Tuesday, July 30, 2013

3,000 Pounds UK Visa Bond Starts In November

Britain will commence the £3,000 tourists visa scheme in the six listed Commonwealth countries in November this year,Financial Times report quoted the Home Office as saying.

The Commonwealth countries to be affected by the policy which was announced in June are Nigeria, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The affected countries are considered to be source of "high risk" tourists to the UK.

Some visitors from the six countries, under the scheme, will be asked to pay a £3,000 cash bond in return for visitor visas that allow them to stay in the UK for up to six months.
According to official data, these six countries accounted for more than half a million visa applications in 2012.

There have been outpours of anger by governments of the affected countries, especially Nigeria and India against the policy.

A protest in India last month forced the British Prime Minister David Cameron to declare that final decision had not been taken on the policy, while the Nigerian government asked Britain to renounce the scheme.

The Federal Government, through the Foreign Affairs minister, Olugbenga Ashiru,  had in June expressed "the strong displeasure of the government and people of Nigeria" over the "discriminatory" policy.

Ashiru warned British High Commissioner Andrew Pocock at a meeting in the minister's office in Abuja, barely 24 hours after the policy was announced, that the move would "definitely negate" the two country's commitment to double trade by 2014.

The minister told the British diplomat that Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, had "a responsibility to take appropriate measures to protect the interest of Nigerians who may be affected by the proposed policy, if finally introduced."

The British High Commission in Nigeria after the meeting issued a statement quoting Pocock as saying that his government planned to undertake "a very small scale trial of the use of financial bonds as a way of tackling abuse in the immigration system (which occurs when some people overstay their visa terms)."
He said that the details of the pilot scheme were still being worked out and if it goes ahead in Nigeria, it would affect only a very small number of the "highest risk" visitors.

"The vast majority would not be required to pay a bond. Those paying bonds would receive the bond back, if they abided by the terms of their visa," he said.

More than 180, 000 Nigerians apply to visit Britain each year and about 70 percent or around 125, 000 of these applicants are successful, he said.

A Home Office official said the six countries highlighted were those with "the most significant risk of abuse".

The Home Office said on Friday that only individuals deemed "high-risk" would be asked to pay the bond. But some officials admits that the mere mention of a bond would be enough to deter visitors.

 "In the long run, we are interested in a system of bonds that deters overstaying and recovers costs if a foreign national has used our public services," an unnamed Home Office official said.

Ashiru said on Sunday that the UK embassy had not communicated to his office the plan to commence the bond scheme.

""They have not communicated with me," the minister said while  reacting to the latest development.
In the UK, luxury goods retailers have denounced the plan as an "insulting deterrent" to wealthy tourists, which will hit sales and damage London's reputation.
They are urging the government to drop the pilot, saying the restrictions will damage their business if Commonwealth tourists – particularly Nigerians, now the sixth biggest spenders on luxury goods in the UK – are put off.

"It's embarrassing that our country would consider these measures against visitors who spend so much in our stores," Managing Director of Harrods, Michael Ward, said.

"There seems to be a deeply frustrating attitude in Westminster that they should do whatever they can to actively prevent people coming to the UK," Ward added.
Harrods is reputed to be the biggest department store in Europe, occupying a five-acre site in the royal precinct in London.

Rivers Police Commissioner Accused Of Torturing Hon Lloyd

Rivers State Assembly Leader Chidi Lloyds is going blind, his colleagues have said.

Lloyd, a lawyer, who represents Emohua Constituency, has been moved from the Police Officers' Mess, Old Government Reservation Area (GRA), Port Harcourt, where he was detained on Friday, to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). He is not allowed to receive visitors and has got no medical help, his colleagues claimed.

Speaking yesterday in Port Harcourt on behalf of the 27 lawmakers loyal to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Leyii Kwanee, said Lloyd's health was deteriorating. He needs medical attention.

Kwanee, a lawyer, who represents Khana Constituency 2 and also the Chairman, Parliamentary Exchange and Mentorship Programme of the Pan African Parliament, revealed that the Speaker, Otelemaba Dan Amachree, was away in Namibia for the conference of Commonwealth Parliamentarians.

The 27 lawmakers said: "We need to ensure that democracy is respected in Rivers State. Hon. Chidi Lloyd reported himself to the Force Headquarters, Abuja on Tuesday. He was flown into Port Harcourt on Friday. We thought he would be charged to court that day.

"As I speak with you now, he is being held up at the State CID by the same police authorities under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu.
"Hon. Chidi Lloyd was blindfolded, tortured and teargas was sprayed all over him. We have been refused access to him. We have just been informed that Hon. Chidi Lloyd is going blind, occasioned by the teargas that was sprayed all over him, particularly in his eyes. Medical help has also been refused him.

"Today (yesterday), the 27 pro-Amaechi lawmakers have met in all the churches. We have been praying, seeking God's intervention. We all know that Nigerians are prayerful people. We are also not losing sight of the fact that Nigeria is a signatory to a lot of conventions and treaties bordering on human rights.
"We are assembling a team of lawyers, who will look at the possibility of putting together all the human rights abuses that have been inflicted on Hon. Chidi Lloyd, the leader of the 7th Assembly, with a view that if justice cannot be got on the shores of Nigeria, human rights transcend borders.

"We may seek justice to ensure that Hon. Chidi Lloyd's rights are protected and his cause is also ventilated, probably in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), if it comes to that. The Speaker will also draw the attention of the Commonwealth to the ugly development."

The pro-Amaechi lawmakers also lauded Senators for concurring with the members of the House of Representatives in taking over the Rivers Assembly, which they described as a welcome development and in the best interest of Nigerians.
They described the commissioner of police as a "major" problem in the deepening political crisis, insisting that the decision of the National Assembly to advise that he be redeployed should be heeded.
The 27 lawmakers noted that with a "neutral" police commissioner, they would be able to sit. To them, the reconciliation committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), headed by Bayelsa Governor Seriake Dickson, will not serve the interest of Rivers State.

Earlier, in a statement issued yesterday, 25 of the 27 lawmakers said Mbu should be held responsible, should anything happen to Lloyd.
The pro-Amaechi lawmakers also said: "The Leader of the Rivers House of Assembly, Hon. (Barr.) Chidi Lloyd had earlier in the week reported to the Force Headquarters, Abuja and had what the Force Headquarters described as 'meaningful interactions' for four days.

"Since his arrival in Port Harcourt, the Rivers Police Commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu, has assaulted and tortured him (Lloyd) like a criminal. They have been moving him from one station to another since he reported to CP Mbu's office on arrival from Abuja.

"As his lawyer, Bello Olisa Nwofor, stated: 'the continued blindfolding and detention of Hon. Chidi Lloyd by the police is emphatically dangerous to his health and life.'

"We have also heard from the lawyer who accompanied Lloyd from Force Headquarters to Port Harcourt, Barr. Emenike Ebete, that over 500 riot policemen escorted Chidi Lloyd from the airport to CP's office and transported in a 'Black Maria' as authorities would move criminals.

"As a House, we are indeed saddened to note that the Leader of the Rivers House of Assembly was blindfolded, tear-gassed and handcuffed. As victims of this scripted and staged crisis from Abuja, with a junior minister playing a major role and the police commissioner, Rivers State, as key actor, our worry:

"• Is Mbu aware of Chidi Lloyd's medical history? This calculated poisoning of Chidi Lloyd reminds us of the assumed circumstances leading to the death of our one-time Senate President Dr. Chuba Okadigbo.

"•Why the blindfold? He is only alleged to have committed an offence. He is not a terrorist nor an armed robber; neither is he a kidnapper. He is a representative of Emohua Constituency of Ikwerre ethnic nationality at the Rivers State House of Assembly and a legal practitioner, who will stand for truth and justice, even when the truth is too much for those bent on destroying our hard-earned democracy, with unnecessary impunity.

"•Why the handcuffs, when he submitted himself to the police?"
The pro-Amaechi lawmakers also stated that they were "genuinely" anxious over the life of Lloyd, whose whereabouts they claimed remained unknown.

The lawmakers who signed the statement are: Golden Ngozi Chioma, Innocent Barikor, Josiah John Olu, Ibiso Nwuche, Belema Okpokiri, Legbosi Nwidadah, Andrew Anderson Miller, Augustine Ngo, Ben Horsfall, Okechukwu Nwaogu, Victor Amadi, Azubike Chikere Wanjoku and Victoria Nyeche.

Others were Benibo Anabraba, Irene Inimgba, Felicia Barizasi-Tane, Aye Atamah Pepple, Onari Brown, Gift Wokocha, Ewor Nname Robinson, Lucky Odili, Chigbo Eligwe, Leyii Kwanee, Ikwunyi Igbani, Tonye Harry and Otelemaba Amachree.
Mbu, however, insisted that he remained a professional police officer, not taking sides and not a politician, as alleged in some quarters.

Nicki Minaj Flaunts Engagement Ring After DJ Khaled’s Proposal

Some of you might have heard that Nicki Minaj took a restraining order out against DJ Khaled after he proposed to her publicly…that report is false, she never did.

In fact just two days after the proposal, Nicki was spotted showing off a diamond engagement ring that looks like the $500k ring DJ Khaled proposed with.

Nicki isn't engaged to DJ Khaled but she's kinda playing along to help him promote his upcoming album.

The two are said to be friends. Friends of Nicki say she found the public proposal funny.

Nicki is engaged to her long-time boyfriend and hype man, Safaree.

Vice Chancellors Condemn Prolonged ASUU Strike

The Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, have jointly condemned the ongoing indefinite strike embarked upon by thee Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The Secretary-General of the Association of Vice Chancellors of Federal State Universities in Nigeria, Professor Michael Faborode, spoke on behalf of the group and urged the Federal Government and ASUU to resolve the crisis.

He said: "At the 59th meeting of the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Federal, State and Private Universities held on Thursday, 18th July, 2013, at the Nigerian Turkish Nile University (NTNU), Abuja, the ongoing national strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was extensively deliberated upon.

"The association noted that the strike action was crippling the education system in Nigeria, and portraying the system and the country in bad light to the global community.

"The association therefore appealed to the Federal Government and ASUU to expeditiously reach an amicable solution on the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, so as to restore normal academic activities in Nigerian university system."



The vice chancellors also spoke strongly against plagiarism, which is fast becoming a trend among students and lecturers in Nigerian universities.

"It urged its members to continue to uphold the extant traditions of the academic system," he added.

"It was observed in particular that, the association, by collectively subscribing to the TURN-IT-IN anti-plagiarism services at a considerable cost, has taken appropriate steps to uphold article 9.2 i&ii of the Declaration, aimed at combating widespread plagiarism in our universities, by authenticating the originality of all academic publications for the sake of credibility of the system.

"Members extolled the virtues of the anti-plagiarism package within a short time of its usage, and projected that indolent and lazy academics and students, who denigrate the system with their inordinate ambition and sharp practices, no longer have any hiding place, as the service would fish them out for appropriate sanction.

"Plagiarism is one of the most heinous misdemeanours in the academic system".

Over 50 vice chancellors and deputies attended the meeting.

Wizkid – Drop Ft. Wale {DOWNLOAD}

This is something different, wizkid teams up with MMG's naija boy Wale on this crazy tune titled "Drop". This right here is a hit and you'll definitely have it on replay, Trust a brother on this!
 
Produced by Legendary Beats.

Hit that play button and tell me what you think!

DOWNLOAD HERE: http://cdn13.tooxclusive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Wizkid-ft-Wale-Drop.mp3

Richest Black Woman, Folorunsho Alakija Splashes N88m On 4 G-Wagons For Her Sons

According to SocietyNowNG, Richest Black woman, Folorunsho Alakija just perfected an act to enhance the status of her children and make their life more comfortable.

Sources disclosed, she just doled out the latest edition (2013) of alluring automobiles identified as G- Wagons to her four sons.

Sources claimed all four vehicles were 'specially imported'.

An insider revealed the unit cost of each as 'in the region of N22m, outside of the cost of shipping'

Further digs revealed, the wonder on wheels were quietly brought in 'a couple of weeks back'

The reason (s) the wealthy Nigerian opted to purchase the same brand – or the children agreed to the ploy is not yet clear.
Folorunsho Alakija

Also yet to be established is whether the total purchase of N88m was to sign post a special occasion – or just another everyday occurrence in the world of the woman reputed to rake in $1M (N159m) daily.

Bomb Explosion Kills 20 In Kano

About 20 people were reportedly killed and several others injured following bomb explosions at a relaxation spot in the Sabon Gari area of Kano state, North West Nigeria.

According to eyewitnesses, the multiple explosions hit the area after someone allegedly dropped Improvised Explosive Devices at the joint while hundreds of people were relaxing after breaking the day's Ramadan fast.

 
An eyewitness Tobias Idika, who confirmed the explosion said "for now I can see over 20 people dead while many are injured…right now they are evacuating the victims" he added.

Our correspondent in Kano reports that the police are yet to comment on the issue, but the area has been cordoned off by members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the state.

NIGERIA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE (NLI) FUTURE LEADERS SEMINAR

Nominations for the October 2013 Nigeria Leadership Initiative's Future Leaders has commenced.

The Future Leaders Seminar is a program for emerging public and private sector leaders aged 25 to 35 years and based in Nigeria or the Diaspora. It is a 3-day residential seminar sessions capped by a dinner and the launch of class projects by the seminar participants. At the end of each session, the participants are inducted Associates of NLI.

The Future Leaders Seminar had its inaugural class in 2007 and to date, with support from First Bank, there are currently 247 NLI Associates in Nigeria and in the Diaspora. The Future Leaders Seminar was designed to define the mission of the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) by creating a growing, global network of credible, accomplished community-spirited Nigerian leaders, committed to taking responsibility for driving positive change in Nigeria and Nigerian communities.

Nominations Criteria:

Candidates must be 25-35 years old
They must have exceptio
nal community spirited and outstanding leadership qualities in their fields
They must provide a written essay
They must provide two written references
To Apply:

Visit www.nli-global.org  or www.careerparley.com/nli  to fill the application form. You can also send an email to futureleaders@nli-global.org for further enquiries.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Justin Bieber Spits on His Fans From Balcony

The singer was branded a "clown", "disgusting" and "revolting" for dropping the saliva bomb.

It was the fourth time Bieber had been caught in a spitting row this year.

Before gobbing on Thursday, he filmed the fans gathering outside the Hazelton Hotel in Toronto, Canada, and posted the video on Instagram.

The Canadian pop brat wrote: "I wake up this morning to this Best fans in the world. #beliebers #sexyfans."

Then he was snapped spitting towards the crowd below — to the amusement of pals who joined him on the balcony.

Last night, outraged Katie Langley, from Manchester, tweeted: "Justin Bieber spat at his fans from a balcony because he was bored. That's just downright disgusting."

Blogger Rebekka-Mary Darling, from London, wrote: "Justin Bieber spitting? Seriously? Can't you afford a tissue with all your millions? It's revolting."

And British-born US gossip columnist Rob Shuter posted online: "I'm so over this clown."

The storm comes weeks after a DJ accused Bieber of spitting in his face in Ohio, US. In March, the Baby singer allegedly gobbed in his neighbour's face during a row, but this was denied by the millionaire star.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Jonathan, Ameachi’s Wives Begin Moves To End Rivers Crisis

Pic: "wife of the Rivers State Governor Dame Judith Amaechi signing the condolence register during a condolence visit to First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan over the death of her mother"

 
What appears to be the beginning of peace in politically tensed Rivers State, happened Friday when the First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan and the wife of Rivers State Governor, Dame Judith Amaechi both signed the condolence register of the First Lady's mother, Mrs. Charity Oba in Port Harcourt.

They were accompanied by the wife of Bayelsa State Governor, Mrs. Rachael Seriake Dickson.

The deceased died in an auto crash along Elele/Owerri Expressway on her way to neighboring Bayelsa State.

Since the crisis started, both women had kept off from each other, a situation which observers say has worked against the moves by some influential persons within and outside the state to reconcile the feuding factions in the crisis.

The last time the First Lady visited Port Harcourt, according to eyewitnesses, she had ignored Amaechi's wife, right from the airport where the Rivers First Lady had gone to receive her, merely acknowledging her presence with glances.

Jonathan's wife has been repeatedly linked to the crisis, by supporting the minister of state for Education, Nyesom Wike and Evans Bipi, the lawmaker representing her constituency, who claimed to have emerged the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly after the alleged impeachment of the speaker, Rt. Hon. Otelemabama Amachree.

Commercial activities in Port Harcourt, and environs went on smoothly when Mrs. Jonathan came calling unlike the visits preceding when commercial activities were almost grinded as police officers cordoned off some major roads, and stood at strategic areas.

Observers had expected Mrs. Jonathan to continue with her cold treatment of the Rivers First Lady, considering that Governor Amaechi has of late been speaking to foreign media, alleging that President Jonathan has been running a one man show in his handling of the affairs of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

In less than a week, the Governor granted interviews to London based Financial Times and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), where he made some comments against Jonathan.

Mrs. Jonathan had earlier disclosed in an interview that she has no problem with the Governor, but was quick to point out that trouble started in 2010 when the issue of waterside demolition came up, with the Governor insisting on going ahead with the demolition despite protests by Okrika people, who would suffer the effect.

She however said that Amaechi's sacking of then council chairman of Okrika, who is related to her was the beginning of the crisis.

But last Friday as Mrs. Jonathan and Mrs. Amaechi walked together silently to sign the condolence register, some present expressed hope that the crisis was gradually coming to an end.

“We can be title challengers next season with or without new signings” – Wenger

Arsene Wenger has revealed that Arsenal is not close to completing a deal for anybody at the moment, as thee Gunners completed their tour of Asia on Friday.

Luis Suarez has been strongly linked with a move to the Emirates, with a bid of £40,000,0001 rejected on Tuesday. Wenger told curious press men after their last match, that he does not expect to announce a new player soon.

"We are not close to signing Suarez or anybody else so there's no reason why I should talk about it," he told reporters in Saitama, Japan.

"There is nothing to say (on the Suarez deal). I have been away now for two or the weeks and it's hard to see how things are advanced because everyone is on tour at the moment and it's very difficult to get in touch with people.



"We are ready to do quick deals but all the transfers do not depend only on us. We are prepared to wait. It looks unlikely before the Emirates Cup (next weekend), but we still have a strong squad."

Arsenal supporters have seen two of their summer targets, Gonzalo Higuain and Stevan Jovetic, move to other clubs, but Wenger is not in a hurry and insisted it won't be a problem if they don't bring in anyone.

"With or without additions we can be title challengers next season," he said. "We try to do the job and we will try to do it well, but nothing has been concluded with anybody.

"What we want is not a name but a good player. The name is less important. What is more important is the quality of the player. At the moment I must tell you we are not close to signing anybody.

"Of course we want to do as many top players as we can, but we also have to focus on the players we have and develop them."

ASUU/FG Talk Still deadlocked

A meeting between the Federal Government and striking university lecturers on Friday was again inconclusive.
The Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, who was drafted to intervene in the face-off between the government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), told newsmen that there were still outstanding issues to be resolved next week for ASUU to call off the strike.
The two knotty issues according to him, are earned allowance and funding of university education in view of the infrastructure deficit in the system.

He added that all other issues raised by ASUU had been agreed on apart from the two issues pending.
Suswam, however, disclosed that while the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, would meet with ASUU leadership on Monday to resolve the issue of the earned allowance, he and members of implementation committee on Needs Assessment Committee would also meet with ASUU next Thursday to finalise issues on funding.
The governor expressed optimism that all the pending issues would be resolved next week for the union to call off the strike.

He admitted the decay and rot in universities, stressing that his committee would ensure that there was sustained funding of universities in Nigeria.

Earlier in his opening remark at the meeting, Senator Anyim expressed determination of the Federal Government to ensure that the issues were resolved for the lecturers to return to classroom.
He said: "Our meeting today is blessed with injection of new hands, new faces and new minds. It is expected that our meeting today will be fruitful because we would have more hands helping us to resolve what is outstanding.

"You might also recalled that the implementation committee of Needs Assessment Report to Nigerian universities was just inaugurated. The chairman of that committee is Governor Gabriel Suswam. After the inauguration of that committee, we appealed to him to join us in this meeting that is following soon after.
"On this note, I am convinced that their desire to see this matter resolved is simply because of their commitment to national progress," Anyim said.

He added that the Needs assessment was undertaken based on the desire to revitalise university education in Nigeria.

Implementation of the Needs Assessment report is one of the key demands of ASUU that led to the three-week-old strike that has paralysed academic activities in universities across the nation.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation inaugurated the committee headed by Governor Suswam.

He noted that the committee was set up in line with the agreement with both the academic and non-academic staff union of universities as part of efforts to revitalise the nation's universities.

Anyim charged the committee members to interface with all agencies providing funding support to universities with the aim of appropriately channelling support to identified priorities.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Photos of 2013 Miss University Nigeria Contestants

Some are it, some are not. Some make the cut, others should just be cut. All hoping to wear home the crown, who would you vote for?