Friday, November 15, 2013

N50bilion compensation :WHY DISECRATING IYAYI'S LEGACIES?



Could it have been poverty or the morbid penchant of the African to benefit from the misfortune of others or a combination of both, that pushed the Onojie of Ugbegun, home town of late Professor Festus Iyayi, to demand the sum of N50bilion as compensation for the death of their son?

Why is life's worth always reckoned in Naira and Kobo? Whose course is the traditional ruler fighting? Luckily for us, the family is not involved in all of this.
Prof. Robert Ebewale, a cousin to the deceased, has said that it was embarrassing to try to equate the life of Prof Iyayi with money, saying that the family was embarrassed with N50billion demand.
According to him, "No amount of money can be compared with the life of that calibre of person, so we want to dissociate our family from that. It is embarrassing to us,".

Let us remind the mercantile-minded kinsmen of Professor Festus Iyayi that the late ASUU President (1986 - 1988) was integrity and justice personified. No one, not even his immediate family, has the moral right to turn Iyayi's death into a money-making venture.

Anything contrary to this would be a disservice to, not only what Iyayi stood for, but also to his memory which must be kept untainted.

That is one of his cardinal principles.

is Sule Lamido the most corrupt Governor or he's been victimize by Jonathan's EFCC?

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested two sons of Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State for allegedly laundering N11 billion. The spokesman for the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, who confirmed the arrest of the duo to newsmen in Kano on Friday, gave their names as Aminu and Mustapha.

A few days ago Gov. Sule Lamido told the world that one of President Jonathan's favourite, most pampered and closest Ministers demanded and received a 250 million USD bribe. The President did nothing about it and a few days later two of Lamido's sons are arrested and detained by the EFCC for allegedly laundering 12 billion naira from the coffers of Jigawa state.

Who is fooling who here and how petty can this President be? Nigerians should wake up. We are living in a vicious dictatorship where criticising the government, the President or any of his Ministers or exposing their most evil deeds means that you are endangering the lives and liberty of your loved ones. What a shame.

 

It is shocking to know that the Governor Sule Lamido, two of his Children, Aminu and Mustapha, and 10 of their family companies transferred the total of N10billion from the Jigawa state government accounts.
  But another point of view is that the Governor is been victimized by PDP for rebelling against the second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan. 
Also for a poor state like Jigawa, N11 billion is about 10% of the state budget for 2012 fiscal year.


Aminu Lamido the eldest son of the progressive governor was arrested nearly a year ago, while trying to export about $50,000 dollars to Egypt on the pretence that it was for his sick daughters treatment.
EFCC exposed that the little girl was discharged nearly a year before the arrest.
 EFCC detectives uncovered the money that was transferred from Jigawa state government accounts into the accounts in which governor Sule Lamido and his two sons.

The spokesman for the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, who confirmed the arrest of the duo to newsmen in Kano on Friday, gave their names as Aminu and Mustapha.
Uwujaren said they were arrested on Thursday night in Kano by operatives of the EFCC in connection with money laundering.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Nasarawa: where you get Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in 30 days- NAGIS

Nasarawa:  where you get Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in 30 days- NAGIS
Getting a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in most Nigerian states has always been a major challenge, but in Nasarawa state, North-Central Nigeria,  Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura makes its available within 30 days.
Martha Dada, Stakeholder Relations officer of Nasarawa Geographic Information Service (NAGIS) tells me.

Presentation of orthrophoto of Karu Palace to the Esu Karu by Ibrahim Jibril, NAGIS Project Manager and Peter Ritchie, Senior Consultant.
What is the Nasarawa Geographic Information Service (NAGIS)?
NAGIS is a Nasarawa government agency created by His Excellency Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura to give support to the development vision of the Governor and to enable Nasarawa government officials through comprehensive training programmes in realizing the development aspirations of the citizens of Nasarawa state. It is one of the three components of the Nasarawa Development Platform (NDP) Project. The other equally two important components are Aerial Photos & Mapping, and Urban Planning & Urban Renewal.
NAGIS working with the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development (MLUD)
Recognizing that secure land tenure is the bedrock of successful socio-economic policies, the Governor has stated that every household, every business and every farm in Nasarawa should hold a Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O). NAGIS will make this vision a reality.
NAGIS provides the technical platforms that enable the digitization of all land records, and the automation and optimization of the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development (MLUD) land administration processes, procedures, services and products. NAGIS customer service will result in faster transaction times, enabling land owners to efficiently secure their land tenure and to register all land transactions. NAGIS aims to process C-of-O for final confirmation and signature by the Governor within 30 days from final survey.
NAGIS Aerial Photography and Maps
NAGIS has already photographed the entire state using a purpose built aircraft and photogrammetric camera. All the urban centres have been captured on high resolution 10cm images, while all other rural areas are available in 25cm images. These 'Ortho-photo' images are used to confirm survey coordinates, land use and development control.
These images are used to develop and produce accurate standard maps that can be applied for multiple purposes including cadastral, commercial development planning, transport, agriculture and forestry, and environmental protection. These maps provide a valuable resource that will support urban planning and renewal and rural development.
NAGIS will develop and produce standard maps as a service to government MDAs and also direct to the public.
Esu Karu pledges to partner NAGIS
Esu Karu making his point to David Attah, Karu Area Officer, Ministry of Lands and Urban Development, with Ibrahim Jibril, NAGIS Project Manager and Peter Ritchie, Senior Consultant looking on.
 The Esu Karu, in  Nasarawa State, Pham. Luka Panya Baba  has express his preparedness to partner the Nasarawa Geographic Information Service (NAGIS), in achieving its objectives.
Esu Karu speaking when NAGIS Project Manager Ibrahim Usman Jibril, paid  an official courtesy visit  to the traditional ruler, assured NAGIS of his full support and his belief that NAGIS will make a positive impact on the people of Nasarawa and in the socio-economic development of Nasarawa state
A statement signed by NAGIS Stakeholder Relations officer, Martha Dada said Jibril was accompanied by Peter Ritchie, Senior Consultant and David Dole Attah, Karu Area Officer, Ministry of Lands and Urban Development.
The statement quoted Jubril to have informed the traditional ruler on the progress made so far in the implementation of the project, assuring the Esu Karu that the NAGIS infrastructure and technical systems are now in place, and NAGIS staff are ready to serve the state government and the public.
He said NAGIS is now able to generate Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) within 30 days from the final survey.
Jibril also noted that the entire state has already been photographed using a purpose built aircraft and photogrammetric camera, the first state in Nigeria with access to such high quality images.
He presented the Esu Karu with an orthophoto of the Palace of the Esu Karu, saying such images are used by NAGIS to inform survey, development control and planning.
He said NAGIS plans further stakeholder outreach meetings across Nasarawa that will include town hall meetings in Akwanga and Lafia.
He said NAGIS visits  to the Esu Karu is to seek advice and his support, including ensuring proper attendance of the upcoming town hall meetings scheduled to take place in Karu on Saturday, 23 November 2013.