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Aliyu Blames Slow Development Of The North On Insecurity

Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger State on Wednesday said the security threat by the Boko Haram group in the northern part of the country had stalled development in the region.

Aliyu made the remark during an interactive session with journalists at his residence in Minna.

He said that insecurity caused by the sect in the North had made it difficult for investors to invest in the region for fear of losing their investments.

``I am not satisfied with the slow pace of development in the northern region, but under my leadership as chairman of Northern Governors' Forum, we have given the region good leadership.

``Because of the kind of unity, solid decision and encouragement that we have done, if not for security situation that intervened, we will have been what we call a paradise.

``In terms of progress, I am not satisfied with the situation the North is now, because of insecurity slowing down economic activities to the extent that when you invite investors, they are afraid to invest their money for fear of losing their investments,’’ he said.

He said that the development of any state in the North depended on how the governor implemented the decisions of the Northern Governors Forum.

``I can only implement the decisions in Niger state and not in other states,’’ he said.

Aliyu, however, said the slow economic activities was not peculiar to the region alone but the country at large as the activities of the group had given the country a negative image abroad.

 

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Russian Parliament Approves Ban On American Adoptions

Russia's upper parliament house unanimously approved a bill on Wednesday that would ban Americans from adopting Russian children, in retaliation for a U.S. law that punishes Russians accused of human rights violations.

The bill, which President Vladimir Putin has hinted he will sign, would also outlaw some U.S.-funded non-governmental organisations and impose visa bans and asset freezes on Americans accused of violating the rights of Russian citizens.

It is Russia's response to the Magnitsky Act, a law signed by U.S. President Barack Obama earlier this month to bar Russians accused of human rights violations from entering the U.S. and to freeze any assets they hold there.

The Federation Council, Russia's upper parliament house, voted 143-0 to approve the bill, which has drawn condemnation from rights activists and Kremlin opponents who say lawmakers are playing a political game with the lives of children.

Putin has signalled support for the measure in spite of unusual criticism from some government officials, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and a deputy prime minister who has warned Putin that it could violate international agreements.

The U.S. law and the Russian response are adding tension to the relationship between the countries, which is already strained over issues ranging from Syria to Putin's treatment of opponents and restrictions imposed on non-governmental organisations since he began a new term in May. 

 

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Total, French Embassy To Give Scholarships To 5 Nigerians Each Year

Total Plc. and the Embassy of France in Nigeria have initiated a joint scholarship scheme to sponsor the training of five Nigerians abroad every year.

A statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by Mr Charles Ebereonwu, the Manager (External Communication) of Total, said that the scheme was part of the company’s efforts to contribute to the development of the country’s education sector.

It noted that the Joint Scholarship Scheme (‘TQJS’) titled ``Total E &P Nigeria Ltd. (TEPNG) /Quai d’ Orsay’’ would take effect from the 2012/2013 academic session.

The statement, however, said that the pilot stage of the scheme had commenced this year with one candidate sponsored to study international law in France.

It stressed that the agreement for the training was signed by Mr Guy Maurice, the Managing Director of TEPNG, and Amb. Jacques Champagne de Labriolle, the French Ambassador to Nigeria.

The statement quoted de Labriolle as saying that the scheme was based on the need to contribute to the training of Nigerians in different fields, while commending Total for contributing to the development of the Nigerian society.

It also quoted Maurice as saying that the initiative was a reflection of the company's confidence in the country and a continuation of what it had been doing in the past.

``The agreement makes provision for a four-man steering committee to manage the scheme on behalf of the parties and each of the international scholarship is worth about 54,000 Euros,’’ Maurice said in the statement.

Total has been collaborating with top-rated institutions across the world, as part of its human capacity development efforts.

It is also the main sponsor of the Institute of Petroleum Studies (IPS), a post-graduate institute at the University of Port Harcourt, managed in collaboration with the prestigious Institute France du Petrole (IFP) in France

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UPDATE: 12 Dead, Dozens Injured In Lagos Fireworks Explosion

No fewer than 12 persons have died, and a dozen injured as fireworks explosion rocked Lagos Island on wednesday.

The incident which affected three buildings located at Okoya/Ojogiwa, Lagos Island, Lagos, occurred at about 8:00am.

It was gathered that trouble started when a locked-up shop under one of the three buildings stocked with fireworks popularly called 'bangers' suddenly exploded and went up in flames.

As a result of the explosion, it was learnt that the building which had d shop under it and two others adjoining collapsed.

Residents of the three buildings who were still celebrating the Christmas festivity mood but, were still on beds to witness the boxing day, were affected during the explosions.

12 persons, it was said, were feared dead and a dozen others injured.

A score other residents were said to be currently trapped in d debris of the collapsed three buildings.

As at press time, officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), fire service, police, Nigerian Security Civil and Defence Corps (NSCDC) and others had visited the scene for rescue operations.

 

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