Jonathan: Police Transformation to Gulp N1.5tn over Six Years

President Goodluck Jonathan has disclosed that a total sum of N1.5 trillion will be spent over the next six years in order to transform the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for effective service delivery and as well as enhance their operational capacity in line with the transformation agenda of the federal government.

Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, stated this yesterday while declaring open the Police Service Commission (PSC) 2014 retreat  in Makurdi, Benue State.

The president revealed that 60 per cent of the funding would come from government sources, while the Organised Private Sector and other development partners would contribute 40 per cent.

He further disclosed that the National Economic Council (NEC) had also approved that one per cent of the monthly allocations meant for the states be deducted and used to fund the police reforms.

"The statutory funding of the police reform programme is in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the sum of N1.5 trillion expected over the next six years would help to transform the police for more efficient and effective services," he said.

Jonathan recalled that his recent statement at the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State during the passing out parade of the ASPs and Cadet Inspectors that government was committed to ensuring the continued improvement of the quality, capacity and numerical strength available to the Force and other security agencies.

He promised that the NPF must be repositioned to deliver on its mandate as the lead agency in the maintenance of internal security.
According him, the theme of the retreat: "Sustaining Nigeria Police Reforms" is apt, as it will discuss issues such as Inter-Agency Collaboration: Police Partnership as well as the Impact of Police Reform in the Administration of Justice.

"These are important topics which, if well treated at this retreat will provide a framework for better and enhanced national security," he stressed.

Speaking further, the president urged the participants to pay special attention to the papers to be presented by experts with understanding of the security challenges facing the nation and the role of well-motivated Police Force in effectively combating them.

"Government considers it a sacred and important duty to guarantee the security and welfare of our people as well as protect the sovereignty of our country. The police have an important role to play in this respect.

"I want also emphasise that the police reform programme is intended to adequately equip the Force for this role, as the government will not tolerate excuses for failure", he said.
Earlier, the acting Governor of Benue State, Steven Lawani, stated that the state was not in support of the establishment of state police in the country, as the time is not ripe.

Lawani however, called on the NPF to redouble its effort in stemming criminal activities especially now that political happenings would soon be at their peak in preparation for the 2015 general elections.

On his part, the Inspector General of Police (IG),  Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, called for delegated powers to the Police Commissioners and the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) to promote any deserving junior police personnel since they already had powers to discipline.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the PSC, Mr. Mike Okiro, said the outcome of the retreat would form the basis for the blueprint of the present administration of the PSC.
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

SSS seizes arms in Port Harcourt

State Security Service (SSS) operatives intercepted yesterday high-calibre ammunition in a 20-foot container at the Port Harcourt Port in Rivers State.

The interception of the ammunition raises fears of impending violence in the state ahead of the 2015 elections.

Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi raised the alarm on the return of militants to the state after a rally by the Save Rivers Movement (SRM) —a group loyal to him— was smashed in Bori, Khana Local Government Area, three weeks ago.

The vessel carrying the lethal cargo, MV Iron Trader, came from Panama in Central America.

The captain is under arrest. Also being held are the agent and six crew members. They were undergoing interrogation at the SSS office in the oil city last night.

The container was being guarded yesterday by a combined team of SSS operatives, soldiers and policemen.

It was gathered through a security source that the intercepted ammunition was packed in many iron boxes in the container.

The source said: "The interrogation of the eight arrested persons is ongoing to determine the consignee and the destination of the seized items."

Senior officials of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in Port Harcourt declined to comment on the "sensitive" issue yesterday.

The SSS's interception of the ammunition is coming at a time militants have been let loose in the state, shooting, killing and maiming, with the police, led by Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu, seeming helpless.

The Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, who is the grand patron of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) – the organisation pushing his governorship ambition – also declared at its rally in Degema-Kalabari, the headquarters of Degema Local Government Area — on January 19 that Amaechi would not know peace, until he resigns.

Amaechi, who is the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), however, declared that he would remain focused and complete his tenure in 2015 "by God's grace" and that his successor would be decided by the Rivers people.

The NGF chairman also expressed surprise that the militants he used the military to chase away in 2007, when he assumed office, were returning to the state. He said those he described as the "Abuja forces" are behind insecurity in the state.
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

NDLEA ARRESTS BLIND MAN, STUDENT WITH INDIAN HEMP

Kogi State Command of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a blind man, Ezekiel  Yerima with 22.8 kilograms of substance suspected to be Indian hemp.

The state commander of NDLEA, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Bello, while parading the suspects, said Kunle Awogbemila, a 300 level student of Kogi State University, Anyigba, was also arrested with 89.3 kilograms of the substance.
He said Ezekiel Yerima was earlier arrested for the illicit drug, tried and granted bail on health ground, but was re-arrested with the substance along Auchi-Okene road.
He said the command has seized a total of 277.452 kilograms of Indian hemp between the 1st of January and now.
He said it is worrisome that an undergraduate student who is expected to be in school is involved in such an act.
The commander said in another encounter, the command intercepted a vehicle with 15 bags of Indian hemp at Okengwe in Okene Local Government Area of the state.
He stated the suspects will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is completed.
Speaking to newsmen, the student, Kunle Awogbamila said he was taking the drugs to Anyingba to sell so that he would use the proceeds to pay his school fees.
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

US: Nigeria Won’t Break up in 2015

Adeola Akinremi
Worries about Nigeria breaking up may not be unfounded after all.  The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, during an interactive session with some journalists in Lagos, said his country, contrary to misconception, was not preparing  for Nigeria's breakup.
He said: "I don't see any sign of a breakup. There is no sign that Nigeria will breakup. If this country is going to breakup in 2015, to me, I don't see any sign of it. You have challenges in this country, but you are moving forward towards a bright future. There is no issue that the country might break up.

"Yes, your country had a devastating civil war just like my own country. It almost tore us into two. I think both of our countries have learnt how difficult it is to hold a country together and that has certainly been a big factor in my country. The idea that Nigeria is going to fall apart in the coming months is news to me; I am not sure where that idea is coming from."
Entwistle, who assumed duty in Nigeria last November, said Nigeria parades array of talents and extraordinary creativity that will continue to make the country an important place in Africa.
"In three months that I have been here, my overwhelming impression is how smart and intelligent that Nigerians are. After three months, I am very impressed by the creative spirit of Nigerians as they face challenges. It is clear there are huge challenges ahead, but we are committed to help Nigeria.

"Every conversation I have on any subject, (I am just coming from a   roundtable discussion on the power sector here), I have really been impressed by the energy and the drive and I get this sense that Nigerian people are saying: 'yes, we have challenges; things we have to deal with but we can do this. This is our country. We will get this done.' They appreciate help from outsiders and they just have this very strong sense of pride that this is our country. We are going to get this right," he added.
He urged the federal government to strengthen its coordination efforts with international organisations and neighbouring countries to stop Boko Haram insurgency.

"Whether it is fighting terror or the war on drugs or any of these international problems that cut across borders, no one nation can do it by itself. To really get at Boko Haram, your government needs to continue working with Cameroun and Chad because these guys cross the borders. These are guys for whom international borders are largely meaningless. The only way to deal with these guys is to collaborate with your neigbours and relevant international organisations.

"I think in my conversation with your government and military, I think there is a growing concern over finding an enemy who mixes with the civilian population. So, that needs to be a focus," he said.
He reiterated his country's commitment to a review of African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for inclusion of Nigeria's value-added products for export into American market against the current Generalised System of Preference (GSP) provisions that allow  just oil as export commodity from Nigeria into America.

"We will continue to review AGOA. We will like to see other sectors of your economy to begin to take advantage of AGOA," he said.
On the recent law which bans same-sex unions in the country, Entwistle said gay issue was a controversial one all over the world and that it was up to Nigeria to define  marriage is.
He, however, expressed worry about certain clause in the law that places restrictions on freedom of assembly.
"As a friend of Nigeria, we are worried that the new law puts restrictions on freedom of assembly or association. When you start limiting freedom, it is worrisome," he said.
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

New BlackBerry OS 10.2 enters market

With hundreds of new enhancements and refinements rolling out to customers, global leader in mobile communications, BlackBerry yesterday announced the entry of BlackBerry 10 OS version 10.2.1, a new software update for BlackBerry 10 smartphones that enables users do more, more easily, and help them to be more productive and stay better connected.

Features of the new product which is already making inroads despite competition will include the following:

Customize pinch gesture to filter BlackBerry Hub:
BlackBerry Hub helps users access all their messages and notifications in one place. A new feature lets users instantly filter the message list in the Hub. You can customize the Hub to show only Unread Messages, Flagged Messages, Draft Messages, Meeting Invites, Sent Messages or Level 1 Alerts. Once the filter criterion is set, you can simply activate it with a pinch gesture on the Hub's message list.

Simplified phone experience

The phone includes a new incoming call screen that lets you swipe to the left to answer or swipe right to ignore a call. New intuitive icons allow you to instantly silence the call, or send a Reply Now response through BBM™, SMS or email that you can't answer the phone right away. You can choose from a list of standard automated responses or respond with a personalized note.

SMS and email groups

With feature, users can now create SMS and email groups for more efficient broadcast communications.

Actionable lock screen notifications

You can now "Tap to open" a message that appears on the lock screen, letting you respond to an important message much quicker or to check messages more discreetly.

Picture password for quick unlocking

- You can quickly unlock your phone using a combination of a picture and a number (0-9) of your choice, which you place at a particular point on the image. When you try to unlock the phone, the picture will appear along with a grid of random numbers. To unlock, simply drag the grid so the number you selected overlays the particular point on the image.

Customizable Quick Settings Menu

You can now customize what appears on the Settings menu, which includes features such as being able to quickly change the Brightness of the smartphone's display, toggle various network connections, and access the built-in flashlight. The Settings menu also includes a toggle that lets you instantly switch between your Personal and Work perimeter.

Offline browser reading mode

- You can now save the current web page you're on for later viewing, even if you are offline or without an Internet connection.

Preferred contact sync

You can now choose the sync source for your Contacts ensuring you always have the most up-to-date contact details. When adding a new contact you can designate which sources you want the contact info to sync with, such as the corporate address book, Gmail, Hotmail, etc.

Device and battery monitor

- A new and improved device monitor provides you with essential details on battery usage, the impact of installed apps on battery life and memory usage and storage, as well as CPU stats.

Automatic software updates

- OS updates can be set to happen automatically over a Wi-Fi® connection to help ensure you're always benefiting from the latest and best possible customer experience.

Enterprise features

When combined with BES10 version 10.2, enterprise customers will gain additional security features and IT policies for when more granular controls are required, such as for regulated industries and for organizations that work with sensitive data. For more information about BES10, please visit www.bes10.com.

FM radio

- If you have a BlackBerry® Z30, BlackBerry® Q10 or BlackBerry® Q5 smartphone, the new software update unlocks the built-in FM radio in those handsets. You can listen to local FM stations, which does not require any network connection.

Subject to carrier approvals, BlackBerry 10 OS version 10.2.1 will be available to customers around the world, rolling out starting today in the U.S., Europe, Canada, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America, and will be available for the entire line of smartphones running BlackBerry 10 (including the Porsche Design P'9982).

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

New Course On Beyonce Introduced At University

Rutgers University is offering a course on Beyoncé at the school's Department of Women's and Gender Studies. The class, which is called "Feminist Perspectives: Politicizing Beyoncé," is being offered during the Spring semester at the college. Queen Bey 101 is taught by PhD candidate Kevin Allred, who explained to the Rutgers Today newspaper exactly what students can expect from the class. "This isn't a course about Beyoncé's political engagement or how many times she performed during President Obama's inauguration weekend. Rather, the performer's music and career are used as lenses to explore American race, gender and sexual politics." Allred pairs the lesson plans with the "Drunk in Love" songstress' music videos and lyrics – he's got plenty of material to choose from now. But it's not all Bey all the time. He also includes writing from artists and pioneers in the black feminist movement like Sojourner Truth and Alice Walker. And according to Allred, Beyoncé's class will be much more than a glossed-over run-through of her career. "It's important to shift students away from simply being consumers of media toward thinking more critically about what they're engaging on a regular basis." And for those fans of Bey's other half, they can enroll in the Georgetown University course dubbed, "The Sociology of Hip-Hop: Jay Z."
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN