France wants to assist Nigeria in checking the menace of the Boko Haram sect, among other security challenges facing the nation.
The last bomb and gun attacks launched by the group in Maiduguri, Damaturu and Potiskum left at least 150 people dead and several public buildings in ruins.
The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Alain Juppe, on a visit to Abuja yesterday said his country was ready to share information, coordinate intelligence with Nigeria and train security agents on checking terrorism in the country.
Juppe, spoke at a joint press conference with his Nigerian counterpart, Mr.Olugbenga Ashiru.
He condemned the Boko Haram attacks and said his visit was primarily to show solidarity with Nigeria on the issue.
AGAIN, Nigeria’s corruption rating has taken a leap for the worse as Transparency International (TI) has said that Nigerian civil servants alone took bribes worth over N450 billion ($3b) in the last one year.
The TI report on Bribe Payers Index for this year released just in time for the G20 summit also assessed 28 countries and territories including most of the G20 countries excluding Nigeria, from its annual Bribe Payers index.
Although Nigeria was not included in the countries selected for review this year, the TI however conducted additional studies of corrupt behaviours in public and private sectors in the world, where Nigeria’s civil servants were mentioned.
Slain Libyan leader, Col. Muammar Gaddafi was a major sponsor of terrorism activities and religious fundamentalism in the country, resulting in his supply of arms and ammunition to sectarian groups during religious uprisings, terrorist attacks and even the post elections violence that rocked the nation soon after the 2011 presidential elections, Saturday Vanguard has learnt.
Security sources disclosed that they had been aware of the intention of Col. Gaddafi to instigate the destabilization of Nigeria with a view to bringing to fruition, his proclamation early this year, that Nigeria would disintegrate into several parts unless the country was divided into two, with North going their own way and the South forming their own country.
KANO, Nigeria — Attackers used explosives and gunfire to target a military patrol near a wedding in violence-torn northeastern Nigeria, with residents reporting two civilians killed in the violence.
The incident on Saturday, Nigeria's independence day, occurred in Maiduguri, hit by scores of attacks blamed on an Islamist sect known as Boko Haram, which also claimed an August bombing of UN headquarters in the capital Abuja.
"There was a bomb and gun attack on one of our patrol teams yesterday," said Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Mohammed, spokesman for a military task force deployed to Maiduguri. "Our men responded to the attack but details are still sketchy."
Residents reported that two people were left dead after the bomb blast and an exchange of gunfire between soldiers and residents. It was unclear whether they were killed by the bomb or gunfire.
Abuja — Security agencies have revealed fresh plans by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram to attack selected high profile targets in the federal capital ahead of this weekend's independence anniversary.
The SSS claimed that the attacks are coming on the heels of a presidency directive to all security agencies to submit to it documents on their handling of the Boko Haram crisis since 2007. The presidency's directive was the outcome of outrage that trailed the comments of the leader of the group released by the Police to a sister agency.
Meanwhile, the United Nations in New York has fired its security chiefs in Abuja following the submission to it of the report on the bombing of the UN building in Abuja last August. The United States Federal Bureau of Investigations, FBI which conducted the investigation according to Vanguard sources has also taken over the security of the UN building in Abuja.
Abuja — President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Abuja said he would not succumb to pressure to govern the country with high-handedness in addressing the various challenges confronting it.
He said this in his remarks at the inter-denominational service to mark the 51st Independence Anniversary at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.
The president said he listened to various opinions by many people, particularly in the media, that the nation needed to be governed with high-handedness.
He however said he did not take to such advice as he was not cut out for such type of leadership.
He said: "If you listen to Nigerians, by reading the newspapers, and through their statements some Nigerians will want the President of this country to be a lion or a tiger.
"Some others will want the President to operate like a military general, like the Chief of Army Staff. Incidentally, I am not a lion and I am not also a General.
"Some people will want the President to operate like, when you read the Bible history, the Kings of Syria, the Kings of Babylon and the King of Egypt, the Pharaohs.
"They want the President to operate that way. Unfortunately, I am not one of those," Jonathan said.
The president said he needed not to be a "lion" or a maximum ruler like the biblical Nebuchadnezzar to change the country and pilot state affairs to greatness.
He assured that the ship of the Nigerian state was on course and solicited the prayers of Nigerians for God's direction.
"What I can assure you is that Nigeria is on course and with your prayers and the guidance of God, we will surely get to the destination we desire," Jonathan said.
He noted that while there are some elements in the country working towards frustrating government and bringing it down, he was positive that with God on his side they would fail.
"Every Goliath has an exposed forehead. All the Goliaths that are trying to be the stumbling blocks to the development of this country, God will expose their heads to the stone of David," the president prayed.
President Jonathan assured Nigerians of his commitment in moving Nigerian forward, even as he said that "God will soon expose the foreheads of Nigeria's Goliaths".
Jonathan said despite commendations from world leaders, including President Barak Obama of the United States, and Jacob Zuma of South Africa for the efforts of his administration at the just concluded UN General Assembly, some Nigerians have not seen anything good about what he is doing but assured that he would not relent.
"Obama when he spoke at the United Nations' General Assembly and on several occasions commended Nigeria. But back home here, we are being abused. When we had the Security Council, when they spoke, they commended Nigeria. When others spoke, they commended Nigeria. "What I can assure you is that God is at work and we shall get to our destination"
He commended. Nigerians for their fervent prayers saying that such prayers have kept his administration moving forward.
"It is because of your prayers that we are seeing what are seeing today. You have been praying for us; some others do not want the government to move an inch; I mean those of us who are politicians. "If you listen to some of the things people say or write in papers, some people would want the president to be a lion; some people would want the President to be a Troop Commander who would crush everybody on sight. Unfortunately, I am not a Troop Commander. I am not an Army General. Some would want the President to be like David or other warriors in the Bible, unfortunately, I am not one of those. "The only prayer I need from you is for God to use me to change this country.
"I don't need to be like Nebuchadnezzar, David or other great men to change this country, but with your prayer, I can change this nation; we can make the difference. "Someone had written in the papers: is Nigeria on auto pilot? I tell them that Nigeria is not on auto pilot; God is in-charge and God will take us to the destination he has destined for us.
The President however sounded a note of warning saying that the journey will not be easy.
"It is not going to be easy, but with God using you and me, we will get to where we want to be.
In the anniversary sermon, former Head of the Evangelical Church of West Africa, ECWA, Rev Turaki Yusuf, blamed the problem of Nigeria on what he called "destructive ideological religion, insincerity, ethnocentricism and premodialism.
"Religion has become ideology and they kill in the name of ideological religion, we worship ethnic group, regionalism and tribalism at the expense of our national development".
He also blamed the past leaders for not laying sound foundation but instead preferred to underdevelop the country and undermine the constitution.
He however said there is hope for Nigeria since good always overcome evil.
"With Faith, Love and Hope, we will conquer. God is sovereign above all and since Christ overcome, we will over all evil" he said.
The President of CAN, Pastor Oritsajefor who led the prayers, prayed that God will expose the foreheads of the Goliaths in the country. "There are several Goliaths, they would want to frustrate us, but surely, we shall triumph.
Adding "All the Goliaths that are stumbling blocks to the progress of this nation, God will expose their foreheads for the stone of David".
Several church leaders prayed for the growth and progress of the country. They also prayed for peace in all parts of the country to mark the beginning of a week long events for the celebration of Nigeria's 51st Independence Anniversary to be rounded up on Saturday October 1st.
An oil tanker seized by pirates off the coast of the Niger Delta last week has been released, officials in Nigeria say.
The vessel - the MT Halifax - was attacked near the oil city of Port Harcourt.
The crew of 25, mainly Filipinos, were said to be safe and accounted for.
The area has seen an increase in the number of hijackings of tankers as pirates target oil shipments moving out of Nigeria.
In most cases the cargo of fuel is taken off before the ship and crew are released unharmed - unlike in Somalia where crews and their ships are held until ransoms are paid, often after several months.
"The vessel is presently being escorted to Port Harcourt harbour by Nigerian Navy Patrol Team," a spokeswoman for the Nigerian Maritime Administration said.
"Part of the cargo was siphoned," she said.
The Halifax is operated by the Greek-based Ancora Investment Trust Inc and is flagged out of Malta.
Kaduna — KADUNA State is under tension over fears of reprisal attack, following the murder of two Christian women worshippers inside a church by unknown gunmen.
The attack by the gunmen also left 11 critically injured in Zonkwa village in Zangon Kataf Local Government in the state. The women were said to have gone for vigil.
The Moment learnt that the injured have since been taken to Saint Louis Hospital in Zonkwa, while the deceased were taken to the mortuary.
The Interim Caretaker Chairman of Zangon Kattaf LG, Dominic Yahaya, confirmed the attack in a text message to The Moment.
He said: 'An attack took place at Tabak near Zonkwa on the way to Madakiya at 11:45pm.
People mostly, women and children were attacked inside a church while holding night vigil prayers.
'Thirteen people were shot and two women died, while 11 others have been admitted at Saint Louis hospital, Zonkwa, the attackers escaped into the bush.'
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria celebrated its independence Saturday with a muted, security-conscious ceremony at the nation's heavily guarded presidential villa amid a campaign of bombings and attacks carried out by a radical Muslim sect.
President Goodluck Jonathan joined foreign diplomats and dignitaries in watching goose-stepping soldiers parade at the Aso Rock presidential villa, which remains shielded from public view by its mountain namesake in the capital of Abuja. The event, aired live on the state-run Nigerian Television Authority, had some empty seats and a noticeable presence of security agents.
Africa's most populous nation typically holds memorial ceremonies at the capital's Eagle Square parade ground, a large venue that allows the public a rare opportunity to be close to the oil-rich nation's elite. However, authorities moved the event to the secure villa as the radical sect known locally as Boko Haram carries out increasingly bloody sectarian attacks in the nation.
President Goodluck Jonathan has again spoken of the determination of his administration to combat terrorism, saying he would not allow recent violent attacks on the country to define Nigeria.
He also said all leaders and politicians in the country should eschew political differences and work in the interest of the country for the development and proper positioning of Nigeria in global affairs.
Senate President David Mark described the current security challenge facing the country as a passing phase, which all Nigerians must rise up to surmount.
The country is celebrating its 51st Independence anniversary against the backdrop of fear of terror attacks by the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram. The government has said the anniversary would be low-key.
In his broadcast to the nation this morning to mark the occasion, President Jonathan said he was committed to securing every citizen of the country as he has reinvigorated the national security strategy to combat all threats to safety and peace.
Jonathan said: "My administration will spare no effort in fighting crime, building peace, and securing our homeland against internal threats and infiltration by violent groups, from outside our borders. We condemn all acts of violence and declare that such acts of mindless savagery shall not be allowed to define our country. We will not be deterred. Our resolve is strong.
"I have put in place a new and reinvigorated national security strategy, to combat the threat to our safety. Yet, no matter what I do as your President and no matter what we do as your elected leaders, at all levels, the peace and security of our nation rest also on our collective efforts as citizens, in our various communities.
Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David-West, has described the ongoing trial of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu by the Code of Conduct Bureau as an embarrassment to the nation. He said it shows that Nigerian politics is still "primitive, very vindictive and satanic."
Condemning the trial in an interview with our correspondent in Ibadan on Monday, the university don called on Nigerians to rise up in support of the former governor of Lagos State the same way they condemned the sack of Justice Ayo Salami. David-West said it is not Tinubu that is on trial but Nigeria, adding that the trial is a political persecution.
He said: "What is happening to Tinubu embarrasses any Nigerian who loves Nigeria. Tinubu and I are not in the same political camp but what they are doing to him is a political persecution and I completely condemn it. Who is on trial is not Tinubu but Nigeria. It shows that our politics is primitive, very vindictive and so satanic. If Tinubu as governor made mistakes, why didn't they bring it out before now? He was there for eight years. It is so stupid and silly to try him 12 years after allegedly commited the offence. Why didn't they use it to disqualify him when he was re-contesting? It is political. They are embarrassing themselves and Nigeria, not Tinubu. "Nigerians should rise up against the trial. They should give Tinubu the same solidarity they gave Justice Salami. Jonathan knows about it," he added.
President Goodluck Jonathan has recovered looted funds amounting to 22.5million pounds sterling from the Isle of Jersey in the United Kingdom back to Nigeria, his spokesman Dr Reuben Abati has said.
Hundreds of millions of dollars allegedly stashed by late General Sani Abacha were said to have been returned to the country.
Abati said this in Abuja yesterday while briefing newsmen on his principal's achievements ahead of his 100 days in office billed for September 6.
Abati said the administration had also expanded oil production by 20 percent, thereby reclaiming Nigeria's former position from Angola as Africa's largest oil exporter.
He did not explain the production capacity, but the country's oil production is said to be hovering around two million barrels per day.
The disclosure, however, is coming just as one of the country's leading oil operators, Royal Dutch Shell, said it has shut down its 270 million standard cubic feet per day Utorogu Gas Plant following a pipeline leak.
Abati said the administration, during the period under review, demonstrated its commitment to the rule of law by obeying court judgements and respecting the doctrine of the separation of powers.
According to him, under the period, foreign reserve has risen by 10 percent to $34 billion, GDP growth rate month over month continued to grow from 6.7 percent in May to 6.9 percent in July, while inflation rate of 10.2 percent dropped to 9.4 percent in July.
Abati attributed the reduction in election disputes, which he put at 80 percent, to the commitment of the president to electoral reforms.
He said despite the delay in the formation of the cabinet which he attributed to the recess declared by the Senate, the president, eventually came up with a "stellar cabinet that has never been seen in the history of the country".
He said with such a tested team armed with transformation agenda, the country was set to fulfil "the potential in the Morgan Stanley report from last July to the effect the Nigeria is set to overtake South Africa's economy as the largest economy in Africa."
On the judiciary and the rule of law, Abati said the president assented to several bills to increase access to justice and ensure compliance with court judgements, especially with regard to payment of judgement debts. He also listed assent to the Freedom of Information Bill and increased focus on legislative advocacy as some of Jonathan's feats in the judiciary in the 100 days in office.
On security, he said the administration had sustained peace in the Niger Delta, stabilised maritime safety, reduced kidnapping in the South-east and invested in the facilities for intelligence-based security approach.
