Friday, September 23, 2005

FG shifts census to March Tribune September 23 2005 FG shifts census to March THE Federal Government yesterday announced that it was no longer feasible to conduct the National Population and Housing Census as earlier scheduled between November 28 and December 3, this year. President Olusegun Obasanjo, who stated this during an inaugural meeting of the national advisory committee on the exercise, said that the census would now be conducted between March 21 and March 25. The president did not give further details as to why the exercise had to be shifted, during his address to the advisory committee, of which he is the chairman. However, a member of the advisory committee and chairman of the NPC, Mr. Samaila Makama, said that about 30 million electronic forms were being expected. He said that the first shipment of the documents would arrive in December, while the second batch was expected in January. Makama said that the trial census just conducted had shown that one million qualified personnel must be trained over the next 26 weeks along with four million satellite maps that must be generated within 16 weeks. The NPC chairman said that there was still need for more publicity on the exercise, because, according to him, those in rural areas have not yet been fully sensitised to the census. In his address at the inauguration, which also has Vice President Atiku Abubakar as vice chairman and some ministers and international donor agencies as members, Obasanjo had reiterated that the census had nothing to do with politics. He said that the last trial census was a test case for the commission, adding that a lot was learnt during the exercise to make the census proper, hitch-free. While stating that the NPC would continue to enjoy its autonomy, the president said that similar advisory committees would be replicated at the state and local government levels 10:34:38 PM    comment []

FG shifts date for national headcount Daily Triumph FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2005 FG shifts date for national headcount PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday announced the shifting of the National Population and Housing Census from November this year to March 21st – 25th, 2006 as he inaugurated the National Advisory Committee to mobilise the support of Nigerians for the forthcoming census. Chief Obasanjo who made this disclosure while inaugurating the committee, explained that the shift became necessary after reviewing the progress so far recorded in the trial census, saying that, "what needs to be done and how it needs to be done at the end, we have agreed to shift it to March 2006.’’ According to him, Nigerians should not take the forth-coming census as a political contest and must not be treated so, adding: "We must remind ourselves that census taking is a purely technical exercise aimed at providing data for planning purposes.’’ He further said, in spite of its widely acclaimed usefulness for planning purposes, Nigeria has not been quite lucky in conducting successful and non-controversial census, adding that efforts to count the population in the colonial period had been tainted with fears and negative prejudices which resulted in the undercount of the population. Government, he said, has followed with keen interest the progress the NPC has recorded in many of the vital preparatory activities and is satisfied with the way the commission has tried to nurture broad based consensus on the national census and is optimistic that conducting an accurate, reliable and verifiable census is a task that can be achieved. Following this, he added, government still realised the need to broaden the participation of all Nigerians towards the census, hence the decision of the federal government on it. Some of the committee’s roles, he said, are to mobilise support and resources for the conduct and success of the population and housing census. Chief Obasanjo explained that the committee which has 18 members at national level is also to be established in all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja under the chairmanship of state governors and the minister of FCT. The role of the committee, he further stated, is mainly advisory and supportive while National Population Commission shall continue to be autonomous at all levels in the activities related to the conduct of the census and other responsibilities assigned to it by the constitution. Membership at national level are President Olusegun Obasanjo as chairman, Atiku Abubakar, vice chairman, Chief of Staff, minister of finance, internal affairs, and that of communication, economic adviser to Obasanjo among others. 10:26:09 PM    comment []

We report to nobody but Obasanjo – EFCC SUN We report to nobody but Obasanjo – EFCC By MURPHY GANAGANA, Abuja Thursday, September 22, 2005 •The Late Mrs Roseline PHOTO: Sun News Publishing Breaking News Index Breaking Sports Index Public anxiety and fears over the ability of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a credible investigation on allegations of corruption against President Olusegun Obasanjo received credence Wednesday, as the anti-graft agency declared its absolute loyalty to the president. At a session with a team of United States government officials on a visit to the commission’s head office in Abuja, chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, said emphatically that he is answerable to no other person other than Obasanjo. Responding to enquiries by a member of the team on channels of reporting the agency’s activities, Ribadu, who was represented by the commission secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Akumaye, said "we report absolutely to the president". Amidst further probing from the visiting US officials on EFCC operations, Akumaye abruptly ordered reporters covering the event out of the conference room, fuelling a mild protest by the newsmen who wondered why the EFCC was more favourably disposed to divulging its secrets to foreign government officials rather than the Nigerian public. Commenting on the composition and functions of the commission, Akumaye said most of its personnel are in the operations department spread across three offices in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja, with 27 staff in the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). He disclosed that banks operating in the country are not comfortable with regular EFCC spot checks, urging financial institutions to brace up for war against money laundering, warning that the commission would not excuse any bank which fails to comply with the guidelines. "EFCC wants to see how banks are complying with anti-money laundering guidelines. We are not going to excuse any financial institution for non-compliance. The sanctions are clearly stated, and this includes revocation of operational licence," Akumaye noted. In his remarks, Regional Advisor of the US Department of Treasury, and leader of the five-man team, Mr. Jerry Rowe, said the US government has budgeted $1.7million to assist in combating money laundering and other financial crimes in Nigeria. Out of the amount, $1.1million is expected to be spent on projects by the office of the Accountant General of the Federation. 10:18:42 PM    comment []

Clampdown on MASSOB Vanguard COVER STORIES   Stories that  touch the heart : Clampdown on MASSOB:- It’s a pity our children can’t travel to our hometown, says Uwazurike’s wife By Fred Iwenjora Posted to the Web: Saturday, September 24, 2005 MRS. Omekadiya Uwazurike is the wife of the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, Chief Ralph Uwazurike. Predictably, it  has not been easy for the family that has come under intense security searchlight and pressure with the incessant arrests and raids on the family homes either in Lagos  or Okwe in Imo State. The woman bears the responsibilities of shouldering the family burden since her husband has remained underground following the hunt for him  by the security operatives. Mrs. Uwazurike, in this interview, tells the story of how the struggle has affected her family.       How do you cope with the usual anxiety following the activities of your husband, and how is he today? My husband is okay. He is hale and hearty. My children are okay and going about their daily academic activities. We thank God. Whatever the evil machinations of  the security people after him, they will never reach him because he is a child of God who has done no one any harm. I have pity on some of our Igbo brothers who  are being used to sabotage the smooth flow of events towards the realisation of Biafra. How have you been coping without him ever around? We only have to thank God for His mercies. I cannot count the number of times the law enforcement agents have come to our house. We live only by the Grace of  God and pray each and everyday for God’s continued protection. But I dare say that no amount of threat will make me leave my home and run away. Run to where?  Many MASSOB members are being arrested regularly but that won’t deter them. Why don’t these people stop the campaign or their struggle with all these arrests and problems being created? What problems do you talk about? Do you mean the incessant arrests and destruction? It is written that such things would always take place for you to realise your  objectives. Before the Israelites were able to leave Egypt, it was like that. Pharoah’s heart was hardened. The people suffered different forms of tribulations. The hope of freedom one day is the thing that has kept these people (MASSOB members) going. No weapon fashioned against MASSOB will last. Since it started  out, where has it been reported that the people are violent? Don’t forget how over a hundred members were killed in March 2003 at Okigwe.  Up till today, their  corpses have not been released. I know and I believe that one day God will intervene. What have been the losses and/or deprivations for you? One may not be able to quantify the losses one may have incurred in this struggle. Do I count the arrests and destruction done on a regular basis? They may have  pulled down the MASSOB building for over ten times. We (Uwazurike) had planned that our children hadn’t been home for so long. We were to spend this long  vacation at home. I had sent home pots, plates, spoons, food items, provisions and other things preparatory for our visit. But when the security people stormed and  we lost most of these things, we had to cancel the trip. That means you people must be living in fears even in Lagos... People who think I live in fear with my children are making great mistakes. How can we live in fear? The children may be missing the presence of their father  sometimes but it’s a little sacrifice to pay for what we believe in. I also knew from the onset that there would be persecution. And it has been there. Now you are  here, do you see me as someone who is afraid or living in fear? I go about my daily activities with confidence. My children also do same. We have experienced many  raids at our homes that it’s nothing new to any of us. It was before that we were afraid of them, not now. People can only kill the body and not the soul and what the  soul believes in. In any case, everyone must die one day. Will anyone exchange his own death with another person when the time comes? I am a free human being asking for my  freedom. We knew all these before embarking on this mission of liberation. We knew it won’t be easy. The people (MASSOB) are saying that they want to stand alone. If you put on your radio, you hear about several forms of persecution of the Igbo man. It is either  his shops are being destroyed or his goods are seized or the people are killed like fowls. The people (MASSOB) want this marriage to be dissolved. Biafra wants a  divorce. They (Nigeria) should come and take the wedding ring. The contract is no longer tenable.     Home |About Us |Advertising | Contact Copyright ©1998 - 2005 Vanguard Media Limited All rights reserved. 9:36:31 PM    comment []