Alchohol dealers kick as LG Chair seals shops

Hotel /Beer and Liquor Proprietors Association,  Zaria Branch, has alleged that the  Chairman, Sabon-Gari Council of Kaduna State, Engr. Mohammed Ibrahim Usman tactically demolished Kasuwan Dole (local drinks market) in Dushi Waje, Sabon-Gari zaria to ban sales of alchohol. 

They also alleged that the council boss sealed 300 Beer Parlours and enacted a By-law, which contains stringent conditions inimical for the sales and consumption of alcohol.

Representative of the  association, Mr Thaddeus Tabugbo, said, the sealing of beer parlours exercise  which commenced on Saturday 18th July 2020, was based on order obtained from Magistrate Court under Chief Magistrate Zainab Garba Muhammed. 

The association further stated that, while they were waiting for approval of the local government to renew their license, the chairman of the council  invited them for a meeting. 

The group disclosed that on the course of their meeting, they were slammed down by the Chairman of the council as operating illegal business pemises without license and directed officials of the council to go and closedown all hotels and joints until new licenses are obtained.

The association went to High Court and obtained a Court injunction restraining the council from implementing the chairman closure order.

The association expressed dismay that while the High Court was yet to deliver the judgement, the council went and obtained an order from Magistrate Court based on Bye-Law of Sabon Gari Local Government 2020, to sealed up all their business premises beginning from Saturday 18th July 2020, till August 2020, when the case will come up for hearing.

Reacting to the By-law, the body reiterated that the council enacted the By-law to stop liquor and spirit dealers from the sale and consumption of alcohol within the area, which faced condemnation from dealers of liquor and spirit in Sabon Gari Local Government area.

The condition attached to the new application form for obtaining the license, made  available to journalists by the association provided that the Ward, village head must recommend any applicant to qualified, while the district head name, stamp and signature must be endorsed.

Application  for new license duly signed by applicant upon received of an application reason parts: The council shall cost same to be displayed in conspicuous public place and invite objection to the issuance of the license from the residence of the area where the license is applied for and the objection must be received within 14 days of the application meaning that before giving the association the license the community to operate this beer business, people shall be invited to confirm whether a license should be giving to sell beer in that community.

“On the expiration of the 14 days if no objection is received the council may proceed to issue the license but if an objection is raised the applicant shall be informed.

“Upon the receipt of the application representative of the council shall proceed to either issue the license or reject the application and then inform the applicant of the rejection of the application immediately.

“That the liquor/spirit may be consumed within the license premises(meaning that  drinking shall not be carried out outside that area). That the liquor/spirit shall not be sold to any person below the age of 18years.

“That violation of any of the condition of this license shall render it liable of revocation and persecution. That the license shall be subjected to annual renewal”, it stated.

One of the women victims, Mrs. Hannatu James who spoke to our reporter said she has been in the business since 1994, adding that they relied on the sale of beer, liquor and palmwine for their children fees and feeding.

All efforts to get clarification from the council Chairman was futile as the chairman neither received calls nor respond to text put to him.

Buhari Hails Usman, Says He 'Reminded The World That Good Things Still Come From Nigeria'

President Muhammadu has described Kamaru Usman’s Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) successful welterweight title defense as a sign that good things and great people can still come out from Nigeria.

Usman had on Sunday defeated Jorge Masvidal in Abu Dhabi to retain the Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight world title, scoring a unanimous points decision 50-45, 50-45 and 49-46 on the three judges’ cards.

While congratulating him for the win which he described as “emphatic,” Buhari in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, hailed the 35-year-old for making Nigerians proud.

According to the statement, “As the first African-born and Nigerian UFC Champion, President Buhari commends the courageous fighter for finishing strong inside the octagon, proudly flying the green and white colours in distant lands, and reminding the world that good things and great people still come out of Nigeria.”

The Nigerian leader said even as the COVID-19 pandemic has brought sadness to families across the world, Usman’s title defence has brought smiles and joy to Nigerians.

“While the global COVID-19 pandemic may have brought gloom to many families and nations, the President is delighted and gratified that our welterweight champion has lifted our spirits with another professional performance proving that things will surely get better at the fullness of time when we remain committed to our vision,” the statement read.

“The President wishes Usman the very best and more victories in his career and prays that like fine wine, he improves with age.”

“Gamebred (Masvidal) is the biggest, baddest dude out there right now and I had to take him,” said Usman after the fight.

“I know a lot of noise was made about him preparing on short notice but all these guys are preparing for one guy and that’s me.

“I’m just at a level better. I have more tools in the tool box and when I need to I can pull them out and use them.”

Northern Parliament Questions Why Adamu Atta Is Allegedly Replaced On NNPC Board

The Northern Parliament has demanded answers from President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipreye Sylva why the appointment of Alhaji Mahmood Adamu Atta into the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is alleged to have been changed by power brokers and replaced with someone whom they say is of a questionable character.

The group expressed this during a press conference held at its office in Kaduna on Thursday July 9, 2020, where it warned that such replacement will further lead to credence that important elements of governance is eroding the five-year administration of President Buhari.

Speaker of the Parliament,  Comrade Awwal Abdullah Aliyu, who read the text of the briefing which was jointly signed by him and the Secretary, Engr Musa Idris, said that the announcement of Adamu Atta on the board of NNPC gave Nigerians hope that the ugly downward slide  of the present administration was being reversed.

"Gentlemen of the press, it  is no gain saying that our country is at a cross road in terms of the social contract between the current 5-year-old administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian people.

"Trust, that all important elements of governance is gradually eroding this administration that was ushered in with fanfare, high hopes and the expectation of much needed fresh air.

"An attempt was made to reverse the ugly trend by halting the downward slide of the image of the administration by its recent appointments which includes bringing hardworking, honest,affluent Nigerians with unshakable integrity into the different roles to help the President in shaping the affairs of some agencies and parastatals that have acquired notoriety in the eyes of the public over the years-thus entered the appointment of Alhaji Mahmood Adamu Atta into the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), along with other distinguished Nigerians raising hope that at last the president has found the magic wand to rid the agency saddled with the mandate of injecting live into the national economy of ineptitude, underhand dealings and shortchanging of the nation in terms of revenue accrual," the Northern Parliament said.

The group explained that Alhaji Adamu Mahmoud Atta, a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University with a Post graduate degree from University of California, USA,needs very little introduction.

"He comes with a solid and comfortable private sector affluence, an enigmatic family name and unrivalled open heart for philanthropy.

"This quintessential fellow has been and still is Chief Executive Officer of MATAD Group Nigeria Ltd,member Board of WAPIC Insurance PLC and a long-standing Member of the Nigerian Business Forum.

"Alhaji Atta has made his mark as entrepreneur and job creator in the last 35 years among which are the creation/establishment of critical job offering outfits for thousands

of Nigerians such as:

1.University of Technology in Okene Kogi State

2. Cement factory with some Chinese partners in Itobe, Kogi State

3. Fifth Chucker (One of the most outstanding recreational tourist industry in Nigeria)

"We of the Northern Parliament,make bold to say that Alh.Attah stands shoulder-to-shoulder with his contemporary industrialists anywhere in Nigeria today.

"Alh. Atta is the harbinger of succor to the protracted indigent Nigerian youth including the ‘Almajiri’syndrome in Northern Nigeria,he and his team of likeminds built the

largest model Orphans and less privileged children plus Almajiri Primary Schools located in Kakangi village in Kaduna  State, the school has a student carrying capacity of

12 thousand, 480 classes and 1,440 teachers all camped in the school.

"The project has so far gulped more than N1.2 Billion Naira and counting," the group informed.

They said that they went to this length to show and lay the background that will substantiate their next statements.

"Alhaji Adamu Atta in all modesty

is a very comfortable Nigerian; with a pedigree like his, it is beyond him to seek petty favor nor engage in unnecessary bickering over an appointment into a board in Nigeria.

"A situation where the president of Nigeria, reaches out to ask for an individual to perform some national service requires that such a gesture be dignified with acceptance, this wasthereason why when Alhaji Atta was approached with the President’s request, he obliged in a show of respect and support and willingness to be of service to the President and motherland.

"We are here today to address you on the unfortunate development regarding the appointment of Alhaji Atta making the rounds on social circles, that his name has been

removed from the list of appointees signed by the media aide to the President as published.

"That in his place, a certain Mrs.Lami Ahmed Onayi will now be the board member.

"Incredibly baffling as this may sound, we are of the thinking that certain elements are at work to derail a genuine effort of the Buhari administration by making sinister moves to affect this change and bring in a questionable character, who by all reckoning, does not qualify to be on the board of the NNPC," they asserted.

The Northern Parliament argued that due to conflict of interest as

she is a key player in the petroleum industry, owner of a petrolstation)let alone stand as replacement for the erudite Alhaji Atta.

"The doctrine of conflict of interest says one cannot be a judge in his own case!!!

"This unfortunate action if at all true,is coming at a time when the Northern Parliament and Nigerians were rejoicing over the vision of our President, Muhammadu Buhari on the reconstitution of a new board for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)

and its combination of Technocrats and Politicians to reposition the Corporation for growth and prosperity as the hub of the Nigerian economy," they submitted.

They continued by saying,  "In the light of the aforementioned,the Northern Parliament, a group of concerned professionals and academics from the North is asking the Powerbrokers if this is true and what went wrong?

"If competence, experience,selflessness is the key consideration for bringing people to

support the efforts of Government,why would this administration allow its name and reputation to be dragged in the mud? Why would Alhaji Mahmoud Atta who did not

lobby for the job be appointed and then other outlet will truncate such appointment just to spite him?"

"The Northern Parliament therefore, asks what are the offences of Alh.Atta?

"Why deprive a man with such a distinguished background, coming from the highly revered Atta Ibrahim Royal family of Ebiraland,the opportunity to contribute towards charting the path of progress for the NNPC and the oil and Gas Industry in Nigeria?" They queried.

They said that as such, the Northern Parliament and Nigerians demand answers.

"Therefore, we call on the Authority and leaders to always be wary of those who for their personal interests will truncate any genuine efforts at moving Nigeria forward particularly at a time when Nigeria needs to leverage on its best hands and brains at this period when lowoil price has the potentials to make the country attractive for oil and Gas Industry investments that looks to the future; this where people like Alhaji Atta are most needed.

"Northern Parliament therefore,calls on President Muhammadu Buhari as Minister of Petroleum Resources and the Minister of State to take a closer look at what is happening with their efforts at reengineering the petroleum sector less their hardwork pales into insignificance.

"Even as we deliver this open letter to Mr.President, it is worthy of note that since the new presidential statement announcing his nomination to the Board of NNPC was made public, as authorized by Mr. President, there has no tbeen a counter-statement announcing the withdrawal of his nomination.Who then has dared to change a presidential directive?

"Nigerians deserve answers to thesequestions," they further probed.

The group called on President Buhari to come out clear on the controversy.

"We therefore, call on the President as the father of the nation,to use his revered office to correct any anomaly if any,in the appointment of Alhaji Mahmoud Atta as member of the board of NNPC as announced," they concluded.

Air pollution: Rivers resident decry invasion by black soot

Govt Plans Safety Measures Despite the thoroughly degraded environment, which they have had to contend with over the years, there appears to be no end in sight to the vicissitudes of life plaguing residents of Rivers State. Right now, anxiety is building in the state over the deteriorating air quality, a development that forced some residents of Port Harcourt, the state capital to take to the streets demanding that government takes decisive steps to tackle the rising air pollution. Soot is a black powdery or flaky substance consisting largely of amorphous carbon, produced by the incomplete burning of organic matter. In the recent past, levels of particulate matter (which is popularly referred to as soot) is prevalent in the air in Port Harcourt, Obio-Akpor, Ikwerre, Okrika, and Eleme local councils In these areas, these substances settle on just anything including rooftops, floors, cars, washed clothes and so on. The dangerous bent to it, however, is the fact that in recent times, the soot has risen to almost 11 times above the recommended safety level set by the World Health Organisation. Particulate matter, also known as particle pollution, is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets that get into the air. Once inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects. Spotting nosemasks, the protesters wielded placards, which bore inscriptions like, “Save our lungs,” “Let us breath, stop soot,” “The lives of our children matter,” “Soot kills. Stop soot,” and “Stop the soot, save Rivers,” among others. They also demanded that both the federal and state governments should, expeditiously come up with the most effective ways of curbing the rising air pollution in the state. Nollywood actress, Hilda Dokubo, who was among the protesters said the sudden saturation of Port Harcourt atmosphere with soot, arising from imperfect combustion, has triggered health concerns among the residents. She said if the situation is not tackled decisively, residents of the city, particularly children under the age of five, would suffer from severe respiratory infections. “People are dropping dead daily because of asthmatic attack, even those who weren’t known to suffer from asthma,” she lamented. Another resident of the state capital, Ross George, complained that parents are becoming agitated whenever they clean the nostrils of their children only to discover layers of soot. “Our environment is becoming more polluted, and we have waited since November last year to get a response from government, which has not yet come. We are increasingly worried as the situation worsens, and we are becoming agitated. So, we need to know what is going on. We need to be reassured that investigation and analysis are going on.” Another protester described the air quality in Port Harcourt, Eleme and Rukpokwu at present as very poor by global standards, and urgent steps are required to address the situation. In sharing this view, Mr. Eli Emeka, told The Guardian that Port Harcourt and its environs, especially Eleme, Abuloma, Iwofe, Rupokwu, Okrika, Woji, were gradually turning into a gas chamber, particularly for children. “Every day, you can see smog hanging all over the city as a result of pollution. You can longer wash white clothes and spread them outside because of soot. Floors in residential houses and offices, cars are covered with soot. The levels, from investigation, are extremely high, breaching the safe limit by over 11 times at several places in Port Harcourt. This is a health emergency,” he said. A native of Eleme, who identified himself as Obari Theo, also told The Guardian that it was disheartening that environmental agencies at both the federal and state levels have failed to take cognisance of the fact that for years, petrochemical outfits and refineries operating in Eleme have been belching plumes of soot into the atmosphere. On the social media, a growing number of persons have been ventilating their anger over governments’ handling of the air pollution in the state, just as residents have been uploading photographs showing how soot has taken over their homes, and calling on the government to do more to protect the environment and citizens. Concerned by the air pollution, the state government recently set up a taskforce headed by the Commissioner of Environment, Prof. Roslyn Konya, to explore ways of containing the menace. An air pollution analysis report published by the state Ministry of Environment, revealed that Port Harcourt is one of the most polluted cities in the country. Konya while addressing the agitated residents, explained that based on her ministry’s investigation, it was discovered that the soot is largely petroleum-based, as a result of incomplete combustion of hydrocarbon. She assured the people that the state government is using the process of climatology and emission modelling to trace sources of the black soot in the state capital, adding that tests have already been conducted in certain parts of the city, with a view to tracing possible sources. “We have sampled two sites namely, Abuloma and Peter Odili Road, and you have to sample from 12 midnight to 6am. And then from 6am to 8am to know that difference, whether there will be an increase or decrease from midnight or whether it will be higher or lower in the morning. I personally went with them,” Konya said. According to her, “WHO acceptable level of particulate matter of 2.5 microns is the size of the soot. The acceptable level by WHO is 25 microgram per cubic metre. What we got was 270 micrograms per cubic metre and these values were got from the two sites between 12 midnight to 6 am. And then from 6am to 8am, we found out from Odili Road that the value was 62 microgram per cubic metre and then from Abuloma town was 124 microgram per cubic metre. That means that there was a lowering of the content in the morning, and from midnight, it was very high. This shows that the activities producing this soot take place in the night,” she said. The ministry’s findings, however, revealed that this soot was as a result of incomplete combustion of petroleum products, with refineries, and petro-chemical companies as suspected sources. The other sources include illegal refineries and burning of old car tyres to access copper imbedded in them. A petroleum expert, Kombo Manson Braide, described as unfortunate, a recent statement by the Navy that 40 illegal refineries have been destroyed, including operating equipment, and storage facilities worth N3b in the process of battling illegal refining activities in the creeks of the Niger Delta. http://t.guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/air-pollution-rivers-resident-decry-invasion-by-black-soot/

Nine things Obama will be remembered of

As Barack Obama prepares to leave office on 20th January 2017
things his presidency may be remembered for:
– Making history –
If historians were to write only one thing about Barack Hussein Obama,
they would likely note that — 143 years after slavery was abolished —
a young Illinois senator became the first black president of the United
States.
Obama, just 47 at his 2009 inauguration, harnessed magisterial oratory
to rally a diverse electoral coalition behind a message of “hope and
change.”
In office, Obama sometimes struggled to turn that poetry into the prose
of governance. Racial tensions — underscored by police shootings of
unarmed black men and conspiracy theories about his birthplace —
persisted.
But the very fact of his election confirmed monumental changes in
American society.
– Too big to fail –
Obama’s first term in office was dominated by economic freefall.
A real estate crisis spawned a financial meltdown that torpedoed Wall
Street banks and lenders, and was metastasizing into an economic crisis
of global proportions.
Outgoing president George W. Bush and the Federal Reserve had kicked
off the government’s first panicked efforts at containment, but Obama
faced down ideological opposition to large fiscal stimulus, extending
government spending by $831 billion and providing ballast to the
economy.
As he leaves office, the political and social aftershocks of that financial
cataclysm are still being felt, but the economy has added jobs for 75
straight months.
– ‘Justice has been done’ –
“Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the
United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden.”
With those words on May 2, 2011, Obama exorcised the anger and
frustration of millions of Americans — that the most powerful country
on earth could not hold the man accountable for the 9/11 attacks.
The risky special forces operation was also illustrative of Obama’s
controversial drone-and-raid approach to counterterrorism. As he leaves
office, Al-Qaeda offshoots and affiliates remain potent, but their
leadership in Afghanistan and Pakistan has been decimated.
– Legislative toil –
“It’s one of the few regrets of my presidency — that the rancor and
suspicion between the parties has gotten worse instead of better,”
Obama said in his final State of the Union address.
From the moment Obama was elected, Republics in Congress vowed to
oppose him tooth and nail.
Efforts to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay and enact gun controls
— even after the massacre of young students at Sandy Hook, the
emotional nadir of his presidency — would fall victim to partisan
rancor.
– A deal with a half-life –
For more than two decades, the United States had rolled out sanctions
and covert actions to prevent arch foe Iran from obtaining a nuclear
weapon. Obama tried a different tack, engaging in secret talks with the
Islamic Republic.
That gambit ultimately yielded a deal that saw Iran halt its sprint toward
a nuclear weapon, in return for substantial sanctions relief and a dollop
of international legitimacy.
The pact would strain US relations with Iran’s enemies Israel and Saudi
Arabia, but prevented a nuclear arms race in the Middle East and defused
tensions between Iran and the United States that have simmered since
the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
– No turnabout on Syria –
No international crisis tested Obama’s foreign policy or his high bar for
US military intervention like Syria.
Even when Bashar al-Assad defied Obama’s red line on chemical
weapons use and killed countless thousands of civilians — along with
Russian and Iranian forces — the man who came to office on an anti-
war ticket rejected calls to step in.
Syria will likely be in crisis for years to come.
Critics will long argue about whether Obama’s policy was sensible and
to what degree his decision damaged America’s reputation, allowed the
Islamic State group to grow, fueled an immigration flow that destabilized
Europe and allowed Russia and Iran to extend influence in the region.
– Change the climate –
After the climate skepticism of Bush, Obama’s eight years in office
resulted in a tidal wave of environmental legislation, protecting marine
ecosystems, curbing carbon emissions and boosting renewable energy.
In a bid to engrain environmentalism into America’s body politic, Obama
hiked Alaskan glaciers, snorkeled at Midway Island and rushed through
ratification of the Paris Climate Accord.
But Obama’s environmental agenda is likely to come under sustained
assault from his successor, putting the durability of that legacy into
question.
– A very big deal –
Democrats had tried and failed for decades to provide Americans with
universal health care. Obama wasn’t quite able to do that but he
extended insurance coverage to tens of millions of citizens who
previously had none.
Republicans decried the “Obamacare” plan as socialism incarnate, at
one point claiming it would even create “death panels.” But they failed
to stop it from passing. They may yet have a crack at repealing it under
Donald Trump’s watch.
– Meet the neighbors –
Obama’s trip to Cuba may be remembered in the same way as Richard
Nixon’s visit to China, but in truth it was the capstone of a much
broader effort to improve US relations with Latin America.
Resurgent left wing populists in the region had rekindled past memories
of “yanqui imperialism” — US-led coups, death squads and heavy-
handed intervention.
Barely 100 days after Obama took office, he told regional leaders at a
Summit of the Americas that the United States had changed. The
approach was to deny leaders like Hugo Chavez any excuses for
sideshow anti-Americanism.
He shook Chavez’s hand, met Nicaraguan firebrand Daniel Ortega and
visited the tomb of a popular Salvadoran priest killed by US-linked death
squads.
Obama alluded to “mistakes” in a coup that installed dictator Augusto
Pinochet in Chile, released documents about involvement in Argentina’s
dirty war and, of course, visited Havana.

HEALTH EFFECT OF PLASTIC RICE CONSUMPTION

Plastic rice is gradually finding it way into Nigeria as a dumping ground and some people might never know how dangerous it consumption is. Plastic rice production originated from China and was previously sold  to countries in Asian countries like  Korea, Japan , Singapore, Philippine and in the west.

The  fake rice  is made from a mixture of plastic, sweet potatoes and extract of synthetic hydrocarbon secretion known as  resin which it end product appeared in rice shape.

The must surprising aspect of the plastic rice is that from a mere look, one can hardly differentiate it from original. Its advisible to make a further examination on any rice bought for consumption in order to be on a safer side.

If the rice is unbagged , it will be time saving to smell whether it has chemical odour or not. for further examination, a plastic rice can easily be identified by roasting in a frypan to see whether it melt or not. it can also be identified  by boiling , if the rice have plastic substance two reactions occur, firstly, it looks sticky on the surface, and no matter the how much amount of time dedicated in boiling, it never soften due to plastic substance contained in it. Gistandrhymes.com

continuous consumption of a fabricated rice, leads to hormonal disorder , indigestion and liver cancer. According to Deccan Chronicle Blog ,Experts say that the invasion of plastic foods substance  into body system is one of the causes for early advent of diseases.

To make the situation  worse ,  it recent importation into Nigeria was coincidental with recession  period and as the yulitide season  is on, it might be consumed by majority of people without their knowledge.

SAMBISA FOREST WILL BE OUR TRAINING GROUND IN 2017- BURATAI

Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Monday in Damasak Borno State while celebrating Christmas with 145 battalion troops , said Sambisa forest will be one of Nigerian Army's training ground in 2017.

Sambisa forest happens to be one of the Bokoharam's hide out which was reconnoitered and besieged by The Nigerian army before Christmas.

Gen. Buratai said Troops are already conducting mopup operations in the forest to clear to clear the reminant of Bokoharam. He  also said Nigerian army will ensure that Bokoharam terrorist never returns to Sambisa forest again.

He added that the forest will be used to test weapons  and other fighting equipments and road leading to Sambisa  and Alagarno  forest will be forged.

“We are also opening up roads to Sambisa and Alagarno forest.
Sambisa Forest is going to be one of our training grounds. I have already directed that we should conduct Nigerian Army small arms
championship in that forest next year.

“And we are going to use it also to test our fighting vehicles, other key
equipment and weapons that require testing whenever we want to induct new weapon and equipment into the
Nigerian Army inventory.

“It will afford us a very good ground for basic tactics and indeed advance tactics, including but not limited to tactics at the Platoon, company, battalion, brigade and even division levels. We are going to make it more robust to make sure that these criminals do not come back to that forest again.”