for commiseration, and seeking out therapy, and most people with depression know that it’s unwise and even a little unsafe to treat a friend as a therapist. (This is why though I’ve been in therapy for over a decade, I can’t provide any more insight than my own, whatever that is worth in the scope of someone else feeling less alone.) But if I tell you that I’m feeling depressed, I don’t want you to tiptoe around me. I’m just letting you know so that you understand that whatever it is that is dragging me down isn’t on you. That’s not your burden to bear. And even your just being around me and treating me like I’m still just another normal human being with a correctly calibrated emotional spectrum helps. Treat me like I’m me, not like I’m going to shatter at every moment. That helps more than you could ever know.
127
« on: March 19, 2014, 08:30:19 pm »
Wanted a can of food and received a condom? Was hungry and got a slap? This is a dictionary for the same words with different meanings in different countries. Double-meaning words, Different meaning in different languages: Asked for a condom?: If you are browsing through a shop in france while looking for champignon mushroom can or oysters, its better you won’t ask the shop owner in English – since preservatives sounds much like préservatifs in french – which means a condom. A slap in a bar: In spanish, Tapas are, of course, the small dishes that that compile a colorful meal, but you shouldn’t be ordering that in Brazil – Tapas in the brazilian dialect means – Slap. Don’t make a scene out of it: If you are traveling around south america, moving from country that speaks Spanish like Argentina or Peru into Brazil, you would be better not to use the Spanish you have just learned. In most spanish dialects making a cena means to cook a meal. in portuguese it actually means to make a scene, or – cause a riot. Oficina means “a place to fix your car” in Portuguese but “Office” in Spanish; Escritorio is an office in Portuguese but a work table in Spanish. Who smells it: Won is a word that you should be careful using around eastern europe. in Polish it means “good smell”, but in russian it means the exact opposite – Stink. There are a lot of mistakes and confusions between Slavic dialects. If you want to sit on the couch you better know Divwan (Диван) means couch in russian but in Polish its “carpet” (Divan). Another word is Odwet which means an answer to a question – but in polish it means “Revenge”. same words different meanings My clumsy kid: Schlimm is a nickname for a successful smart child in Dutch, but in German it means stupid and unsuccessful. Double-meaning 2, Words with two meanings in the same language: In many languages there are words that are pronounced similar to other words, if you don’t speak the language you are going to have a difficult time understanding the differences. For example – Cat in france (chat) is pronounced like ‘chatte’ which means “female”- for animals and for humans. A duck in france – Canard and Connard are pronounced almost the same, but the second word means, amongst the rest, “Idiot”. Pera with one R means ‘pear’ in spanish, but ‘perra’ is a word that is very similar to the word ‘****’ in the english language.
128
« on: March 19, 2014, 08:26:40 pm »
Beans, potatoes and dry fruits are just part of the foods we consider to be beneficial to our health, but can actually be considered as poisonous foods. Let’s re- think this. Among almonds that contains cyanide, deadly poisonous mushrooms and blowfish filled with tetrodotoxin, there are a few more day to day foods that seems innocent that can cause us quite the damage. Hallucinations, vomiting, poisoning and even stomach aches can be the result of acquiring too much of the following foods: 1.Red Beans Beans have a good reputation of a healthy food, but red kidney beans has to be cooked in boiling water for over 10 minutes at least to expel the poisonous part of it that is caused by phytohaemagglutinin . Just cooking the beans in water without boiling it can harm you even more and may double and even triple the poison part in it. Experts say that a heat blow removes the active poison so it wouldn’t be able to attack to our body cells. poisonous foods 2. Nutmeg A fine spice that just a pinch of it on a pasta dish will do no harm, but eating a large amount of it might lead to a series of physical reactions such as headaches, nausea, dizziness and even hallucinations. The nut has psychoactive material called Myristicin. Experts say that every spice we’ll consume in large quantities – like rosemary, oregano and more – will make us over active. poisonous foods 3. Brazil Nut A different kind of a nut we should keep watch on and eat low quantities of is the Brazil nut, the one shaped like half a moon. It contains Selenium, and large quantities of it can be poisonous to our body. It is recommended to eat up to 3 brazil nuts a day to avoid the selenium poisoning. Experts say that nuts are problematic when it comes to the human body, They are allergenics together with the fact that they are poisonous – and then the reaction could be worse the just poisoning. Nuts may be good for the heart but they contain a lot of chemicals that can do harm. poisonous foods 4. Apricots, plums and cherries Don’t worry, This is not about the wonderful fruits but their seeds that contain poison from the cyanide family. Notice that sometimes there is a warning sticker on different foods like jams, spreads, milk products and so on stating “Might contain seeds”. And in anyway it is not recommended to crack, swallow or chew these seeds. Experts say that its important to check the ingredients if seeds is one of them – and if so, eat low quantities of that specific product. poisonous foods 5. Potatoes Potatoes with green spots are the kind that was picked before time from economical considerations and contain a poisonous solanine that does not wear off even when cooking and baking. Experts say that its not always helpful to take off the green part and it’s better to not use this specific potato at all. poisonous foods 6. Dry fruits Most of the dry fruits that are sold in our markets go through the process of industrial drying that includes using sulfur and potassium sorbate. It is recommended not to eat large amounts of dry fruits to not damage the digestive system. Experts say that exposure to large amounts of sulfur might cause a sensitive stomach and other digestive problems. All of the grains that were not properly stored – may contain fungus that is dangerous to us called micro- toxin. Those fun guesses might also be found in certain organic foods.
129
« on: March 19, 2014, 08:22:08 pm »
Besides the N12m allowance scheduled to be paid to each delegate to the ongoing national conference by the Federal Government, some of the delegates have reportedly requested that their personal aides also be paid by the government. Some of the delegates voiced out their concerns at the inaugural sitting on Tuesday, March 18, 2014. Senator Mohammed Jibrin, a delegate from Jigawa State, asked the leadership of the conference to tell the delegates the number of aides each of them were expected to have. “We need to know the number of aides we are to employ,” he demanded, speaking of drivers, personal assistants, and others. Another delegate, a lady also asked the management of the conference who was going to be responsible for the welfare of their aides. The allowance given each delegate would include money for accommodation, transportation, and part of feeding (the delegates are to have free lunch at the venue of the conference). It was learnt that some delegates met in Abuja on Monday shortly after the inauguration of the conference by President Goodluck Jonathan where the welfare of their aides was discussed. Some then argued that the organisers of the conference ought to inform them about the number of aides they were to employ and who would be responsible for their salaries. Another delegate was said to have given an example of the members of the National Assembly whose aides he said, were being paid by the Federal Government. “This does not affect the salaries and allowances of these lawmakers,” one of the delegates argued. In her response at the inaugural meeting, the Conference Secretary, Mrs. Valeria Azinge, however said there was no provision for personal aides of the delegates. She informed the delegates that the Federal Government had monetised their accommodation, transportation and sitting allowances. “You will all receive your pay slips in two weeks intervals and we won’t disclose what is paid to you in the open. Each and every one of you is however free to divulge it, but that will not come from us,” Azinge said.
130
« on: March 19, 2014, 08:21:07 pm »
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is set to embark on a six day working tour to Namibia, Rome, Holland, Namibia and Italy. President Jonathan will join other world leaders, including President Barrack Obama of the United States, President Francois Hollande of France, Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany at the 2014 global Nuclear Security Summit which opens at the Hague in Holland on Monday, March 24, 2014. This was made known by the President’s spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, on Wednesday, March 19, 2014. The state visit will kick off on Thursday, March 20, 2014 as the President, accompanied by the First lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, will leave Abuja for Windhoek for a two-day state visit to Namibia in the course of which he will participate in a business forum aimed at boosting trade and economic relations between Nigeria and Namibia. President Jonathan will also attend the celebration of Namibia’s 24th Independence Anniversary as a special guest of honour on Friday, March 21. The President will then depart for Rome and the Vatican for talks on Saturday, March 22, 2014 with Pope Francis and Monsignor Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State. President Jonathan will leave Italy for the Netherlands after conferring with the Pope and he is scheduled to lead a high-powered Nigerian delegation to talks on Sunday with the Dutch Prime Minister, Mr. Mark Rutte and senior officials of the Dutch Government before the opening of the Nuclear Security Summit on Monday, March 24. President Jonathan will, later that day, meet with the Chief Executive Officer and other high-ranking officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s largest joint venture partners, Shell Petroleum International, which has its headquarters in the Netherlands. The President will also witness the signing of an investment agreement between Nigeria and Dutch textile giants, Vlisco and meet with Nigerians living in the Netherlands during his visit. He will be accompanied by the Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen. Aliyu Gusau (rtd.), the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Aminu Wali, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, the Minister of Communications and ICT, Mrs. Omobola Johnson and other senior government officials. President Jonathan will leave the Netherlands for Abuja at the conclusion of the Nuclear Security Summit on Tuesday, March 25.
131
« on: March 19, 2014, 08:18:15 pm »
Violence broke out today, Tuesday at Dangote Cement Factory in Gboko, Benue State. One of the worker was said to have stolen a spare tyre and was caught by the army. When his colleagues tried to get him off the hook, an angry soldier shot the young man and killed him instantly. The incident has triggered a riot with shelling of gun fire. An eye witness said he saw two dead bodies and one seriously injured victim. The Cement Factory is now locked down with staff are trapped inside the premises stranded. It will be recalled that there was a similar incident last year that claimed thirteen lives and over one hundred trucks.
132
« on: March 19, 2014, 08:15:11 pm »
1. On a road trip, you start to think of the other cars as your travel companions, and feel a tinge of sadness when you exit the highway. 2. You immediately go back and read an email right after you hit send. 3.You’d rather take an inferior parking spot and walk than stress yourself out looking for the perfect spot. 4.When you take a shower, you make a bucket with your arms to catch as much water as you can and splash it all onto the shower floor. 5.Long phone call = pacing around the entire house. 6.You procrastinate when getting into the shower, but hate getting out once you’re in. 7.You spell out Wednesday like Wed-nes-day in your head when you’re writing it. Also Feb-ru-ary. 8.You get lost in thought while reading, but don’t notice until you’re three pages past where you stopped paying attention. 9.When you’re in a store where you’re not planning on buying anything, you start to get paranoid that security thinks you’re a shoplifter. 10.You rehearse arguments in your head, just in case it should ever come up. 11.You set your alarm earlier than you need to so you can hit the snooze button several times. 12.You always feel relieved when you get home and nobody else is there. 13.Sometimes you check *just one more time* to make sure you can’t actually move things with your mind. (Guilty of this one) 14.You start reading interesting things on the internet and just stop a third of the way through because you lose patience. 15.You need to check behind the shower curtain every time you go in the bathroom. 16.And weirdly you still need to double- check that there’s no one behind you even when you’re looking in the bathroom mirror. 17.You OFTEN feel phantom phone vibrations in your pocket even when your phone didn’t vibrate. 18.You get nervous about making small talk with hairdressers. 19.You sometimes talk to people as if they already had the context of what was going on inside your head. 20.You feel guilty that you’re not helping when a repair guy is fixing something in your house. 21.You immediately forget someone’s name right after they’ve introduced themselves.
133
« on: March 19, 2014, 08:14:14 pm »
God 4give U...don Known wat u are saying...read ur ppl wel..prophet still exist@felox
134
« on: March 19, 2014, 03:59:46 pm »
In computer, both compilers and interpreters are used for the same purpose. They convert one level of language to another level. A compiler converts the high level instructions into machine language while an interpreter converts the high level instruction into some intermediate form and after that, the instruction is executed.Difference between compiler and interpreter is given below: Compiler A compiler is defined as a computer program that is used to convert high level instructions or language into a form that can be understood by the computer. Since computer can understand only in binary numbers so a compiler is used to fill the gap otherwise it would have been difficult for a human to find info in the 0 and 1 form. Earlier the compilers were simple programs which were used to convert symbols into bits. The programs consistes of avery simple and they contained a series of steps translated by hand into the data. However, this was a very time consuming process. More sophisticated compliers are created using the simpler ones. With every new version, more rules added to it and a more natural language environment is created for the human programmer. The complier programs are evolving in this way which improves their ease of use. There are specific compliers for certain specific languages or tasks. Compliers can be multiple or multistage pass. The first pass can convert the high level language into a language that is closer to computer language. Then the further passes can convert it into final stage for the purpose of execution. Interpreter The programs created in high level languages can be executed by using two different ways. The first one is the use of compiler and the other method is to use an interpreter. High level instruction or language is converted into intermediate from by an interpreter. The advantage of using an interpreter is that the high level instruction does not goes through compilation stage which can be a time consuming method. So, by using an interpreter, the high level program is executed directly. That is the reason why some programmers use interpreters while making small sections as this saves time. Almost all high level programming languages have compilers and interpreters. But some languages like LISP and BASIC are designed in such a way that the programs made using them are executed by an interpreter. Compiler 1)A complier converts the high level instruction into machine language. 2)Before execution, entire program is executed by the compiler. 3)List of errors is created by the compiler after the compilation process. 4)An independent executable file is created by the compiler. Interpreter 1)An interpreter converts the high level instruction into an intermediate form. 2)After translating the first line, an interpreter then executes it and so on. 3)An interpreter stops translating after the first error. 4)Interpreter is required by an interpreted program each time.
135
« on: March 19, 2014, 03:56:49 pm »
This is becoming a great advancement in the field of technology that a new iOS 7 update is released for the iPhone users.After the hard work of about six months, Apple has finally released the first major update to the operating system i.e. iOS 7. This great update has been designed by Jony Ive. There are the major changes in buttons and fonts and also a new feature of CarPlay, we've gathered all the changes that will be coming to your iPhone in iOS 7. 1) The slide to unlock along with slide to power down animations have both been changed. ios-7-feature1 2)Buttons are now in circles rather than rectangles. ios-7-feature2 3)Keyboard is now bolder ios-7-feature4 and the shading on the Shift key has been reversed. ios-7-feature3 4)Options for turning off transparency throughout the interface. ios-7-feature4 5)New feature for turning it off on the the dock. ios-7-feature5 6)There's now an option to put shading around text on buttons for telling the location of selected feature. ios-7-feature6 7)There is a feature to set the font of many Apple's apps of their own wish. iphone-feature 7)iOS 7 brings CarPlay(with the compatible vehicle) which lets you use iOS on your car's built-in infotainment system. ios-7-feature7 8)You can control music from iTunes or a third-party apps with it. ios-7-feature8 9)Use Apple Maps for navigation. ios-7-feature9 10)In iPhone 5S,some users face that Touch ID degrades over time, iOS 7 fixes that problem. ios-7-feature111 11) iOS 7 will also improve the significant performance overall. ios-7-feature12 Overall , iOS 7 update bring a major change in the field of technology.Hope you enjoyed this new exciting iOS 7 update ......
136
« on: March 19, 2014, 03:55:19 pm »
Huawei MediaPad X1 is an impressive 7-inch Android Tablet with super fast 4G LTE with up to 150Mbps and a sleek design. The tablet runs on Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) powered by a 1.6GHz quad-core processor. Huawei MediaPad X1 supports voice calls and SMS and features 2GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage. Super fast 7-inch Tablet Huawei MediaPad X1 comes with 4G LTE for super fast downloads up to 150Mbps making it great for video streaming and other broadband services. It has features a brilliant 7-inch display with a resolution of 1200 x 1920 pixels. It spots a 13 megapixels camera on the back and a 5 megapixels camera in front. Essenlially, the Huawei MediaPad X1 is a phablet (a combination of a phone and a tablet). You can watch movies and browse the web with the brilliant 7-inch display and you can also make call and send SMS and MMs. Huawei MediaPad X1 also features Reverse charging which enables you recharge or power your other devices via your tablet. Price and Availability Huawei MediaPad X1 tablet will be available in some countries starting April 2014, though we can't confirm pricing or availability for Nigeria at this time. We expect Huawei MediaPad X1 tablet Price in Nigeria to range from N90,000 to N105,000 at launch. Huawei MediaPad X1 Specs A brief specs of Huawei MediaPad X1 tablet: Dimension: 183.5 x 103.9 x 7.2 mm Weight: 239 g Display: 7-inch Touchscreen (1920 x 1200 pixels, 323ppi) Processor: 1.6GHz quad-core Processor Graphics: GPU Memory: 2GB RAM Storage: 16 GB Up to 32GB Memory card Operating System: Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) Rear Camera: 13MP Camera with 1080p HD Video, LED Flash, Autofocus Front Camera: 5MP Camera Micro SIM Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (dual-band for LTE model) Bluetooth 4.0 GSM/GPRS/EDGE Fast 3G (HSPA+) Internet Super Fast 4G LTE Voice Calls & SMS Stereo Speakers DTS Sound Microphones Image Editor Document Viewer 3.5mm jack Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass GPS Colour: Snow White, Diamond Black Reverse Charging Battery: 5000 mAh Li-Po Battery Battery Life: Up to 15 Hours Browsing Time
137
« on: March 19, 2014, 03:51:30 pm »
The president send her name to the Senate for confirmation. President Goodluck Jonathan has sent the name of Zainab Bulkachuwa to the Senate for confirmation as the President of the Court of Appeal. Ms. Bulkachuwa is already a judge at the court. The nomination must be confirmed by the Senate before the judge can be sworn-in. Ms. Bulkachuwa will head Nigeria’s second highest court at a time Nigeria’s judiciary is also headed by a female. Mariam Aloma Mukhtar was appointed first female Chief Justice of the Federation by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012. Mr. Jonathan had approved the appointment of Justice Bulkachuwa as the Acting President Of The Court Of Appeal in November 2012 after the retirement of Justice Dalhatu Adamu. Mrs Bulkachuwa was born in March 1950 and represents Gombe State at the Appeal Court. She was called to the Bar in 1976, and elevated to the Appeal Court in 1998. Before then, she served as a judge in the High Court of Bauchi State and was at a time the Chief Judge of Gombe State. Her profile on the website of the Court of Appeal listed the celebrated matters she handled to include the Sokoto State governorship election petition of 2007 and the case instituted by former Governor Timipre Sylva last year to challenge the nomination of Seriake Dickson as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate. Prior to her appointment as President, she was the Presiding Judge of the Abuja division of the court. She is due to retire in 2020, the court says. After she was sworn in as acting president on November 23, 2012, Justice Bulkachuwa expressed happiness for attaining such an enviable position in a male-dominated society. She promised to assess plans on ground in order yo come up with workable strategies that would take the judiciary to a higher level. “I feel happy, I feel elated, but I also thank God for bringing me to this stage. “I have to see what is on ground and then make my plans,” she said. Comment
138
« on: March 19, 2014, 03:48:58 pm »
A workshop organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, weekend, to educate Nigerian Legislators on some intricate parts of telecom business/investments, incidentally exposed that Nigerians make a massive monthly investment of over four hundred billion naira on recharge cards alone. This whopping sum, may have demystified the age long cliché that ‘Talk is cheap’. Besides, the investment on recharge cards, surprisingly dwarfed the ones made on House Rent, Petrol, Kerosene and electricity –options, known to have squeezed the economies of average Nigerians for several decades. From the statistics of an ICT expert, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode of Aluko & Oyebode law firm, Nigerians spend 149.1bn on House rent, 128bn on Petrol, 144.8bn on Kerosene, and 91.8bn on electricity monthly. At the workshop themed: “ICT infrastructure as key driver for economic development: what role for the legislature?” Oyebode reeled out these figures to postulate the impact of ICT infrastructure on economic development. However, he noted that “a study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, shows that broadband penetration contributes significantly to economic growth. But notwithstanding all of the potential of ICT to GDP, Nigeria still lags behind due to insufficient development of ICT infrastructure. Today, broadband penetration is estimated at 6% in Nigeria. Another facilitator and Principal Partner, Kayafas Konsult Ltd, Mr Stephen Bello, also echoed Oyebode’s view that broadband is at its infancy in Nigeria with less than about 2% of the population having access to it. He however added that the cost is still exorbitant even for corporate bodies. “We are still far from ITU targets which recommend that 50% of citizens and 40% of households by 2015 should have access to broadband. However, the recent policy framework and spectrum auction by NCC are designed to boost broadband availability in Nigeria.” Meanwhile, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah while briefing the legislators at the workshop said that the Nigerian National Broadband Plan seeks to promote broadband deployment, increase broadband adoption and usage, and ensure the availability of broadband services at affordable prices. Juwah argued that the effect of this would be an increase in competition in the industry, a downward impact on prices, and improved quality of services to subscribers.” The workshop also provided operators the opportunity to give their perspectives on the Open Access Model of the NCC, meant to deepen broadband penetration. In a paper titled:Broadband and Infrastructure development in Nigeria: Operators’ perspective of the Open Access Model, Executive Officer, MainOne, Ms. Funke Opeke, contended that “operators have had a mixed reaction to the Open Access model. Large, incumbent operators with most of the existing infrastructure have not been very enthusiastic about the plan. Since open access will drive convergence of infrastructure costs to a common benchmark, it will become increasingly difficult to gain benefits from proprietary infrastructure, higher tariffs, which make it difficult for new entrants/smaller players to participate in the telecoms value chain in Nigeria. Currently, the bigger you are, the more you can maximize value across the entire value chain, from value added services like ring tone, content distribution, to network connectivity services, corporate connectivity, Internet service.” She also added that “open access implies barriers to entry will not be as high and thus new players could come into the market if they think they can do better without having to build out and replicate the infrastructure owned by any of the big boys. Smaller players are excited at the opportunity – but daunted by the challenges and need support. The example of Superflux is a good one. Indigenous entrepreneurs that are raising money locally will need support if we do not want to stifle their growth. This is a proven model in other parts of the world, so we need government to support them.” Joseph Tegbe of KPMG, also made a case for the Open Access Model. Based on the various challenges in the country and the trend of deployments in other jurisdictions, he sought to convince the lawmakers that the Open Access Broadband Deployment Model is suited for Nigeria as it wouldthe gaps in broadband deployment, through the deployment of new fibre and leveraging existing fibre infrastructure;available the new network infrastructure and services to all telecom operators on a fair and non- discriminatory basis at a regulated price; minimise duplication of rollout and unnecessary environmental impact; Help realise the objectives of the National broadband plan with a minimum broadband speed of 1.5 Mbps to the general population; Facilitate faster and wider broadband penetration nationwide andsharing of infrastructure.
139
« on: March 19, 2014, 03:46:55 pm »
President Goodluck Jonathan has reportedly ordered embattled Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, to refund the N1,000 application fee collected from job seekers. Whilespeaking with reporters after the weekly Federal Executive Council, Nigeria’s minister of information, Labaran Maku also announced it has canceled the recruitment exercise, that a panel has been set up to conduct another recruitment exercise. There has been an increased clamor for the minister in charge of the recruitment exec rise be fired. However, a Presidency source told SaharaReporters that the minister, Abba Moro is a close ally and nominee of the Senate President, David Mark making it impossible for President Jonathan to fire him from office. Meanwhile the House of Representatives, while condemning the tragedy, called on the Federal Government to take steps towards identifying relatives of the deceased victims, and offer them automatic employments, since in members’ opinion, the victims died in active service to the nation.
140
« on: March 19, 2014, 03:44:27 pm »
Turkey’s national carrier denied on Wednesday allegations of arms shipments to unknown groups in Nigeria, which has been ravaged by violence between the army and Islamist militants. “Turkish Airlines, in accordance with company policy, does not ship arms to countries … where there is a power vacuum or conflict,” the airline said in a statement sent to AFP. “There have been no arms shipments from Turkey … to (Nigeria),” it added. In a tape posted on YouTube on Tuesday, Mehmet Karatas, an airline executive, allegedly tells Mustafa Varank, an advisor to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that he feels guilty over the national flag carrier’s arms shipments to Nigeria. “I do not know whether these (weapons) will kill Muslims or Christians. I feel sinful,” Karatas is allegedly heard saying. The leaked audio tape has the potential to harm the airline’s image — which is 49 percent state-owned and is in an aggressive push to become a global player. It was the latest in a series of recordings implicating Erdogan and his aides in corruption and other abuses of power ahead of crucial local polls on March 30. The Turkish premier, in power since 2003, has dismissed most of the tapes as “vile” fakes put together by his political opponents.
141
« on: March 19, 2014, 03:41:16 pm »
Tasty and refreshing, there are lots of medicinal benefits associated with Zobo drink. Victor Okeke reports. We call it Zobo locally but it is known as Hibiscus Sabdariffa or Roselle in most other English speaking countries. Zobo drink is a popular street-side juice usually sold in refill bottles. Zobo is a supplemental herb that is derived the plants calyces, which are the collection of sepals separating the blooming flower from the stem. It is usually soaked into water and drank for its medicinal and refreshing benefits. There are lots of medicinal benefits associated with Hibiscus as it contains a lot of anti-oxidizing agents and vitamins. According to Dr. Kurtis Frank, although it has a variety of claims medicinally, it appears to have evidence to support its role in reducing blood pressures in persons with elevated blood pressure. Zobo can be taken hot or cold and as iced drink, it is a remedy for quenching thirst effectively. It is often recommended as an alternative to artificially prepared commercial sport drinks that are marketed to physically active individuals. This cooling and thirst quenching benefit is probably because of the diuretic properties of Zobo, which helps in the excretion of excess fluid from the body. The plant also has antihypertensive properties. According to esgreen.com, this was noted in a study of 70 people were a half of the people drank Zobo tea daily and the other half took 25 mg of antihypertensive medicine twice daily. After a month, 79 per cent of the tea drinkers experienced a ten point reduction in blood pressure, 84 per cent of the ones that took the pharmaceutical drug also experienced the same reduction in blood pressure. Some tea drinkers use Zobo drink as a weight reduction therapy. Our body produces an enzyme known as amylase which functions to breakdown complex sugar and starch molecules in food. When a person consumes too much carbohydrate- rich food, that individual is most likely going to gain weight. According to health experts, Zobo contains a substance that prevents the production of amylase. A person regularly taking Zobo drink can thus prevent too much absorption of carbohydrate and consequently not gain excess weight. According to the book “Healing Herbal Teas,” fresh Hibiscus flowers contain around 6.7 mg of ascorbic acid, a form of vitamin C, which is one the more essential nutrients needed by the body. Along with this, Hibiscus is known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Thus, Hibiscus is often used as a supplement to help treat coughs and cold. Because of its cooling effect, it is especially effective in reducing the discomfort of fever that may accompany such ailments. It is important to note, however, that higher doses of Hibiscus do exert some toxic effect, although none of these have been reported in humans, that being said, they have not been disproven either. It would be better to avoid taking too much Hibiscus, especially since many Hibiscus benefits are not dose- dependent. How to Prepare Zobo Drink Ingredients: 2 cups of dried Zobo leaves, 5 cups of water, ½ bunch of pineapple, 2 tbs of vanilla extract, ¼ cup of sugar, 1 ½ tbs of ginger. Procedure: Lightly rinse the Zobo leaves in cold water. Wash the pineapple and peel the skin, slice and set it aside. Add the water in a pot and bring to a boiling point. As soon as sit starts boiling, add the rinsed flowers, pineapple and ginger. Cover and boil for 15 minutes, turn off the heat and allow cooling for 5 minutes. Using a large bowl, sieve the mixture to get the juice. Pour the drained mixture into a pitcher, add additional water if desired and vanilla extract. Taste to gauge the level of sweetness before adding sugar. Stir and refrigerate, best served chilled.
142
« on: March 19, 2014, 03:36:15 pm »
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday declared that the high wave of insurgency and sectarian violence across the country are sponsored to undermine the person, office and administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. The party accused the “opposition” of sponsoring the attacks, adding that the tactic is to distract the president, constrain the successful delivery of his transformation agenda so as to portray him as non- performing and finally ridicule his score card when time of reckoning comes. The party, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Oliseh Metuh, further declared that Jonathan was being persecuted solely because he hails from a minority part of the country. The party however said Jonathan has performed beyond expectation, arguing that no leader in the history of the country had faced the magnitude of persecution that the president has been subjected to since he assumed office. The statement reads in part: “It is beyond conjecture that the Nigerian version of terrorism is the product of a narrow political persuasion that defies logic and reason. “We accept the reality of terrorism as a global phenomenon; however, the peculiar trend of the Nigerian version which subsists on a welter of nebulous demands and masked identities, hacking down innocent Nigerians -women, children and the elderly in an awful scorched earth fashion, and in an obstinate ridicule of dialogue, defies all reason and logic and only summarises a well considered agenda of national destabilisation for a purely selfish political cause. We pointedly finger the opposition. “We recall statements by some politicians, vowing to make the country ungovernable for President Jonathan on the eve of the 2011 general elections, and therefore adjure Nigerians to rise against this brute ideology of violence from which a tiny clique of the political class intends to benefit ultimately. It is the climax of wickedness only heard of the Lucifer in the distant bosom of hell fire.” “Ironically, this is in spite of his humility and his fidelity to the orthodoxy of all democratic norms and values. This is in spite of his proven commitment to the unity and progress of every party of Nigeria irrespective of tribe and religion. Ironically, this is in spite of his proven competence and record delivery of his electoral promises.” The PDP, therefore, commended the president for not only effectively containing the insurgency but beating down distractions and detractions to post unprecedented landmark achievements in all sectors of the economy in the last two and half years he has been at the helm of affairs. The party listed some of the achievements to include the revolutionary efforts in the works sector with the dualisation and rehabilitation of major trunk roads across the country, in addition to the repair of Third Mainland Bridge and the commencement of the works on the Second Niger Bridge. Also listed are the resuscitation of the inland waterways and the railway system which had been abandoned for years, the establishment of Almajiri education system and the setting up of nine new federal universities across the country. Others, according to the party, include the completion and commissioning of key power stations across the country, the new automobile policy, the revolution in the housing sector with the establishment of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), the first of its kind in the country, which is tailored to deliver 75,000 houses every year for Nigerians, in addition to a million direct and indirect jobs as well as the Agricultural Transformation Agenda through which six million farmers have received inputs in a programme that targets an increase in domestic food production by an additional 20 million tonnes and creating 3.5 million jobs before the end of 2015. “This is in addition to the investments in job creation through the YouWin and SURE-P projects as well as the widening of the ambit of the PDP ideology of transferring wealth from public institutions to the private sector wherein hardworking private individuals are now thriving in manufacturing, trade, commerce and other critical sectors of the economy”, the party said. It, therefore, called on all well meaning Nigerians to resist those behind the sectarian violence and insurgency in the country and shore up support for the president in his efforts to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.
143
« on: March 19, 2014, 03:32:25 pm »
A resident of Abuja, Biliaminu Mamuda, 22, has been sentenced to six months imprisonment without an option of fine by an FCT Senior Magistrates' Court at Karu after stealing a motorcycle. In delivering his sentence, Magistrate Bashir Alkali said: "Having listened to the accused person, who has admitted the charges contained in the First Information Report (FIR), I hereby use my discretion to try him summarily. "The convict is hereby sentenced to six months' imprisonment without an option of fine, to serve as a deterrent to others out there." According to the prosecutor of the case, Cpl. Francis Udofia, Mamuda and two others, who are now at large, snatched a motorcycle from one Imodi Ransome at Karu. Udofia said the convict had hired Ransome, a commercial motorcycle rider, to take him from INEC office in Karu to Nyanya. "On their way, the accused person asked the victim to stop at a deserted area where two other people appeared from the bush and attacked him. "They succeeded in snatching his motorcycle. But an alarm raised by the victim attracted passersby who apprehended the accused while trying to escape with the motorcycle. "His two gang members managed to escape and they are currently at large," said the prosecutor, who put the value of the motorcycle at N120,000.
144
« on: March 19, 2014, 03:23:45 pm »
Dr Olushola Osho, the Chief Consultant Cardiologist in a private hospital in Ikoyi, Lagos said on Tuesday that many Nigerians with cardiovascular problems were unaware of their condition. Osho told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that cardiovascular diseases referred to ailments that affected the heart and blood vessels and by extension, the brain and kidneys. “The reason why cardiovascular conditions also take prominence is that they are the most cryptic medical things that can hit people without their knowing. “Some cardiovascular conditions, especially high blood pressure will be in people without any symptoms in the person; they won’t feel anything, just feel well. “And the first time the person knows that anything is wrong is that they are probably dead or they’ve suffered a massive heart attack from which they may survive and subsequently do very badly. “Or suddenly suffer a very big stroke from which they don’t recover or they recover badly or they suddenly find themselves in kidney failure.“ Osho noted that most Nigerians were in the habit of ignoring their health problems and allowing their condition to worsen thus becoming injurious. “So it is sensible to know that some of these conditions, particularly the cardiovascular ones, will not tell you anything. “They also present in a very similar way to any other medical condition like malaria, body aches and pains, headaches, which people dismiss very easily. “Or quickly take one or two tablets and they may get a respite and think that is the end. “So these are reasons why people must look out for themselves and check.“ Osho urged the public to go for regular medical check-up to be able to detect illnesses early enough. He said that regular exercise and healthy dieting had the capacity to promote the health of the heart and blood vessels. He said almonds, whole grains, fish rich in Omega-3 as well as fruits and vegetables contained dietary nutrients with the capacity to boost the wellbeing of the heart.
145
« on: March 19, 2014, 03:22:38 pm »
Fresh Democratic Party on Tuesday threatened fresh litigation against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for alleged disobedience of court order against its de-registration, The threat is in protest of persistent refusal of INEC to re-register and recognise Fresh Democratic Party in election materials being prepared for the coming elections. The party founded by Pastor Chris Okotie, told reporters that the action was a disrespect to the Federal High Court, “defiance to the rule of law and constitutionalism.” Following INEC’s de-registration of some parties in December 2012, Fresh Party had challenged the legality of the action, which got a favourable ruling from Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in July 2013. National Legal Adviser to the party, Kola Dopamu, noted that though INEC filed an appeal against the ruling after five months, the judgment, however, stands, restoring hope in democratic system in the country. He said: “One would have expected that INEC being a democratic institution would give effect to the judgment and allow Fresh Democratic Party to participate. Alas! This was not to be. “INEC has refused to give recognition to our party in sharp contrast to the judgment of a competent court and the constitution that they all profess to uphold,” he said. “We think what should be targeted is a concept of organic and not just mechanic democracy that preserves the rule of law, separation of powers that is participatory and pluralistic. The reprehensible and egregious disobedience of a lawful order of a honourable court is an affront to the rule of law.” He further said that members of the party were disappointed by their non-recognition in the recent Anambra State election, but would not be laid-back to watch continuous contempt of court proceeding, as Ekiti and Osun states elections draws near. A Lagos lawyer who represented the party in court, Fred Agbaje, said Fresh Democratic Party would be returning to court to get injunction against Ekiti, Osun and the 2015 general election, until Fresh Party is recognised. Agbaje said what was challenged in court was the “innocuous provision” in Section 78 of Electoral Act 2010/11 that purportedly gave INEC the power to de-register any party. He said, following the ruling, which upturned the provision, all related parties accepted the judgment except INEC. “Experience has taught me that when you expect Federal Government parastatals to behave reasonably, they often don’t. We could have challenged this during the Anambra election, but for our policy of pacifism,” he said.
146
« on: March 19, 2014, 03:21:36 pm »
Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has sworn in the new Chief Judge of the State. He is Justice Peter Nwoke Chukwuma Agumagu, who was sworn in following a judgement delivered by a Federal High Court sitting in Rivers State. At a brief swearing-in ceremony in Government House, Port Harcourt, Tuesday, the new Chief Judge took the oath of office in the presence of the state governor. In his charge to the new Chief Judge, Governor Amaechi congratulated him and urged him to be dedicated in the discharge of his official responsibilities. Recalling that he was sworn in after series of legal battles, Amaechi, however, appealed to him to see beyond the contest and be fair and treat everybody equally. “My Lord, let me congratulate you on this your appointment. The actual phrase would be ‘at last’ and I was a bit worried with the way people in the judiciary fought over who would be the Chief Judge of the State. “I was more than worried when there was an attempt to take away the power of the Governor to appoint a Chief Judge and rest it somewhere else, and I was wondering if there was no need to ask for the interpretation of the constitution. “Today, we recognize and accept in total the judgement of the Federal High Court of Nigeria and we say to you congratulations. “Don’t forget that in every office in Nigeria, virtually every office in Nigeria not even a bishop is appointed without a contest, so I hope that you would see what happened as a mere contest and treat everybody equally and be fair and ensure that you remain as dedicated as you have always been”. He thanked the Federal High Court in the state for ensuring that justice was done on the matter. “I would on behalf of Rivers State thank the Federal High Court for helping us out of this bondage. I would say to the Federal High Court that our brothers who by privilege of their position in high office, should not abuse their office again. “They should learn to treat such things on merit not based on cronyism and hope that this will settle once and for all the challenges and disagreements in the judiciary. I pray that political interference will not come in any more”. The Chief Judge, Justice P. N. C. Agumagu in a brief chat with journalists after his swearing-in pledged to ensure that justice delivery would be given its pride of place. “My agenda for the judiciary is to see a better judiciary, to make sure that justice delivery is given the pride of place and also to make sure that all staff of the judiciary get the best during my tenure”, he said.
147
« on: March 19, 2014, 03:20:24 pm »
Prominent African Actor, Van Vicker is currently using crutches after getting injured during a friendly football match between the Actors Guild of Nigeria, aka Nollywood and Ghana’s Gollywood on Thursday, March 6, 2014. The Actor was one of the eleven players that represented Ghana at the Kumasi Sports Stadium; he was however substituted after he got injured. He was immediately rushed to Sunshine Hospital in Ghana for treatment. The Actor has directed and produced a few films and he is happily married with kids.
148
« on: March 19, 2014, 03:16:58 pm »
The Federal Government on Tuesday declared that subsidy on premium motor spirit (PMS) commonly called petrol and Kerosene (DPK) can no longer be sustained. Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who stated this in Abuja at the ongoing Nigerian Oil and Gas Conference, explained that the subsidy payable to marketers on imported refined petroleum products was weighing down the economy. “Now that reforms in power sector are underway, the next focus should be reforms in the downstream sub-sector, she said. “The continued regulation of the downstream sector has its positive and negative impact on the economy. But the negative effect is more than the positive. “The subsidy policy cannot be sustained any longer. This is because the subsidy payment did not benefit the poor it was targeting but rather, it is benefiting the rich. “The industry needs to move to the next level by increasing revenue and curbing oil theft and pipeline vandalism” Alison- Madueke insisted. The Minister, however, blamed the scarcity of petrol on sabotage, diversion, hoarding, panic buying and rumours of imminent pump price increase. She also outlined challenges confronting the government to include perennial oil theft, pipeline vandalism and non-passage of the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) that has been lying in the National Assembly for years now. “The PIB is still with the National Assembly and we hope that it will be passed very soon. However, we have been confronted with the menace of pipeline vandalism for decades and it has become much more prevalent in the last few years. “In 2013 alone, all the major crude oil pipelines were severely damaged and vandalised at different points in time. The Bonny–Escravos line from the refinery was not spared either. “Needless to say that pipeline vandalism and sabotage created significant losses for the country. “This includes direct and indirect costs for the provision of security, crude oil and petroleum products losses, production and environmental degradation and associated remediation cost to that and resulting escalation of project implementation cost that go along with it,” she said. Despite these challenges, the Minister added that, “a stable 2.3 million barrels per day production of crude oil was achieved in 2013 and with the capacity to boost production to 3 million barrels per day. “Gas production also increased from 6.3 trillion standard cubic feet per day to 8.1 trillion standard cubic feet per day also in 2013.” Government had partially regulated the downstream sector with diesel selling at N150 per litre. Kerosene also sells at N150 per litre even though the product is being subsidised by government. The issue of building new refineries to address the issue of fuel importation has never received the blessing of the government. Meanwhile, Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, has confirmed that the Federal Government lost over $11 billion worth of oil revenue in 2013 due to incessant attacks on major pipelines and crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region. Yakubu, who also spoke at the conference, said in 2013 alone, Nigeria lost 300,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd). “By implication, computing these figures at an average price of $100 per barrel, it would results in a total loss of $10,950,000,000 in 2013 alone. “Nigeria has faced unprecedented challenges with regards to losses in production occasioned by incessant vandalism of crude oil export pipelines and domestic crude oil and petroleum product pipelines. “In 2013, Nigeria suffered severe attacks on its critical export pipeline system leading to the loss and or deferment of about 300,000 bpd. “This deferred production or loss is equivalent to the total production of Equatorial Guinea and larger than the entire production of Ghana, Congo Brazzaville, Cameroun and Gabon,” he lamented. Expressing concern over the colossal loss, the NNPC boss stated that the Federal Government has taken steps to curb the menace and put the nation’s oil sector on the part of sustainable growth.
149
« on: March 19, 2014, 03:14:03 pm »
Barely few weeks after been kicked out of his residential as well as his school apartment, Actor Emeka Ike has allegedly run off to Abuja with two of his kids, deserting his wife and the other two kids in Lagos. According to reports, Emeka Ike abandoned his German wife, Emma in search of greener pastures in Abuja. He left her because he felt she wasn’t supportive enough. Celebrity blogger, Stella Dimokokorkus wrote thus: “To say that Emma and her two kids are going through hell is an understatement. I am pained that he would subject her to such a degrading level of existence and go free. There have been allegations also that there is a lot of spousal abuse going on but I cannot out-rightly say that because the woman has not come out herself to cry out. It is a pity that some men are babies and use children as scape goats to carry out revenge against their spouses.” At the moment, the Actor is yet to respond to the allegation.
150
« on: March 19, 2014, 08:12:49 am »
The Nigerian navy said on Tuesday that it had arrested 22 Chinese nationals for fishing in its territorial waters without permits and travel passports. Four foreign vessels and their crew were held in the operation, Commodore Godwin Ochai told reporters in Onne, outside the southern oil city of Port Harcourt. “When our troops went on board… they discovered that the four vessels had no immigration documents, neither did its 22 crew members have international passports,” he added. “We discovered that the suspects did not have any form of permit to engage in fishing activities in the nation’s territorial waters.” The suspects, who were arrested last Friday, were later handed over to Nigeria’s immigration service for further investigation, Ochai said. The impounded vessels were carrying several tons of fish. Television footage showed images of the Chinese nationals being paraded before reporters. Ochai alleged that the Chinese had breached international maritime laws and procedure by fishing in Nigerian waters without authorisation. “The Nigerian navy… will continue to go after both foreign and domestic threats capable of undermining the nation’s security and economy,” he said. “We will go after them, arrest them and put them forward for prosecution.” A Nigerian immigration officer, Briggs Dawaye, said that a thorough probe wou
| |