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41  Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / Re: New Delta CP orders men back to the highways on: 31-03-2012 07:23 AM
Why would police not disappear from the highways when the only reason for their being there which is setting up road blocks and collecting N20 has been stopped. Otherwise, how does a simple IG directive to dismantle road blocks amount to police disappearing from the highway. These are just arm-twisting methods they use to create the impression that we cant do without road blocks as robbering will naturally increase without police patroling the highways.
42  Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / New Delta CP orders men back to the highways on: 31-03-2012 07:21 AM
By EMMA AMAIZE
NEW Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, Thursday, asked policemen in the state to return to the highways to fight armed robbers, kidnappers and other criminals.

He said the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, in ordering the dismantling of road blocks nationwide, did not say that policemen should vacate the highways  for criminals.

Commissioner Aduba, who is on operational tour of police formations in the state, told newsmen after meeting with the Area Commander, Warri, Mr. Yaro Abutu and Divisional Police Officers, DPOs, in the area, Thursday, that  he was taken aback that from Asaba – Ughelli – Warri, he did not see policemen on the highway performing their duty.

Twenty-four hours after the commissioner gave the directive, Thursday, Saturday Vanguard discovered  on a trip from Warri to Asaba that policemen immediately complied with the directive, as they were sighted with anti-crime patrol vehicles, along the  the Warri-Agbor old express way and Agbor -Asaba expressway, yesterday.

Aduba  clarified that while the Inspector General frowned at barricading of roads  in the name of road blocks by policemen, he never said they should stay off the highways. He therefore asked  Area Commanders and DPOs to deploy their men to carry out stop- and- search operations without causing hold ups in order to check the  siege of  criminals in the State.
43  Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / No regret dating Soul-E, says Queen Ure on: 31-03-2012 07:16 AM
By Ogbonna Amadi Entertainment Editor
Ure Okezie, only daughter to late prominent medical practitioner, politician and former Minister  of Health Dr. J.O.J Okezie is a reporter’s delight any day.

In this interview with Showtime Celebrity, Queen Ure as she is more fondly called by friends and admirers tells the story of her childhood, love life and experience as a banker.

A native of Umuahia, Abia State, Queen Ure who made headlines on account of her romance with popular R&B star Soul-E (an affair she says she has nodoesn’t regret), also explains why she is going into music. She is dropping her first single next month.

Enjoy:

Is name  Ure or Uremma?

My dad just gave me Ure. But whatever people add to it, I answer but my name is Ure and I’m called Queen Ure

Did you add the Queen or people added it for you?

I added the Queen(laughs). I think it was something that came up years ago when I was about getting  a yahoo address. You know you always want to add something distinct to your name. So I just put it as [email protected]. That was many years ago.

Now coincidentally, I went to the studio to do some work, and the producer asked what I wanted my stage name to be, and I remembered my email address. So I chose Queen Ure.

Tell me something about growing up

She’s just this person you’re looking at right now. I’m a regular girl. I was born in the 70s and I’m sure you know what growing up in the 70s was like.

I was born in the 60s…


Queen Ure & Soul-E
Oh my God! Well, I’m the only daughter and the last child in a family of six, my parents inclusive. So I’ve got three elder brothers. I grew up with a lot of attention.

You were pampered?

I was loved and not spoiled.

They didn’t spare the rod?

There was no need for that. I was  very quiet and a good girl. So there was no need for the rod.

So what kind of parents were they?

They were the kind of parents that wouldn’t spank a child. I never really did things that would warrant that. It’s just that my brothers were always playing boys stuff and they wouldn’t let me join them because I’m a girl. So I just got used to having to be different, nice and quiet.

But growing up was fun. My father was so much into reading and mathematics; and that’s how mathematics became my best subject. I went to Federal Government College Owerri. After that, I got into the University of Jos and studied Physics. After my NYSC at 21, I got into the banking industry and that was how the banking journey began. I spent  few years in Diamond Bank, got into Zenith and spent a few years there. Later I moved to Bank PHB and then Fin Bank which was the last commercial bank I worked with.

Before going deep into what you are today, let’s go back to growing up with the boys

You know how it is, if you see male clothes, nobody would be certain who owns it. But if you see a female dress, everybody knows it’s Ure’s. So I just had all the attention and I was uncomfortable with it at a time because everybody sees me as the last child. It was good. I was also very close to my dad. Each meal he had, they would always get me to sit beside him. Even when I was in school, anytime I returned, it was already a part of me that whenever he was eating, especially lunch, I’d just sit beside him. He was like an idol to me and he showered so much love on me. Of course my mother also loved me and was never jealous of that.

You dad was a scholar and a politician?

Yeah, he was a medical doctor. He became doctor when he was 25 years, practiced for over 50 years. He died t 77 still practicing in 2002. It’s ten years now but it feels like yesterday. He was very much into politics too.

From being a girl, you grew into an adult. Did you paint the town red with your brothers?

The funny thing was that I was a little Church girl but my brothers were everywhere because they were party freaks. They never took me along to those parties. I didn’t grow up partying like them. When I was ten, I got into Students Christian Movement in school and it was serious for me.

So you got born again at ten?

Yes. And I used to be quite emotional about it. The kind of Christianity we had then was the type when you wouldn’t wear trousers, wouldn’t go to parties. So I avoided those things feeling that they would stop me from going to heaven. Not that I was  boring person but my growing up years were in Church and my dad thought it was just a phase that would pass and he didn’t have any serious problem with it. I used to read a lot of Kenneth Higgins’ books. My dad noticed I loved reading religious books and so one day, he brought Sorrows of Satan. He wanted me to read it and he’d come back to ask me questions on it. So he would give me novels too so that my mindset wouldn’t be just about Church.

Were you in the choir?

Yes I was. My parents were Anglicans so I joined the choir back in the east. I joined at age 8 because I just wanted to sing.    

So what did you learn from your brothers?

It made me so comfortable and not to be afraid of guys. I can stay in the same house with guys and not even feel any different . Again, it made me to know the pranks they play. That’s why when people lie, rather than condemn them, I always feel there’s always a good behind every deception because guys lie a lot.

 


Queen Ure
They played lots of pranks. I had to bring in girls into the house who weren’t my friends because they would lie that they were asking after me. And if they said they were asking after me and I let them into the house, they would just whisper that they wanted to see my brothers. Sometimes, a girl might be around while another would come again. So I’ll have to go bring in that one again and sit with her. So I knew that guys love pranks so maybe that’ why I easily forgive.

Were you then scared of men because of that experience?

No. They’re very loving people too. Even before guys start playing pranks on me, I figure it out myself.

So what was it like the first time a guy came looking for you in the house?

Well, the first guy who came looking for me wasn’t a boyfriend. My first boyfriend was in the University. We dated for four years without sex. But the first guy who came to my house is doing fine now in New York where he works with a bank. He wasn’t my boyfriend, we used to read together and he was also a Christian.

Or was he shy to ask you out?

Not at all. We were very close but it never came up. We were good friends and my bothers would always tease me about him because I would give him money to buy his school things and bought him  sandals. There was nothing romantic about it.

Okay let’s talk about your first love. You dated him for four years and nothing happened

Yes, because I was a Christian.

No kissing, necking…

There was a bit of smooching, the very safe ones. Back then, I was in UniJos and the kind of Christianity we had in the North was more serious than what obtains in the South. He pushed for sex a little but when he couldn’t, he respected that. I was 18 years and we dated till I went for my NYSC.

What happened four years after- who dumped who?

I don’t want to talk about those details because he’s a happily married man today.

Who broke whose heart?

He claimed I broke his heart but I claimed he broke my heart.

Were you really in love with him?

We’re talking about when I was eighteen to when I clocked twenty one. What did we know about love then. Even at that, I was in it with my whole heart and my family knew about it. I told my father about him after my NYSC. He’ a Northerner from Adamawa State.

What kind of people are his people?

They’re nice people and they’re Christians. I don’t want to talk about the details because one thing may lead to another.

So you remember him very well?

Of course, we’re still in touch. He’s  pastor and he’s happily married.

You must be proud of him

Of course I am because I was part of the foundation.

Now that you’re going to record an album, is it going to be gospel?

No, I’m not doing gospel. But I can always minister anytime I enter into a Church because it’s part of me.

So what genre of music are you hoping to record?


Queen Ure
I’m doing normal good music. I sing about everything. The thing is that I enjoy different genre of music. So whichever way the song comes, that’s the way it’ll be produced. I love R &B, Rock, Hip-hop, African music and reggae. So it depends on my mood and the inspiration at a time. But I do mostly R & B.

Do you have the gut to perform as an artiste?

When you’ve been a stage person even if it’s in Church, it won’t be a problem. I’ve always sang right from childhood. It’s funny,  but way back at age of five, my audience was our night watchman. I always go to him and ask him to watch me. And while he was watching, I’d be imagining a crowd before me. So it has been in me way back in secondary school. And in all the competition we had, I always took the solos.

And immediately I got into the University as  teenager, I used to back up Pernam Percy Paul.  I also had  a music group on campus called the Rubies but it was  gospel group. Even in Household of God here, I used to sing lot then.

Why did it take you this long to break out?

I’m glad that I’m doing it because some people who are talented aren’t even coming out to do it. I would say that it’s because I’ve been doing other things. I’m so happy the way my life has gone and I’m thankful to God. I’m not one of those that believe you must do one thing for the rest of your life. God can put you in different places at different times for different reasons. For over twelves to fourteen years, I was in the banking industry.

Why did you leave the banking industry, were you not enjoying the job?

I totally enjoyed the corporate world and the discipline of waking up 4:00am and getting back home at about 10pm. And then the drive, it makes you to become result oriented.

What happened to the music part of you then?

They were there but were dormant. I still used to write songs but nothing come out of it.

So you wrote all your songs?

Yes I did.

Are you going to have collabos?

Eventually yes but as I’m coming out now, the first few songs people would hear will be just me.

Are there any regrets?

No,I don’t because I believe that every experience adds to your life

What about your relationships?

I don’t regret anything

What about your last relationship?

I don’t want to talk about that

Was it love?

I don’t want to talk about it but you’re trying to get me to talk. Before the interview, I already made up my mind not to talk about anything personal.

How did your brothers feel when that relationship ended?

My family just wanted me to be happy. And they wish me well whenever I say anything that will make me happy.

Was that happiness?

Let me make this clear. First, I’d say I don’t want to talk about it. But I just want to say that, there’s something great about everybody- whether they’re born with a silver spoon or wooden spoon. It doesn’t matter. So I don’t associate with people because of their class. I just take people as I see them and look at them as great people. So your question on why I would associate myself with such a person, and I say categorically that everybody has greatness so I can be involved with anybody

The truth is that I’m sure you lost plenty of money

I’m not going to say anything.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/03/no-regret-dating-soul-e/queen-ure/
 http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/03/no-regret-dating-soulhttp://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/03/no-regret-dating-soul-e/ure1/-e/queen-ure/http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/03/no-regret-dating-soul-e/ure/http://vml1.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/URE.jpg?9d7bd4
44  Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / Re: Oily death: How Nigeria short-changed oil producing areas on: 31-03-2012 07:08 AM
I hav always maintained that  convocation of SNC is d only way out of Nig numerious challenges.It is beta we meet and agree that, yes, we want 2 continue as 1 Nig, than som selfish politicians trying 2 continue 2 force us 2gether bcos of their selfishness. D argument that there is already a NA in place which represents d pple is mudane n unintellegible.The truth is that the messanger cannot be greater than the sender of d message. If Nigerians (senders) hav given their mandate 2 their representatives (messangers) n the reps are not doing d bids of their senders, its only proper that d senders hav opportunity 2 assess n review usage of d mandate so given.Sovereiety they say belong to d pple wch has bn given 2 d NA. d givers of that sovereinty shd hav a right 2 say whether they want 2 continue 2 coexist and on what terms. D NA is not on d job n Nigerians shd be allowd 2 discuss whether they want this system 2 continue or not.D continue gagging of Nigerians will lead 2 an uncontrollable outburst 1day.  D constitutional provisn 4 recall is unatainable n not a solution. ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION IS D SOLUTION. SNC IS D WAY OUT.
45  Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / Oily death: How Nigeria short-changed oil producing areas on: 31-03-2012 07:02 AM
BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, Deputy Political Editorhttp://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/03/oily-death-how-nigeria-short-changed-oil-producing-areas/goodluck-diezani/
SINCE Nigeria started generating revenue from crude oil in 1958, the country has earned about N50.696 trillion or N1 trillion a year, Saturday Vanguard investigations have shown.

Of this princely sum, which accounts for about 80 per cent of the country’s federal revenue, only N6.577 trillion or less has been paid to the oil producing areas as derivation. The figure is N18.771 trillion less than the N25.348 trillion the oil-bearing regions should have got as derivation if 50 per cent derivation had not been jettisoned few years after crude oil became the chief revenue earner.

Between 1958 and 2007 (CBN Annual Report and Statement of Account, 2008), Nigeria earned N29.8 trillion from petroleum resources. And between 2008 and 2011, the country generated N20.895 trillion.

Oily death

However, the huge earnings, arguably, have not translated to improved welfare for the people of the oil producing areas, whose environment -land, water and air have been adversely contaminated and in many cases devastated and polluted. In the last 20 years, about 2,000 persons have been killed in pipeline_related explosions and accidents in the region.

Indeed, a World Bank report warns that 40 per cent of habitable terrain in the Niger Delta area would disappear in 20 years if strong-willed remediation was not carried out. And the Federal Government admitted that 40,000 oil spills had occurred in the past 53 years of oil exploration.

In the report, the World Bank claimed that the palm groves, shorelines, creeks and other habitable areas would be washed away by erosion as well as spills due to vandalism, system failure and crude oil theft.


President Jonathan and Diezani
Apart from effects of oil spills, gas flaring constitutes a veritable hazard. It causes acid rain which acidifies the lakes and streams and damages crops and vegetation. It reduces farm yields and harms human health; increases the risk of respiratory illnesses, asthma and cancer and often causes chronic bronchitis, decreased lung function, blindness, impotence, miscarriages and premature deaths.

Constant heat and the absence of darkness in some communities have done incalculable damage to human, animal and plant life in affected areas. Gas flares also cause affected places to be covered in thick soot, making even rain water unsafe for drinking.

A United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, last August, criticised how the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) deals with the environmental damage it has caused in the Niger Delta, especially in ogoniland. UNEP said Ogoniland needed the world’s largest ever oil clean_up, which would cost an initial $1billion or N160 billion and could take 30 years.

How Ogoniland and other polluted communities would be cleaned is a matter of conjecture. If now that oil revenue is available the areas cannot be cleaned, is it when the revenues cease that the task will be embarked upon?

By projection, Nigeria  currently has a proven crude oil reserves of  about 37.2 billion barrels which at the current rate of exploitation (2.5mbp) may be exhausted in the next 40 years unless new deposits are discovered.

Like most oil-bearing areas of the world, the Niger Delta has a tough terrain, which needs huge funds to be developed. Often times, oil producing areas are marshy or arid and most part parts of the Niger Delta is marshy.

The devastation of the Niger Delta region has been attributed, among others, to many failures of policy in the region and refusal of the government to pay special attention and inject funds into the area for development. Till date, no city in the region has been mapped out for a special development as the government did in Lagos and Abuja.

In the beginning

In 1958, before crude oil became a critical factor in Nigeria’s development, Sir Henry Willink’s Commission recommended that the Niger Delta region deserved special developmental attention by the Federal Government because of its difficult terrain. In response, the government established the Niger Delta Development Board (NDDB) in 1960 to tackle the developmental needs of the region. The board in  its seven years of existence achieved little or nothing. It was consumed by the military coup of 1966 and the outbreak of the civil war in 1967.

Before and shortly after Nigeria’s independence in 1960, the federating units (regions) retained 50 per cent of revenues derived from their areas and contributed the rest to the central pool. It was on this basis that the regional governments led by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo (West); Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe (East); Sir Ahmadu Bello (North) and later Dennis Osadebey (Mid-West) unleashed unparalleled development in their respective areas.

However, the 50 per cent derivation principle was kicked aside by the military in 1967 as earnings from crude oil skyrocketed. First, part of the proceeds were used to prosecute the Nigeria-Biafra civil war of 1967 to 70. After the war, the military rulers refused to return to the status quo and chose to disburse funds to the states as they deemed feat. The military also created numerous states and local councils, which were funded with oil money. The oil producing areas were short-changed in the series of state and councils creation sprees.

With crumbs coming from the centre as allocation and their primary occupations – fishing and farming inhibited by oil pollution, Niger Deltans embarked on vigorous agitation to save their lives and environment.

In response, the President Shehu Shagari Administration set up a Presidential Task Force (popularly known as the 1.5 % Committee) in 1980 and 1.5 per cent of the Federation Account was allocated to the Committee to tackle the developmental problems of the region. This committee could not achieve much. There were doubts if the government actually disbursed 1.5 per cent of the revenue to the committee. And most of the funds released were allegedly looted.

Discontent in the area was to continue. So, when General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida came to power, he set up the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Commission (OMPADEC) in 1992 and allocated 3 per cent of federally collected oil revenue to it to address the needs of the areas. Like its forebears, the OMPADEC, which initially raised hopes also failed to deliver as it perceptively became inefficient and corrupt.

When General Sani Abacha took over, he set up the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) headed by Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). The PTF did not meet the yearnings of Niger Deltans as its mandate covered all parts of the country. With critics saying that the PTF carried out more projects in northern parts of the country, restiveness in the Niger Delta assumed a higher gear. Abacha convened a National Constitutional Conference (NCC) in 1994, where conferees agreed on at least 13 per cent derivation. Abacha did not live to implement the recommendation.

His successor, General Abdulsalami Abubakar included it in the 1999 Constitution, which he handed over to President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999.

On his part, Obasanjo scrapped the PTF and established a special body, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to undertake rapid development of the impoverished oil region.

He foot-dragged on the payment of the 13 per cent derivation until the oil producing states got a court judgement, which forced him to pay the proceeds beginning from June 1999.

At the National Political Reforms Conference (NPRC) convened by Obasanjo in 2005, South-South delegates insisted on 25 per cent derivation and had to walk out on the gathering when the other parts of the country said they could not approve anything more than 18 per cent, which was later recommended.

However, this recommendation did not see the light of the day and died with Obasanjo’s alleged third term ambition. And the agitation for enhanced welfare continued.

On succeeding Obasanjo, late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua established the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, to offer more palliatives to the region. When militancy took the upswing in the area and knocked down oil production to about one million barrels per day, he also offered amnesty to the militants, a progamme that has gulped billions of Naira.

President Goodluck Jonathan inherited the programme and has been implementing it.

Fire of controversy

The current fire of derivation controversy raging in the polity was ignited a few weeks ago when a host of northern leaders including Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Malam Lamido Sanusi; Niger State Governor and Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum (NGF), Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu; the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and Dr. Junaid Mohammed decried the huge revenues going to the oil producing states and sought reduction of the proceeds to free more money that could be allocated to northern states. Some of them attributed the Boko Haram insurgency ravaging many northern cities especially in the North-East geo-political zone to poverty arising from disproportionate revenue allocation to the North.

The northern demand drew the ire of some Niger Deltans, who demanded true federalism and 50 per derivation. The government extended the 13 derivation to cover other minerals as all states of the country have mineral resources that could be explored and exploited.

Governors meet Wednesday

Amid the raging controversy, Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, said on Thursday that the governors would meet on the issue on Wednesday.

Responding to a question on the governors’ disagreement on 13 per cent derivation at a lecture in Lagos, Amaechi said: “There is nothing like that apart from press-sponsored disagreement among the governors. The governors will meet on Wednesday to discuss the matter. The Nigeria Governors Forum position is that the states need more revenues than the Federal Government because there are more responsibilities in the states than at the federal level. We did not talk about derivation.”

Let’s return to true federalism –  Anyaoku

Disturbed by the dangerous dimension the  derivation question and other issues such as insecurity and stunted growth were taking in the country, former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anayaoku, has canvassed a return to true federalism, to address the issues.

Speaking a colloquium to mark Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 60th birthday in Lagos, he said: “I do believe that a true, rather than our current unitarist federalism, will better promote peace, stability and development in Nigeria.

There can be no doubt that Nigeria was making more progress in national development in the early years of its independence when it practiced a true federalism of four regions with more extensive powers devolved from the centre to the regions.

Those were the days of the significant export of groundnuts,  hides and skins, and the tin ore from the North; of cocoa from the West; of rubber from the Mid-West; and of palm produce and coal from the East of Nigeria. They were also the days of such achievements as the free universal education and introduction of television in Chief Awolowo’s Western region, and of the budgeoning industrialization of Dr Okpara’s Eastern region.

“To return to true federalism, we need a major restructuring of our current architecture of governance.  We would need six  federating units, instead of our present 36, which not only sustains an over dominant centre, but also compels the country to spend not less than 74 per cent of its revenue on the cost of administration.  If  the existing 36 states must be retained in some form, they could be made development zones with minimal administrative structures within the respective six  federating units.

“No one can seriously deny that there are major challenges currently facing our country. The challenges include the state of national insecurity which has been heightened by the activities of the  Boko Haram; the raging debates over revenue derivation and allocation; the obvious decline in standards and scope of our public services, especially in education, health and the civil service.

“We need to convene a national conference of appropriately chosen representatives of the six geopolitical zones to dialogue on how to face these serious challenges.”

At the top of the agenda should be to reach  a consensus on the fundamentals of our constitution including a new architecture of governance that will best promote peace, stability and development in Nigeria.

“I believe that if we are to recapture the zeal with which the then regional Premiers and their electorates embarked on the development of their regions, if we are to arrest  the present destructive competition between our various ethnic groups for the control of power at the centre, and if we are to repair the collapse in our societal value system which is at the root of the pervasive corruption and degradation of our public services, we should aim at getting the national conference to reach a consensus on devolving from the centre to the six federating units responsibility for such areas of governance as internal security including the police, infrastructure, education, health and economic development.”

Anyaoku’s suggestion has the endorsements of many eminent Nigerians drawn from all parts of the country. How long the government will shy away from convening the confab is to be seen.

Crude oil production and
revenue in Nigeria (1958-2011)

Year    Prod(M ba)    R(N)    Dertn(N)

1958        2                0.2 M            50% (0.1M)
1959        4                3.4M            50% (1.7M)
1960        6                2.4M            50% (1.2M)
1961        17                17M            50% (8.5M)
1962        25                17M            50% (8.5M)
1963        28                10M            50% (5.0M)
1964        44                16M            50% (8.0M)
1965        99                29M            50% (14.5M)
1966        152                45M            50% (22.5M)
1967        117                30M            50% (15.0M)
1968        52                -            -
1969        196                75.4M        -
1970        396                167M            -
1971        559                510M            -
1972        655                764M            -
1973        719                1.016B        -
1974        823                3.724B        -
1975        660                4.272B        -
1976        758                5.365B        -
1977        766                6.081B        -
1978        696                4.556B        -
1979        846                8.881B        -
1980        760                12.354B        -
1981        526                8.564B        -
1982        471                7.815B        1.5% (117.9M)
1983        451                7.253B        1.5% (108.795M)
1984        508                8.264B        1.5% (123.96M)
1985        547                10.915B        1.5% (163.725M)
1986        536                8.107B        1.5% (121.60M)
1987        483                19.027B        1.5% (285.05M)
1988        529                20.934B        1.5% (314.01M)
1989        628                39.131B        1.5% (586.96M)
1990        661                55.216B        1.5% (828.24M)
1991        689                60.314B        1.5% (904.71M)
1992        711                115.392B        3 % (3.462B)
1993        695                106.192B        3 % (3.204B)
1994        692                160.192B        3 % (4.830B)
1995        715                324.548B        3 % (9.736B)
1996        682                369.190B        3 % (11.0758B)
1997        855                416.811B        3 % (12.504B)
1998        806                289.532B        3 % (8.686B)
1999        775                500.0B        13%-June (32.5B)
2000        828                1.34T            13% (174.2B)
2001        860                1.7076T        13% (221.91B)
2002        726                1.2309T        13% (160.017B)
2003        844                2.0743T        13% (269.659B)
2004        900                3.3548T        13% (436.124B)
2005        923                4.7624T        13% (619.112B)
2006        814                6.109T        13% (794.17B)
2007        880                6.70T            13% (871B)
2008                        3.96T            13% (514.8B)
2009                        2.22544T        13% (289.307B)
2010                        9.15T                 13% (1414.91B)
2011                        5.561T        13% (722.9 B)

TOTAL        50.696T    6.577T
Source: Petroleum Inspectorate, NNPC (CBN
Annual Report and Statement of Account 2008 and
Saturday Vanguard’s research.
46  Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / Four dead in attack on Nigerian police post, bank: residents on: 31-03-2012 06:55 AM
KANO, Nigeria — Suspected members of Islamist group Boko Haram on Friday used bombs and gunfire to attack a police station and rob a bank in northeastern Nigeria, with four people feared dead, residents said.
Residents said the assailants were in two groups and attacked the two locations nearly simultaneously in the town of Askira Uba, south of the city of Maiduguri, which has been Boko Haram's base.
"The gunmen came in droves around 11:00 am and attacked the police station with guns and explosives, setting it on fire and killing a police officer and a civilian," one resident said.
"While they were attacking the police station, another group attacked a bank some distance away, killing two people and carting away money from the vault."
Another resident gave a similar account, saying the gunmen overwhelmed the police, who engaged the attackers in a shootout and were forced to withdraw from the station. Police could not be reached for comment.
Boko Haram has carried out scores of such attacks, mainly in the north of Africa's most populous nation, as part of its increasingly deadly insurgency.
A bid to hold indirect talks between Boko Haram and the government in recent weeks to end the violence appears to have collapsed.http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/slideshow/ALeqM5hIAgy8wFrz1NT4T-2nwulpfKhKRg?docId=CNG.1a373e3c26419d71d6a65008c3cd7b33.1231&index=0
47  Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / Controversial Actor, Jim Iyke Gets Blood And Wine on: 30-03-2012 08:00 PM
Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke has joined the league of actors who have tried hands in behind the scene business of the film industry.

Nigeriafilms.com learnt that Jim Iyke, who had some cuts on his fingers after being mobbed by some fans in Cameroon some weeks ago, is actually in that country to shoot his movie.

Jim Iyke, who also pleaded an out-of-court settlement of an alleged N15m fraud some weeks ago, has his new movie with a working title, Blood and Wine.

Here are some of the pictures already released from the movie set.
48  Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / Davido, Another Poor Dresser? on: 30-03-2012 07:05 PM


 
http://www.nigeriafilms.com/image.aspx?img=Y29udGVudC9jb250ZW50L0Rhdmlkby0zLmpwZ3w2MDA=
He calls himself 'omo baba olowo' this is a Yoruba phrase meaning 'son of a rich man'. Truly, that is who Davido is.

His father, Deji Adeleke is a billionaire businessman. He is even a founder of a university in Osun State.

A look into Davido's dress in the picture keeps some fashionistas wondering on what Davido was thinking wearing such a colour combination.

The pleating on his trousers is now out of vogue.

Davido, haba, try learn from Whizkid on how to dress to wow girls. I am keeping a sealed lip on this.

Over to you our forumites.
49  Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / We Almost Sold Mo'Hits Records--- Don Jazzy Reveals To HipHop World [Video] on: 30-03-2012 07:01 PM
Last Updated: 1 hour ago   

 http://www.nigeriafilms.com/image.aspx?img=Y29udGVudC9jb250ZW50L0Rvbi1KYXp6eTEtNDYweDI1Ni5qcGd8NjAw



 

In this exclusive interview with HipHop World,

Don Jazzy reveals how he started making music with Mr Solek, how he met Kas, JJC ,and how he finally met D'banj and their relationship .He also revealed they almost sold Mo'Hits Records to Storm Records for 1 million naira.

D’Banj used to come to the studio in the JJC & 419 squad era. I just saw him as very funny character and he used to always bug us; I need a beat, in Nigeria things are popping off. I was like; okay dude, sing, you can’t sing. What can you do, can you rap, no you can’t rap.

But he could play the mouth organ, I liked the way he used to play the mouth organ and he was very funny, so he used to crack us up. So we
preferred to take him when we are going on shows on the road so that he would just be cracking us up. He used to make the road trips short for us; that was basically why we were taking me. If you watch some videos on Youtube, when we are performing you will see him at the back with his mouth organ, he will just be shouting “kilonshele!”, so that people would notice him.

That’s the kind of person D’Banj is, any position you put him, he will stay there but he will try and make sure that you must notice that someone is there. And when I was leaving JJC & 419 Squad to go set up my own stuff, he was the only one that was like; now that everybody was taking a break, since we are close in the studio, that should he follow me. I said “where are you following me to?

You are following someone that does not have money. I already know that I have talent, it would work for me at some point but for now I just need to settle my head”. He was like; no, you can do this thing, in the studio everyone knows that you are the one making the beats. I really liked his belief in me from them. I was like; for this guy to do this that you decided to follow me.

Since the UK market was petty dominated by JJC & 419 Squad, the Nigerian scene, let’s go to where they don’t know us and we can start from scratch and come up. Let’s go and do an album. So we went to a friend of mine’s studio, I begged him to use the studio. We didn’t have the time, so we rushed the first album in like two weeks and it was done.

As we had that copy like this, oya let’s go to Nigeria now and see what happens. That’s how D’Banj came into the picture. Well the confidence wouldn’t have been there if not that two weeks happened to be around the time they were doing Nigeria’s independence in London and for some reason we had to perform alone instead of with the group, JJC & 419 Squad, as we normally do. We never used to perform individually.

 
50  Forum / The Buzz Central / TOP ACTRESS TONTO DIKEH OPENS UP ON MARRIAGE PLANS on: 30-03-2012 06:55 PM
TOP ACTRESS TONTO DIKEH OPENS UP ON MARRIAGE PLANS
Story by AKINNAGBE AKINTOMIDE/NIGERIAFILMS.COM


Last Updated: 2 hours ago    http://www.nigeriafilms.com/image.aspx?img=Y29udGVudC9jb250ZW50L3RvbnRvc21pbGVzLmpwZ3w2MDA=

 



 

Call her Nollywood’s most daring actress and you won’t be fined! That’s because this light skinned vulnerable actress has carved a nitche for herself with her daring roles in movies.

The movie scene was sent into fury late last year when she unleashed her new antics of baring it all movies and even going as far as kissing and romancing in a very flirtatious manner.

Right now she has been tagged Nollywood’s bad actress as a result of her incessant sex roles in movies but that has no doubt earned her more fans.

However,she admits she is only being a professional actress and doesn’t see those roles as any big deal.

She is obviously taking the stakes higher while the courageous ones are tagging along.

In a recent interview, the controversial actress opens up on marriage plans and other issues.

I think irrespective of your profession you can keep a healthy relationship or marriage. Being a star does not limit the happiness you get from them, it depends on the way you carry it or handle it. But if you ask me, I would tell you, it contributes a lot to a large percentage of broken home, because you are famous, and probably the person is not famous. Maybe because she stays out late, because of her work, she travels so much, all these can actually bring strains to the marriage or relationship. Like I would always say, marriage is an institution where you have to learn, you have to sacrifice to do a lot of things. You have to come to an agreement with your partner. But all the same, you can be a celebrity and have a healthy marriage.

For now, I have no plans for marriage, I just concentrate on my work, do the best that I can do and make myself happy, along the line, that could come in, for now, it is not what I am looking forward to.

Talking about having a child early, I just see a lot of my friends these days and they have kids and the kids are almost half their heights, strolling and shopping together, it is a cute idea, but that is not a mistake, and it is just the only thing I just regret.

It doesn’t mean I am scared, not being ready is not being scared. I wish I have one (baby), so I could stroll with the baby right now.

When asked, What do you think is the cause of breakups of Nollywood marriages;she said Lack of good communication and commitment are what kills a relationship. You need good talking relationship and understanding. At the end of the day, that is one thing, good communication, if I cannot relate to you and you cannot relate with me, if I cannot pass my message to you, if I cannot tell you the reason I have to go and shoot, and if you cannot give me a good reason I cannot go and shoot, then things won’t be easy. So, I feel communication is like a rope that ties two people in a relationship.
51  Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / Nigeria wants Mali junta toppled on: 30-03-2012 06:50 PM
The Nigerian senate is pushing for military action against Malian coup plotters who last week deposed the government of President Amadou Toumani Tuore.


 
In a resolution condemning the putsch in the West African country and the suspension of the constitution by renegade soldiers led by Captain Amadou Sanogo, the senate proposed the use of force to restore Toure’s government.

The senate argued military action would send the strongest message not only to the soldiers in Mali but elements elsewhere in Africa who might want to draw inspirations from Captain Amadou Sanogo.

Following a motion by Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba calling for a Nigerian-led invasion to oust the soldiers, Senate President David Mark maintained that the coup plotters in Mali must be removed from power.

“Clearly, Nigeria needs to show leadership and it is not just leadership by words but leadership by deeds and if we are able to put together ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) to come out in whatever way to let the Malians know that we cannot fold our hands and allow non-democratic government to come to power through whatever means,” he said.

Meanwhile, ECOWAS on Thursday set the coup leaders a three-day ultimatum to restore constitutional order or face diplomatic and economic isolation.

The junta have cited former President Toure government’s “incompetent” handling of a rebellion by the Tuareg desert warriors in the country’s north.

While the putsch has created turmoil in Bamako, the Tuareg have made territorial gains and the rebel soldiers have earned condemnation from the world community and from African leaders.

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Ivory Coast, Burkinabe leaders abandon Mali mission
Mali's Tuareg rebels advance as world condemns coup
Five heads of state from the 15-nation ECOWAS bloc were on Thursday on a plane headed to Mali for crisis talks with the coup leaders.

However, their plane turned back when dozens of pro-coup demonstrators swarmed the runway at Bamako’s airport.

The delegation — made up of the presidents of Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Benin and Niger — returned to the Ivory Coast city Abidjan.

At an emergency meeting, they urged ECOWAS member states to place a travel ban on Mali’s military rulers and threatened a “diplomatic and financial embargo” unless order is restored within 72 hours.

Observers are hardly surprised by Nigeria’s tough stance on Mali given the growing fears that the Boko Haram terror war against the Nigerian state might snowball into a coup d’état.

The fears have been heightened since the soldiers in Mali stated that their action was precipitated by the activities of the Tuareg rebels, which has displaced 200,000 people in that African country.
52  Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / UPDATE 1-Nigeria's Boko Haram kills 4, robs bank on: 30-03-2012 06:45 PM
 Suspected sect members kill policeman, 3 others Friday

* Prison break frees 14 in separate northeast attack

* Islamists Boko Haram have killed hundreds this year (Releads, changes headline after latest attacks)

By Ibrahim Mshelizza

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, March 30 (Reuters) - Suspected members of Nigerian Islamist sect Boko Haram killed four people on Friday when they robbed a bank and stormed a police station in northeast Borno state, a government official said.

Gunmen killed two people during a raid on a UBA branch in Askira town in the early hours before attacking the local police station, where an officer and a civilian were shot dead, local government spokesman Malam Yuthama said.

The strikes come less than two days after suspected sect members freed 14 people in a prison break in neighbouring Yobe state and attacked a nearby police station. Three members of Boko Haram died during those attacks, the local police said.

The sect has been unrelenting in its low level violent campaign against President Goodluck Jonathan's administration. A brief flirtation with peace talks collapsed at the beginning of last week.

Months of gun and bomb attacks blamed on the sect have killed hundreds since it launched an uprising more than two years ago to try to carve out an Islamic state in Nigeria.

Nigerian forces have been carrying out house-to-house searches this week in the sect's home town of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. Similar crackdowns in the past have pushed attacks into neighbouring states, including Yobe.

One of Boko Haram's primary demands is that its members are freed from prison. While the government has refused any releases there have been several jail breaks in the northeast in the last year.    (Writing by Joe Brock; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
53  Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / Saintfiet backs himself as Nigeria's technical director on: 30-03-2012 06:40 PM
Saintfiet backs himself as Nigeria's technical director

By Oluwashina Okeleji
BBC Sport, Lagoshttp://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/59397000/jpg/_59397269_tom_saintfiet.jpg
Tom Saintfiet tells BBC Sport he is confident he is the 'right man' to help put Nigerian football back on track.
On Wednesday the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) gave the Belgian a four-year contract as the country's technical director.
"It doesn't matter where you worked before, it doesn't matter the age or the rich CV you have, " he said.
"It's the quality you have and the determination and the way you want to work together and the knowledge."
And the 39-year-old was quick to outline his role and ambitions as he returns to Africa after previous spells in The Gambia, Namibia and Ethiopia.
Continue reading the main story

I'm very convinced that there are a lot of quality coaches in Nigeria

Nigerian football's technical director Tom Saintfiet
"My main role will be to assist and advise the local coaches who are there [already], to create the circumstances, the structure and the ideas to reach our goals. ," he explained.
"Nigeria has to be at the big tournaments and wants to win things.
"My role will be to assist the coaches who are there to work together and reach our goals.
"I'm looking forward to the task, I'm not losing sleep, I know my qualities, I've proved in the countries that I've worked that I can do a very good job and that I know African football."
Saintfiet is well aware of the opposition and severe criticism that will greet his appointment.
"I expect such questions, but let's not forget that the big names who worked in the last years in Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Nigeria for the World Cup, they under performed and even after that," he pointed out.
"I'm a young boy, I'm 39 with 15 years of experience as coach, but that show that I have some quality and I know African football very well.
"Let me remind you that former Chelsea coach Andres Villas Boas worked for Virgin Islands as coach and no one questioned if he would be the right person for Porto or Chelsea."
Instead of challenging the opposition he says he is going to concentrate on working with all those involved in Nigerian football.
"I'm very convinced that there are a lot of quality coaches in Nigeria. They have achieved a lot with the local clubs and qualifying for big tournaments," he said.

Nigeria coach will work with Tom Saintfiet
"I would like to to work with them to take Nigerian football back to the big level and make them one of the big nations again in world football."
One person who is unhappy with the choice of Saintfiet is former Super Eagles coach Adegboye Onigbinde, who led Nigeria at the 2002 World Cup finals.
"Tom Saintfiet is not the right choice; he is a wrong choice for the position of national technical director," he said.
"That is my personal position on the appointment, but I wish him the best of luck."
But the NFF have defended Saintfiet's appointment.
"We didn't get any Nigerians applying for this role and we expect our coaches to support Saintfiet," NFF board member Chris Green told the BBC.
"As for the fans I think they should be patient with the NFF and the new technical director. The future is bright and we can't get there by pulling down positive and promising plans."
54  Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / Police station bombed in Yobe on: 30-03-2012 08:15 AM
Police station bombed in Yobe
THURSDAY, 29 MARCH 2012 12:57    AGENCY REPORTS   http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/images/stories/1-1al-shabaab.jpg
 
Suspected Boko Haram members bombed a police station in Damagun, Yobe on Wednesday night. According to Yobe state Police public relations officer, Gbagesin Toyin, gunmen set the Damagun police station on fire by detonating bombs in the  middle of night.

Residents say the attackers engaged the police in a gun battle, before the assailants hurled explosives at the station.




 
55  Forum / Relationships & Romance / Re: HUSBAND: My Wife Is Using Night Vigil To Commit Adultery on: 30-03-2012 07:53 AM
 CHURCH GOERS MAK UNA WAYO WAYO
56  Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / Re: Lagos "Republic" Arrests 86 Homeless People on: 30-03-2012 07:39 AM
GIVE DEM JOB PLEASE
57  Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / Re: SHAME: Nigerian Students Record 90% Failure In NECO on: 30-03-2012 07:38 AM
GOD BLESS NIGERIA  Grin  Grin
58  Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / Re: More Pictures From The Arise Magazine Fashion week 2012 on: 30-03-2012 07:37 AM
OK I DEY LOOK UNA OO
59  Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / Re: LOLZ: Snake stuck in beer can dies on: 30-03-2012 07:33 AM
SO HOW ? ? ? ?
60  Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / Re: RACISM: "I Hope All You Black People Die" on: 30-03-2012 07:31 AM
  WHITE PEOPLE NA BE DE DEVIL WAY GOD SAY HE GO DESTROY

 GOD GO PUT DEM 4WERE DEM BELONG TO ,DAT IS DE HELL NA DEM BE DEVIL 4 DIS EARTH
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