Pilot dies in U.S. military jet’s crash

Washington – Two fighter jets belonging to U.S. Military Aerial Performance Units crashed in separate locations Thursday, killing one of the pilots.

The death was confirmed by the U.S. Navy after a F/A-18 jet belonging to its Blue Angel Aerial Show Unit crashed after taking off for a practice flight near Smyrna, Tennessee.

“The other five Blue Angel jets were not involved in the incident and landed safely moments later,” the Navy said in a statement.

It said that the team was preparing for the Great Tennessee Air Show set to take place at the weekend.

The statement added that the other crash involved a U.S. Air Force fighter jet belonging to the Thunderbirds Aerial Performance Unit.

It said that the incident occurred in Colorado after the jet participated in a flyover at a graduation ceremony at which President Barack Obama spoke.

The pilot of the fighter jet ejected safely, the Air Force said on Twitter.

He had saluted Obama and shaken his hand before taking off to perform at the Air Force Academy graduation.

The jet, one of the six in Thunderbirds unit, crashed in a field outside Colorado Springs in the western U.S. state.

The cause of the crash is unknown, the Thunderbirds said on Twitter.

We can’t destroy ourselves in order to make a point, Okowa tells ND Avengers

WARRI- DELTA State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Thursday, appealed to militants blowing up oil installations in the state to reconsider their actions, as bombing of oil facilities by them was affecting the state.

The governor made the call while commissioning Jeddo/Ughoton road in Okpe local government area of the state, as part of activities to mark his one year in office.

He said: “The pipeline vandalism that is going on is very bad for Delta State, we are suffering from pollution, our communities are affected, and we are the greatest losers; our communities are impacted negatively.”

“I want to appeal to our brothers who are involved in one way or the other in these vandalism to stop, we cannot destroy ourselves in order to make a point, there are more civil ways of channeling grievances which we should apply than vandalizing pipelines and endangering our people,” he asserted.

Commissioning the road, Governor Okowa said the Orodje of Okpe, HRM Orhue I, drew his attention to the deplorable state of the road and commended the contractor for the speedy delivery.

Orodje of Okpe, Orhue I in a brief speech, congratulated Deltans for having a listening governor, disclosing that only a phone call attracted Governor Okowa to construct the road, which also leads to the community where the Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye hails from.

“Our governor is a listening governor; we want to thank him, Okpe people deserve to say thank you because only one phone call to you and this road was done,” the Orodje said.

EFCC moves against looting of IDPs’ funds, resources

Maiduguri – The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, has warned against the diversion of funds and other resources donated by International humanitarian organisations for Internally displaced persons in Borno State and other parts of the country.

Magu said that anyone caught in the ignoble act of tampering with such benevolence will be treated as a criminal, adding that the commission will ensure that there is transparency and accountability in the use of the resources meant for IDPs.

The chairman handed down the warning during a visit to the re-opened Zonal office of the commission in Maiduguri.

The EFCC boss expressed worry about complaints of corruption in IDP camps, coming from International humanitarian organizations and other civil society organizations that are helping the distressed victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in the city and beyond.

Magu said, “We want to be sure that there is transparency, accountability and judicious use of the money allocated to Internally Displaced Persons in Maiduguri and elsewhere.

“What we are doing is gathering intelligence but the culprits behind the sufferings in the IDP camps will be invited sooner or later by the EFCC,” he said.

The EFCC boss further gave indication of plans to mobilize women to buy into the fight against corruption.

“I will bring in civil societies and women groups in Borno state in the fight against corruption and we will equally organise a workshop for them similar to the one we did for children in Abuja, so as to educate them on the ills of corruption, ” Magu stated.

We have not usurped the powers of PDP NWC – BoT

Abuja – The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party has said that it has not usurped the powers of the National Working Committee of the Party.

In a statement in Abuja yesterday, the party said it was only performing it’s role as enshrined in the constitution of the party.

The BoT at its meeting with workers of the party Monday said it was taking over the secretariat in the absence of a substan‎tive leadership owing to various court injunctions.

It however said that it would not take over any of the offices in the party.

In a statement yesterday. The Head of Public relations of the party, Chinwe Nnorom said no part of the constitution of the party bequeathed such power to the BoT.

The statement reads:

‎”The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to reports in the media insinuating that the Board of Trustees (BoT) has sacked the National Caretaker Committee led by H. E. Senator Ahmed Makarfi and has taken over executive role in the Party.

“The Party wishes to state without any ambiguity that the report is false, null and void as there is no section of the PDP Constitution that bequeath executive powers or authority to the Board of Trustees.

“The Board of Trustees is responding to the contradictory Court Orders against the National Caretaker Committee and the dissolved National Working Committee (NWC) in order not to leave vacuum occasioned by the said Court Orders.

This action of taken over the National Secretariat by the BoT began on Tuesday May 31, 2016 pursuant to Part ix, Section (5)(e) of the Party Constitution (As Amended in 2012) which empowers the BoT as the only Organ of the Party vested with the assets and custodians of such assets.

“For emphasis, the PDP is one and united and the Board of Trustees as the Conscience of the Party is performing one of its Constitutional powers by mediating in the leadership crisis that has befallen the Party following the outcome of the just concluded National Convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The BoT therefore did not and has not sacked the National Caretaker Committee as alleged by some sections of the media. For more details, please refer to the press statement of the BoT Secretary, Amb. Chief Ojo Maduekwe titled- To Defect or Not to Defect: The Politics and the Law dated Wednesday June

1, 2016 in response to the purported defection of some National Assembly
members.

“On this note, the Party is urging all members, supporters and friends to
continue supporting the Party to restore peace and order in the PDP and
disregard all reports capable of causing more acrimony and disunity in our great Party” it concluded.

Nigerians and illegal biotech products

IN  2001, under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the federal government developed a National Biotechnology Policy to promote biotechnology.The signing of the National Biosafety Agency Bill into law on April 2015, by former President Goodluck Jonathan added Nigeria in the league of nations that legally practice modern agricultural biotechnology.

The National Biosafety Act is crucial in the management of modern biotechnology in the country, and signing the bill into law allows the domestication of the technology in Nigeria and enables the nation to utilise this cutting edge technology to create more employment, boost food production, that will put a smile on the faces of farmers, elevate hunger and ultimately enhance economic development.Biosafety means ensuring safety in the applications of modern biotechnology and use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO), and the signing of the biosafety bill into law provides the legal framework to check the activities of this technology locally as well as imported GM crops into the country. It also provides an avenue to engage Nigerian scientists/experts from different fields to identify and pursue solutions to our local challenges.

However, this development was received with mixed feelings as some Nigerians feel the nation is not yet ripe for the domestication of this technology, citing health and environmental concerns as reason.

Though no adverse effect has been recorded via the application of modern biotechnology in other advanced countries that are  already utilising it, the Federal Government of Nigeria in its wisdom established a biosafety regulatory agency, the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), to  ensure safe application of this new technology in the nation.

The Act established the NBMA charged with the responsibility of providing regulatory framework, institutional and administrative mechanism for safety measures in the application of modern bio-technology in Nigeria with the view to preventing any adverse effect on human health, animals, plants and environment.

The coming in of the NBMA under an Act strengthens government’s position under a legal framework to achieve the important goal of using this technology as a tool. So, in actual sense the NBMA is the safety valve that the federal government has adopted to ensure that the practice of modern biotechnology in Nigeria is safe.


The process of the development of the Biosafety Act followed a systematic public involvement from 2002 to 2015, and the National Biosafety Management Act 2015 prescribes procedures for the application of modern technology, risk assessment before the adoption and use of any genetically modified organisms, and penalties for contravening the Biosafety Act.

Since its establishment in 2015, the NBMA takes its role as the biotechnology regulatory body very seriously and has already developed various regulatory instruments as well as laying down framework to ensure safe application of the technology in Nigeria.

The agency’s activities include surveying, tracking and profiling of GMO’s in Nigeria; enlightenment of the public on biosafety matters; consultation with sister regulatory agencies for partnership; development and reviewing of national biosafety regulations and guidelines and capacity building and training of staff of the agency.

Prior to the National Biosafety Law in Nigeria, there were GMO suspects which made their way into the Nigerian market through the nation’s porous borders from countries like America and Brazil, who are already consuming GMO products, but with the advent of the regulatory body one of its first assignments was to issue a moratorium to such companies, individuals or institutions dealing in unapproved modern biotechnology activities in the country to formalise their dealings with it to ensure that they’re suitable for our environment and health system.

To make sure this assignment is carried out effectively, the agency established a national biosafety lab for GM detection and analysis to ensure that all GMOs are properly analysed to prevent any adverse effect on environment and human health.


Apart from registering GMO products in the country, the agency has also gone ahead to accredit qualified institutes to carryout modern biotechnology activities in the country.

Five institutes have already received approval from the agency to engage in biotechnology activities; they include the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike; Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria; Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA); National Cereals Research Institute ,Badeggi and the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Abuja.

The agency has also shown its determination to make sure that Nigeria fully adheres to the tenets of the biosafety law which recognises the complex issues to be addressed by Central Authorities in the judicious application of Modern Biotechnology; it bases the deliberate release of GMO on Advance Informed Agreement”.

Biosafety Law defines offences and penalty for violation of the act; contains powers to authorise release of GMOs and practice of modern biotechnology activities and confers the power to carry out risk assessment/management before the release, handling and use of GMOs, It also covers all genetically modified organisms/Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) and products thereof including food/feed and processing, and socio-economic consideration in risk assessment. The agency has at various fora’s assured Nigerians that the law will also promote active commercialisation of the research and development projects in our various universities and research institutes hence improving our economy.

Mr. Sanni UsmanSanni Usman, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Makurdi, Benue State.

Lagos to make Yoruba language compulsory in schools

Lagos State Government has concluded plans to make the teaching of Yoruba language compulsory in all its public schools.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State represented by his deputy Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, said that the subject will be taught in primary schools and junior secondary schools JSS3 across the state.

He disclosed this yesterday at a stakeholders forum organised by the Lagos State House of Assembly at Academy hall, Agidingbi, Ikeja Lagos on the need to make Yoruba Language a compulsory teaching subject in all schools in the state.

According to him, the state government equally noted that the imposition of western culture and language on Nigerian children has done a lot of damage to the rich local cultural heritage of the Yoruba people.

Ambode noted that it is important for children not only to learn the language of their environment, but also the culture and people’s general way of life.

The governor added that it is very important for every Yoruba child to be able to speak the language very fluently, enriched with adequate cultural norms of the people so as to guarantee a responsible life in the future.

Ambode commended members of the state house of Assembly for their efforts at ensuring that Yoruba language is not relegated to the background, he noted that their effort would further help the state government in the implementation of its policy on the teaching of Yoruba language, adding that the house would help to make appropriate legislations that would back up government efforts at making Yoruba language a compulsory subject in all schools in the state.

The Governor who expressed reservations that government previous efforts at making the teaching of the language compulsory in all schools in the state are being frustrated by proprietors of private schools , expressed optimism that the State House of Assembly will do the needful to make the dream come to reality.

He lauded all the traditional rulers and other notable Yoruba indigenes for gracing the occasion , adding that with their collective will and efforts, the goal of restoring the cultural values of the Yoruba people of Nigeria would be realized.

Earlier in his address, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudasiru Obasa called on parents and teachers to ensure that Yoruba language remains the medium of communication to children and pupils at home and in schools, adding that the efforts would help growing up children to learn both the language and its cultural values.

He called on the state government to set a day aside in the schools calendar in which Yoruba language would be the spoken language in all the public schools, urging government to recruit more Yoruba language teachers to promote the teaching of the language in public schools.

Ogoniland Clean-up: Oil theft, illegal refining must stop now – Buhari

OGONI—President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday,  warned that the Federal Government would no longer tolerate the current theft and illegal refining of crude oil in the Niger Delta.

 

      Vice president Yemi Osinbajo flanked by ( l-r) minister of state for environment, minister of environment; Hajia Amina Mohammed,Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike and Imo State governor Okorocha at the launch of the clean-up of Ogoniland and other oil impacted communities in the Niger/Delta

Buhari, who was represented by Vice-President, Yemi Osinbanjo, gave the warning at the launch of “Clean-Up of Ogoniland” at Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, urged the regulators of the oil industry to carry out their responsibilities in line with best practices.

He said:  “The current oil theft and illegal refining will not be tolerated. The regulators in the oil industries must live up to expectations. They must ensure that oil companies carry out their operations in line with universal best services.”

Buhari said government was laying a foundation for change to ensure the rule of law and safety of the people.

He said the aim was to diversify the nation’s economy and provide jobs and wealth for the people.

According to him, the clean-up of Ogoniland will have sustainable development components that will benefit the people.

He said:   “The methodology for the clean-up will ensure job creation for young people. The agro-allied industries required for processing of agricultural produce will also be put in place.”

He also called on international oil companies doing business in the country to ensure they comply with international best practices.

The President said approval had been given for the constitution of all the institutions needed to drive the implementation process, adding that stakeholders should work in synergy to ensure success of the exercise.

Buhari also appealed against violence in the region, stressing that the Federal Government could do justice to all without anyone turning to violence.

He said recent attack on oil facilities in the region had brought about reduction in the daily production of crude and also affected gas supply for electricity generation in the country.

Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company and Country Chair, Shell companies in Nigeria, Mr Osagie Okunbo, assured that Shell and it’s partners would  be actively involved in  the project.

“Mr President , the NNPC/SPDC JP also remains committed to contributing it’s share of the Environmental Restoration Fund, ERF, and will work with other stakeholders to finalise the appropriate governance and funding structure,” he said.

Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, said the launch of the clean-up of Ogoni by the President was a promise fulfilled,  and appealed for commitment and transparency on all parties that would be involved in driving the process for it to be successful.

But a prominent Ogoni leader, who pleaded anonymity, expressed mixed feelings about the exercise, describing it as an image seeking pursuit.

He said: ‘’I am not even aware of any exercise that was commenced in Ogoni land today (yesterday). If they have done anything, it is only known to them because I am not even sure that they have awarded the contract for the cleaning exercise.

‘’Key people are in the dark as to what they are doing or intend to do. Though I have read reports in the papers about it, the fact is that those who are supposed to be carried along are left out in what they claimed to be doing.”

However, the Presidency yesterday refuted claims in some quarters that Buhari canceled his trip to Ogoniland, to launch the commencement of clean up oil spillage in the region, stating that the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, represented the President on the occasion.

But responding to enquiries by Vanguard on why the President failed to appear in person, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the President was represented at the event by his deputy.

“We all went to school. There is a difference between cancellation and being represented by someone. The president did not cancel his trip to Ogoniland. He was represented by the Vice President,” Adesina said.

Meanwhile,  former governor of Rivers State and the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, and the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, King. Godwin Gininwa, have said that the former President, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan made a mistake for failing to implement the United Nations Environmental Programme report on Ogoniland.

Amaechi, during the official flag-off of the cleanup of the area by President Buhari,  noted that he (Amaechi) did everything possible to ensure that Jonathan implemented the UNEP report on Ogoniland, but regretted that his efforts yielded no fruit.

He said that the former president refused to carry out the project that would have benefitted the people of the state, adding that Jonathan was never a brother to the state, adding that the cleanup would bring positive change to the economic life of the people of the area, as the president had kept to his promise.

Similarly, Gininwa noted that Jonathan made mistake byfailing to implement the cleanup of Ogoni and the entire region during his time in office.

Gininwa emphasized that Jonathan disappointed the people of Ogoni even after the people lead campaign of his election to monarchs in the Northern state.

The royal father called on politicians and Nigerian leaders to learn how to keep to the promises to the people.

Ogoni beacon of change – Abe

In his goodwill message, the Senatorial Candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers South-East senatorial district in the March 19, national and state legislative rerun elections, Sen. Magnus Abe, described the implementation of the cleanup of Ogoniland as an evidence of change.

Abe said that the change which the nation was expecting had commenced from Ogoni, adding that the president has changed the history of the people of Ogoni.

Why FG scrapped post UTME tests

The Federal Government has scrapped post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, UTME, as a pre-condition to gaining admission into universities in the country.

The government and stakeholders in education sector also pegged 180 as the benchmark for 2016 admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to improve the quality of education in Nigeria.

These decisions were reached  at the 2016 Combined Policy Meeting on Admissions to Universities, Polytechnics and other higher institutions in Nigeria.

The Minister of Education , Malam Adamu Adamu,while declaring open   the meeting, said since the federal government and stakeholders had confidence in the examinations conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriulation Board, JAMB, there was no need for other examinations to be conducted by universities after JAMB exams.

He said:  “As far as I am concerned, the nation has confidence in what JAMB is doing, the universities should not be holding another examinations and if the universities have any complain against JAMB, let them bring it and then we address it.

‘’But if JAMB is qualified enough to conduct tests and they have conducted test, then there will be no need to conduct another test for students to gain admission.

“The ministry expects that all candidates given admission must be from JAMB. but JAMB must stop issuing admission letters, JAMB should get in touch with institutions before offering admission to students.

‘’The closing date is November 30th and no university should exceed its admission capacity and any tertiary institution that doesn’t follow the rule, the ministry would start sanctioning them.

‘’Institutions should stop admitting students into un-accredited courses in their institutions. The institutions should stop writing JAMB to increase their quotas because JAMB cannot do that.”

The minister also said institutions should stop writing J AMB to increase their quotas as there were relevant agencies to do so.

Adamu also reminded the stakeholders that the criteria for admission was still in force, and asked the institutions to adhere to it.

“Merit is 45%, catchment area 35% and educational development in less developed states 20%, this is for federal universities and for states universities, merit 40%, catchment 40 % and less developed local governments get 20%,’’ he said.

The Minister also asked the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board to stop extra charges on several categories of changes on admissions such as the change of course, change of school and others.

The Registrar of JAMB, Professor Dibu Ojerinde, while talking to journalists after the meeting, said institutions were free to go above the 180 benchmark.

“180 benchmark is even, no one will go below it this year. Universities can go above it. This year, we have more than enough candidates because over 1.2 million candidates scored above 180, so we have enough candidates this year.

“There won’t be any written post-U TME but they would screen the candidates. It is a necessary thing to screen the candidates.

‘’We agree and the Minister of Education also agrees but the issue of taking another examination is no longer going to happen,” he said.

N1.4trn fine: Why MTN may not make full payment —NASS

The House of Representatives said, yesterday, that MTN Nigeria may not be made to make full payment of the total N1.4 trillion fine imposed on it by the Nigerian Communications Commission.

Deputy Chairman, House Committee on ICT, Alhaji Ahmed Bichi, disclosed this, yesterday, at the 2016 edition of the Nigerian Internet Governance Forum, NIGF, holding in Abuja.

He said consultations were ongoing between a committee set up by the House and ministry representatives on the matter, adding that the outcome of the committees would be made the public on conclusion of their deliberations.

He stated that the joint committee members of the House had resolved to hasten the process to ensure quick resolution of the matter in the interest of the nation and all parties concerned, stating that the company might after all not be subjected to make full payment of the fine.

“Consultations are going on between a committee set up by us and people from Ministry of Communications and I will be constrained to say anything on it now.

“They are looking into it and they are going to talk with the company,  that is MTN, as soon they finish their consultations.

“I think in the next few weeks, we should be able to tell Nigerians the update. Let me tell you that the update would be favourable  to Nigeria. No, the fine had not been waved completely. They will pay the money, but it may not be the exact thing,” he added.

On the NIGF event, the law maker said the House had resolved to support all well meaning policies on Internet through legislative procedures.

According to him, a proposal has already been made on the 2016 Data Protection Bill for speedy passage into law.

A’Court restores 7 political parties de-registered by INEC

ONITSHA—The Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu, yesterday, ordered the restoration to life of seven political parties de-registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on August 18, 2011.

The seven political parties restored to life by the Appeal Court judgment are: Democratic Alternative, DA; National Action Council, NAC; National Democratic Liberty Party, NDLP; Masses Movement of Nigeria, MMN; Nigeria Peoples Congress, NPC; Nigeria Elements Progressive Party, NEPP and National Unity Party, NUP.

INEC had on August 18, 2011, de-registered the parties for failure to win any seat either in the state House of Assembly or National Assembly, pursuant to Section 78 (7) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

But an Onitsha-based human rights lawyer, Jezie Ekejiuba went to a Federal High Court sitting in Awka, to challenge the de-registeration of the parties by INEC, arguing that the action was unconstitutional.

In its judgment, the Federal High Court presided over by Justice J. Ojukwu, dismissed the suit for lack of merit, saying that INEC had the power to de-register political parties under the Nigerian constitution.

Dissatisfied by the judgment of the Federal High Court, the Plaintiff/Appellant, Ekejiuba headed to the Appellate Court to contest the verdict.

In a unianimous judgment delivered, yesterday, by Justice Tom Yakubu on behalf of other concurring judges, Justice Rita Pemu and Justice Omodere Bolaji-Yusuf, the Appeal Court set aside the lower court judgment, ordered the restoration to life of all the seven de-registered political parties and granted all the five reliefs sought by the Plaintiff/Appellant.

Tin tomato pastes aren’t the best alternatives- Food scientist

Are tin tomato pastes as healthy as seed tomatoes?

No they are not. You can’t even compare.

In what way?  I thought manufacturers simply turn tomatoes into past and pour in cans…

Usually, they fill them with preservatives to prevent molding. The can itself isn’t 100% safe. There are three types of spoilage in food:  spoilage within the food itself, spoilage within the food and its container, and then there is spoilage within the food and the environment. That is where the microbial contamination comes in.


The cans themselves are usually coated in chemicals and the tin itself is made with aluminium. During transportation and handling, there are possibilities of the tins bending and when it bends, the interior coating will get compromised and the food will react directly with the aluminium or the iron.

Aside the preservatives, some other things are added. Some companies will add colour to make it darker, some companies might actually add syrup to make it sweeter and more in quantity. Come to think of it, you buy these tomatoes and they are expensive and yet the manufacturer still has to prepare, package and transport.

What makes you think they don’t get their own from the handling or something? There are so many factors that come into play here. There is no way you could actually compare with fresh tomato.

As it is now, we seem to have no choice but to settle for tin tomato pastes; but are there better alternative?

Ordinarily, I have never been into tomatoes as such because I use a lot of vegetables for my rice for example. I have so many other ways of preparing my rice or rice with vegetable sauce; you can mix corn flour with cold water, just something to thicken it with. You add your vegetables (carrots, spring onions, etc.).   These are different ways you could eat without taking stew.

Tin tomato has also been associated with prostate cancer in men. In fact, it(tin tomato) is generally not advisable.

We have them in different brands; is it that none of them are healthy or some may be safe due to the credibility of their manufacturers?

Even those manufactured abroad by big Western countries may not actually be healthier because the farmers there usually use genetically modified products and there are of course hormones that they could use on the tomatoes to prevent spoilage.

So, instead of putting chemicals to preserve, they would have already used the hormones to cultivate the tomatoes. It depends on what you call healthier. They may end up not using preservatives but such products would have been treated seriously. Any natural tomato cannot sit on a cupboard for more than three days but genetically modified tomatoes can sit for two weeks and even more. These are things we have to look at if it is coming from West: is it real tomatoes or is it genetically modified?

And even if it is coming from the west, is it not still the same aluminium-coated packet or tin that they are still using to package it? And being acidic, there is the possibility of leaking into the tomato because the tomato is highly acidic on its own and aluminium is a heavy metal.


The fact that it undergoes a longer handling process also increases the chances of compromising the produce. As a food scientist, I tell you categorically, most packaged foods are made to last on shelf either by modification of the food product or by packaging and these are the major causes of contamination in food.

How do we preserve our tomatoes so we don’t run into problems as we have now because people are already clamouring for more tomato paste factories in the country?

Of course, that’s because they feel they don’t have other choices. But then, for you to have a tomato that will last you, you could buy real tomatoes, boil and evaporate the water, put in a container, pour a stream of oil on top of it, and put in your freezer. That tomato could last for long. If there is no light, drying could be the only other option. Water is not the only source of nutrient in tomatoes.

There are vitamins that are water soluble and there are vitamins that are fat soluble. Even if the water dries off, you are still left with some percentage of water soluble vitamins. I would rather go for dry tomatoes than tin tomato paste. The environment and handling are just a few factors with sun-drying of tomatoes but with good boiling, I think to an extent,  most bacteria get eliminated at more than 150 degree centigrade.

What is your advice to Nigerians at this time when we are all trying to cope with hike in price of tomato?

I wouldn’t advise a family that has children to keep feeding them tin tomatoes all the time. It is not healthy. You could explore other options. There is scent leave and fresh palm nuts; there is a stew you could make of that. It’s as healthy as anything.   You could also steam your normal green and spice it up with a lot of crayfish and onion and you could eat your rice with it. You mustn’t scramble for tomatoes. If it is not available, there are so many other options.

Avengers bombs Shell’s crude export pipeline

WARRI – Niger Delta Avengers at about 3.00 am today, Friday, blew up the Forcados 48″ export line in Delta State belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC.

The militant group had previously bombed the export line and advised the firm, other oil companies and government not to effect repairs until their demands were addressed.

It’s spokesperson, Brig General Mudoch Agbinibo, confirming the attack by the group, said: “We warned SPDC not to go ahead with the repair work but they refuse. This is an example to all other multinationals.”

Details later

Niger Delta Avengers: Britain cautions FG over military option

ABEOKUTA-The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Exellency, Paul Arkwright, yesterday, in Abeokuta Ogun state capital cautioned the Federal Government over military option as a measure to tackle the resurgence of militancy and other criminality in the Oil – rich Niger Delta region.

The High British High Commissioner stated this during an interview in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, shortly after his courtesy visit to the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo.

Arkwright who arrived the Ake Palace at 11am was accompanied by political Counsellor, Ben Llewellyn-Jones, and former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, and Dr Emeka Anyioku, also advocated for dialogue as part of a comprehensive approach that should be adopted by Nigerian government to address the situation, adding that force alone may not bring about a lasting solution to the Niger Delta issue.

Niger Delta Avengers(NDA), an armed militant group, and other violent youth organisations have been launching violent attacks on oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta area.

This action has forced the Federal Government to respond by deploying troops to the area’s creeks to stop the alleged destruction of national economic assets and spate of sabotage being perpetrated there by the region’s restive youths.

While speaking with newsmen, Arkwright said though, there is the need to protect the investments, not just the British companies and international companies operating there, but also Nigerian companies from acts of criminality going – on in the region, the military should tread softly.

He noted that the Britain is already talking to Nigerian government and its authorities on need to take a “comprehensive approach” and not to rely solely on military option as solution to the Niger Delta militants.

According to him, it is important that the Nigerian government explore ways to engage the communities in the area, understand the grievances of the people and also ensured that the environmental damage is cleaned up.

He also suggested that same option should be applied to conclude the fight against Boko haram terrorists in the North East of the country as being canvassed ever since by Britain.

“We need to protect the investment there, not just British companies, international companies but Nigerian companies as well.

“We are talking to Nigerian authorities about that, we need to have what we called a comprehensive approach to this, in other words we need to have dialogue and we need to engage the communities down there.

“We need to understand the grievances of the people down there, we need to ensure the environmental damage is cleaned up.

“We need to protect the investment there, not just British companies, international companies but Nigerian companies as well.

“When there is criminal activity, (it) is right that the government should take proactive action against that criminal activity, we strongly support them but we don’t think military solution alone is the final solution to handle issues in Niger Delta.

“And to handle Boko Haram in the North, so we need comprehensive approach and that is what we have been talking to the Nigerian government about.

“I was very encouragedto hear Hon Minister Ike Chukwu say about the need for dialogue and we are certainly looking to see what we can do to help in dialogue and bring peaceful outcome to what you say is economic threat to this country.”

While speaking on the looted fund stashed in British banks, the British High Commissioner assured that Britain is committed to her intention to return all looted funds from Nigeria back to the country.

He said his country would follow the rule of law and also wait for the judiciary to take a decision on the matter before the loots could be re – directed to Nigeria, its “rightful place.”

He said: “President Mohammadu Buhari make the same point when he was in London for Anti Corruption summit which my Prime Minister setup we need international action to fight corruption.

We need all the looted funds around the world, including United Kingdom to return to rightful place which is Nigeria, United Kingdom is doing everything we can to ensure that those funds are return to Nigeria.

“We have no interest, no intention of keeping the money, we want it to go back to Nigeria, full stop.The issues is that you will understand that United Kingdom just like Nigeria, is a country which respect the rule of law.

“We have independent judicial process, that judicial process need to run it course and we are doing what we can to help accelerate the return of the funds, if there are delays and issues surrounding that, these are delays related to judicial process.

” And have nothing to do with political will of the British government which my Prime Minister has made it clear and as i have said in the past Umited Kingdom wishes that the funds is return as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo has called for the resuscitation of the British Council Library in his domain as part of contribution of the United Kingdom educational development in the area.

The traditional ruler recalled that the Library which has been in the town, has contributed immensely to the reading and learning culture among the young and the old.

He however, lamented that the extinction of the library had brought education development backwards.

He said “We want to request that as you go back, the British Council Library be restored so that the young one can learn more about the world.

The monarch recalled that there had been an aged long relationship between Egba and the British, which was dated back to 1843, through Henry Townsend, “who brought a new Bible in 1904, after the first one got burnt. It was that period that we “Treaty of Friendship” by Egba United Government.

Oba Adedotun added “in 1906, the British facilitated Electricity supply into Egba and it also included four key areas of monarchical form of government, education (western), military and cultural link.

“During the military, we have some friends including France, British who gave us the wherewithal and logistic supports to win the battle in 1830. In education, you allowed us to produce the first medical doctor and engineer.”

Militants kill 2 soldiers, 6 civilians, sink houseboat

SUSPECTED militants, Wednesday evening, launched a surprise attack at a military houseboat in the creeks of Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, killing two soldiers and six civilians.

In a swift reaction, the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, last night, denied killing two soldiers in the bloody attack of a houseboat by suspected militants in Warri, Delta state on Wednesday, but admitted blowing up two crude oil pipelines in Bayelsa State.

 

A source said the heavily armed militants, who came in five boats, not only blew up the houseboat with explosives but also sank it after killing and mortally wounding all the men on board.

There were, however, conflicting reports on the casualties and actual location of the attack. A report said only two soldiers and one civilian was killed, with many injured, another said the casualties were more than 10.

It was learned that suspected members of Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, carried out the killing after attacking Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, houseboat at Ijere in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State,

According to a statement by the Assistant Director, Public Relations, 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army Headquarters, Benin City, Edo State, Captain Jonah Unuakhalu, the incident occurred Wednesday  night.

He explained that the suspected militants approached the houseboat in five speed boats mounted with 250 horse power engines, dressed as normal commuters.

We didn’t kill 2 soldiers —Avengers

In an electronic mail sent at 9.47 pm, the group said: “The  Niger Delta Avengers are not involved in the attack of the military houseboat around Warri, Delta State. Killing of sleeping soldiers is not our style. We promise the world that in this process of liberating our people, not a single blood of Nigeria soldiers will be wasted despite the provocation.

“Even the inhumane Nigeria soldiers are exempted, our war is on oil installations not to take innocent lives. For the fact we can’t give life, we also don’t have the power to take any life. But we (Avengers) are assuring the families of the affected soldiers that we will bring the culprits to book.

“When it is time to face the military in combat, let the whole world know that we won’t be the ones to throw the first punch.

“This message is going to all groups parading themselves as freedom fighters. You can fight for your people without killing innocent souls. NDA has proved, we were able to drop Nigeria oil production from two million barrels to just 800,000 barrels without killing a soul.

“We are warning every group to follow our footsteps. The days of killing and kidnapping are over.”

It also tweeted: “At about 2:00am today (yesterday) @NDAvengers blew up the Ogboinbiri to Tebidaba and Clough Creek to Tebidaba Crude Oil pipelines in Bayelsa State.

“This is in line with our promise to all international oil companies and Indigenous Oil Companies that Nigeria oil production will be zero.”

JNDLF to test missiles in 6 N-Delta states from June 7

Meanwhile, a group of militant commanders announced, yesterday, after a meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, that the Joint Revolutionary Council, JRC, of the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force, JNDLF, would commence the testing of six missiles in the region for three days beginning from  June 7.

“This is to show the Federal Government our readiness for the American prediction. There should be no form of helicopter flying around the region as we will not guarantee the safety of such object,” they said in a statement signed by General Akotebe Darikoro, Commander, General Duties, General Torunnanaowei Latei, Creeks Network Coordinator, General Agbakakuro Owei-Tauro, Pipelines’ Bleeding Expert and General Pulokiri Ebiladei for Intelligence Bureau.”

Britain cautions FG  over military option

This came as the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Paul Arkwright, yesterday, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, cautioned the Federal Government over military option in tackling the resurgence of militancy and other criminality in the Niger Delta.

This is also as former President of Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Dr Chris Ekiyor, warned that the invasion of the creeks of the Niger Delta  by the military was not the solution to current bombing of oil pipelines by the Niger Delta Avengers, appealing to the Federal Government to join hands with the committee set up by the Delta State government to use diplomacy to fish out the suspects.

Similarly,  the Pere of Bilabiri Mein Kingdom, Bayelsa State, HRM Dodo II, Dr. Winston Ogoun, has condemned the shootings by soldiers in Oporoza community, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, saying the action of the military was not the option in resolving militants’ onslaught on oil installations in the region.

Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on the Managing Director, Edoferen Nigeria Ltd, Mr. French Edoreh, at Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, the monarch advised President Buhari to jettison primordial sentiments and embrace facts that he met on ground.

He urged the President to be proactive and have listening ears in addressing the issue, emphasizing that he was elected to fix the problems of the country.

Military action  undermines Delta  govt’s efforts

However, Ekiyor, who also is Secretary of the committee set up by the Delta State Government to visit the creeks and unravel those behind the bombings, told Vanguard, yesterday in Benin City:  “The military grand standing in the Niger Delta is worrisome and I think it is more of trade than patriotism.

“If the military advises their high command properly, they should know that Niger Delta people are homely and welcoming people.

“A handful of Niger Delta Avengers cannot be equated to the entire Niger Delta people or the entire Ijaw people. The Ijaw people are threatened by the activities of Niger Delta Avengers because when you blow up pipelines, the entire fish and farm products are gone.

“Experience has also shown that the network of pipelines in the Niger Delta cannot be policed by this gun-toting approach, it has to be policed by a diplomatic call, committed understanding by a people who are ready to do it as a family.

People thought Tompolo is behind this but if he was behind it, he will put a face to it. He will not be cowardly enough to hide under pseudo names and his media show will be different from this. I knew when he was in charge of MEND, they will actually tell you the time and date they will hit a facility and they will tell the JTF to go and wait for them, yet they will hit the facility.

Stop, you‘re killing Delta, Okowa tells militants

Reacting to developments in the region, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has appealed to militants blowing up oil installations in the state to reconsider their actions, as bombing of oil facilities by them was affecting the state.

The governor made the call while commissioning Jeddo/Ughoton road in Okpe Local Government Area of the state, as part of activities to mark his one year in office.

He said: “The pipeline vandalism that is going on is very bad for Delta State, we are suffering from pollution, our communities are affected, and we are the greatest losers; our communities are impacted negatively.

“I want to appeal to our brothers who are involved in one way or the other in these vandalism to stop, we cannot destroy ourselves in order to make a point, there are more civil ways of channeling grievances which we should apply than vandalizing pipelines and endangering our people.”

Also, the military yesterday deployed fighter jets and surveillance aircraft to the Egbema-Ijaw area of Warri North Local Government Area of the state, to search for Niger Delta Avengers, NDA.

The presence of the fighter jets generated fear among the residents, who cried out they were not members of NDA and would never be part of it.

President of Delta Ijaw Peace Movement, Mr Smart Asekutu, who is from the area, told us that some of his people called him to alert him about the deployment of fighter jets in the area.

He said:  “We welcome the military operation in Delta State to stop the bombing of oil and gas pipelines by militants, but I want to say that Egbema people are not part of Avengers, so the military should tread carefully.

“We have Chevron facilities in our area and nobody had touched them because we do not believe in what the militants are doing, that is not to say that they may not be criminals in Egbema. But if the military identify them, they should isolate them and dealt with them.”

Britain advocates dialogue

British High Commissioner, Paul Arkwright,  who visited the Ake Palace, in Abeokuta, accompanied by Political Counsellor, Ben Llewellyn-Jones, and former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, and Dr Emeka Anyioku, yesterday, advocated  dialogue as part of a comprehensive approach that should be adopted by Nigerian government to address the situation, adding that force alone might not bring about a lasting solution to the Niger Delta issue.

While speaking with newsmen, Arkwright said though there was need to protect the investments, not just the British companies and international companies operating there, but also Nigerian companies from acts of criminality going – on in the region, the military should tread softly.

He noted that the Britain was already talking to the federal government and its authorities on need to take a    “comprehensive approach” and not to rely solely on military option as solution to the Niger Delta militants.

According to him, it is important that the    Nigerian government explore ways to engage the communities in the area, understand the grievances of the people and also ensured that the environmental damage was cleaned up.

He also suggested that same option should be applied to conclude the fight against Boko Haram terrorists in the North East of the country.

Ekiti Assembly condemns travel ban on Fayose

Ado-Ekiti—THE Ekiti State House of Assembly, has condemned the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to place two governors, of which Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, was alleged to be victim, under security watch and travel ban.

The House, which noted that such decision could heat up the polity and throw the country into anarchy, warned that only the court of law could exercise such powers.

The Speaker of the House, Hon Kola Oluwawole said that carrying out such alleged constitutional breaches could heat up the polity and make the federating states appendages of the presidency.

Also, the Speaker appealed to the striking workers, to suspend the ongoing strike called to press for the payment of five months outstanding salaries and return to negotiation table in the interest of the state.

 

In Ibadan, yesterday some lawmakers from the State House of Assembly also confirmed that Governor Ayodele Fayose is one of the two serving governors who are allegedly barred by the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration from travelling out of the country.

The lawmakers led by the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Segun Adewumi gave this hint yesterday at the NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.

Making reference to a report that two serving governors in the country were placed on travel restriction by the Federal Government, they went on to say that one of the governors being referred to “is our own governor, Peter Ayodele Fayose”.

They vowed that Ekiti State people would not allow their democratically elected Governor to be rubbished by the Federal Government because he has been critical of its anti-people policies.

Other lawmakers present at the briefing included Mr. Gboyega Aribisogan and Samuel Idowu Omotosho.

Addressing a press conference in Ado Ekiti to mark the one year of the inauguration of the Assembly, Speaker Oluwawole said placing governors on travel restriction by the federal government will embarrass the nation and emasculate the constitution

“We use this medium to alert the nation that the federal government through its agents are planning to embarrass the country. The APC ruling party is contemplating anarchy by directing that two elected governors from the southern states be placed on travel restriction.

“It is unbelievable that those who claimed to be practicing rule of law would want top deliberately stand the constitution on the head and think that the people would not react.

“President Muhammadu Buhari should be reminded that it is only the court that can exercise that power and the sitting governor anywhere in the country enjoys constitutional immunity and until such is removed, no President no matter his strength could go away with blue murder.

“Ekiti State condemns such barbaric acts of the federal government and advise those contemplating such insidious act to weigh the consequences of their actions”, he said.

On the government –labour stand off on unpaid salaries, Oluwawole said the assembly has begun a process of mediation by having a meeting with the labour leaders on how the matter could be resolved amicably.

Oluwawole added that assembly had passed 13 bills into laws and 16 resolutions in the last 365 days, describing the bills as those that could impact positively on the lives of the people.

He, however, lamented that the lawmakers could not meet all their electioneering campaigns to the people due to the paucity of funds in the state.

Jonathan disappointed the people of Ogoniland – Gininwa

PORT HARCOURT – The former governor of Rivers State and the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, and the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, King. Godwin Gininwa, have said that the former president of Nigeria, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan made a great mistake for failing to implement the United Nations Environmental Programme report on Ogoniland.

Amaechi and Gininwa made this statement on Thursday in Bodo City, Gokana Local Government Area of the state during the official flag-off of the cleanup of the area by President Muhammadu Buhari, in their separate speeches.

 

In his speech, Amaechi noted that he (Amaechi) did everything possible to ensure that Jonathan implements the UNEP report on Ogoniland, but regretted that his efforts yielded no fruit.

The transport minister said that the former president refused to carry out the project that would have benefitted the people of the state, adding that Jonathan was never a brother to the state.

He added that the cleanup would bring a positive change to the economic life of the people of the area, stressing that the president had kept to his promise.

“…we did everything possible to make our brother the former president to implement the report, but, he refused.

“But with President Muhammadu Buhari, we are here today in keeping with our campaign promise.

“The economy of Ogoni people will change through this cleanup. There is no way the people will not receive anything from the money that would be invested for this project. Through that the economy of the people will change.”

Similarly, Gininwa who is a respected monarch in the Niger Delta region noted that Jonathan made mistake for failing to implement the cleanup of Ogoni and the entire region during his time in office.

Gininwa emphasized that Jonathan disappointed the people of Ogoni even after the people lead campaign of his election to monarchs in the Northern state.

The Royal father called on politicians and Nigerian leaders to learn how to keep to the promises to the people.

Gininwa also bemoaned that all his efforts and those of other Ogoni traditional rulers to make Jonathan to resolve environmental problem in the area were futile.

He asserted that the time of mourning for the Ogoni people and the Niger Delta was over, adding that flag-off was the beginning of happiness for the people of the area.

“I want to plead with Nigerian leaders to keep to their promises. We campaigned for Goodluck Jonathan. During the campaign we met with traditional rulers in other parts of the country. Good enough we took over government.

Personally, I have nothing against Jonathan because he is my son, but he made mistake for not implementing the report. He disappointed us. The time for mourning is over because Ogoni is now happy”.

The monarch also pleaded with the FG to take up the construction of Bodo-Bonny road, adding that the road has for long been abandoned.

Ogoni beacon of change – Abe

In his goodwill message, the Senatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the March 19th national and state legislative rerun elections, Sen. Magnus Abe described the implementation of the cleanup of Ogoniland as an evidence of change.

Abe said that the change which the nation was expecting had commenced from Ogoni, adding that the president has changed the history of the people of Ogoni.

“We have become the beacon of change for Nigeria. We are the only people who did not use violence to achieve this dream.

With Ogoni, you now know that it is wrong to use violence in pursuing a course. Buhari has changed the history of Ogoni. Change has come to Ogoniland”, he said.