US EXPERTS TO TRAIN NIGERIA FAMERS

The United States of America will assist as well as train Nigerian farmers in the next agricultural planting season.This is part of the dividends being recorded after President Muhammadu Buhari’s trip to the US, Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman said.Already, the 2015 planting has been completed and Nigerian farmers will await the tutelage of US professional farmers to improve on the already thriving sector.He warned that the dividend from the four-day working visit might not be immediately visible as most were long term, however, the short terms ones were already pouring in and others will keep coming progressively.“It is not like going to the market and coming back and saying how much did you sell? There are long-term things. When we came back we talked about the things that are immediate, the low hanging fruits that we could have and the ones that could take time,” he said.During the National Peace Committee meeting which held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja last week, the President “talked about America coming to assist us in farming next season, it is late for this year but by next year they are going to send some experts who will help Nigerian farmers.“So, things like that will keep coming. It is not something that you will just put in a basket immediately. The yield will come in progressively,” according to Adesina.He said the agenda of security, assistance in terms of armament, instructions and intelligence, “will keep dropping; it is not as if it will be gotten in one fell swoop.”The administration of President Goodluck Jonathan had from 2011 focused on the agricultural sector as one of its mainstay, in the quest to boost food production and ensure self-sufficiency in agricultural practices in the country. This yielded a 70 percent growth in food production.The production of rice and cassava received more attention as even the output of Nigerian rice farmers was over 2.8 million metric tons of rice paddy. This had also culminated in the introduction of a dry season farming.Buhari’s government has now listed agriculture as one of its main source to boost the economy in the midst of dwindling oil prices. Oil prices have continued to fall between an all time high of $68 to $50 per barrel.Only recently Buhari had, while receiving the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Kanayo Nwanze, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the time had come for Nigerians to do more than pay mere lip service to agriculture, as crude oil and gas exports would no longer be sufficient as the country’s major revenue earner.“It’s time to go back to the land. We must face the reality that the petroleum we had depended on for so long will no longer suffice. We campaigned heavily on agriculture, and we are ready to assist as many as want to go into agricultural ventures,” the president had said.

TERRENCE HOWARD IN TIRES AS HE TESTIFIES AGAINST WIFE

Terrence Howard broke down on the stand yesterday when he testified he signed a settlement agreement with his wife because she threatened to release medical information that would make it impossible for him to ever work in Hollywood again.Howard was referring to a conversation he taped when Michelle Ghent was on the phone threatening to telling various people he had an STD.He also testified he felt pressure to sign the settlement agreement, giving her an unusually large sum of money and also because she threatened to release a sex tape featuring him and another woman.According to TMZ reports, Howard blew his nose as he fought back tears on the stand, taking deep breaths as he testified.He also testified that his wife was always jealous about his scenes with other women on TV especially the make out scene with Jennifer Hudson in the movie-Winnie Mandela. He said she flew into a rage and threw food at him while they were in South Africa.He also testified that they were no longer sexually compatible once he tried becoming a Jehovah's witness and applied bible principles to his sex life.He's trying to undo the settlement, giving her $5,800 a month in spousal support and a chunk of his "Empire" earnings, on grounds he signed the doc under extreme duress.

Four Scored Dead in Bristow Helicopter Chrash at Lagos Lagoon

Following a distress call received from Local Divers at about 3:10 pm today, 12th August, 2015, that a Helicopter plunged into the Lagos Lagoon at Oworonshoki, a team of Policemen and other emergency management agencies swiftly moved to the scene. During the rescue operation, six persons on board the helicopter were rescued alive and taken to the hospital for medical attention and are responding to treatment, while four corpses were recovered.Initial enquiry revealed that the helicopter belongs to Bristow Helicopters and that twelve(12) persons were said to be on board the ill-fated helicopter.In another development, there has been a high rate of fire incidents in Lagos State, arising from carelessness and mishandling of petroleum products through black marketeering and mass storage at homes due to perceived scarcity. Yesterday, 13/08/2015 at about 2030hrs, along Maidan Street, by Ajiliti area of Mile 12, a Motorcycle conveying a woman with a gallon of petrol stacked in a polythene bag collided with another Motorcycle. In the process, the content spilled on the road and caught fire. The fire engulfed both motorcycles and four others close by.The rider, the passenger and two others suffered severe burns and have been admitted at a nearby hospital for treatment. The Command therefore appeals to members of the public to be mindful of how they handle petroleum products, stop mass storage of the product in their homes. Motorists, especially Tanker Drivers are equally admonished to observe traffic rules and speed limits to avoid such occurrences.

AGIP EXPLOSION, BAYALSA THREATENS AGIP OVER DELAY OF VICTIMS BURIAL

Bayelsa State government has threatened to sanction the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, management for unnecessary delay in releasing documents and remains of victims of the July 9 pipeline explosion at its oil field in Azuzuama.Fourteen people, including two regulatory officials of the Ministry of Environment and National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, died in the explosion at Agip’s oil fields in Azuzuama, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa.Commissioner for Environment, Mr Iniruo Wills, in an interview yesterday accused the NOAC management of withholding autopsy reports and death certificates of the victims.Wills, who berated the stance of the oil firm, said Bayelsa government frowned at the development, which had frustrated burial plans by families of the deceased.He said the state government would wield the big stick and give appropriate sanctions if the documents were not released immediately to allow the families bury their dead.“Managing Director of Agip has refused or has been foot-dragging to release the autopsy report, death certificate and collection card for our staff ’s remains several weeks on. We find this to be grossly indecent and an aggravation of the Azuzuama tragedy that we and the families are still grappling with.“The family continues to be in suspense and has had to change burial plans because of this. We would treat it as a provocation and respond with appropriate governmental sanctions if we don’t receive these papers immediately,” Wills said.Officials of NAOC, representatives of the host community and Bayelsa Ministry of Environment were investigating the cause of a recent oil spill in the area when the explosion occurred.Public Affairs Manager of NAOC, Mr Dan Jumbo, declined comments when contacted for reactions on the developments.

AMAECHI ON SUBSIDY

Dr. Boniface Chizea, an Economist based in Lagos takes a dispassionate look at subsidy environment in Nigeria.Since after President Muhammadu Buhari declared his stand on the subsidy removal issue indicating that he was still pondering over the matter as according to him removal of subsidy will hurt the poor thereby by extension announcing his pro poor stance, I had thought of joining issues to explain that even if removal of subsidy could be inflationary it might not harm the poor as feared, as studies had established the fact that only a negligible proportion of the poor enjoy the benefit of subsidy and therefore what really needed to be done is to build in some palliatives to cushion this probable effect before effecting the removal.But I was reluctant and not convinced that it was worth my while until I stumbled on and watched a program on Sunday night after the popular Channels Television News at Ten which was on the 16 years of public service of Rotimi Amaechi; the immediate past Governor of Rivers State who most marveled at his courage at taking on a sitting President particularly the way and manner he did so and thought that it was a must watch and I was glad I did.After Amaechi declared during the program speaking on the subsidy regime that the cost of subsidy was N 300 billion under both Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Yar’Adua’s governments but suddenly increased to N 1.9 trillion (I heard N 1.4 trillion earlier) under President Jonathan and how he was invited to a meeting at which it was announced that the amount of the subsidy was going to be jerked up which he balked at in conscience as he was supposed to get a share as the Chairman of the Governor’s forum and how he was upbraided and called all manner of names by President Jonathan, I thought that I needed no further motivation to join issues regarding the subsidy removal debate.What therefore I intend to do in this article is to dispassionately look at the subsidy environment as it is presently, highlight some of the murky issues relating to it, avert our mind regarding a preferred strategy for the removal of subsidy in the country mindful of our recent experience and recommend the way forward. But it will be most unfair if I do not in the first place say one or two things about the entire program during which Amaechi was celebrated which was transmitted by Channels Television.As the Vice President who was the Chairman of the occasion observed when it was his turn to make some remarks at the event, Rotimi Amaechi had certainly been the toast of the moment as he had one event or the other celebrating him recently.I recall particularly a book launch here in Lagos which was held at the Institute of International Affairs for which Bishop Kukah was the reviewer which was supposed to be on Amaechi’s time as the Governor of Rivers State and particularly the observation made by Bishop Kukah to the effect that there was a misalignment between the title and the content of the book as it was really a collection of testimonials by some notable stakeholders on his tenure rather than an account of his stewardship.I was particularly fascinated that I shared a lot in common with Amaechi. We both share the Catholic faith. In fact I am a knight of the Church (Knight of Saint Mulumba) since the year 2000 and both of us share the culture of attendance at daily morning Mass which I agree with Amaechi is quite efficacious as it tantamount in faith to literally handing the day over to the Lord and asking Him to take preeminent control which will probably account for the boldness and courage which Amaechi is reputed to have exhibited; a child of God has really no fear.What was not probably added is the fact that to enjoy the full benefit of the protection of the Lord that you must strive to avoid sin particularly the sin of the flesh, which is a sin against the Holy Spirit as, our bodies are temples of Holy Spirit. Once one commits sin he loses sanctifying grace and God literally turns away from the sinner.The subsidy environment in the country today is characterized by the payment of unearned subsidy, which had placed an unsustainable toll on the treasury; the amount of subsidy is variously estimated at about 30 per cent of government expenditure, 4 per cent of Gross Domestic Product and 118 per cent of Capital expenditure.The level of subsidy as has been severally demonstrated breeds the worst type of corruption, encourages the smuggling of imported refined products across the borders to take advantage of the subsidized prize, creates occasional scarcity, productivity sapping long queues, cost of product in many parts of the country outside the main urban centers of Lagos and Abuja at prices higher than the regulated price, potential damage to car engines as citizens purchase adulterated products owing to the activities of greedy hawkers and the growth of the sector is undermined as even associated gas is not optimized and as private capital remains shy of going into a regulated environment and generally a poor advertisement for a country which is the sixth largest producer of crude petroleum but which is woefully dependent on importation to meet its needs for refined products.Obviously it goes without saying that this level of subsidy payment is injurious to the development of the national economy and cannot therefore be sustained. And therefore there is the urgent need for some initiative in this connection.As a quick win it will be necessary to activate the refineries in the country to begin to operate optimally to reduce the burden of importation, which also contributes in no small measure to the pressure, which the country presently confronts in managing the exchange rate.It is welcome development as it has been recently announced that all the refineries in the country are roaring back into operation; the fear of President Buhari! And my considered view is the fear that the poor will be impacted is to a large extent exaggerated.One is of course mindful of the experience during the most recent attempt to remove the subsidy in January 2011 which resulted in total gridlock as the country grind to a halt over the whole of one week and there was palpable fear that an environment was being inadvertently created for the return of the military and therefore we recommend consultation with organized labor to convince them of the unassailable need for the subsidy to be removed.And we would wish to caution that what we recommend is once and for all removal of subsidy by total deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector.Experience has shown that partial increase in the price of products will not do as President Obasanjo alone is reputed to have increased product price seven times; the last of which was undertaken a few months to the end of his two term tenure as civilian President. All that will be required is to agree some palliatives as product price increase works through the economy. The savings from the subsidy payment could for instance be deployed for the provision of social infrastructure for the benefit of the poor to cushion the unlikely effect of this proposed and recommended course of action.

NSCDC UNDERCOVERS ILLEGAL FERTILIZER FACTORY IN NIGER STATE

Chinwendu Nnadozie  /  Minna The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Niger State Command has uncovered a factory which mixed coloured clay with Notre Granule Urea and sold them to unsuspecting members of the public, particularly farmers as genuine fertilizer.The adulterated fertilizer factory owned by one, Hassan Karfe, who is now on the run, is located in a secluded compound directly behind the Abdulsalam Abubakar motor park in the Tunga area of Minna, the state capital.Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Mr. Philip Ayuba who announced the discovery to journalists said that they uncovered the factory during routine surveillance by the patrol team over the weekend.Investigations revealed that while genuine fertilizer sold for N7, 500 or more per 50kg bag, the fake fertilizer packaged by the factory sold for N4, 500.00.According to the NSCDC boss, “We are here to brief you of what our surveillance team has discovered lately. The illegal act is being perpetrated by some unpatriotic Nigerians who want to make money through a dubious means, some people are adulterating fertilizer.“What the people do is criminal, sabotaging Federal Government by mixing some concoctions with some coloured clay and mixed it with Notre Urea, for it to have the smell of fertilizer and selling same to unsuspecting farmers.“This act is not good for this country; it is evil because people put their money in farming business without knowing that they are buying fake fertilizer. This is another way of sabotaging the economy of this country because we know those who must have bought this type of fertilizer are into the business and expect bumper harvest”, he said.Although, no arrests were made because the operator of the factory was said to have fled on sighting the patrol team advancing towards the compound, the NSCDC Commandant, said that efforts were being made to track down the suspects and their accomplices.Items found inside the factory included; standby tipper loads of coloured clay, sack stitching/sealing machine, some sachets of Notre urea and as well bundles of empty 50 Kg bags with the inscription of the illegal company’s name on them.Mr. Ayuba expressed regrets that many unsuspecting Nigerians may have fallen victim to the antics of the fleeing suspects and would have wasted their money purchasing the adulterated fertilizer.He called on farmers in the state to beware of fraudsters and ensure they buy fertilizers from the approved distributors. He also enjoined farmers to insist on testing the commodity they bought henceforth before paying to ensure they are genuine.

SEVEN THINGS TO TAKE CARE OF TO AVOID HEARING "NO" IN A MARRIAGE PROPOSAL

The thought of a lady saying no to a marriage proposal to many is unrealistic. Many a time ladies are characterized by their attitude towards trapping a man into marriage rather than refusing a proposal but as uncommon as it may seem to many, guys still get their rings thrown back in their faces. 7 common reasons why ladies reject marriage proposals include: 1. Financial independence When financial independence is mentioned, a lot of people are quick to say ladies are only after the money, want a well to do man but this isn't about the man. Not that the "independent state" of a man doesn't count but some ladies reject marriage proposals because they (the lady) want to be financially stable before starting a family. Not every girl likes the idea of a man taking care of all her needs. Some ladies want to also be able to contribute and support their husbands financially before their answer is yes.2. Family attachment A man who loves his family can be said to be a good man. He can also be said to be one who would make a good husband and father but when a man is too attached to family it can be a reason not to be taken seriously when he pops the question. A man who can't make decisions until he gets approval from his family still has an invisible umbilical cord round his neck. A guy who has to meet all the needs of his family before considering the needs of his "to be" wife may not change after marriage. No woman wants a man whose decisions can only be final after the parents have certified3. Age factor Many ladies have lost great men because they have allowed themselves to be consumed by the feeling of "still young".A lady who feels she is too young to get married shouldn't be in a relationship. Some ladies claim to be ready but when the proposal comes they say they are too young. This has more to do with their inability to deal with commitment. 4. Mending fences strategy Relationships are never perfect and a good surprise is always welcomed but proposing during a misunderstanding or a fight usually backfires. It is good to want to work through issues easily and have them sorted out quickly but proposing when she's mad at you is risky. A no may just be what you get.5. Proposal method and ring choice Ladies usually have things they fantasize about. One of which is their wedding and also the way you propose. Ladies have been known to turn down marriage proposal because they felt it wasn't romantic enough, others because it was too extravagant. Choice of ring too has not been left out. Ladies love to show off among their peers, no wonder a lady would say no to a guy simply because she feels the ring used in proposing is not befitting. 6. Sexual satisfaction. The importance given to sex in relationships these days cannot be over emphasized. A lady could reject a proposal upon considering if the guy satisfies her in bed or not. In a relationship, a lady can still try to get her sexual satisfaction from someone else but in marriage she may not. Knowing that a guy can't sexually satisfy her is a good enough reason to say no for some ladies. 7. Lack of trust (too many female friends) Lack of trust is one of the most common issues faced by relationships today. A lot of people are in relationships where trust is only a mirage. A major cause of lack of trust for ladies is encompassed in the fact that the guy has too many female friends. In such situations, the lady is likely to feel insecure and unsure. Even when the guy proposes, she tends to take it as a joke and the reply is usually no.