smellgist.com: 2017-01-15

Friday, 20 January 2017

Ending the Violence in Southern Kaduna, By Jibrin Ibrahim

My most enduring impression is that while discussing with ordinary people, it sturck one forcefully that they really want dialogue and conflict resolution so that they can return to their farms and normal lives. The elite also talk of the imperative of dialogue but I have a feeling that they do not really mean it.

This week, I was invited to join a large delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on a fact-finding mission relating to the terrible violence in Kaduna State. The NBA president, A. B. Mahmoud, led the mission and members of the delegation

The point cannot be overstated. The main objective of the Pension Reform Act of both 2004 and 2014 is to ensure administration and payment of pensions for workers in both the public and private sectors of the economy after their retirement.

So, pension fund, statutorily is meant for payments of workers’ pensions not building of roads or railway lines.

Pension fund as so called is fund for prompt payment of retirees. It is saved workers’ capital that should be promptly paid back to them after meritorious years of work.

Two PREMIUM TIMES staff arrested but later released Thursday by the Nigerian police returned to the Abuja headquarters of the force early Friday, amid widespread outrage that followed the raid.

Plain-clothed officers stormed the paper’s office Thursday and arrested the publisher, Dapo Olorunyomi, and judiciary correspondent, Evelyn Okakwu, after conducting search at the office.

FOR a city that literally sits atop water, Lagos should ordinarily not encounter too much difficulty meeting the water needs of its mammoth population. But this has surprisingly been the case. While the state has made remarkable progress in the transformation of much of its physical infrastructure, the same cannot be said about the provision of access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday left Nigeria for the United Kingdom for what the Presidency described as “a short leave.”
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President would during the vacation undergo “routine medical check-up.”

He said Buhari was expected to resume work on February 6. The medical check-up was the third by the President in one year.

Trump Will Fail, says Billionaire Soros

Billionaire George Soros on Thursday delivered a scathing assessment of Donald Trump, calling the US President-elect a “would-be-dictator” who is “going to fail”.

On the eve of Trump’s inauguration in Washington, Soros said Trump was “gearing up for a trade war” which would have “a very far reaching effect in Europe and other parts of the world”.

Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, has said that candidates, who wish to sit for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, will take the examination under the surveillance of Closed Circuit Television Cameras.

Oloyede stated this in a briefing in Abuja.

He said that the measure is aimed at preventing examination malpractice during the UTME.

Boko Haram and the Legend of Sambisa Forest, By Majeed Dahiru

By far, the biggest excuse advanced by security agencies for the intractability of the Boko Haram insurgency is the Sambisa forest; an ecological myth created and believed by these security agencies, the government and people of Nigeria and the international community because the mainstream media propagated and still propagates this myth.

…we need to put educational technology in education reform. Another thing we need to do is to bring together the greatest minds to quickly solve the urgent problems facing all learners and potential learners, from their earliest days through to their becoming young adults.

If you are going to do something, do it right!

Education reform encapsulates two essential factors — Innovation and Opportunity — which need to get thoroughly immersed in our educational institutions. Creating the conditions for these factors to thrive in our institutions and society is the real challenge.

Only exceptionalism could have provided that chance. Only exceptionalism could produce an Obama and eight years later produce a Trump – the one neo-liberal and the other neo-anything-is-possible.

The unusual thing about the U.S. is that everything is unusual. If there was still a doubt, the election of Donald J. Trump, who takes office on Friday as the 45th president of the United States of America, settles the matter.
Everything about Trump is dangerously unusual. He slayed his party, appealed to the worst instincts of voters, defied the media and mocked U.S. allies. Yet, he won with a victory that has made him stronger and bolder. Everyone else, including party and country, is weaker, confused and divided.

Indeed, “Abachaology” and the darkness it embodied had since unraveled in the land of its birth. But the enduring tragedy is that the infatuated like Jammeh still seem detained by that sordid past, refusing to read the ominous handwriting now on the wall.

Those skilled in psychoanalysis could not have missed the telltale hint. Newspaper images we saw of Yahya Jammeh receiving ECOWAS emissaries at the Banjul airport last Friday clearly depicted acute weight loss, accentuated by a distant look on his face.

The police in Abuja have released the two PREMIUM TIMES journalists that were arrested on Thursday afternoon.
Dapo Olorunyomi, publisher of the newspaper, was arrested alongside the judiciary correspondent, Evelyn Okakwu, at around 5:00 p.m.

They were released on bail and instructed to report at the FCT Police Command Headquarters by 8:00 a.m. Friday morning.
But a highly-placed police source said the invitation could be a ploy to detain the journalists for an extended period.

IDP Camp Bombing: Sad, unfortunate, but not unique – Borno Governor | PremiumTimes

The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, said on Wednesday that though sad, the Tuesday accidental bombing of a civilian population in his state was not unique.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how at least 52 people were killed and 120 others injured after a Nigerian Air Force jet accidentally bombed a Rann camp for persons displaced by Boko Haram, IDPs.

The governor said several wars that shaped the history of mankind were not ended without cases of people dying, not from the bullets of the enemy, but by friendly fire of their own soldiers.

The Senate yesterday in Abuja passed the 2017-2019 medium term expenditure framework (MTEF) and fiscal strategy paper (FSP), retaining the exchange rate of N305 to $1 as proposed by the executive but raised the proposed oil benchmark of $42.50 in 2017 budget to $44.5 per barrel.

The Senate decision was the fallout of the adoption of the recommendation of the Joint Senate Committee on Finance, Appropriation and National Planning on the document.

JAMMEH AND THE GAMBIAN LOGJAM | ThisDayLive

ECOWAS should use any available means to remove the dictator

With the expiration of the deadline of last night set by leaders of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) for the Gambian dictator, Yahya Jammeh, to vacate office, he has ran out of options, especially with the Monday ruling by The Gambian Supreme Court, declining to entertain his application to prevent the installation of Barrow as president. The problem is that he has in the process instigated a needless crisis for his people, except of course common sense prevailed at the last minute.

Dr. Cosmas Maduka, who was the keynote speaker at the League of Anambra Professionals annual end of year dinner recently, took his audience on an exciting journey of his life, a story of hope, courage, and the triumph of the human spirit, writes Kasie Abone

From Elementary 3 to Harvard University, and a resource person at the United Nations, here is the humble beginning of a man whose condition was seemingly hopeless given his background. His kind of elevation to the position of knowledge,

In preparation for the closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and rerouting of Abuja-bound flights to Kaduna, the firm, Messrs CGC Nigeria Limited, contracted by the federal government to repair the Abuja-Kaduna highway at a contract sum of N1.058 billion, has requested that 50 per cent of the sum be paid first by the government, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has said.

A tanker laden with 33,000 litres of petrol yesterday fell off the Otedola Bridge near the Lagos State Government secretariat, spilling it all on the road.

The accident was caused by brake failure.

The tanker was heading to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, after loading in Apapa. It plunged into a nearby ditch after detaching from the truck.

Operatives of Lagos State Fire Service and Lagos Emergency (LASEMA) removed the tanker from the scene.

AFTER the initial shock over the accidental bombing of an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Rann, Borno State, it was time yesterday for the big question – how did it all happen?

The Air Force’s bombing of the camp on Tuesday was based on an intelligence alert by a foreign country, The Nation learnt.
It was also learnt that the Air Force was not aware of the existence of the IDPs camp due to lack of synergy among the military, the Emergency Management bodies and the Borno State Government.

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu yesterday said he would not defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) to save his job.

A statement by his Special Assistant (Political Matters), Okey Ozoani, assured Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faithful and Nigerians that “Ekweremadu is going nowhere”.

After the removal of Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume as the Senate leader, there were speculations Ekweremadu might be sacked.
Ndume asked Ekweremadu to watch his back.

What lofty and enduring dream could sprout in us when we have become accustomed to squalor, habituated to decrepitude, made our peace with detritus? What hope is there for us when we fetishise Dubai and flaunt our expensive Louis Vuitton handbags, and yet fail to realise that our country has become—is—an endless open toilet, overflowing with septic sludge?

I’ve known for a while that Nigeria was in a sorry shape, but not even that knowledge prepared me for a side of the country I saw when I arrived on January 3 for a ten-day visit. The last time I traveled by road from Lagos to my home state of Anambra was in 2002, when my wife and I were Fulbright fellows teaching in Nigeria for a year. On this

Overall, the whistle-blowing initiative deserves every commendation. At the same time, even as the inherent plan to conceal the details of the corrupt elements may appear tenable short-time, it is counterproductive on the long-term. In short, the prevailing kid-glove approach is already beginning to create the false impression that corruption is suddenly insoluble in Nigeria, thereby inadvertently aiding and abetting the crime itself.

President Buhari’s new policy on whistle-blowing is revolutionary. Its goal is to broaden the attack on corruption by encouraging the general public to expose corrupt practices. The government will in turn reward those whose revelations result in the recovery of public funds or asset. The mere fact that the corrupt arm of the Nigerian Senate is already angling to oppose the initiative is a whistling indication that the policy is geared towards the general good.
But there is a critical problem beyond any Senate shenanigan.

Three people were reported killed and scores injured in renewed violence in a part of Southern Kaduna.

Residents said the attack occurred on Tuesday night at Samarun Kataf, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area.

The Kaduna State Government on Tuesday night announced a 24-hour curfew in the local government based on security reports.

Well-meaning Nigerians have advised government to deal with the prevailing multiple foreign exchange rates.
The reason is not far-fetched: multiple exchange rates encourage ‘round tripping’ and discourage real production. A manufacturer who gets a dollar at N315 and knows he could sell it at N497 down the street might be tempted to leave real production and become a currency dealer.

In the same vein, the foreign investor who is willing to bring in his investment at N315/$1 knows that due to the scarcity of dollars in the country, he might end up buying a dollar above N315 when he intends to repatriate his profit.
This currency dilemma has stalled production and impoverished Nigerians.

US-based Nigerian weightlifter Gloria Moses says she relocated to the United States late last year after a national coach tried severally to sleep with her before she could be allowed to represent the country.

Moses claimed that after she refused the coach’s sexual overtures, she was framed up for drugs usage and was dropped from national camp in 2013, while preparing for a championship in Malaysia.

Lagos Gets New CP

Four days after his promotion to the rank of Commissioner of Police (CP), the Officer in Charge of Inspector-General of Police (IGP) monitoring unit, Mr Garuba Umar, has been posted to take charge of Lagos Command Headquarters.

Umar, who once served as Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ikoyi, in Lagos, and Mobile Police Unit 19 Commander, in Port Harcourt, will succeed the incumbent CP Fatai Owoseni.

Meanwhile, Owoseni has been posted to the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, in Jos.

The IGP, Ibrahim Idris, had on Friday decorated the Force Public Relations Officer, Don Awunah and eight other promoted senior police officers with their next rank.

UPDATE: 52 dead, 120 injured after Nigerian jet accidentally bombed IDP camp | PremiumTimes

The MSF, otherwise known as Doctors Without Borders, has said that at least 52 people were killed after a Nigerian fighter jet accidentally dropped a bomb on an internally displaced persons, IDP, camp.

The international organisation, whose officials were present at the Rann camp in Borno State when the incident occurred, said another 102 people were injured from the incident.

The MSF stated these in a statement issued to the media in Borno State.

GOD ESTABLISHES TIMES AND SEASONS

Seek Daily (NBC)

Wednesday, January 18

Psalm 104:19-23
GOD ESTABLISHES TIMES AND SEASONS
He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down. Psalm 104:19, NIV

One thing that God gives equally to every human being is time. Every person has 24 hours per day; the only difference is how

Naija Relationships: A funny but true explanation of how Naija babes fall in love

Women often find it hard to be the first to express interest in a man. Though that seems to be changing at a snail's pace, it's still very much how things are.

According to a Daddy Yo, a twitter user, this is especially true for Nigerian women, who, instead of coming out to declare interest in men they're dying for, they do shakara and play hard to get.

"Nigerian girls love shakara. Even when they are helplessly in love with you, they still front and play hard to get," he begins in a tweet posted on November 6, 2016.

A baby born with an oversized tongue that could have choked her to death can finally smile after surgeons successfully sliced half of it off.

Aparajit Lodhi was born with a rare congenital anomaly called Macroglossia, a medical term for an unusually large tongue.

After the congenital disorder was discovered at birth, doctors told Aparajit’s parents that their little girl was not going to survive for much longer.

Omobaba married Omotoyosi, his girlfriend of six years in a splendid ceremony which took place in Ibadan on December 27, 2016.

As these newly-released official pictures show, the ceremony was filled with joy and true beauty; from the bride's flawlessly-beat face and lovely white dress to the groom's crisp well-cut tuxedo and easy smiles.

The kidneys help keep the whole body functioning perfectly ensuring it stays in top shape everyday.

The kidney filters waste and excess fluid from the body, helps with blood circulation and blood pressure, keeps bones healthy amongst other functions that make the body function effectively.

An accident has occurred at Akiode bus stop on the popular Ojodu Berger road, Lagos. The incident which involved 3 Yahoo boys and a trailer driver took place at about 3:30am on Tuesday.

A passer-by who gave his name as Charles Flames said ” The trailer driver was on his lane and was trying to dodge the guys with 3 different cars who were allegedly coming from a club on high speed and trying to use the U-turn”

He explains on social media how his romantic movie-based proposal landed him the girl of his dreams.

Imgur user jel2930 explains that his girlfriend Cara has been obsessed with the character Bellefrom “Beauty and the Beast” since she was a only a little girl, so he wanted to bring her favorite film to life when he proposed to her.

Menstrual cramps occur in most women during the periods and they can be managed to not get worse.

The time of the month comes with cramps, bleeding frequency and other symptoms that differs from a person to the other ( note that in most cases these can also be pointers to underlying health issues so in cases of discomfort and cramps that won't cease, see a physician).

Menstrual Cramps will reduce considerably when one tries to actively walk or jog

(Women Of Rubies)

There are ways to tackle menstrual cramps and apart from using painkillers everytime they occur there are simple ways to ease the discomfort.

1. Take a walk/jog

Taking a walk or jogging helps to keep cramps minimal. Staying active during the time of the month helps reduce pains considerably. Even if it's to move around more, do so as it helps with blood flow and ease pains caused by cramps.

2. Put pressure on the stomach at intervals

For menstrual cramps, put a gentle pressure on the stomach for about 7-20 seconds and repeat at intervals. This offers a sensation that the body tries to adapt to and helps to soothe the pain from the cramps.

Applying little pressure with hot towel or hot water bottle helps to ease period pains

(healthadvice4life)

3. Use hot water

A hot bath, hot water compress (on the stomach), drinking hot tea (stay away from caffeine as much as possible when on your period) and staying warm helps with blood flow and considerably reduces menstrual cramps during that time of the month.

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Friday, 20 January 2017

Thursday, 19 January 2017

Wednesday, 18 January 2017

Tuesday, 17 January 2017

Women often find it hard to be the first to express interest in a man. Though that seems to be changing at a snail's pace, it's still very much how things are.

Omobaba married Omotoyosi, his girlfriend of six years in a splendid ceremony which took place in Ibadan on December 27, 2016.

The kidneys help keep the whole body functioning perfectly ensuring it stays in top shape everyday.

He explains on social media how his romantic movie-based proposal landed him the girl of his dreams.

Menstrual cramps occur in most women during the periods and they can be managed to not get worse.