Another bomb blast in Maiduguri Written by Ayoade Abeel Wednesday, 20 July 2011

EARLY morning blast on Tuesday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, left three members of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Restore Order, in Borno, critically injured, while members of the JTF were said to have made several arrests in connection with the bomb blast.

Speaking by phone on Tuesday,  JTF spokesman, Colonel Victor Ebhaleme, told the Nigerian Tribune that the blasts, which occurred at Bullumkuttu at the roundabout leading to Pompomari, hit the JTF vehicle and three members sustained injuries.

“The blast was targeted at members of the Joint Task Force and three of our men sustained injuries but we made some arrests and investigation is ongoing on the matter to bring those culprits to book,” Ebhaleme said.

In another development, the Borno State chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Yuguda Ndurvwa, has condemned Governor Kashim Shettima’s compensation of 33 Muslim Boko Haram victims with 11 vehicles, cash donations and rebuilding of their houses destroyed by the Islamic sect, stating that the Christian community in the state is not happy with the exclusion of its members from government’s compensations, as many pastors and Christians were killed in the two-year sectarian crises that claimed many lives and properties.

He said: “I am hearing it now from you for the first time and this is a very privileged piece of information with which we are not happy, but [I am] sad on how the governor could segregate or exclude Christians killed and injured in the Boko Haram attacks, killings and bombings of our members and their churches and houses.”

He said he was summoning a meeting of the executive council of CAN on Tuesday [yesterday], to deliberate on the actions of the governor to compensate Muslim victims, while excluding their fellow Christians in the distribution and disbursement of vehicles and funds to victims of the attacks at Zannari and Kaleri wards.

The cleric, however, noted that during the February 18, 2006 sectarian crisis, no compensations were paid or distributed by the state government to any of the affected victims. The same, he added, happened when many Christians were killed and their churches burnt by the Boko Haram sect in 2009 and 2010, none of the victims or family members was compensated by the state government.

He said CAN, in 2010, demanded for a compensation of N1.5 billion for the destroyed houses and churches from the state government, but up to the time he was speaking on the “plights and sufferings” of Christians caused by the Boko Haram killings and bombings, no kobo or building material was paid and presented to any of the victims.

Meanwhile, The orientation camp of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Plateau State, was thrown into confusion on Tuesday following a rumour that the camp had been invaded by members of the  Boko Haram   sect.

Al Qaeda group claims Algerian bombings: SITE

 Al Qaeda group claims Algerian bombings: SITELONDON (Reuters) - Al Qaeda in North Africa has claimed responsibility for suicide bombs in Algeria at the weekend that a security source said had killed at least two people, the SITE online monitoring service said on Tuesday.

It said al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) said it had carried out two suicide bombings in Bordj Menaiel, a town 70 km (45 miles) east of the capital Algiers.

SITE said AQIM made the claim in a communique with Tuesday's date posted on online jihadist forums.

A local security source who did not want to be identified told Reuters that two people died when a suicide bomber targeted a police headquarters in the town. One of the dead was a police officer. Several other police were seriously wounded.

There has been no official confirmation of the attack.

Al Qaeda's north African branch frequently attacks security forces in rural areas of Algeria, but it has been months since there have been any bombings in the centre of a town.

AQIM said in its communique that it had carried out two coordinated suicide bombings at the police station in the town on Saturday, killing 15 security forces.

It said these attacks followed two bombings by AQIM fighters in Baghlia town on July 13 and 14.

Algeria, an energy exporter in North Africa, is still emerging from nearly two decades of conflict between security forces and Islamist militants that, at its peak in the 1990s, killed an estimated 200,000 people.

In the past few years the violence has been reduced significantly, but the militants -- who now operate as AQIM -- still carry out ambushes, kidnappings and occasional bombings.

Bordj Menaiel is in the mountainous Kabylie region, where AQIM has its headquarters for northern Algeria, and where many of the attacks are concentrated.









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UK to assist Nigeria in anti-terror security

LAGOS — British Prime Minister, David Cameron, said yesterday that Britain would support Nigeria in its anti-terrorism security after a string of deadly bombings across the country.

Cameron, who arrived Nigeria yesterday, said at a media conference with President Goodluck Jonathan in Lagos: “We have agreed to forge today, a significant new partnership on counter-terrorism. Britain will help Nigeria establish the equivalent of our COBR.”

The British Prime Minister and President Jonathan  also expressed the need for a strong business relationship between Europe and Africa as part of effort to effectively tackle economic misfortune that has left many economies on edge worldwide.

Speaking at a lecture entitled,” Entrepreneur and Innovation” organised by the Pan-African University in Ajah area of Lagos, Cameron urged Africans to use trade, aid and political reform to make the most of what he called “Africa’s moment.”

Cameron, congratulating Jonathan on his victory in the recent general elections, described the exercise as the fairest in nearly two decades in Africa’s most populous nation and largest oil producer despite the challenges.

President Jonathan, who was represented at the lecture by Gov. Fashola said the trans-Atlantic visit of the British Prime Minister amid tight schedules proved that the African continent would play a critical role in the future of the planet.

He said: “So much has happened in this decade. Our current realities vividly demonstrate that our prosperity or adversity on one side of the continent is answerable to consequences of prosperity and adversity on the other end of the globe.

“The visit by the Prime Minister is a proof of the statutory leadership and very clear understanding of its role in turning these challenges to opportunities and stimulate mutual cooperation between the two countries  in the areas of improved trade, infrastructural renewal, power, transportation, improved public health, promotion of global security, democracy and defence of citizenry rights, to mention but a few.”

Jonathan who acknowledged the business development and partnership orientation behind the visit saluted the representative of the British High commission in the country which he said had provided the support for the country needs for its international development plans.

“I do hope that the visit would be a symbolic reference point in the escalation of the revival of the relationship with mutual benefit to support both countries and their economy in a way the issue of poverty can be effectively tackled,” he added.

Coomassie urges FG to dialogue with Boko Haram Written by Ayoade Abeel Wednesday, 20 July 2011

A former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, has said that the Boko Haram crisis has slowed down development and urged the government to dialogue with the Islamic sect.
He spoke in Kaduna during the second Kaduna town hall meeting, organised by CITAR-NGO, a political awareness and sustainable human development organisation.

According to him, the government or designated officers of the government must confer with all relevant intelligence communities and analyse the authentic information available on the Boko Haram group.

He said they should also identify where mistakes were made, rectify and direct operatives to engage the Islamic militants with a view to bringing to an end the crisis.
Similarly, a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Salihu Mustapha Belgore,  said on the occasion that fears by politicians in the country that the military could  take over the government had stalled development.

He said the inability of the country to develop was even compounded by past successive military regimes which had failed to provide basic facilities that could have aided quick development.

He said that this fear by politicians had made them to spend more money on security rather than development.
He said: “Military, by nature, is not steady. That is why politicians are always afraid that another military coup will take place. So, they spend more on security than on development. If the democratic process, which we have entered into, is allowed to continue and totally sustained, this country, just as Brazil, will develop in another 10 years; it will be one of the greatest countries on earth.

“Our River Basins and dams, if well addressed long time ago, Nigeria would not be where it is today. Every successive military government  caused this rubbish.
“The western world will not benefit from Nigeria’s development. Whether you call it militancy in the South or Boko Haram in the North, they are being sponsored from outside. These people are using sophisticated equipments, and are trained outside the country.”

Nigerian police plead not guilty to killing Islamist leader

ABUJA — Five Nigerian policemen pleaded not guilty Tuesday to killing an Islamist leader following a 2009 uprising by his group, a case some say is aimed at persuading militants to halt a wave of attacks.
The officers, arraigned at federal high court in the capital, were charged with two counts of committing a "terrorist act" and "unlawfully killing" Mallam Mohammed Yusuf and a number of followers in the northeastern city of Maiduguri.
All of the officers pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Judge Donaltus Okorowo said the court will fix a date for the start of the trial after ruling on a bail request on July 28.
Yusuf was captured alive by troops during a brutal military raid in 2009, but police said he was killed in a shootout while trying to escape. The raid left hundreds dead and the sect's mosque and headquarters in ruins.
The military action followed a series of attacks on police posts by the sect, known as Boko Haram.
Boko Haram went dormant after the military raid, but re-emerged last year with a series of shootings by motorcycle-riding gunmen targeting police, soldiers, politicians and community leaders.
They have since moved on to bomb blasts, and there have been almost daily attacks in Nigeria's mainly Muslim north in recent weeks.
Hundreds of troops have been deployed to Maiduguri, where most of the violence has occurred, but the attacks have continued. Thousands of residents have fled the city, fearing more violence linked to Islamist attacks and soldiers' response.
Troops have been accused of shooting civilians and burning their homes over accusations that residents cooperated with the Islamists, which the military denies.
Some local media have suggested that prosecutors' decision to revive the old case over Yusuf's death is meant to persuade the sect to halt the recent attacks.
The group claims to be fighting for the establishment of an Islamic state in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation with 150 million people roughly divided in half between Christians and Muslims.


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Search for the marauding lion that killed a woman, still on

A lion is under siege for marauding a woman in Trans Nzoia county, Kenya.

Kenya Wildlife Service rangers and employees of a private ranch have intensified search for a male lion that killed a 58-year-old woman in Nyahururu district.

The lion had mauled Martha Nduta at Rubere village last Friday causing panic among the residents.

Laikipia West police boss, Francio Nyamatari said workers at Laikipia Nature Conservancy had teamed up with KWS rangers to hunt down and kill the lion.

The lion allegedly killed before dragging the hapless woman from her homestead to the conservancy where it ate every piece leaving behind a skull and a few bones.

Relatives identified the dead woman from her ripped clothes and a shoe found at the scene of the incident that left residents shocked.

The man-eater then vanished back into the 46-Kilometre square Laikipia Nature Conservancy as Kenya Wildlife Service rangers and other security personnel from other forces mounted a futile search during the night.

Mr Nyamatari said KWS, assisted by a contingent of armed security personnel would continue with the search to track down the lion described by locals as dangerous.

Meanwhile, residents of Mwenje in Kinamba division held a peaceful demonstration demanding for a decisive action to be taken against the rogue animals.

“We know the wild animals belong to the government while the sanctuary is privately owned. But when we are injured, killed and our farm produce destroyed we seek compensation from the government. Why does the owner receive cash from tourists visiting the sanctuary?” said a resident as he waved twigs.

The residents said incidents of elephants invading farms had become rife and called on the government to seek a permanent solution to the menace.

The sanctuary has a round the clock electric fence but it is often destroyed by jumbos seeking a way out to invade farms.

Mr Nyamatari said the skull was taken to Nyahururu District Hospital Mortuary for preservation.

Google’s Social Revolution: From Network To Business Model

And finally there it was: Google Plus (or +). Almost every blog, national and international, talked about it and it even made the news. And everyone had an opinion, despite of the fact that they had access or not. We already discussed the Google +1 button here on Multilingual Search, but now we have the complete social network.
There are a lot of great introduction posts, so I won’t delve into the mechanics. But Google Plus is more than just a ‘social network’ or a ‘Facebook clone’. It embodies a new way of thinking and operating for Google and it is actually much, much more. And everything Google is does, is to make more money, or at least keep its current money cows (especially online advertising).

Google Plus In Summary

As said, I won’t go into the basics of Google Plus. A lot of you will probably already have an account and are familiar with how it works. For those of you who are interested, here an overview of great articles:
Google: Introducing the Google+ project: Real-life sharing, rethought for the web
Google’s own press release, with handy instruction video’s.
State of Search: How to use Google+ – a quick guide and thoughts on Google Plus
Google+ tested by State of Search. Nice recap.
State of Search: The first responses from the expert marketeers
Wat do the experts say?
Wired: Inside Google+ – how the search giant plans to go social
A very lengthy article, but worth the read. See how important social is to Google, and how the organisation has changed to adapt to the human side of the web. A great look ‘behind the scenes’.

The Integration Of Google Plus

One of the first tests Google revealed that Google’s own employees found Google Plus too difficult. It was like Facebook, in its entirety, after being in stealth mode for 7 years, was released all at once. That’s why Google decided to drop some of the Google Plus features and make it more simple. This means that there are a couple of features already lined up, waiting for Google Plus’ users to be familiar with the current features.
One of the toughest obstacles was the integration of Google Plus with other Google products. Google took its time to get this right. Wired describes Google Plus not as a typical productrelease, but as the ‘result of a lengthy and urgent effort involving almost all of the company’s products’.
During development more than a dozen Google products were involved. Google goes on saying that Google Plus isn’t a ‘Facebook Killer’, but a transformation to give the people a better Google. Fun fact: Google mentions a research which shows users are just a little bit more satisfied with Facebook then they are with the IRS.
This complete company approach to Google Plus shows in a lot of Google’s Current products:

• Measuring social media activities via Google Analytics
• Measuring Google +1 using Webmaster tools
• Adding Google+ to the ‘sandbar’ (Google’s topbar)
• Adding Google +1 to the search engine results and AdWords ads
• The (temporary?) removal of Google Realtime Search because of the Google Plus integration
• A ‘people’ section in Gmail (and a new layout)
• Showing the author in the search results

All these changes make Google more human, personal and social. They put the user at the center of everything, and the user’s network plays an important part.
The social aspect of Google will become more and more important. Google Plus is still in its testing phase and Google doesn’t want to make the same mistakes they did with Wave and, especially, Buzz (with Buzz they created a complete network, connecting people without permissions, a big no no).

The Social Future

Google Plus is here to stay. It is a product that Google has high expectations of. Soon we will see more and more features, and the social aspect of Google will start to become even more visible. Seo by the Sea discusses patents showing a direction Google could take. Instant chatting is one of them, where browsing the web becomes even more social. It also shows Google looking into options for showing human Questions/Answers (like Aardvark) in the search results. Just as scientific papers can give you the right answer, so can users from your own network.
Add to all this Google Plus and the increasing integration amongst all the Google products and Google is getting more and more ‘tailor made’.

Business Model

But Google isn’t making its company more social for nothing. Google knows that social holds the future (at least in some areas) and Google wants to be biggest player. It must have frustrated Google that Facebook wouldn’t share its oh so valuable user data. Well, Google must have thought, why not create our own network, build our own community and gather the information ourselves.
And Google has tried to avoid making the same mistakes Facebook and Buzz made. Google and Google Plus have to be known for their privacy and control. “You can trust us with your information”. And by giving Google Plus users the option to share certain bits of information only with certain people (Circles) Google has given the public a nice tool and a sense of security. But one mistake, one slip up and Google’s carefully crafted image can be destroyed.
For now, Google is trying to gain that trust and get more and more people on the Google Plus bandwagon. And with that, the information will come. And that information can be another source of revenue for Google. Besides the ’social graph’, the constant stream of personal information and messages, users can tell Google there interests with Sparks. Google will then serve relevant and newsworthy content. david says:

“…but it’s reasonable to assume that before long, the company will use its algorithmic powers to produce a single flow that skillfully mixes those apples and oranges. Google has already pulled off a much more complicated version of that trick with Universal Search, which includes web pages, images, videos, books, Tweets, news items and other formats among its results. And that’s only the beginning. With its deep resources of information about its users, Google is capable of delivering a comprehensive collection of information, tailored exactly to one’s needs and interests”

Even more to the point:

“This mother of all streams would be the equivalent of an intravenous feed of information, with inclusion of all the vital content from our social graph and the world at large (Google calls this the “interest graph”). It would scroll forever, and everything would be relevant. If Google’s original goal was to expeditiously dispatch us elsewhere, with this near-clairvoyant stream, Google could turn us into search potatoes who never leave.”

Where Google’s previous goal was to make people leave as soon as possible, by giving them the best search results, it now wants to keep them as long as possible by serving them a constant stream of relevant, interesting information.
And that’s where the money is: when we all start using Google Plus, and Google has gained the trust of its users, they can slowly start molding the internet to its users needs. And that also means: ads that are really relevant.
It also means: more (and better) ways for companies to advertise. Ads can be shown in the regular search engine (with better targeting), but can also be added to Google Plus. In the Sparks stream, ads can be shown that are highly relevant and are in line with the interests of the user. And there is a lot of white space in Google Plus when you log on, which just screams “money”, eh.. I mean, ads.
But Google has a long way to go. A road filled with obstacles, but one that Google probably has mapped out. Making Google more social will make Google better. Better for its user, and better for Google itself, as in: more profits.

Nokia delivers intuitive and convenient dual sim mobile phones by ayoade abeel

Nokia delivers intuitive and convenient dual sim mobile phones

by ayoade abeel

Not every mobile phone user is into the latest app or phone features. Some people, especially those who are to busy to explore the capabilities of smartphones, are primarily just into music and other basic features that allows them to text, call and store favorite photos and videos. But then, perhaps everyone wishes that their phone pack more memory and that switching from one sim card to another becomes easier. The good news is that Nokia recently launched two dual sim mobile phones, Nokia X1-01 and Nokia C2-00, which are now available in Nokia stores. Both models offer the most convenient and intuitive experience available for switching between sim cards—without compromising on features and fun.
“The Nokia X1-01 and Nokia C2-00 pack more memory, better battery life and far richer sim change and entertainment features than other dual sim products currently in the market,” says Benoit Nalin, general manager of Nokia Philippines. “In addition to their various unique features, both of these phones remember the settings for up to five separate sim cards, each of which can be personalized with a dedicated name as well as preferred call, SMS or data settings. Only Nokia can offer this level of convenience in dual sim phones.”
Aside from the main features of Nokia X1-01, can you can also give each of the sim card its own logo, music signature or ringtone—personalization features that you can only get from Nokia. The phone also offers what is currently the best dual sim music experience in the market. Hose who are into music can store and shuffle thousands of songs with up to 16 GB of memory support, create their own favorite playlists, and play music back over a loudspeaker that is currently the loudest and clearest ever produced by Nokia. If you are traveling, this phone is the best company as it also features dedicated music side keys and a battery that will last for up to 36 hours of continued music playback. The Nokia X1-01 is available in colors Dark Grey, Red, Ocean Blue, and Orange.
The Nokia C2-00, on the other hand, is the first dual sim phone to have easy swap, which offers you the convenience of changing sim cards without the need to turn off the phone or remove the battery. Just open the sim door at the side of the phone and swap your sims. It’s as easy as that. No more waiting for the phone to reboot. With the Nokia C2-00 you can also browse the Internet, read e-mails and enjoy instant messaging with either sim card. Not only is the internet browsing experience far superior than that available on competing dual sim products, but so too is the memory support. At a whopping 32 GB, the Nokia C2-00 lets you keep thousands of photos, videos and music files with you all the time. The Nokia C2-00 is available in colors Dynamic Grey, Jet Black, Magenta, and Snow White.
The Nokia X1-01 is available for P1,990 while the Nokia C2-00 is priced at P2,990.For more information about the product, visit www.nokia.com/press

BMW to return to DTM in 2012 by Ayoade abeel Posted on 19 Jul 20112

After a long gap of 18-years, BMW plans to make a comeback in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) in 2012.

The German car manufacturer is amidst reshuffling their participation in motorsport and the DTM series is going to be just a part of this restructure.


The Munich based company recently pulled the curtains off from the car that will make its comeback into the German car racing series. The BMW M3 DTM Concept specially designed and engineered for the DTM series is powered by a 480 horsepower 4.0-litre V8 engine with a six-speed sequential gearbox. The car is capable of touching a speed of 100 km/h from standstill in almost three seconds and a top speed of 186mph (297km/h).    

The BMW M3 DTM powered by a four-litre V8 engine

BMW’s comeback in 2012 will see the return of the M3 which has more than 40 victories and 150 podium finishes under its belt. The DTM series regulates the number of parts that can be changed and makes certain number of parts standardised, mainly to ensure reasonable development costs. Despite this, the BMW Motorsport engineers have called upon immense technical prowess and innovation which they believe will help in gaining an advantage over their rivals.      
Andy Priaulx and Augusto Farfus have been confirmed as drivers for BMW for the 2012 season. “The BMW M3 DTM looks fantastic. I can hardly wait to get to know the car better in the coming tests,” said Priaulx, who has won several championships with the German car manufacturer.

“The opposition is tough and has more experience in recent years, but BMW Motorsport is working fantastically to ensure we should be competitive right from the word go,” Farfus said.

Though BMW is making a comeback into DTM after a long gap of 18 years, rivals will surely not want to take them lightly.

Malaysian Government To Fully Adopt IPV6 By End Of 2012

AYOADE ABEEL July 19

-- The Malaysian government is poised to fully adopt the Internet Protocol version 6 or IPv6 by the end of next year and may emerge as the first government in the world to achieve full IPv6 compliance, Deputy Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Joseph Salang said.

Salang said several government agencies had already adopted the IPv6 while several others were in the process of shifting from IPv4.

"The government encourages not only its agencies and departments to adopt the IPv6 but also industry players who are still using the IPv4.

"The IPv6 is more secure and has a much wider capacity and nearly inexhaustible compared to the IPv4," he told reporters after opening the 2011 Regional IPv6 Conference, here Tuesday.

He hoped that the country's key industry players would fully adopt the new Internet protocol by next year to facilitate communications with their clients in view of the diminishing use of the IPv4.

He said that those who refused to move to IPv6 might suffer losses in the long term due to communications problem with those who had already adopted the new protocol.

"Generally, there has been reluctance among industry players to move to IPv6 due to cost...they are looking at the cost, not at the opportunity cost," he said.

Meanwhile, Chair of Asia Pacific IPv6 Task Force, Dr Sureswaran Ramadass, commended Malaysia, saying the country had been one of the pioneers in the IPv6 movement.

Universiti Sains Malaysia, through the National Advanced IPv6 Centre, was playing a key role in training IPv6 network engineers throughout the world, he said.

Sureswaran, who is also the National Advanced IPv6 Centre director, said to date, about 3,000 engineers had been trained in Malaysia on IPv6.

Of the total, about 1,000 were Malaysians, he said.

Ayoade Abeel

Sony excites customers with new internet-enabled TV by Ayoade Abeel Tuesday, 19 July 2011

As part of its efforts at giving television viewers in the country a new and exciting experience, Sony Gulf, a leading brand in electronics, has introduced 25 BRAVIA TV models, 20 of which are internet-enable TVs. The new launch is in harmony with Sony’s global ‘Television Redefined’ proposition, which is based on the need for television to adapt itself and complement the increasing variety of hi-tech entertainment options for the home.

Network, connectivity and 3D video and also enhances picture quality of low resolution internet content. Osamu Miura, managing director, Sony Gulf, who unveiled the TV range to newsmen at a press briefing held in Lagos recently, said “the products is aimed at redefining home entertainment to meet the needs of today’s contemporary savvy consumer because the 2011 BRAVIA LCD/LED TV series offers smarter, sophisticated and more social entertainment that redefines the TV experience.”

According to him, “first, there was the television that was a mere display device for passive viewing, then came the internet which was personal and interactive, and revolutionised the way people communicated. And now, we cannot imagine life without the internet. Today, we introduce the new Sony Internet TV that combines the jobs of watching high quality HD and 3D content, with the leisure of accessing the internet and social networking sites, along with a seamless connectivity with various devices such as mobile phones, the play Station 3 and Blu-ray disc players.”

Miura stressed that there been a surge in the growth and popularity of social networking sites in Africa, with over 3 million Face book users in Nigeria. “For Sony, these numbers are very encouraging as we aggressively execute our strategy to become the leading provider   of networked entertainment. Consumers will now be able to enjoy a broader range of internet entertainment services from Sony and others, well beyond the standard video offerings provided by cable and satellite programming.”

He reiterated that Sony will not rest on its oars but will continue its evolution in connectivity with the new Sony internet TV models that feature seamless internet connectivity. This provides access to free and premium movies, video and music services through the BRAVIA internet video platform, including YouTube. Social media enthusiasts can also look forward to the latest BRAVIA internet widgets that include Face book, SKYPE tm and Twitter. Users can stay connected with their friends simply by downloading personal widgets to the TV, enjoying real-time updates from these sites without having their TV viewing interrupted.

Most TVs also feature DLNA and Wi-Fi direct for quick and easy sharing of photos, music and movies from anywhere in the home. The range can wirelessly share media content on compatible device s such as PCs, the  iPhone , and Android phones like the Sony Ericsson Arc and Play station 3 consoles from anywhere in the  house. These remote devices act as DLNA servers from which the Sony Internet TV can access and display and photos, videos and music.

The latest BRAVIA models offer uncompromising picture quality with Sony’s new proprietary X-Reality and X-Reality Pro picture engines. These unique technologies separate incoming video signals by outline, texture, colour and contrast and add appropriate image enhancements to create the best image possible. Only Sony, with X-pro, can optimize the large screen viewing of low resolution content.

Apart from changing the concept from the television being a passive display to the smartest devices in the house- the classy and sophisticated BRAVIA HX and NX series’ monolithic design also transforms ones living room with its unparallel The Monolithic Design concept draws viewers in the picture when the TV is tuned on and blends into the room décor when turned off.

Designed to suit modern lounge rooms with low-set furniture, an optional Display Stand with Active Speaker System is also available with BRAVIA HX series models. Sony has taken a lead role in the research and development of 3D technology to drive its growth at every Level and its unmatched expertise in all areas of 3D technology has enable the company to deliver 3D TVs that truly set the standard.

The new BRAVIA TV line-up, featuring Sony’s industry-leading Full HD 3D picture quality, is a perfect way to experience high quality 3D. Sony’s Active shutter 3D glasses are now rechargeable and lightweight to offer more comfort.
The unique Active Shutter glasses are technology minimises flicker and enables viewers to enjoy an immersive, full HD 3D experience for hours


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Nigerian bomb wounds soldier, two police

KANO, Nigeria — A bomb blast injured a soldier and two policemen on patrol in northeast Nigeria on Tuesday, the military said, amid a wave of attacks blamed on Islamist militants.

"The bomb which was planted by the roadside exploded when the patrol van drove over it," Colonel Victor Ebhaleme, operations commander for a military-police task force, said of the blast in the violence-torn city of Maiduguri.

"One soldier and two policemen driving in the van were injured. We have made six arrests of people we suspect of complicity in the attack."

Nigeria's north has been hit by almost daily bomb blasts and shootings in recent weeks blamed on an Islamist sect known as Boko Haram.

Hundreds of troops have been deployed to Maiduguri, where most of the attacks have occurred, but they have been accused of shooting civilians and burning houses after accusing residents of cooperating with the militants.

The military denies the accusations, but a group of elders from the area have called for the troops to be withdrawn.

Tuesday's bomb blast came as British Prime Minister David Cameron visited Nigeria's economic capital Lagos on the opposite end of the vast country.

The attack occurred near the scene of a similar blast last week.



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Borno -Five Killed in Another Bomb Explosion

No fewer than five persons lost their lives in Maiduguri ,the Borno state capital Tuesday when the Islamic fundamentalist group, Boko Haram ,reportedly threw an explosive at a patrol vehicle of the Joint Military Task Force. It was gathered that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was thrown at a moving military patrol van near Fannah Dori Filling Station along Baga road in Maiduguri at about 8am on Tuesday by persons suspected to be members of Boko Haram during which two soldiers reportedly sustained injuries.
JTF in a statement issued Tuesday claimed "there was an explosion at Baga road this morning targeted at a patrol team of JTF. Three of the attackers died in the blast and two soldiers were injured."
But eyewitnesses said three persons were actually killed by soldiers and not the members of the fundamentalists as claimed by the JTF .
Eyewitnesses also claimed that two more corpses were evacuated by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) near the scene of the incident, two hours after the early morning explosion.
NEMA zonal Information Officer (North East), Ibrahim Farinloye confirmed to journalists that two corpses were picked near the scene of the incident but declined to give further details.
"We were just informed about the corpses but we are trying to assist traders in Baga market who were trapped following the bomb explosion this morning and the gun shots. We were negotiating with the NURTW in the market so as to help people check out of the place," Farinloye explained.
The NEMA spokesman also revealed that another explosion affected a NEMA vehicle when officials of the agency were moving to the scene of the first blast along Baga road.
He said only the agency's vehicle was damaged while none of the personnel was injured.
Also in the JTF press release signed by Colonel Victor Ebhaleme, it was maintained that the claims that the soldiers were shooting indiscriminately was untrue.
The statement read "the Joint Task Force, Operation Restore Order in Maiduguri wishes to debunk claims that soldiers are involved in any indiscriminate treatment of law abiding members of the public.

"The claims are baseless and uncalled for at a moment when the state is facing challenging security situation. We want to reassure the general public that members of the JTF will never act in anyway against the peace of the state."
The JTF blamed members of Boko Haram of planting Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) at residential areas which exploded and damaged houses and vehicles, asking for vigilance on the part of the public.
Members of the public are also asked to disregard the rumour going round that people should leave Maiduguri, stressing that it was baseless as the soldiers will soon fish out the fundamentalists and "their sympathizers who resorted to spreading the rumour in order to instill fear in the people."

Boko Haram: Oshiomhole receives Edo returnees

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State yesterday received students of Edo State origin who were evacuated from the crisis torn Borno State. He called on them to have faith in the unity of the country. The state government had on Wednesday sent buses to Maiduguri to rescue its indigenes who are schooling at the University of Maiduguri. The university was closed by the authorities owing to the threat by the book Haram sect.
A total of 150 persons including children were rescued.
Addressing the returnees, Oshiomhole disclosed that the closure of the Maiduguri airport stopped him from sending an aircraft to rescue them. He expressed optimism that the Boko Haram crisis would soon be over adding that the authorities of the University took the right decision in closing the institution until the crisis is over.
He said, “You are welcome back home. I heard of the challenges in Maiduguri, it is very unfortunate. Nigeria is our country. You don’t need visa to travel to any part of the country. You don’t need any residence permit. You should not be refugee in the country. In no distant time, I hope we’ll find solution to our national problem so that there will be peace across the country.
“I asked you to have faith in the country, don’t allow yourself to be reduced to ethnic champions. Continue to believe that Nigeria is our country and we have a right to live in any part of it and we will live in any part of it. Nothing should scare us to say I will not live in this part again. It is a matter of time. The country belongs to you. The present crisis should not weaken your faith in the unity of Nigeria.”
Earlier, leader of the students, Mohammed Abdulazeez said they fled because of the continued insecurity in Borno State adding that they could no longer cope with the crisis.

Nigeria: 'Only Peace Talk Will Solve Boko Haram Crisis'

The chairman of the Abuja branch of the G20 has said that only peace talks with the Boko Haram sect would end the current reign of terror. Hon. Habila Aderefun said yesterday that with the honour of his Board of Trustees Chairman Engr. Ishaku Tikon as an Ambassador for PEACE, he will be able to help the federal government in tackling the Boko Haram syndrome in the country.
According to Aderefun, "Tikon is a peaceful person and deserved the award because he has done so much in the lives of humans. G20 which I chaired is his idea. We are happy because G20 did not recommended him for the award but someone out there who has been seeing his contribution in National development and peace. We belief with the award, he will be able to help the Federal government in tackling the issue of Boko Haram in the country". He said
The Boad of Trustees chairman of the G20 club Abuja branch, Engr. Ishaku Tikon, was yesterday conferred with the prestigious award of PEACE Ambassador by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF).

Conferring the honour on Tikon, the Zonal Coordinator UPF Ambassador Monday O Akhilomen said that the award followed his contribution toward ensuring peace in his home state Taraba and Nigeria as a whole. "Following Tiko's nomination by someone from Benue state which was properly investigated, we hereby confer on Ishaku Tikon with the honour of PEACE Ambassador.
"We are looking for people who will work for peace. From our report, Tikon has contributed immensely in religious activities and the award is based on his hard work. "He has also upheld the international moral values without religious barriers which has affected many people, not only in Nigeria, but in the world", Akhilomen stated.

20 killed in Abuja autocrash

20 killed in Abuja autocrash Written by Ayoade Abeel Tuesday, 19 July 2011

BLOOD flowed freely on the Nyanya-Mararaba road, on Monday, as autocrashes claimed no fewer than 20 lives. The first accident, according to an eyewitness, happened early in the afternoon, when an articulated lorry carrying iron rods and heading to Nyanya from the Abuja axis, had a brake failure and swerved onto the other lane.
The articulated lorry was said to have rammed into three vehicles, including commercial buses and crushed many occupants in the process.
About an hour later, another trailer conveying a bulldozer to an unknown destination lost control at Kugbo Furniture Centre on the same road and was said to have left an undisclosed number of persons dead.
The second articulated lorry was believed to be “on the service” of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Department of Development Control but the public relations officer of the department, Josie Mudashiru, denied that the department’s bulldozer was involved in an accident, when contacted for confirmation.
Lorry drivers still defy the directive by the FCT administration for them not to ply Abuja roads during the day. The defiance has continued despite the task force set up to arrest defaulters.
The Minister of the FCT, Bala Mohammed, had, 11 days ago, given a directive for alternative routes to be opened up for motorists from Abuja to neighbouring states on the opposite carriageway from Nyanya to the Nnamdi Azikwe Expressway. This was done to address the traffic bottlenecks usually experienced on the road during peak hours of the morning and the evening.
He also directed that all commercial activities on the route, especially the furniture market at Kugbo and an illegal motor park close to Nyanya Interchange be immediately cleared, to enhance traffic flow.
Men and officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Vehicle Inspection Office and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) helped to evacuate the victims, while the number plate of the vehicles involved could not be seen, as none of the officers volunteered comment.
Though the actual number of the victims could not be confirmed by the relevant authorities at the time of filing this report, eyewitnesses confirmed that the number could be higher, as none of the occupants of one of the buses survived the accident except a baby.
Already, the only road out of Abuja was subsequently blocked due to the accident, with motorists and civil servants, who were on their way home after the day’s work, were trapped in the traffic jam.
While several commuters were observed trekking home, the authorities had a hectic time controlling the traffic and removing the debris.
It was confirmed that the remains of the victims of the accident had been deposited at the Asokoro General Hospital, while those seriously injured were also taken to hospitals for treatment.
In a reaction to the accident, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Muha-mmad Sule, the Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, commiserated with the victims and those who lost their loved ones in the multiple motor accidents.
He regretted the loss of lives and assured that the government was working to ameliorate the traffic crisis on the route.

Lagos Needs N13b to tackle flood

Lagos Needs N13b to tackle flood

The Lagos State commissioner for the environment, Tunji Bello, on Monday, said the state government will need about N13 billion to effectively prevent devastating flood like the one which resulted from a 16-hour rainfall on July 10.

Mr Bello disclosed this while speaking to journalists after an inspection tour of the areas affected by the flood.

The flood’s devastating impact has jolted the state government to the reality of the inadequacies of its present drainage system and the state government has applied to the federal government for aid, through the Ecological Fund Office.

Consequently, a team of inspectors, led by the permanent secretary of the ecological fund office, Ibukun Odusote, visited the state on Monday for a physical assessment of the problems.

The team visited several canals in Agege and Alimosho local government areas and some beaches in Lekki where the Atlantic Ocean has eroded several meters of land.

What must be done?

The permanent secretary of the Office of Drainage Services in Lagos State, Muyideen Akinsanya, while guiding the visiting team, said some of the drainage channels have to be expanded and some others, running into more than 11 kilometres, have to be lined with concrete to reduce the relative ease with which canals get blocked by silt.

More importantly, he said “lack of proper guiding culvert,” especially on the Lagos-Abeokuta federal road, “is causing serious ecological problems” for many communities which were submerged by the last flood.

The inspection revealed that the channels were effective where lined with concrete, but overflowed in places that were not lined with concrete.

“The earlier we are able to line the entire channel, the earlier we can facilitate the volume of flow, and the easier life gets for residents,” Mr Akiisanya said.

He also hinted that the impact of the flood might have been reduced if the federal ministry of works had been more proactive in working with the state government, especially on federal roads.

“You will also notice that most of the flooded areas are communities where the federal road passed through and we have no control over that road. Though we have been speaking with our federal colleagues, and they have been cooperating, but they have not done what is supposed to be done,” he said.

“In fact, some sections on the Lagos-Abeokuta federal road collapsed and the state government had to carry out palliative work to ease traffic burden,” Mr Akinsanya added.

‘Federal solution is coming’

Mrs Odusote assured her audience that the president will expedite actions to ensure prompt implementation of recommended solutions, even if it means bypassing some bureaucratic process.

“But definitely, there is a commitment. That is why we are here. Mr President actually directed that we should come to physically assess the situations so that we can know where the problem lies,” she said, while addressing journalists after the inspection.

“For this area, we have seen quite a lot. Definitely, we are expecting that solutions will come from the federal government; it may come as a single project or in phases,” she added, promising that the team will work in tandem with their Lagos State counterparts to ensure the recommended solutions will effectively solve flood problems in Lagos.

“Last year when there was a downpour, the federal government came in handy and provided quite a huge sum for the Lagos State government to ensure that there is mitigation. So we are expecting that this [intervention] will even be faster because some bottlenecks that were previously encountered will no longer be there,” she said.

An annual ritual

While some of the residents are happy about the inspection visit, which they said portends that a “permanent solution is on the way,” some were not so upbeat about it.

According to them, the only difference between this year’s flood and the previous ones is the number of lives lost. They claimed that annually, “ government [state] come to inspect” the extent of damage as a result of flood.

“It is an annual ritual,” said a resident in local dialect. “They will come, promise, but we do not see anything.” They also warned that “whatever solution the government is planning must not involve demolition.”.

Nigerian workers plan strike in oil-rich nation By Ayoade Abeel Tuesday, 19 July 2011

Nigerian workers plan strike in oil-rich nation By Ayoade Abeel Tuesday, 19 July 2011

LAGOS — Nigerian workers are planning a strike this week that could grind Africa's largest oil producer to a halt over politicians' refusal to implement a new minimum wage equal to less than $120 a month.

The dispute has highlighted the huge gap between the rich and poor in Nigeria, the continent's most populous nation and one of the world's most corrupt, where the rich drive past teeming slums in sleek Bentleys and hulking Land Rovers.

Barring a last-minute deal, the three-day strike will begin Wednesday.

It comes after governors of some of Nigeria's 36 states resisted paying out the new minimum wage signed into law months ago, raising it from 7,500 naira to 18,000 naira ($118) monthly.

State governors have regularly been accused of large-scale misuse of public funds, drawing criticism for their stance, though some argue that their governments are truly cash-strapped and will have trouble meeting the new wage.

"The ostentatious lifestyles of most governors do not offer logical persuasion to the citizens they govern that they indeed cannot pay the new minimum wage," ThisDay newspaper said in an editorial on Monday.

Facing increasing pressure, governors in recent days pledged to pay the new wage, but labour leaders have refused to call off the strike, saying they will not be fooled by empty promises. Further negotiations took place Monday night.

The new wage was agreed to a year ago following protracted negotiations. Workers had initially demanded 52,500 naira ($342) from 7,500 naira, which has been paid for over a decade, but eventually settled for 18,000 naira.

President Goodluck Jonathan only signed the law a few weeks before April elections, which he won on pledges to transform the country and better the lives of its millions who live in poverty -- many on less than $2 per day.

"There is no backing down on our demands. The governors must pay the new wage or there will be no industrial peace in the country," Nigeria Labour Congress acting general secretary Owei Lakemfa told AFP.

"We will cripple the oil industry. Workers manning export terminals will be withdrawn and this will halt export of crude."

Elijah Okougbo, secretary general of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, said Monday night that "as at now, there is no agreement and the strike will go on as planned. It will hit the oil industry."

Although a law is now in place, some governors have said their revenue cannot support the new wage.

"Some of these states will need to go borrowing to be able to pay the new wage," said Rotimi Amaechi, governor of Rivers state in the oil-producing Niger Delta region.

The governors have sought a review of the formula by which the federal government distributes oil revenue to allow state authorities to get a larger share so they can pay the wages.

Governors have also controversially suggested scrapping subsidies on fuel prices to free up more funds. Nigeria last year spent around $8 billion on fuel subsidies, slightly under a quarter of the entire annual budget.

The subsidies are in place to hold petrol pump prices at 65 naira (43 US cents, 30 euro cents) per litre, though widespread abuse of the system has been alleged.

"The argument on subsidy removal is slapping logic on the face. We will not allow any policy that will further impoverish the masses of this country," said Dele Dada, a senior official with the white-collar Trade Union Congress.

Activists argue there is enough money to go around in Nigeria, and the country's incoming finance minister, World Bank managing director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said the country can manage the new wage. She is expected to take up her post in August.

Some also pointed out the huge amounts of money federal lawmakers are paid in bloated salaries and "allowances" estimated at more than $1 million per year.

"Nigeria is running the most expensive democracy in the world," said Debo Adeniran, head of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders pressure group

How to end Boko Haram’s attacks Written by Ayoade Abeel Tuesday, 19 July 2011

How to end Boko Haram’s attacks Written by Ayoade Abeel Tuesday, 19 July 2011

Whether Boko Haram is a terrorist or religious group is not a case to debate. Whatever nomenclature is being ascribed to the group, the   problem is that it has become a thorn in the flesh of Nigerians- the government and the governed alike. If it is believed to be a terrorist group, then it is easy to conquer, because as one of the past Inspector General of Police would hold, Operation Fire For Fire was the best option to fight criminals. They can easily be detected and crushed because they really have no spiritual backings.

But if the group is believed to be a religious one, I am afraid they cannot be bought over with material inducements or defeated completely, except when their demands are met. Religious beliefs are part and parcel of one’s life and transferred from generation to generation. Religious beliefs run in the body of adherents and more often, death is the only cut between the duo.

There are certain problems in human life that cannot just be overcome by force or application of both force and inducements. When the cause of the problem is known and it is justifiable, it becomes very deadly to apply force. Take for instance, the Niger Delta insurgency. How many Niger Delta people, especially the youths lost their lives in the cause they strongly believed in – emancipation of the Nigeria Delta as encapsulated in the meaning of MEND? The people became like the Gog and Magog who come out in folds when a section is annihilated.

The Boko Haram, as an analyst rightly said, is quite a product of the haram in the boko. Haram is illegality, unlawfulness and obscenities. These abstractions are definitely the order of the day in Nigeria, most especially among the high level of the citizenry. One needs not get lost imagining what a society can become when uprightness and mercy are drifted off the hearts of many citizens and cruelty, injustice, discrimination, inhumanity, corruption and lawlessness take over the society.

After only two years of its existence, the Boko Haram has displayed that it can do its desires anywhere and anytime. The group had held its first base in Borno hostage and gradually it is spreading like a wild fire. Its spread can be attributed to the mishandling of the situation by the security authorities concerned. It is fresh in memory that the most famous leader of the Niger Delta struggle in recent times, Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, continually warned that if the Federal Government killed him, thousands of Asari-Dokubo would emerge and strike even harder than the original Dokubo.

So, the Federal Government under former President Olusegun Obasanjo thought it wise not to apply excessive force. Obasanjo openly said the best option to adopt was the stick and carrot tactics. While minimal force was applied, there was wide room for negotiation. This yielded some results because this kept the militants hopeful and less ferocious until when late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who had a stronger political will, declared an unconditional pardon codenamed amnesty for all the Niger Delta militants - including those who definitely did not and have not returned their arms.

I know that Obasanjo did not really like the situation in the Niger Delta, but he was quite tolerant because he knew, probably being a milito-civilian the consequences of killing the leader of the struggle. Asari-Dokubo abused Obasanjo to his face, remained quite unchanged even in the prison and was ready to stage physical combat against any Nigerian citizen who stood against the demands of the Niger Delta people. The well-known Niger Delta militants were not killed except for those who fought themselves. After the amnesty, those who were behind the bars were unconditionally freed and now they are being trained to become useful citizens.

On their part, the security chiefs played along with the presidency and exerted the greatest level of caution. I was present in one of the events when arms were mobbed by the Federal Government from the militants in Port Harcourt. Some of the militant leaders challenged the army chiefs at the Bori Camp and the army never reacted negatively, at least on the spot. Their utterances were carefully made to guard against inciting the militants even though it was reported in some quarters that some unscrupulous and unpatriotic soldiers used incisive means to prolong their stay as guards in areas where they made some personal gains.

Also, the leaders of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereignty of Biafra (MASSOB) were on several occasions arrested but not killed. They were often imprisoned and released. Even though the MASSOB hardly used arms, its call for separation from Nigeria cannot be regarded welcome. There is hardly any segment of Nigeria which does not claim marginalisation. The North has been in power for a longer period than the South, but poverty, backwardness and health hazards are more visible in the north. So, for MASSOB to begin to think that taking up arms may be the best  option is far from being the reality. MASSOB must not forget that the three-year civil war which ultimately brought the Igbo to nearly second-class citizens, was caused by the same agitation for secession.

The above analysis clearly pinpoints where the government got it wrong from the onset. The killing of the Boko Haram leader cannot be distanced from being a primary cause of this rampage by the group. Maybe if the leader was alive, things would not have gone this way.  One Muhammad Yusuf was killed, but his beliefs were injected into the blood of thousands of Nigerians. Now, thousands of Muhammad Yusufs are fighting and still injecting the same beliefs into many more Nigerians. This is happening despite the cruel treatment arrested members of the group.

Apart from this great mistake committed by the police about two years ago, the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, felt it was business as before. He felt as the highest authority of the police that he should match words with actions instead of the reverse. Maybe he thought that instead of accepting failure as the IG, he should employ media war with the insurgents. Rather than do his work secretly as security ethics demand, he preferred to pursue cheap popularity with the claims of dutifulness and responsibility. That was why he proclaimed that the Boko Haram would be rounded up.

NURTW clash: 38 victims admitted to hospital

NURTW clash: 38 victims admitted to hospital

by Ayoade Abeel Tuesday, 19 July 2011

IBADAN — A Consultant  Surgeon, Accident and Emergency Unit, University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, Oyo State, Dr. Olukayode Oyetunde, yesterday told the Commission of Enquiry set up by Governor Abiola Ajimobi to probe the mayhem induced by the crises in the state chapter of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, that  38 victims of the bloody clash between factions of the Union were brought to the hospital after the attack on June 5.

The doctor said that most of the victims had gunshot and machete injuries when they were rushed to the teaching hospital.

He gave his testimony just as the Deputy National Secretary of the NURT W, Chief John Olaoye, said the national leadership of the union did not recognize any of the warring factions led by Alhaji Lateef Akinsola and Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi.

To the national leaders of the union, there has been no legal state executive member since 1999 after the expiration of the tenure of a former chairman of the union, Chief James Ojewumi.

Olaoye told the Justice Olagoke Ige(rtd) led panel that the union leadership did not support how Alhaji  Akinsola hijacked the chairmanship of the union from Chief Ojewunmi on August 17, 1999 , noting that it contravened the constitution of the drivers’ union.

On the claim of Alhaji Akinsola that he is still the authentic chairman of the union, the national leader said it was wrong for him to still hold tenaciously to the title after spending twelve years.

While giving evidence at the panel, Ojewunmi said he was overthrown by some members of the union at gunpoint.
According to him, “heavily armed members of the union asked me under duress to stand up and hand over my seat to Akinsola who was then sitting beside me as my deputy.

Initially, I resisted but some policemen at the place persuaded me to do so for my own sake. It was then I reluctantly handed over to him. I was also forced to raise his hand up to show that I have handed over to him.”

The forceful takeover of the chairmanship of the union, he said, was the genesis of the crises.

Fayemi sacks 5,000 council workers

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has ordered the immediate sack of 5,000 workers from the state's local government service.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the termination of appointments of the affected workers in the 16 local government areas cuts across the cadres.

Aderemi Ajayi, the chairman of the state's local government service commission, while confirming the sack to NAN in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, said the names of the affected workers had been removed from the July 2011 salary vouchers.

Mr Ajayi alleged that the affected workers gained employment into the service, using fake certificates and falsified birth certificates.

He explained that the list of the affected staff was compiled by a special verification committee set up by the governor to oversee the activities of the local government administration in the state.

"Those affected were those that gained employment into the local government service using fake certificates and those that ought to have retired but refused to do so by continually falsifying their age.

"The list of the sacked workers was compiled by a committee set up by the state government.

"The committee directed all the local governments in the state to display the names of the affected workers in their respective notice boards on July 15.

"Their names had been removed from the July 2011 salary vouchers. They are to complain to the committee if they even have any complaints at all.

"Although I cannot tell you the exact figure of the affected workers, I can tell you the sack cuts across all the 16 local governments in the state," Mr Ajayi said.

NAN observed that the names of the affected workers were on Friday pasted on the notice boards of the various local government secretariats.

However, one of those affected, who gave his name as Gabriel Aturu said: "The allegations of fake academic certificates and falsification of age are not true but an effort by the government to justify the illegal and brazen sack.

"The sack is an attempt by the officials to fill the vacant posts with their cronies, and political associates at our expense.

"It is unfortunate that the people who took to the streets jubilating over the emergence of Governor Fayemi on October 16, 2010 are weeping nine months after as a result of unprecedented termination of workers' appointments denying them their source of livelihood," Mr Aturu said.

NAN reports that the governor also on July 11 ordered the sack of 27 directors of administration and finance of the local governments over their alleged failure in a promotion examination.

About ayoade abeel

am a man of god fearing, am a it training engineer in access point cyber cafe in oyo state Nigeria, i like meeting new people and knowing more


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