Military to Vacate N'Delta Communities as Presidency and Governors Start Dialogue Over Militants in Aso Rock

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo met with some state governors, ministers and security chiefs at the Presidential Villa today to begin discussions on ending cases of attacks by militants on oil installations in Niger Delta.

VP Osinbajo and N'Delta governors at the meeting

 

At a marathon meeting on Tuesday at the presidential villa Abuja, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo agreed that the military troops will vacate Niger Delta communities but remain on the waterways.

 

This new development is to allow for the dialogue with the militants by the delegation of the President Buhari-led federal government.

 

Earlier today, we reported it here that the vice president was meeting with some state governors and security chiefs as the discussions are focused on ending cases of attacks by militants on oil installations in the Niger Delta region.

 

Some of the governors in attendance include; Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State , Governors Seriake Dickson of Baylesa, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, and Cross River was represented by the deputy governor, Ivara Esu.

 

Briefing the media after the meeting, the governor of Delta state, Ifeanyi Okowa, said: 

 

“We were briefed by the service chiefs and the governors also have their own perspectives along with the minister of state for petroleum. We have taken a lot of decisions which will help us mitigate what is going on currently in the states particularly Bayelsa and Delta.

“We believe we are going to find solution to it. One of such is that there is a need for us to share intelligence which is very important and for us to be proactive, working together with the various stakeholders in the states to achieve a better result going forward.

“We have also agreed that there is a need to distill military operations directly in communities, but the military needs to actually remain on our waterways to ensure that we adequately man the waterways itself while we engage the communities and that engagement process is starting any moment from now,” he said.

 

On the amnesty programme, he said: “I don’t think the amnesty has been stopped. I think the process is still ongoing. We have a special adviser in charge of amnesty and he is doing very well. I am aware that he did come in to talk with some of the communities along with the advocacy team that was put up in Delta state. He did brief us today and I believe it is going to be maintained.”

 

The governor of Edo state, Adams Oshiomhole, who also attended the meeting said: “Nigeria is not at war and we cannot be at war with ourselves. If we have conflicts, we will talk through those conflicts. There are laws that have to be enforced. I think that in all of these the whole idea is to find peace that is functional, that creates environment for very decent Nigerians to live their lives.”

 

The minister of state for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, was also in attendance, along with service chiefs and key ministers.

Association of Nigerian Resident Doctors Set to Embark on a Nationwide Strike

The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) has announced that it will commence a nationwide strike on Thursday.

 

Speaking with journalists in Kano on Tuesday, Muhammad Askira, the National President of the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD), announced that NARD will commence on a nationwide strike on Thursday, June 9.

 

Muhammad disclosed that the decision was taken at the ordinary general meeting of the National Executive Council of the association held between May 30 and June 5 in Jos.

 

“16 out of 58 federal tertiary institutions or centres were exempted from the initial centre based strike for the commitment of the Chief Medical Director of the hospitals to implement the Federal Government’s directives,” he said.

 

He said if by midnight of Sunday, June 19, their demands were not met, all the members of the association, including those exempted, would join the indefinite nationwide strike, adding that the association found it necessary to take the decision following the inability of the government to meet its demands.

 

“Due to the failure of the government to address the demands of NARD, it has declared a total and indefinite strike.

“NARD has to take this painful decision in order to highlight the plight of our hardworking members who have had to endure a long period of deprivation and disenfranchisement,” he said.

 

He said the association would continue to be open to discussion and ready to partner government to ensure effective health care service delivery to Nigerians.

PDP Holds 'Special Prayers' for Buhari's Recovery

The PDP led a dramatic prayer session to facilitate the recovery of the President who is currently away in the United Kingdom to treat a recurrent ear infection.

Muhammadu Buhari

 

The Peoples Democratic Party has prayed for President Muhammadu Buhari’s quick recovery as he seeks medical attention abroad, according to the Punch.

This is even as the party blamed the rising cases of mass killings on the mismanagement of the nation’s affairs.

Party leaders who converged on the National Secretariat of the PDP to witness the official handover of the party’s affairs by the Board of Trustees to the Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee, in Abuja, on Tuesday, used the occasion to lament the decline in civil liberties.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who led the prayer session, noted that at times like these, Nigerians irrespective of religious or party affiliation should come together to pray for the nation and its leaders.

Ekweremadu said, “Before I proceed, let me quickly remind all of us that our President is presently not feeling well and has been flown abroad for treatment. So, I will like to invite you to rise, let us say one minute of prayer for his quick recovery.”

Soon afterwards, the DSP led other party members to render prayers for the quick recovery of the President, the protection of the first family, our leaders and Nigeria as a whole.

The Deputy Senate President expressed delight that a new spirit of reconciliation was sweeping through the PDP. This he noted is putting the party on the path to returning to power come 2019.

Statement Of FG to Revoke Licences of Nigerian Banks Over the 'Mass Sack' of Employees

Federal Government has threatened to withdraw the operating license of any bank or telecommunication company that breached its directive to stop mass sack of workers.

Chris Ngige speaking

 

Speaking on Tuesday at the 105th session of the International Labour Congress (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, Chris Ngige, the minister of Labour and Employment, has warned that the federal government will sanction banks and telecommunication companies, which fail to comply with its order to suspend massive sack of their employees.

 

“The federal government gave the licences to the banks to operate and if its directives are not adhered to the licences will be withdrawn if the need arises.

“We will go a step further if they continue. We know what to do. They need to comply. They need to come to the negotiation table. We halted the spate of sack in the oil industry and we succeeded.

“Even if you are going to lay off, there is a way to declare redundancy, there is a process. Section 20 of the labour act says it. You must call the unions and discuss with them. You don’t just treat them as slaves in their own country and you want us to keep quiet.

“We want them to maintain the status quo. As far as I am the minister of labour, I will protect the interest of workers; same to the telecommunication companies, they are also talking about compiling lists without discussing with anybody,” Ngige said.

 

The minister's statement comes after Skye Bank laid off 175 staff. The bank took the action on Monday, which happened to be the next working day after the directive by the minister to banks to suspend their employees' sack.

 

The current economic situation in the country has led to massive job loss as Eco Bank also sacked over 1,000 staff last week.

These are 10 Warning Signs Of a Womanizer A Lady Must Avoid

Real men who can truly love a woman do exist but they are hard to find but these are signs to watch out for in a serial womanizer.

 

 

Many of us are still looking for The One – the guy we will spend the rest of our lives with. Our soul mate who will be there for us all the time, loving us, comforting us, sharing moments with us and protecting us.

 

Finding the one guy that is perfect for you is not easy, and many of us are scared of making the same dating mistakes over again. Many of us have dated the creeps, the losers, the lazies, the crazies, the overly sickly sweets, the FIFA players, the machos, the mommies boys, and the over achievers who we can’t keep up with. But what about the one type of man we all fear the most, The Womanizer?

 

The womanizer is a man who isn’t ready to settle down yet, but he’ll do anything to convince you that he is. He’ll tell you you’re the love of your life and that you’ve got great eyes, great legs and great everything.

 

But how do you know when you’ve got a womanizer on your hands and not the genuine article? Let’s take a look at the top 10 warning signs of a womanizer.

 

1. He Gets Your Name Wrong

 

Yesterday you were Rita, today you’re Lisa and tomorrow you’ll be Priscilla. Sure, he says he’s got fifteen aunties and five different moms but you should know deep down that he’s actually got too many single ladies in his life.

 

2. He’s Super Vain

 

For a lot of women, having a great sense of humour is the first trait we look for in a prospective partner. But if a man is a womanizer, it’s highly likely that his sense of humour cuts dead as soon as you touch his immaculate hair.

 

Don’t try to touch his suits either because they cost a bomb.

 

“Please tell me you did not just put my dry-clean only suit in the wash? I. MIGHT. DIE.”

 

3. He Never Lives Up To His Word

 

We’ve all felt a rush of blood to our heads as our man tells us what he’s going to do for us. He’s going to take us away for a romantic weekend, introduced us to his family, and basically capture the moon for us.

 

It all sounds so exciting and we instantly buy into his dream. His words have swept us off our feet.

 

After a few weeks and months, though, he still hasn’t made good on his word. You’ve still not been away for a weekend together (as a matter of fact, he seems to spend most of his weekends away on his own), and you haven’t even met his family. Is this guy for real and are his endless list of excuses just a cover-up? You bet!

 

4. He Has A Reputation

 

If women have come up to you or messaged you on Facebook that your new man has got a reputation, you shouldn’t swiftly dismiss this accusations as manifestations of jealousy. Instead, you should hear them out and make up your own mind.

 

5. He Only Seems To Appear Later At Night

 

From my experience, this is the biggest tell-tale sign of them all that you’ve got a perennial womanizer on your hands.

 

Your man should be available day and night, and not just “any time after ten PM.” It just isn’t good enough that he only makes a cameo appearance when the sun has set. Sure, he tells you that he’s been working late or whatnot, but you know deep down that something just doesn’t seem right here.

 

A man who isn’t a womanizer will want to see you at all times, and not at the witching hour only.

 

6. When He Compliments You All The Time

 

They say that when a guy compliments us too much it usually means they’re feeling guilty about something, or they’ve got something to hide.

 

Sometimes, guys will shower us with compliments whenever they’re feeling good about something – such as a spot of womanizing.

 

When a man looks into your eyes and tells you how beautiful you are, it’s sincere and genuine.

 

But when he’s hyper and won’t stop covering you with compliments about your eyes, your legs, your hair, your bum etcetera, you should be on your guard.

 

7. He Moves Really Fast

 

You haven’t even introduced yourself and he already wants to buy a house with you and have all your babies. Red flag.

 

8. He Locks His Phone

 

We all locked our phones when we were kids (still no idea why), but no normal adult does this in 2016.

 

Except womanizers, of course.

 

If you notice that his phone is constantly buzzing and he’s always texting someone, it’s a pretty big warning sign. But if he also locks his phone so that you can never access it, it’s a full on red-alert that he’s not the man for you.

 

9. He Doesn’t Call Back For Ages

 

You’ve just had a great night with him that you both seemed to enjoy. You had a laugh, some dinner and a bit of romance. It went so well.

 

But then he doesn’t return your call for days afterwards. What gives?

 

Eventually, of course, he will return and say that he was busy or something equally empty. He’ll want another giggle, some more dinner and a bit more romance again.

 

Take all this as a warning sign. He only wants you when he’s got a few needs to fulfil. Once they’ve been taken care of, he’s off to look for other adventures.

 

10.He Flirts On Social Media

 

Facebook is often a great place to find out whether or not your man is a womanizer. If he isn’t a womanizer, his photos and comments will be totally normal and respectful. There might be pictures of him enjoying a drink with the lads, and maybe one or two of his mom.

 

If, however, he can’t get enough of the opposite sex, you can expect to see lots of photos of him on regular nights out with lots of different girls. You’ll also notice flirty comments and invitations to hang out with all kinds of women you’ve never heard of before. No matter how much he tells you he loves you, it’s clear that he can’t control his appetite for girls.

Militant Attacks: FG Suspects Foreign Conspiracy

The Nigerian government is currently leaving no stone unturned in its investigation of the Niger Delta militants currently destroying oil facilities.

 

The Federal Government has begun an investigation into the possibility that some foreign nations may be backing the militant activities in the oil-rich Niger Delta.

 

New Telegraph gathered from highly placed military sources that the intelligence arm of the military and other security agencies were already looking into the source of supply of the sophisticated arms at the disposal of the agitators.

One of the sources, who spoke in confidence, said the need for a comprehensive probe had become urgent, in view of the fact that a large cache of arms had been surrendered to the state, in the wake of the Amnesty Programme.

It was further gathered that the latest threat by the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC) – a group which claims to be the highest organ of all the agitating groups in the Niger Delta – to launch six missiles in the area today raised more concern within security and military circles.

The source, however, dispelled rumour of a fullblown military operation in the Niger Delta, saying the military was mindful of the compelling need to protect innocent people in the area, who must be protected.

According to him, the new strategies being mapped-out, will not exclude the protection of human rights, as well as the rule of engagement (ROE), which he said is central to all military operations.

“There are international machineries that have been employed for the sole aim of destabilizing the nation, in order to control our oil.

“When you hear these guys say they are launching missiles, it is from the support of their international conspirators.

“Some of these countries gather information from where they do comparative analysis,” he said. On the new strategy to be adopted to contain the wave of bombing of oil installations in the Niger Delta, the source noted: “We will as much as possible be professional and systematic in our operations.”

The senior military source stated: “We must get whoever is behind this renewed acts of vandalism, which have cut production by about 800,000 barrels per day (bpd). “Whichever way you look at it, yes, there could be the possibility that they (agitators) have international collaborators.

“All over the world, there is nowhere in history that non-state actors ever succeeded over state actors; ours will not be an exception.

“The Nigerian Armed Forces will ensure the indivisibility of this great country of ours.” It will be recalled that the JRC had, in a statement issued last Thursday, given the Federal Government a 48-hour ultimatum to withdraw the military from the region, or be prepared for a full-blown war. “All oil and gas operations should shut down immediately as our missiles testing will affect their equipment.

“Note, we shall commence missile testing on Tuesday, June 7, which coincides with the date of our training abroad,” the statement read.

Commonwealth Doctor Condemn President Buhari's Medical Trip to London...

President Muhammadu Buhari has embarked on a medical trip to London to treat an ear infection, however it seems not everyone is comfortable with his decision.

 

President Muhammadu Buhari

 

Dr. Osahon Enabulele, the Vice President of the Commonwealth Medical Association, on Monday expressed disappointment at the news of President Muhammadu Buhari’s10-Day medical trip to London for an Ear, Nose and Throat, E.N.T, infection.

 

According to him “it as a tragic blot on Nigeria’s collective professional and National image.”

 

According to Vanguard, the former President, Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, who condemned frequent medical trip by government officials, said Nigeria has suffered a great loss to medical tourism in recent past. 

 

“I am very constrained to state that this foreign medical trip flies in the face of the Federal Government’s earlier declaration of her resolve to halt the embarrassing phenomenon of outward medical tourism, which as at the end of the year 2013 had led to a humongous capital flight of about $1billion dollars, particularly from expenses incurred by political and public office holders and their accompanying aides, whose foreign medical trips most of which are unnecessary, were financed with tax payers’ resources”, he said.

 

Osahon who advised the president Buhari to live by example at curbing medical tourism and saving Nigerians this great loss incurred through numerous trips abroad for medication stated that the President has lost a golden opportunity to assert his change mantra through a clear demonstration of leadership by example, by staying back to receive medical treatment in Nigeria. 

 

He added that receiving treatment in Nigeria would inspire confidence in the health sector which currently boasts of medical experts that favourably compare with medical experts anywhere in the world, if not better. 

 

“Mr. President should make a clear public pronouncement on his resolve to show leadership by example with respect to the utilization of the medical expertise and facilities that abound in Nigeria by him and other members of the Federal Executive Council, particularly in concrete expression of section 46 of the National Health Act which seeks to address the abuse of tax payers’ resources through frivolous foreign medical travels embarked upon by political and public office holders”. 

 

He said: “It is on record that most public and political office holders who seek foreign medical care abroad are handled by Nigerian trained doctors in foreign lands particularly in the United Kingdom which has over 3000 Nigerian trained medical doctors, United States of America with over 5000 Nigerian trained medical doctors, amongst other foreign countries, most of whom left the shores of Nigeria on account of government’s perennial failure to address the various push and pull factors which have consistently driven this yearly brain drain phenomenon in Nigeria. 

 

“Available records show that last year alone, 637 medical doctors emigrated due largely to poor working conditions and health facilities, insecurity, unpredictable and poor funding of Residency Training Programme, uncompetitive wages and job dissatisfaction.” 

 

The former NMA president said; “Without prejudice to the expert recommendation of President’s Personal Physician and the ENT specialist said to have examined and treated him in Abuja, I consider it a national shame of immense proportions that Mr. President had to be recommended for foreign medical care despite the presence of over 250 ENT specialists and professors in Nigeria, as well as a National Ear Centre located in Kaduna state.” 

 

He recommended that the presidency should consider other options such as inviting a consortium of Nigerian trained ENT specialists in Nigeria to Abuja to re-evaluate and treat hi. If it is determined that the medical expertise is not available in Nigeria, any identified Nigerian trained ENT specialist practicing anywhere in the world should be invited to Abuja for re-evaluating and treating him. 

 

“If it is a case where the health facilities/equipment are unavailable then the President should have used his current medical situation, though unfortunate, to commence the Federal Government’s plan to re-equip Nigerian hospitals with modern state-of-the art health facilities, by ordering for the needed medical equipment to enable the locally available Nigerian trained ENT specialists to attend to him, and thereafter use same facilities to attend to other Nigerians with similar conditions. 

 

“Indeed, it will be a win-win situation for Nigeria as Mr. President will not only get managed with the imported medical facilities and expertise; he would save Nigeria the capital flight that would result from his planned foreign medical trip."