Apparently still excited about Nigeria’s trashing of Cote d’Ivoire at the quarter-final of the ongoing African Cup of a Nations on Sunday, President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, likened himself to a coach of a national team who is under pr...

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday in Abuja swore in two ministers from Enugu and Kebbi States, with a task to make a difference in governance. The ministers are Prof Chinedu Nebo from Enugu State and Alhaji Kabiru Turaki from Kebbi. Jonathan said t...

Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, has approved the suspension of the Chairmen of Offa and Oyun local government councils with immediate effect.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold told Journalists on Monday in Ilorin that the order followed the outbreak of violence between Offa and Erin-Ile communities of the local governments.

Gold said at a news conference that the suspension would be for three months and also affects the councillors, vice charmen, the two councils secretaries and other political appointees.

He said that the chairmen, as chief security officers of their respective councils, had failed to maintain public order and protect the welfare of residents of the two communities.

Gold said:“There is a clear and present danger of the breakdown of law and order, security and public safety in Offa and Erin-Ile towns and the need to take action to prevent the deterioration of the situation.''

The SSG said that the action of the governor was in line with Kwara State Local Government (Amendment) Law No. 4, section 1, 2 (sub section 5, 6, 7 and 8) of 2006.

According to him, the governor has approved the appointment of Alhaji . Ishaq Abubakar and Alhaji G.B.O. Bello as Sole Administrators for Offa and Oyun local councils respectively.

He also said that a 10 member Judicial Commission of Enquiry under Justice Adeyinka Oyinloye, had been constituted to look into the communal crisis.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commission was mandated to identify the remote and immediate causes of the crises as well as determine the extent of damages recorded.

It was also to determine the number of lives lost, those behind the crisis and review previous reports by various committees on the crisis.

The commission, which was given six weeks to submit its report, was asked to make appropriate recommendations for the punishment and prosecution of culprits and compensations to victims.

Members of the commission include Mr AbdulAzeez Ibrahim, Alhaji. A. R. Shehu, a retired Head of Service and Mr Job Afolayan, a retired Permanent Secrtary.

Others are Mrs F. Lawal of the Ministry of Justice, Dr Jelili Animashaun of the University of Ilorin, Mr John Ojo, Lt. Col. A. H. Ahmed and Alhaji A. A. Yusuf, who will serve as secretary. (NAN)

The insurers of Dana Air said on Sunday they had begun payment of compensation to Iju-Ishaga residents whose properties were damaged when a Dana Air aircraft crashed into the area on June 3, 2012.

Tony Usidamen, Dana Air’s Head of Corporate Communications, annouced this in a statement in Lagos.

“We can confirm that payment of compensation to affected Iju-Ishaga residents has commenced.

"The process is still ongoing and our insurers are committed to ensuring that all claimants are compensated to the extent of their losses,” Usidamen.

He did not give the names of the affected residents and the amount paid.

Usidamen also explained why it took long before the compensation could be paid.

“In order to ensure that just and fair compensation is paid to the affected families, several processes have been followed by law and settlement reached by all parties concerned.

"These processes usually take time but our insurers are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that all the matters are resolved.

“The airline’s insurers have also continued to deal with claims by families of passengers and crew onboard the ill-fated flight,” he said.

Usidamen explained that more than 84 families received advance payments of 30,000 dollars.

He added that payment of final settlement to 14 families who had produced the requisite Letters of Administration (and Letter of Guardianship in the case of minors) had begun.

He commended the Lagos State Government for the cooperation and assistance rendered so far.

“With the waiver of statutory fees and fast-track system, families will have the requisite documents very quickly.

"This will enable the insurers to settle all claims within the shortest possible time, and in accordance with the law,” he said. (NAN)

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, on Sunday in Abuja commended the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO), for promoting education in the society.

Jonathan gave the commendation at the 8th African Regional Assembly of the World Union of Catholic Women Organisation (WUCWO), which had the theme ``Love in Action’’.

She said the organisation’s education programmes are similar to what her Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) does, adding ``it is worthy of note that your organisation endorses education for all.

``Education is a tool that can free our citizens, especially women and children, from the shackles of poverty.’’

The First Lady urged the church also to give equal opportunities for women to serve God.

``It is important to note that the church should not relegate women to the background, but ensure they are given equal opportunities to work with their menfolk in the Lord's vineyard,’’ she said.

Madam Maria Ruggieri, President of WUCWO, said the conference should focus on love teachings as Jesus' true disciples, in order to reach the poor and less privileged.

She said it was unfortunate that Africa which should be the richest in the world was facing problems of violence and crime.

Ruggieri also urged mothers to hold the family in high esteem by paying particular attention to the girl-child as the future of the church and the world.

Mrs Felicia Onyeabo, the President, National Council of Catholic Women Organisation (NCWO), said in her address that the assembly would seek ways to promote peace within and outside the Catholic Church.

``WUCWO is all about spreading the gospel of peace, love and harmonious existence.

'``I urge all speakers to talk about this in great detail, brainstorm and find ways of cultivating love in the society as bridge-builders, change-agents and agents of peace.

``I welcome our sisters across Africa who suffered to get here and I also urge all African leaders to look into flight challenges across Africa.

``It is easier to fly from Africa to US or Europe than flying between African countries,’’ she added.

Gen. Carter Ham, Commander, U.S. African Command (AFRICOM), says Nigeria has the capability to fight the war against Boko Haram terrorism.

Ham said this at the weekend while speaking with the Nigerian Media Delegation on a visit to AFRICOM Headquarters in Stuttgart.

He was reacting to a specific request by the Nigeria Government from the U.S. military to locate some of the Boko Haram leaders.

``Nigeria has great capability to fight terrorism, but what Nigeria asked for are some equipment.

``The U.S. can help the Nigerian military to better understand how we use various intelligence information from various sources and how to put them together in a coherent manner so that government can then make right choices as to what action to undertake, '' he said.

According to the commander, information comes from a wide range of sources like the media, human resources and technical sources.

He said in Nigeria, like the U.S., multiple organisations had responsibilities for different pieces of information collected, and analyse the process.

Ham said one of the things the U.S. learnt over the past years in Iraq and Afghanistan was how to fuse all that information in a coherent manner so that serious decision could be taken and direction given to the various entities of government.

``Nigeria asked us for some help in that process and that is being undertaken now, '' he added.

The Africom chief also explained that the command was in partnership with Nigeria in other areas of military cooperation like in maritime security of the Gulf, important to Nigeria and the U.S.

He said Nigeria's leading role on the security in the Gulf of Guinea was appreciated.

``For air force, our responsibilities and engagement in Nigeria are principally focused on finding ways to improve the operational capability in the Nigerian Air Force.

``This is to enable more of Nigerian Air Force fleet to be operational and be able to support Nigerian aviation sector.

``And if Nigeria can increase the availability and the operational readiness rate of its air fleet, it would help in the transportation of Nigerian battalions, `` Ham said.

Ham said the command’s  focus had been to help the Army develop the capability required to deal with many challenges. (NAN)