The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Goodluck Jonathan

  • Jonathan laments huge number of Nigerians in South African prisons

    Jonathan laments huge number of Nigerians in South African prisons

    May 7, 2013 (NAN) President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed shock over the large number of Nigerian citizens in various prisons in South Africa.

    Jonathan told the Nigerian community in South Africa on Monday in Cape Town, South Africa that the high number of Nigerians in South African prisons did not speak well about Nigeria.

    “I was told that more than 250,000 Nigerians are living in South Africa and that more than 400 are in prison serving various jail terms.

    “This is a bad example of what Nigerians in the Diaspora should be; there are some countries like Malawi and Uganda that no Nigerian is in prison.

    “Most Nigerians are doing very well abroad in various professional callings.

    “There are Nigerians living in South Africa making good name for us but a few of you are doing things in different ways.

    “There is need for these few Nigerians to be good ambassadors of Nigeria so that people will not see Nigeria and Nigerians as corrupt and criminal-minded people and nation,’’ Jonathan said.

    He said that Issue of corruption, security and crime were important to him and his administration.

    “From my experience as deputy governor up till the time I was elected as the vice president I know those who talk more about corruption are the most corrupt.

    “Peoples’ perception about corruption in Nigeria was over amplified than the corruption that happens in the country.

    “The perception index is very high, we are not saying there’s no corruption in the country, all of us must work hard to fight corruption,’’ Jonathan said.

    He said that the problem of insecurity in some parts of the country was being addressed by government.

    “The issue of insecurity, threat to peace and stability in some parts of the country is being addressed; threat to peace and stability in the country must be stopped,’’ Jonathan said.

    The president said he was totally committed to what was right for the country at all times.

    “I promise Nigerians that issue of power will be solved as soon as the privatisation of power sector is completed.

    “Power is key to the transformation agenda of this government; in no distance future the type of transformation in the telecommunication sector will be experienced in the power sector.

    “We as government are doing everything to build a Nigeria of our dreams. Our airports are being renovated and modernisation and expansion of our railway transport system is ongoing.

    “All what we request from all Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora is support and understanding.’’

    Jonathan assured that insecurity and molestation of Nigerians by various South African authorities would be discussed with President Jacob Zuma during the state visit.

    The President of the Nigeria Union in South Africa (NUSA), Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, commended the president for conducting what was considered the most credible election in the history of Nigeria.

    “It will never be out of fashion to say congratulations to you for the election of May 2011 that brought you to office.

    “We congratulate you not because you won but because you made Nigerians all over the world proud by staging what has been dubbed as the freest and fairest election.’’

    Anyene said the action changed the tide in the way politicians came to power in Nigeria.

    “We salute the courage and wisdom with which your administration is dealing with the delicate and monstrous security challenges we are faced with at the moment in our country.’’

    He urged the president to continue to explore every avenue to achieve peace in Nigeria.

    “We must achieve a Nigeria that is safe and secure, where all ethnic groups can leave peacefully side by side with one another.

    “Peace and unity is a necessary pre-condition for the development of any country.’’

    He said that insecurity was preventing Nigeria from becoming a destination for foreign direct investment.

    Anyene said the visit of the president to South Africa would help to strengthen the relationship between the two countries and their peoples.

    He said, however, that Nigeria and South Africa should find a better way of translating government-to-government talk into person-to-person relationship between the citizens of the two countries and organs of state.

    “Nigeria still receive inhuman, disrespectful and degrading treatment that suggest negative social profiling in this country within the South Africa Police Service as well other government departments, especially the Home Affairs,’’ Anyene said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jonathan will attend the World Economic Forum on Africa on Wednesday, before leaving South Africa on Thursday for Namibia. (NAN)

  • Where is the messiah?

    Where is the messiah?

    I recollect when President Goodluck Jonathan was campaigning for election in 2011, he promised a new beginning for Nigeria and her citizens. He assured his countrymen and women that he would set examples and ensure a complete turn around in the fortune of Nigeria, a country with enormous potential but had been plundered by successive leaders since independence.

    Bu today this regime has succeeded in further impoverishing Nigerians with its inconsistent policies.

    Many Nigerians now live below $ 1 per-day, a sad reflection of the current state of the “self acclaimed “giant of Africa.

    The president and his co-journeymen in government had committed two very grievous sins against Nigerians – lack of political will to wage effective war against corruption and secondly, the failure to effectively tackle the Boko Haram insurgency.

    Security, according to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), is the most important duty of government.

    The governor was quoted as saying at a recent function in Lagos that “government can reconstruct roads and bridges, revamp the infrastructure and ensure growth in the economy. But cannot recreate lives that had been lost.”

    There are many questions begging for answers: Many have been forced to ask that – how many roads and bridges have been reconstructed since this government assumed office in May 29, 2011? What is the state of the Nigerian economy now compare to pre-2011? What has this government done to address the rapidly increasing unemployment rate in the land? How many “big guns “have been prosecuted for corruption in Nigeria? How long would it take the federal government to complete the privatization of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria? Is this government really keen about ending the Boko Haram insurgency in the country? Is the president more interested in 2015 project than the well being and safety of Nigerians? and Does he deserve another term in office after his abysmal performance in the last three years?

    On corruption, the present government has been a huge disappointment. Or how will one explain the inability of the government to prosecute those that been indicted by several panels of inquiry for corruption.

    Nigeria is the only country in the world where we have the “sacred cows” and the “sacrificial lambs” in the administration of criminal justice.

    The powerful and influential people within and outside the government are the “sacred cows” or the “ untouchables,” while the poor and the less privileged within the society are the “sacrificial lambs” who are expected to atone for the sins of the former either with their blood or their personal freedom.

    Many ordinary Nigerians have been sent to jail for stealing (the same offence committed by the elites), while those that pilfered the country’s wealth either individually or collectively go unpunished. How would you describe a situation where a man was sentenced to 21-year imprisonment for stealing a mobile phone handset?

    Whereas a man that single handedly looted the purse of a vital national agency was given a one-year jail term and upon his release got an heroic welcome. Recently a convicted former governor (a persona non-grata in the United States and Britain) was given a presidential pardon by President Jonathan. Although this had been described as one of the president’s subtle moves to elongate his stay in Aso Villa beyond 2015.

    Many had described the president as an extremely good and humble man in testament to his personal qualities. But is it necessary that a leader, a president of a country for that matter should be a good man? Many respected leaders the world over are not necessarily good men or good women. But they get their works done with ruthless efficiency.

    I’m not saying a leader should be a dictator in the mould of Adolph Hitler, Benito Mussoluni and others. A good leader could be effective without being a dictator. A leader should not be a “zombie” or “mechanical rubber stamp” that “would robotically” subject himself to the whims and caprices of his followers. A good leader should be able to put his foot on the ground to get the job done. A good leader should be able to “walk the talk.”

    Many of the president’s apologists and supporters would readily point to his good nature or gentle mien for his inability to move against those that pilfered the country’s wealth. But this same set of people kept quite when the president moved against perceived enemies or opposition groups.

    How successful has the president’s Transformation Agenda?

    This is another salient question Nigerians would ask proponents of Jonathan’s 2015 agenda as the next general election inches nearer. The transformation agenda, the president’s developmental plans akin to the seven-point agenda of his predecessor, the late Umaru  Musa Yar’Adua, was designed to serve as bedrock of the administration’s action plans.

    But three years down the line, one may be tempted to ask how successful has this agenda, looking at the comatose state of the nation’s power sector, the growing insecurity in the land, the dilapidated public infrastructure, the poor state of the nation’s hospitals and the fallen standard of education. What about the crawling state of the Nigerian economy, despite claims to the contrary, the widening gap between the poor and the rich and to a larger extent the elimination of the middle class.

     

  • Damning verdict

    Damning verdict

    •Govt will do well to accept that corruption is a major challenge rather than live in denial

    PREPOSTEROUS impunity! That was the pathetically vivid and detailed picture of the current massive corruption and official malfeasance in Nigeria recently painted by the United States Department of State. The United States could hardly be faulted when it accused government officials and agencies in the country of habitually engaging in corrupt practices with reckless abandon, and little fear of being sanctioned.

    Noting that corruption had become massive in the country under President Goodluck Jonathan’s leadership, the US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012, pointedly noted that “The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption; however, the government did not implement the law effectively and officials often engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. Massive, widespread and pervasive corruption affected all levels of government and the security forces. The constitution provides immunity from civil and criminal prosecution for the President, Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors while in office. There was a widespread perception that judges were easily bribed and litigants could not rely on the courts to render impartial judgments”.

    Of course, the problem of corruption in Nigeria predated the Goodluck Jonathan administration. The vice has always been identified as a major obstacle to the realisation of the country’s vast potential and rose to astronomical heights during the locust years of military dictatorship. Massive looting of the public till resulted in the illegal and immoral enrichment of an unscrupulous minority and the condemnation of the vast majority to ruinous penury. With the restoration of democratic rule in 1999, President Olusegun Obasanjo raised high hopes of a new determination to fight the monster with his frequent anti-corruption rhetoric. The establishment of such institutions as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reinforced such hopes, which only turned out to be mere illusions. Despite some high profile convictions under Mallam Nuhu Ribadu’s leadership of the EFCC, Obasanjo’s eight-year tenure ended with corruption still alive and very well in Nigeria.

    During his campaign for the 2011 elections, President Jonathan promised to fight corruption vigorously as a key part of his transformation agenda. It is thus a huge disappointment that the problem has worsened considerably under his leadership, as rightly noted by the US report. It is largely because President Jonathan has not shown a personal commitment, example and determination to confront the menace of corruption frontally that it flourishes at all levels and arms of government. In the usual kneejerk reaction of government officials to such reports, the President’s spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, has been quick to debunk the allegations, contending that the Jonathan administration has been the most transparent since the return to democratic governance in 1999. This assertion is untrue and such attitude unhelpful. Rather than living in denial, it is better to face the reality so as to be able to change things for the better.

    The examples of corrupt enrichment in this dispensation are legion. They include the massive fuel subsidy fraud, the pension fund looting and the gross moral decay in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), among others. In the performance of their oversight functions in the electricity, petroleum and capital market sectors, legislators have been known to compromise their integrity for pecuniary gains. The situation is even more worrisome in the judiciary where judges have been alleged to become millionaires by selling judgments to the highest bidder.

    Indeed, corruption in Nigeria is spreading like a cancer that is undermining the ethical foundations of the society. Of course, President Jonathan cannot be expected to violate the tenets of federalism or the principle of separation of powers in fighting corruption. But he can at least show a personal example by publicly declaring his assets, purging his administration of corrupt elements and giving the anti-corruption agencies the moral and logistic support to deliver efficiently and effectively on their mandate.

  • Jonathan visits South Africa May 7

    President Goodluck Jonathan will on May 7 pay  a  state visit to South Africa, the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports.

    Amb. Sonni Yusuf, the Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa disclosed this when he spoke to NAN in Johannesburg on Thursday.

    He said that the president would be received in Cape Town by his South African counterpart, President Jacob Zuma.

    “The visit is aimed at broadening our relationship and discussing areas of collaborations and cooperation,” the envoy further stated.

    He said the visit was also expected to further strengthen critical strategic partnership between the two countries.

    Yusuf said that both Presidents Jonathan and Zuma are expected to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and agreements during the visit

    “The visit is in line with Nigeria and South Africa resolution to work together for the benefit of the African continent,’’ the High Commissioner said.

    Yusuf said that there would be business forum where members of the Nigeria’s business community would also meet their South African counterparts to discus investment potentials in the two countries.

    “On the sideline of the President’s visit, members of the business community of the two countries will meet and discuss investment potentials in areas of mining, agriculture, power and energy, manufacturing, industrial development and ICT.

    “There will also going to be discussion on the service sector, tourism, finance and banking,’’ Yusuf said.

    The President is expected to meet with the members of Nigerian community in South Africa and attend World Economic Forum on Africa on May 8 before leaving for Namibia on May 9.

    NAN reports that President Zuma had paid a one-day official visit to Nigeria on April 16.

  • NLC urges FG to tackle unemployment, insecurity

    NLC urges FG to tackle unemployment, insecurity

    The Nigeria Labour Congress on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to urgently tackle the unemployment rate in the country.

    The National President of NLC, Mr Abdulwaheeed Omar, made the call at the Centenary May Day celebration in Abuja.

    He said that the country was faced with a monumental unemployment problem, adding that the official statistics put the national unemployment rate at approximately 24 per cent.

    “The unemployment rate among the youth has been put at 37.7 per cent.

    “Some estimates actually suggest that the figure is over 50 per cent but whichever way we look at it, it is obvious that we are facing an unemployment time bomb in our nation.

    “As high as this rate is, it nevertheless camouflages the enormity of the unemployment crisis in the country.

    “If underemployment and disguised unemployment were to be added to the figure, the monumental crisis will become more glaring,’’ Omar said.

    The NLC boss said the Federal Government should urgently initiate measures to revive and protect labour-intensive industries like textile, food and beverages, construction, iron and steel sectors.

    The congress commended the government for initiating the textile revival fund, stressing that the mid-term assessment of the impact of the long term fund at single digit interest rate had been positive.

    He said that the United Nigeria Textile Plc (UNTL) Kaduna, the largest textile mill that had hitherto closed down in 2007, had reopened with direct jobs of 1,500 workers with prospect of further expansion.

    Omar explained that an analysis of the dis-aggregate unemployment data showed that the youth had the greatest brunt of the unemployment problem.

    He called for a decisive intervention to rein in the unemployment problem, adding that signals of strife and insecurity today were warning banners that could not be ignored.

    “To overcome the problem of unemployment, Nigeria must promote strong industrial policies that recognise manufacturing as a key engine of growth and decent mass employment for the national economy,’’ he said.

    On insecurity, Omar said that Nigeria faced severe, comprehensive and total security challenges that threatened its survival.

    He explained that the nation had on its hands, clear and present danger that needed an urgent and well thought-out solution if it must continue to remain as a nation.

    He said that from the north to the south and from the east to the west, the nation was gripped in the throe of unprecedented violence.

    “Daily, innocent and ordinary people are slaughtered in numbers either in incidents of armed robbery, assassinations, kidnappings, arson, communal clashes or bombings, sectarian skirmishes and related acts of violence.

    “All with a telling effect in every facet of our life as a nation. The bonds that hold us together are being weakened. Our productive capacity is similarly diminishing.

    “ There is a feeling of loss of identity and we are scared and disfigured.

    “As the nation lies prostrate, we are all shell-shocked. But much more worrying than all of this, is our inexorable loss of humanity, both the murderers and their victims.

    “Violent conflicts, armed robberies, kidnappings, assassinations, arson, insurgencies and food insufficiency or insecurity or other forms of threat, do not occur by accident.

    “Usually, they are products of years of poor leadership, bad governance, weak institutions, lack of accountability, corrosive corruption, political impunity, poor planning and privatisation, socioeconomic injustices and inequities.

    “However, we at the congress have an unshakeable faith in the indivisibility and sovereignty of Nigeria.

    “We believe it has enough space and resources for the expression of our individual and collective dreams and endeavour,’’ Omar said.

    The NLC president called on the government to muster the necessary will and wisdom to tackle the challenges.

    He said that the NLC supported the on-going efforts to work out an amnesty programme with the Boko Haram sect.

    He, however, noted that for such a programme to be successful, members of the sect must first and foremost embrace dialogue and negotiations.

    “We, therefore, call on members of Boko Haram to lay down their arms and step out for reconciliation.

    “Nigeria is their country and its dismemberment or destruction in our view, offers no way forward for any of us,’’ Omar said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the May Day rally held at the Eagles Square had President Goodluck Jonathan as the special guest of honour.

    Other dignitaries at the event include diplomats, foreign labour leaders and workers.

    NAN also reports that this is the last Workers’ Day before the nation marks the centenary of the Amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates, to create what is today Nigeria.

    It is in recognition of this that labour chose the theme of the May Day as “100 years of nationhood: the challenges of national development”.

    Workers’ Day, also known as May Day, is a celebration of  international labour and left-wing movements.

    It is commonly celebrated with a march past by workers and their unions in Nigeria and most parts of the world annually on May 1.

  • PHOTO OF THE DAY (Gun and the Camera)

    PHOTO OF THE DAY (Gun and the Camera)

    Which is mightier, the Camera or the Gun? This question is informed by the picture of the security men and photojournalists at the May Day celebration in Abuja on Wednesday.

    On occasion like this, there is no need for either the policemen or the journalists to prove any superiority. The fully armed policemen were at the event not as members of any of the Unions marking the workers day celebration but to protect the government officials led by President Goodluck Jonathan while the photojournalists were also on duty to record the event.

     

     

     

  • Jonathan seeks labour’s support in tackling corruption

    Jonathan seeks labour’s support in tackling corruption

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday in Abuja called on organised labour to complement Federal Government’s efforts in fighting corruption in the country.

    Jonathan, who made the call at the Centenary May Day 2013 held at Eagle Square, noted that perpetrators of corruption are senior and junior members of labour unions.

    He called on the labour unions to organise a peer review programme with the objective of checking corruption and corrupt tendencies.

    The President said such a programme would complement several efforts of the government in fighting the menace.

    “Labour has been in the forefront of demanding for good governance and increased actions against corruption, and these issues are being vigorously tackled on various fronts.

    “Prosecutions are being pursued in matters arising from fuel subsidy fraud, embezzlement of pension funds and other serious long-standing malpractices which have been demystified by this administration.

    “Giving that some of these perpetrators are senior and junior members of labour unions, greater attention to peer review actions on the part of labour will be much appreciated,” he said.

    Jonathan said the administration was leaving no stone unturned to upgrade the welfare of workers both in the private and public sectors.

    “There is also a policy framework in place that will facilitate better relations between employers of labour and the government,’’ he said.

    Jonathan called on labour to support government’s transformation agenda, which he said was geared toward creating jobs and wealth, and ensuring a better deal for Nigerians.

    He said government was committed to creating a politically stable environment in which economic activities would flourish.

    The President said the valuable contributions and sacrifices of the organised labour had assisted the government to achieve significant reforms in all sectors.

    He extolled “the resilience and contributions of past labour leaders like Pa Michael Imodu and Pascal Bayfau, both of blessed memory’’.

    Jonathan assured that government would continue to associate with the labour unions as they continue to play their roles in the nation-building process

  • FG to provide subsidy for rice farmers in Kebbi – Minister

    FG to provide subsidy for rice farmers in Kebbi – Minister

    The Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has said that the Federal Government will provide subsidy for rice farmers in Kebbi to improve commercial production of the crop.

    Adesina made the statement in Suru Local Government Area on Tuesday when he launched the new Kebbi Guarantee Minimum Cost of Rice scheme.

    The minister was on a one-day inspection visit to rice farms in Argungu, Suru and Jega local government areas.

    The minister said the ministry would transport free rice from the farm clusters to warehouses and processing centres, adding that the official cost of rice was N6,500 per bag under the scheme.

    He reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to ban the importation of rice by 2015.

    Adesina said President Goodluck Jonathan was committed to transforming agriculture and ensure self-reliance in food production.

    He said the Federal Government spent N1 billion on the importation of rice but stressed: “we cannot keep foreign farmers employed while our farmers and potential in rice production are ignored.”

    He commended the efforts made by the state toward achieving the Agricultural Transformation Agenda aimed at producing 20 million tonnes of rice for domestic consumption in 2015.

    “The Federal Government would support fully the efforts by the state on rice production,” he promised.

    Adesina said the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) in the state included the construction of silos which had capacity to hold 100,000 tonnes of produce as well as two one-stop shops in Dakingari and Argungu.

    He said 70,000 out of the targeted 80,000 farmers had been registered in the state.

    He said the release of 92,000 bags of fertiliser to farmers, 480 tonnes of seedlings and distribution of 1,500 bundles of planting materials would be upgraded.

    He said 700 tonnes of rice seedlings provided in the past as part of the GES would also be upgraded.

    Gov Saidu Dakingari said the state government would sustain its priority on the commercial production of rice, especially during the dry season, to avoid the destruction of the crop during the rainy season.

    The governor said the rice production initiative was part of efforts by the government to ensure security through job creation and also increase the income of farmers.

  • 60 toasts to Adenuga at 60

    60 toasts to Adenuga at 60

    Business mongol, Otunba Micheal Adenuga on Monday, April 29 clocked 60. Many well wishers, including President Goodluck Jonathan has sent him happy birthday wishes.

    Here are 60 of the birthday messages from a cross section of top government officials, family members,  friends, associates and others compiled by Online Reporter, Alade Abiodun

    1.       On behalf of the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I joined your family, friends, protégés and well-wishers in thanking God for your exemplary life. it is my prayer that Almighty God continues to bless you with robust health and enduring happiness.- President Goodluck Jonathan

    2.       Otunba Mike Adenuga at 60. Mike, truly, you epitomize hard work, perseverance, doggedness, humility, diligence and patriotism. The fact that you treasure the virtue of true friendship and loyalty to any cause you believe in, gives you the cutting edge.- General I.B. Babangida, GCFR

    3.       Happy 60th birthday to Africa’s leading business icon and a very dear friend of Bayelsa state.-Gov Henry Seriake Dickson

    4.       60 hearty cheers for a man of exceptional ability and performance. At 60, you glow as one who has made good for himself and for his country. You stand out as an investor per excellence and through your brilliant investments, hard work and success you have become one of the pillars of the Nigerian economy. – Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

    5.       Rare as a gem. To a man of great determination, who through the years has shone brilliantly through his invaluable achievements. Sir, you stand out as a gem of inestimable value.- Orji Uzor Kalu

    6.       I wish you a happy birthday, Dr. Mike Adenuga. You are a pillar of African football. You are a grand sponsor of CAF, grand sponsor of Nigerian and Ghanaian National football teams. Happy birthday. may God protect you and give you good health to continue to grow your business and help grow African football, Ghanaian football and Nigerian football.- Issa Hayatou, CAF president

    7.       Happy birthday to a legend. An icon, a great administrator and a man of distinction.-  Comrade Abba Moro

    8.       You remain the embodiment of Nigerian entrepreneurial spirit. Your focus, endurance and commitment to a prosperous Nigeria and indeed Africa have marked you out for greater glory.- H.R.M Oba Adedotun Gbadebo

    9.       All rise to salute the Grand commander. Extra is the added advantage in an extraordinary man.- Alaiyeluwa Oba (Dr.) S.K. Adetona

    10.   Happy birthday to my worthy big brother.- Senator Olalekan Mustapha

    11.   Toast to the grand commander at 60. We salute your selfless and unwavering commitment to humanity and astonishing accomplishments as you strike diamond today.- Ojude Oba Festival Committee

    12.   60 hearty cheers to my glowing brother. You are every inch a towering figure with achievements as towering as your physique.- Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola Alao

    13.   We are proud of your monumental strides in the field of communication, trade and industry, and philanthropy that stand you out as a northern star in the galaxy of stars.-The Ogun State Council of Obas

    14.   Our pride turns Diamond.- Ijebu Traditional Council

    15.   Congratulations dad. We rejoice with a consummate professional, a respected nationalist, a committed philanthropist and a loving dad and grand dad.- Jaiye, Bella and Jameel Disu

    16.   Hearty cheers to my dear Apesin at 60. Precisely 60 years today, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr. (GCON) was brought to the world, to love,impact and give succor to people and humanity, with a clear mandate of touching lives and making society a better place to live.-Evangelist Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi

    17.   Happy cheers to our own Dr. Mike Adenuga at 60. Our beloved husband, father and grandfather.-Princess Adefolake Adenuga

    18.   Happy birthday daddy. There are stories and then there are stories. This is the story of the one that has given me everything.- Abimbola Adenuga

    19.   You have always given us our pay cheques. Today here’s a special cheque to you from all of us. – Glo Team.

    20.   It’s been a great pleasure and rare privilege for us working for agreat and amazing person like you.-Globacom and Conoil Plc Staff, Chairman’s office

    21.   Sir over the year you have brought the best out of the best and we are so privileged to have a boss, mentor and leader as you. The more you age, the more valuable you become. Sir, your value is just priceless.-Credit Control Team- Globacom.

    22.   Like diamonds, your worth is inestimable.  You have impacted millions of lives worldwide. Your commitment to making a positive difference is unequaled.- Funmilola Osunsade

    23.   Congratulations to a man of vision and industry, we felicitate with you as you turn 60.- Eurafric Depot

    24.   Celebrating Adenuga at 60. We celebrate a man of vision, a man of purpose and achievement. We celebrate a leader of men.- Ericsson

    25.   A toast to a leading light. While some grow weary with age, your vibrancy and vision remains undimmed. We proudly celebrate with our dynamic leader as he fires on to another round of trailblazing achievements.- Conoil

    26.   Still bustling with energy. Happy birthday to the man who goes the extra mile for Africa.- Conoil

    27.   A champion of the business world. Sir, you have shown us how to live everyday like champions, through your deep desire to see your dreams and visions come alive, no matter the challenge.- George K. George

    28.   My respected chairman at 60. There is nothing as fulfilling as being a witness to the astonishing activities of a remarkable entrepreneur.- Wasiu Adebiyi

    29.   Every inch an oil king.- J.O Ariyo

    30.   Six decades and still waxing stronger, going higher.- Charles Uwaechie and Deacon Felix Akintola

    31.   Congratulations to a worthy pace setter.- Chief Lateef Oyelade

    32.   Celebrating Olori Oko. The business world is only for the brave at heart.- Conoil station dealers in Lagos

    33.   Celebrating the people’s chairman.-NARTO

    34.   A positive changer of our world.- Mrs Evelyn Rewande-Fabayan

    35.   Happy 60th birthday. You are welcome to your year of uncommon testimony.- Sisters and brother

    36.   Happy 60th birthday to an exemplary Nigerian.- OAN-Overseas Agency Nigeria Limited.

    37.   Birthday toast. You are a visioner, a courageous leader and administrator “per excellence”, a tireless giver to the down trodden, an epitome of humility.- Stag Engineering Nigeria LTD

    38.   A true gentleman at his finest. A man of flair and many talents. At 60, a diamond with prestige and pedigree. At 60 “the prime of life”, a sage of industry.- Leadway Assurance

    39.   The guru is 60. 6 decades of dynamism. The great entrepreneur is 60. Six decades of valued and selfless service to Nigerian people.- E-motion

    40.   A brother second to none, a boss like no other… for all that you are, for all that you mean to us and millions more, it is our prayer that the Almighty will crown you with more healthy, fruitful and rewarding years.- Adewale Sangowawa

    41.   Happy birthday to the golden finger of Nigerian oil.- Seawolf

    42.   Many men; few icons. Congratulations to a quintessential icon for the glowing six decades for a greener Nigeria and for a more endowed humanity.- PromoWorld LTD

    43.   Your birth 60 years ago was a special gift to people of your generation and beyond whose lives you have touched in more than one way. – Mojisola Bkare and others.

    44.   GCON is 60. Oga, step by step the journey goes on, moving from one glory and accomplishment to the other with accolades, encomiums and recognition from far and near.- Chukwuemeka Asieru-Sweet

    45.   A giant of our time at 60.- Sovereign Trust Insurance PLC

    46.   Happy birthday Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr. GCON.- Sterling Bank

    47.   60 hearty congratulations to our leader and our boss.-Mr. Niyi Adewumi and other

    48.   The bull rages on at 60.- Optima energy

    49.   An icon turns 60. Celebrating decades of your outstanding achievements.- Marsha

    50.   Still blazing at 60 with rekindled ambition and passion to achieve even greater feats.- Victor Obaika

    51.   Enjoy the finest of life at 60. Like one in a billion golden bubbles, you stand out in your generation.- Elder I. Adisa

    52.   Prime time to celebrate. Today we mark 6 decades of your world class excellence. You have always pursued, persevered and conquered. 60 diamond cheers to you sir.- Francis Nebot

    53.   The path breaker, the trail blazer is 60. Your greatness has never been as a result of being strong but in the right use of your strength. – Deaconess Christie Suinner and others.

    54.   60 hearty cheers to our true exemplary leader. We celebrate a great achiever, a man of big dreams and colossal achievements.- Aashish Sharma and others

    55.   Our role model clocks 60. To the indefatigable and ebullient chairman of chairmen… the collage of the brightest ideas.- Dele and Aramide Bankole

    56.   Congratulations to the guru on this auspicious celebration of your birthday. You are a man of great destiny and indeed a blessing to this generation.- Captain A.O. Adeyinka

    57.   Adenuga, still indefatigable at 60. We acknowledge your tremendous contributions to the development of Nigeria football over the years and wish you many more years of useful contributions to Nigerian football and the Nigerian nation in general.- Nigeria Football Federation

    58.   Happy birthday to a star of our generation. At 60, you have positively touched so many lives and made giant strides in building the nation politically, socially and economically.- Macans Global Services LTD

    59.   We rejoice and celebrate with you, as you clock 60 today. We wish you all that you wish yourself and more. – American University of Nigeria.

    60.   Hurray, the guru ids 60. We are lucky to have partnered with you over the years, and blessed to have you as a friend and a big brother.- Mike and Susan Itemuagbor

  • Police Commands to get surveillance helicopter – Jonathan

    Towards reforming the Nigeria Police, the Federal Government has proposed to equip every State Police Command with helicopter in order to boost their air surveillance operations.

    President Goodluck Jonathan made the promise while speaking at the 2013 Police week and commissioning of some police equipment at the Eagles Square, Abuja.
    Stressing that the equipment will go a long way in checking criminal activities like armed robbery, kidnapping and facilitate prompt responses during emergencies, he charged the Police to ensure maintenance of the equipment and regular staff training in order to meet up with the current security challenges.

    He also urged the policemen to respect the citizens while discharging their functions of protecting lives and property and fighting crimes.

    Jonathan said: “I expect that these facilities will enhance police capability in prevention of crimes, and improving response time in emergency situation. It shall be instruments of justice and protection of all men of goodwill given as it will be deployed and utilised strategically to achieve and accelerate utmost result.”

    “For us to continue to use these equipment, one thing I urge the police to do is the issue of maintenance. As a nation, we are not too good in maintaining what we have. Presently, that aspect is improving because my reaction to the arm forces, the navy, and the air force, we have gotten a very formidable team that are now maintaining their equipment.”

    “The police should do the same so that these equipment will last the time they expected to last. Also, we must emphasise the need to train. For you to remain gallant, for you to remain functional in whatever you do, and especially in security tactics, training is vital.”

    He went on: “You must train on the job, you must train with the equipment so that our men and women in police force will have confidence in themselves so that they will continue to operate as gallant men and women.”

    “The police must be well equipped and kitted to protect us while on land, while in water and also in the air. Of course you see the helicopter we commission and I believe my commitment is that every state command must have a helicopter.”

    “You have seen the commitment of government that is why we set up the special fund. A situation where armed robbers could takeover a place and operating for hours and no challenge must be a thing of the past. And that is why we want to invest in air power for the Nigerian police.” He added

    The equipment commissioned yesterday include seven helicopters, 13  Amoured Personnel Carriers (APC), 275 patrol vehicles and  20 Toyota helux armoured pickup vans and other gadgets.

    Extending condolences to the families of police men and women who lost their lives while on duty of securing the nation, President Jonathan, at the occasion, also presented Presidential awards to those who distinguished themselves in terms of courage, merit and post houmous awards.