Latest and Current Articles, Items & News on Sahara Reporters

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Emmanuel Onwubiko - In my previous article titled 'Jega and the fading optimism', I dealt with the excruciating experiences of Nigerians trying to register their names as voters in the ongoing registration of voters by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headed by the erstwhile vice Chancellor of the Bayero University Kano, Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega who incidentally came to national limelight during the military regimes when he headed the reputable Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

I raised a number of issues which cropped up at the announcement last June by President Goodluck Jonathan that he has approved the appointment of Professor Jega to head the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Source: How Not To Register Voters

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By Opoze Mark - One person's account of the fated deportation flight to Nigeria and the questions which remain to be answered.

Some came in their pyjamas, a woman was handcuffed, a handful of men in silence, confused children who never stopped asking their mothers endless questions and a boy with his 25 x 12 size cardboard Santa Claus picture in hand. Tears dropped from my eyes. He held onto that as his most prized possession. When I asked his mum why he was guarding the picture, she said that since he was told we were going to Africa he cried, said that he wanted to take his picture to Africa.

He was born and raised for 5 years in Ireland in a direct provision centre and yet the Irish immigration people in their infinite wisdom picked him up from school that afternoon alongside his two brothers to be deported on the night flight.

Some children were woken up from sleep as early as 4 o'clock that morning, not allowed to have a shower nor brush their teeth. These children were not given any explanation other than that they were going to Africa. For most of them it was their first ride in an airplane. Sure enough, they are going to make that trip because the Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern, believes they deserve this because they happen to be called Nigerians.

Source: A Ride On The Deportation Plane

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Osi Okponobi - The recent performance of INEC in the recently concluded Delta State Elections and the Voters Registration exercise has caused me to review how appointments are made in Nigeria.

Time and time again, I have always emphasised on the need for Experience and Competence over any other consideration, when considering appointing people into offices or positions.  My view, and take on the problem with/of INEC, and to a large extent, most Nigerian INSTITUTIONS, is that their heads, or those appointed to head them, are usually appointed based on FAULTY PREMISES.

Nigerians wrongly believe that as long as the person or appointee is honest, a man of integrity, incorrigible or a SAINT, he must do a perfect job.  They believe honesty alone is the sine qua non for good performance.  Sometimes, being honest, incorrigible, having integrity or being uncompromising is not usually enough to do well in a job.  The most important elements or factors, for me, are EXPERIENCE, SKILLS and KNOWLEDGE.  This is why the UK and many other advanced societies usually place emphasis on KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS OR ABILITIES AND EXPERIENCE when making appointments into positions. 

Source: The Problem With Our Appointment Systems In Nigeria

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Despite the continue hyping of the Abuja-based Daily Trust newspaper of an "impending deal" between the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Congress of Progressive Change (CPC), it was a tumult-free political day in the country today, and reliable sources within the ACN reiterated to SaharaReporters that no such deal is in the works.

Source: ACN/CPC Merger Talks: No Deal

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Daniel Fayemi - Presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to resign.

The call for his resignation came following findings of the Presidential Advisory Committee headed by retired General Theophilus Danjuma that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is engrossed in massive corruption and high level debt profile.

Source: Resign Now! Ribadu Tells Jonathan

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Citizen Reports - As the nation reels from the news of the EFCC's arrest of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Mr Adeseyi Sijuwade, following his indictment by the State Security Service (SSS), questions are being asked as to whether he could have acted alone or in concert with others.

As the nation reels from the news of the EFCC's arrest of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Mr Adeseyi Sijuwade, following his indictment by the State Security Service (SSS), questions are being asked as to whether he could have acted alone or in concert with others.

THE DAMNING INDICTMENT

"The efforts by the Federal Government in revamping the moribund rail sector, to complement road transportation has been marred by controversies and allegations of corruption in the NRC. The current administration in NRC under Sijuwade has not shown any sign of seriousness, to revamp the system as it has allowed personal interest to override its duties." – SSS Report

THE CHARGE
"Investigation has revealed that the process for the award of the contract for the rehabilitation of NRC Eastern line, Port Harcourt – Kaduna Junction and that of the other NRC Eastern line, Kafanchan – Maiduguri, is fraught with corruption and irregularities, masterminded by Sijuwade. He has been accused of manipulating the contract procedures to favour predetermined  contractors and recommending unqualified contractors for specified jobs"  - SSS Report

THE BACKGROUND
The project involves major rehabilitation of Nigerian Railway Corporation's existing narrow gauge single line rail track, including the bridges and culverts, from Port-Harcourt to Maiduguri. The estimated total length of track work to be covered is 1,654km. In order to enable quick delivery of the work within the expected time frame, the work is divided into two contracts.

Contract (3) covers the rehabilitation work from Port-Harcourt to Kaduna Junction through Kafanchan - approximately 916km. Consultant's Estimate: N47.9 billion.

Contract (4) covers the rehabilitation work from Kafanchan to Maiduguri, including the branch line from Kuru to Jos, totaling approximately 738 km. Consultant's Estimate: N30.7 billion.

Bids were invited in February 2010 by publications in the Nigerian press.  Thirty-five companies expressed interest, and 13 of them were prequalified to submit technical and financial proposals. Twelve companies submitted bids in May 2010 and were evaluated by a team led by Sijuwade. Two of the companies were recommended to the Ministry of Transportation for award of the contracts.  In the end, Contract 3 went to Eser Nigeria Contracting Company Limited at N35.59 billion, while Contract 4 went to Symdicate Construction and Commercial Company Limited at N29.96 billion.

Complaints however followed the awards, and the Chairman of the NRC, Alhaji Bello Haliru, initiated an investigation which was later expanded to involve the SSS.

Source: The Great Nigerian Railway 100 Billion Naira Robbery And The Ooni Of Ife's Connection

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Ambassador John Campbell has written an important book on Nigeria which demands the attention of every Nigerian and every American interested in Nigerian politics and Nigeria's place in African and global affairs.

Source: Nigeria: Dancing On The Brink: A Critical Book Review

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Six people, including the anointed gubernatorial candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in Borno State, Alhaji Modu Fannami Gubio and a younger brother of Governor Sheriff, were shot dead yesterday in Maiduguri.

Alhaji Gubio was the  cousin of current governor, Ali Modu Sheriff.  He was also the Commissioner for Finance in the state. It is unclear if Alhaji Gubio, who was shot in front of his house, was assassinated by the Boko Haram militants in the state who have vowed to kill the governor.

Source: ANPP Governorship Candidate, Brother Of Governor, Among Six Shot Dead In Borno

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A 33-year old Nigerian lawyer, Akeem Ajimotokan, who works with Columbia University in New York as a procurement officer, was found in a coma yesterday in the trunk of his car, his hands bound behind him with tapes and a part of his ear chopped off.

       

The New York Police Department found Mr. Ajimotokan after the would-be robber of his BMW car ditched the car after an accident and fled the scene.

NYPD officials said that Akeem's assailant, an ex-convict, Barion Blake,  specializes in stealing BMW cars and had spent time in various jails in the area before his latest crime.  Mr. Blake is still on the run.

Police sources said evidence found at the back seat of Akeem's car shows that Blake was trying to steal his fully loaded  BMW M3 coupe which he'd pretended he wanted to buy for $46,000 according to a bill of sale found in the car.

Akeem is listed in critical condition in Harlem Hospital in New York.

Source: Sahara Reporters.

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Whilst Rome burns my people, Nigerians, are waiting for another failed election come April this year after which my people will moan, whine and procrastinate ...and then settle down; we always do after wasted and spent energy. At the end of this election process the 'selected' govt  will work out how the loudest  and most stubborn agitators whining about the recently concluded unscrupulous '(s)elections' can be pacified.

Juicy contracts and government appointments have a way of 'calming' frayed nerves. We might even delude ourselves into celebrating (sic) the dividends of democracy by proclaiming the 'successful' and continued democratic experience and development in Nigeria. The foreign media might even refer to it as a successful "hand over from one democratically (s)elected government to another" albeit it will be PDP hierarchy handing over to themselves; note the operative phrase here is " successful hand over".

Source: A Pessimistic Look At The Forth Coming Elections In Nigeria This Year