I handed over a Nigeria that produced Africa's richest man – GEJ

Former President Jonathan has listed as one of his government's achievement, the emergence of a Nigerian, Aliko Dangote as Africa's Richest Man. Jonathan stated this while speaking to Friends of Africa Coalition at the office of the Mayor of the City of Newark in New Jersey on Thursday April 21 

"I inherited a Nigeria in which the trains were not working, and handed over a Nigeria in which citizens can safely travel by trains again. I inherited a Nigeria that was a net importer of cement, and handed over a Nigeria that is a net exporter of cement.
In 2009 the richest Nigerian was the 5th richest man in Africa but I handed over a Nigeria that produced the richest man in Africa. These are but a few of the parameters that illustrate some of the economic transformations we engineered during my term in office. This was made possible by the fact that there was a stable political leadership in Nigeria that did not have to pander to any other constituency except the electorate who brought me to power. And these actions have a contagious effect.”

Photos: Customs warehouse in Ikeja razed by fire

Nigerian customs service warehouse lost billions of naira due to a fire outbreak. The fire started at 11pm on Friday night April 22nd and burnt into the next day April 23rd. According to a source who witnessed part of the incident, the cause of the fire was an electrical issue from a class room located on the top floor of the warehouse for training officers.

The source said it started from a computer that wasn't switched off properly and sank the decking into the warehouse which caused the fire and caused the loss of billions of naira in goods that were seized by customs.

Fire service operators were at the scene but couldn't control the situation due to inadequate water supply.

Fortunately, all gallons of groundnut oil which would have escalated the fire, rice, soap, clothes and some many other items, had previously been moved to IDPs within the last week.

Graphic photos: One soldier dies as Military foils Boko Haram attempt on an IDP camp in Dikwa town

One soldier was killed as Nigerian troops foiled an attempt by Boko Haram terrorist to attack Dikwa town in Borno state yesterday February 24th. A statement by the acting spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, the terrorists aimed at causing havoc at the Internally Displaced Persons camp located at Dikwa. However and unknown to the fleeing Boko Haram terrorists, the Armed Forces Special Forces in blocking positions decisively dealt with the terrorists; killing many, recovered vehicle, arms and ammunitions. 

A member of the local vigilante (Civilian JTF) were seriously injured. A military vehicle was damaged by a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) suicide bomber.

The troops recovered 26 bodies of the Boko Haram terrorists, while others escaped with gun shot wounds, destroyed 3 VIED, 1 MBIED and 2 Gun trucks. The gallant troops recovered 1 Gun truck mounted with an Anti-Aircraft Gun, 1 Dushka Anti-Aircraft Gun, 1 Browning Anti-Aircraft Gun, 1 Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Tube.

Others include 1 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), 4 AK 47 Rifles, 3 RPG Bombs, 36 Hand Grenades, 1 Smoke Grenade and 8 AK-47 rifles magazines. The troops also recovered 236 rounds of 12.7mm ammunitions, 396 rounds of 7.62mm ammunitions and 101 rounds of 762mm (Special), ammunitions.

The casualties have seen been evacuated while the troops have been pursuing those terrorists that escaped with gunshot wounds.
It is encouraging to note that despite loss of colleague and the vigilante, the troops have maintain dominating presence in the general area and poised to continue to clear the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists.

More photos...

Boko Haram has been defeated' - Army Chief, Buratai

Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai, says the military has defeated Boko Haram. Buarati said this during a meeting with some Borno state elders at the military command and control centre in Maiduguri, Borno state yesterday February 24th.

According to Buratia, the fight against the insurgents is at the mop up stage. “We were given three major tasks and we have made efforts toward achieving two. 
The first task is to defeat Boko Haram and I want to tell you that as at today Boko Haram has been defeated. When I say defeat, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there won’t be hitches here and there. We have entered the mop up stage of our operation.”he said

FG seeks abolition of visa requirement among the members of the D-8 countries

The Federal Government has called for the abolition of visa requirement among Developing Eight (D-8) member Countries, which are  Nigeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan and Turkey.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the call when he met with the Secretary General of the organisation, Dr Seyed Ali-Mohammed, on Wednesday, in Abuja:

“One area that I think D8 must to work on and if really they want to succeed, they must make sure that there is no barrier in term of visa among those eight countries.

“You cannot grow any trade talk less of tourism, if I cannot have easy access to Malaysia, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan.

“You can imagine the volume of trade that will develop over night if only you can make sure that if I want to go to Iran that there is bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Iran, between Nigeria and Pakistan and among those eight countries that there will be free movement of people.

“It is free movement of people that will guarantee free movement of trade.

“So, this is one area that I believe that you need to work hard on.’’

Mohammed, who commended the organisation’s focus on tourism development, said the provision of infrastructure was critical to the development of domestic tourism.
According to him; 

“Until you develop domestic tourism, you cannot have international tourism”.

In his remarks, Ali-Mohammed said the purpose of his visit was to intimate the minister about the organisation’s resolve to focus on tourism development as the area of cooperation among member countries.

“The meeting today I am enthusiastic about tourism.

”Very recently, on the proposal of member states, we came to conclusion that tourism or so could be."

Source : Vanguard