| .FG sets up committee to seek lasting solution to the recurrent crisis in Jos |
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.Federal Government sets up committee to seek lasting solution to the recurrent crisis in Jos Plateau State capital. ·Senate advises Independent National Electoral Commission to cancel Anambra state governorship poll if there is violence; ·Somalia pirates release Greek cargo ship; ·Haiti's Prime Minister, Jean-Max Bellerive criticizes US missionaries arrested while trying to take 33 Haitian children out of the country. Vice President Goodluck Jonathan says the recent Jos sectarian crisis has damaged inter-religious harmony and Nigeria's reputation in the world. Speaking at a meeting on the persistent crisis in Jos, Dr Jonathan noted that the Jos issue has become a major embarrassment not only to the people of Plateau State but the whole nation. The Vice President said it was time to bring peace to the state so that the good old days would continue. At the end of the meeting, the Vice President set up a 15-member committee to work out a way forward towards finding a lasting solution to the recurrent crisis. A former Plateau State governor, Solomon Lar, was appointed the committee's chairman while Ambassador Yahya Kwande will serve as co-chairman. Chief Lar remarked that Plateau State was once adjudged the most peaceful and accommodating state in the federation in the Second Republic. Meanwhile,Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang thanked the Vice President for calling this meeting. He said it was timely and it is good to bring not only Plateau people but also other Nigerians who are stakeholders in the Nigerian project. Senate has advised Independent National Electoral Commission to consider outright cancellation of elections where violence is recorded during the governorship elections in Anambra State. Chairman,Senate Committee on INEC, Isiaka Adeleke gave the advice when the committee met with the leadership of the electoral body in a pre-election meeting in Abuja yesterday. Senator Adeleke said Anambra election was crucial for several reason, one of which was its pivotal nature to the 2011 elections. In response, the INEC boss Maurice Iwu said the commission had put in place a mechanism to ensure, credible poll. According to him, ballot papers and ballot boxes to be used for the election were specially marked to prevent fraud. The INEC chairman also said polling agents would be encouraged to take an audit of election materials, especially ballot papers before the elections. Meanwhile, Anambra State Police Command has warned its officers to shun any act capable of undermining the integrity of the Force. Command’s spokesman, Emeka Chukwuemeka, said police had put in place an intelligence network to fish out officers engaged in corrupt practice. He said the command would deal decisively with any officer caught in questionable relationship with politicians during the election. The Supreme Court of Nigeria has announced the names of 19 lawyers, including two academics, raised to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Chief Registrar of the Court, Musa Musale, said the appointment was made by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee. He said the body, headed by Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, Chief Justice of Nigeria, approved the names of the appointees. Meanwhile, some of the appointees as Nella Andem-Ewa, Joseph Nwobika, Effiong Offiong, Mike Ozekhome, Sylvia Shinaba, Dorothy Ufot, Francis Dike, Chukwuma Ekomaru, Arthur Okafor; and Etigwe Owa. Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola has appealed to Lagosians to allow peace reign, so that government can continue its developmental work. Governor Fashola who spoke in a special broadcast said he felt compelled to address the people in view of certain unsavory publications that have been making the rounds impugning the reputations and integrity of members of different arms of State Government, the Nigerian Bar Association and leaders. He expressed concern that the information highway has been used to malign the person of former Governor Bola Tinubu in a manner which is undeserving and advised people to be very reluctant to cast the stone of judgment. An al-Qaeda group in North Africa has offered to train and arm Nigerian Muslim groups to fight perceived enemies in the country. The group, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, said in a statement that it was ready to defend its people in Nigeria. In a swift reaction to the al-Qaeda offer, the police said its men were ready to counter any form of terror in the country. Greek officials say Pirates in Somalia have released the Greek-owned cargo ship Filitsa and its crew of 22 after a ransom was paid. The crew of three Greek officers and 19 Filipino sailors are reported to be in good condition. The vessel was seized off the Seychelles on 11 November as it carried chemicals to South Africa. The ransom was paid earlier yesterday but the ship's owner, Order Shipping, refused to say how much was paid. Haiti's Prime Minister, Jean-Max Bellerive has criticized 10 US missionaries who were arrested as they tried to take 33 Haitian children out of the earthquake-hit country. Mr Bellerive described them as "kidnappers" and said they had known "what they were doing was wrong". He said some of the children had parents who were alive, and that the government was trying to locate them. A spokeswoman for the missionaries said they had wanted to take the children to an orphanage in the Dominican Republic. BUSINESS:Economic Community of West African States to get uniform mining codes ENTERTAINMENT: Lagos State assembly wants night clubs re-opened, frowns at nudity SPORTS: Nigeria Football Federation to decide Super Eagles coaching crew’s fate on Friday BUSINESS Economic Community of West African States is working towards harmonizing the codes and laws guiding the operation of the mining industry in member countries. Commissioner,Trade, Customs and Free Movement of Persons and Goods, Mohammed Daramy, said the initiative will attract more investments, boost economic activities, create wealth and alleviate poverty in the region. He said disparity in existing laws had created a huge challenge in the attempt to harmonize regional mining laws. Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke has signed into law the 2010 Appropriation Bill of N118.83 billion as approved by the House of Assembly. Assenting to the bill in Calabar, Governor Imoke said government had put behind it the sad fiscal experience of 2009 and was determined to confront its challenges in 2010. He also promised that government would provide basic services that would turn around the fortunes of agriculture. STOCK MARKET REPORT The bulls continued their reign on the Nigerian Stock Exchange as market indicators appreciated significantly yesterday. The stocks of 47 listed equities appreciated in value in contrast with the 32 that dropped in share price value. Nestle led in the price gainers’ table, chalking up N8.00 to close at N260.00 per share. Alumaco led in the price losers’ pack,dipping by N1.07 to close at N20.40 per share. ENTERTAINMENT Lagos State House of Assembly has recommended the re-opening of night clubs in the state. The assembly, however, warned that the activities of such clubs should not include the parade of nude persons. It had at its plenary on December 14, 2009 asked its committee on tourism and that of the judiciary to investigate the complaint of the club owners. The three-man committee, led by Chairman of the House Committee on Tourism Rotimi Olowo, during yesterday’s plenary recommended the re-opening of the clubs. SPORTS Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed that the national team’s coaching crew would be overhauled. NFF Chief Media Officer, Ademola Olajire, said it had become inevitable to overhaul the team. Mr. Olajire said a decision would be taken at an emergency meeting of the NFF board on Friday in Abuja. FORMULA 1 Michael Schumacher immediately outpaced team-mate Nico Rosberg as they put the first miles on the new Mercedes Formula 1 car in Valencia yetserday. Rosberg set a one minute 13.543 seconds lap in the morning, but Schumacher beat that within 20 laps in the afternoon. Schumacher's best time of 1:12.947 was third overall behind Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Sauber's Pedro de la Rosa. TODAY IN HISTORY February 2nd 1990 - South Africa's President FW de Klerk promised to free Nelson Mandela and legalize ANC and 60 other political organizations ODD SIDE OF NEWS A 22-year-old lady, Ijeoma Obezim, is currently in custody of Lagos State Police Command for allegedly killing her friend during a fight over a bucket. The suspect reportedly used a razor blade to inflict grievous injuries on the face of her friend, Ada Okeke. Obezim said trouble started when she needed a bucket Okeke had earlier used to wash some clothes. An argument, according to her, later led to a fight which was settled by their neighbours. She accused Okeke of biting her during the fight. |