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Applications Open For Nieman-Berkman Fellowship In Harvard

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Applications Open For Nieman-Berkman Fellowship In Harvard

The Nieman Foundation for Journalism and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society is sponsoring at least one fellow for a US$60,000 fellowship at Harvard to carry out an academic year research project on journalism innovation.

Applications are welcome from journalists around the globe working for news organizations in a business, technology, or leadership capacity, as well as independent journalists.

Candidates must propose a project relating to journalism’s digital transformation. Examples might include ideas for new revenue streams to fund journalism, the construction of new tools for reporting or research into news consumption patterns.

Fellows receive additional allowances for housing, childcare and health insurance.

Applicants must submit a personal statement, project proposal, work samples, four recommendation letters and a leave of absence letter by January 31.

All applications will be evaluated by a joint Berkman and Nieman review team. Interviews with finalists will be held in the spring, and, if a satisfactory candidate is found, the winner will be notified in April.

Oshiomhole Denies Being Hospitalised After Road Accident

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Oshiomhole Denies Being Hospitalised After Road Accident

From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has denied reports that he was seriously injured, flown abroad and hospitalised following injuries he purportedly sustained in an auto crash between his convoy and a J5 bus stocked tomatoes in late December, 2013.

The accident occurred at Ewu, in Esan Central Local Government Area of the state on December 28, 2013.

While presiding over the first State Executive Council meeting of the year on Monday, said he was neither seriously injured nor flown abroad for treatment, reassuring the people that he is well and alive.

“All those stories about being hospitalized and being under intensive care in an undisclosed hospital are figments of the imagination of those who were parroting the story,” the governor said.

“It is true that on the 28th December, 2013, at about 10am, I was heading from my village to Benin City to receive the Vice President (Namadi Sambo) who was visiting Uromi to attend the birthday celebration of Chief Tony Anenih. Even though he was on a private visit, I am obliged by protocol to receive him,” he narrated.

Continuing he said: “I believe somewhere in Ewu, a bus that was packed with goods veered off its lane and headed straight to my car and hit the car. But for the fact that the car is armored, it would have somersaulted given its impact and the bus driver was clearly on high speed.”

The governor said in spite of the incident, he was still able to go to the airport to receive the Vice President and urged the people of the state to continue to cooperate with his administration.

 

Oil Company Loses 200 Barrels Of Crude To Sabotage In Edo

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Oil Company Loses 200 Barrels Of Crude To Sabotage In Edo

From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

Dubril Oil Company Limited operating in Edo State says it has lost at least 200 barrels of crude per day due to acts of sabotage by youths in Ughoton, one of its host communities over allegations that it failed to discharge its corporate social responsibilities.

The community relations officer of Dubril Oil, Clement Seweje, told journalists in Benin on Monday that the sharp drop in oil production per barrel from 340 to about 140 per day occurred when one of its pipeline at Ughoton in Edo state was ruptured.

This, according to him, resulted in an oil spill on December 28, 2013 along the Udo-Ughoton-Gelegele Road in Ovia North-East local government area before the well was shut.

Seweje, however, informed journalists that the oil spill did not cause any damage as is claimed by the community and that the ruptured pipe has been mended with hopes to resume production as soon as possible.

Denying allegations that the company failed to fulfil it social responsibility to the community, Seweje listed some of the amenities Dubril Oil provided for Ughoton to include electricity, scholarships, a health centre, town-hall, renovation of primary school, empowerment programme for 14 youths and mployment.

He also lamented that although the company pays taxes and rates to the Edo State government and Ovia North-East Council, both authorities have done nothing to resolves the pending issues with the community.

Notwithstanding, the community relations officer said the company is hopeful that it would recover from the set back, even as it plans to raise its crude oil production to 2000 barrels per day by the third quarter of 2014.

Coalition Of Political Parties Denies Participating In Yobe LG Polls

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Coalition Of Political Parties Denies Participating In Yobe LG Polls

The Coalition of the Political Parties in Yobe State has denied taking part in the December 28 local government election held in the state, calling it a huge fraud and demanding for a published apology from the government within 72 hours or face legal action.

In a statement signed by its caretaker committee chairman, Adamu Muhammed Babangida, the coalition said what happened during the local government election was a farce and a ploy by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to hoodwink citizens into believing that all is well in the state.

“No such election ever took place in Yobe state and any sensible person can attest to the fact that where there exist a state of emergency declared because of insecurity, no politicking or voting process will take place unless and if the state of emergency lifted,” Babangida said.

He expressed disappointment over the insincerity of the Ibrahim Gaidam – led administration, noting that in reports published in the media which were credited to Yobe state government that 10 political parties participated in the elections were false.

“For avoidance of doubt, none of us either purchased or filled nomination forms nor returned same to any agent of the electoral commission. It is in line with the lies against us and deliberate attempt at tarnishing our good names and image. We hereby disassociate ourselves from these publications,” he stated.

Babangida declared that eight parties including the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, Labour Party, LP, Nigeria Peoples Congress, NPC, Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN, Peoples Mandate Party, PMP, Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were not part of the election into 17 local government areas of the state.

The coalition threatened legal battle with the state government if an apology is not published through the same media that published the erroneous reports within 72 hours.

While declaring the results of the council polls, the chairman of the Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission, YBSIEC, Mohammed Jauro Abdu, said that candidates of the ruling party in the state, the APC won all the contested chairmanship and councillorship seats.

He, however, stated that the PDP had indicated it would boycott the elections without citing any reason.

“I cannot tell you why PDP opted out of the race, but I am sure they have been with us in all arrangements and we cannot question their decision”.

Yobe, is one of the three states under emergency rule, which the INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega said might not be safe enough for polls in 2015.

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Nasarawa Workers Go On Indefinite Strike

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Nasarawa Workers Go On Indefinite Strike

By Godwin Ojoshimite

Civil servants in Nasarawa State under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, have embarked on an indefinite strike action to demand payment of leave grants and the approval of pending promotions.

The workers communicated their demands to the state government and issued a 14-day ultimatum to the on December 23, 2013 which elapsed January 5, 2014.

They had threatened an industrial faceoff if their demands were not met before the expiration of the ultimatum.

The state government on January 3, 2014 issued a letter approving only pending promotions without payment of leave grants, an offer which was rejected by the labour unions which urged members to embark on the planned strike.

When our reporter visited some of the state ministries in Lafia, the capital on Monday, they were under lock though some workers were seen under the trees discussing their fate.

Efforts to speak with the head of service of the state Domick Bako, proved abortive as he did not pick his calls.

No Plot To Stage Coup In Thailand – Army

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No Plot To Stage Coup In Thailand – Army

Thai army on Monday dismissed rumours of an imminent military coup to overthrow caretaker government, given unusual movement of troops, tanks and combat gear on the northern outskirts of Bangkok.

First Infantry Division Commander, Varah Boonyasit, a major-general, explained that a dozen battalion of troops, tanks, army vehicles and ammunition were being transported to the headquarters of the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bangkok to prepare for a parade for January 18, the Thai Armed Forces Day.

He said the troops and tanks which will join in the annual parade are coming from the Second Infantry Division in Prachinburi province, the 31st Infantry Regiment in Lopburi province, the 21st Infantry Regiment in Chonburi province and the Cavalry Center in Saraburi province.

“This year’s parade will feature army vehicles in addition to the troops. Military attaches from varied embassies have been invited to view the ceremony which will be held in honour of Army Chief, Gen. Prayudh Chan-ocha and Supreme Commander, Gen. Tanasak Patimapakorn, who will retire at the end of September 2014,” he said.

Boonyasit stressed that such activity is no preparations for a military coup as is illogically being rumoured and urged members of the public not to entertain any fear.

The caretaker government, headed by the Premier, Yingluck Shinawatra, is still battling with a planned “Bangkok shutdown” by anti- government protesters led by former Deputy Premier, Suthep Thaugsuban and former Democrat Party legislators on January 13.

They planned to occupy major Bangkok intersections, cut off power and water supply at government premises as well as the residences of the caretaker cabinet ministers and paralyse road traffic, especially in downtown area.

Many analysts believe this is a bid to force the military’s hand and prevent voters from heading to polls slated for February 2.
Since the end of absolute monarchist rule in the 1930s, there have been 18 coups and 23 junta governments in Thailand.

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Village Head, Six Others Nabbed For Illegal Arms Sales In Kaduna

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Village Head, Six Others Nabbed For Illegal Arms Sales In Kaduna

The Kaduna State Police Command on Saturday in Kaduna paraded seven suspected members of a gunrunning syndicate involved in the manufacture, sale and repair of locally made guns.

The state police commissioner, Olufemi Adenaike, said that the suspected gun-runners were arrested following a tip-off from a member of the public.

Adenaike said that seven suspects, including Aliyu Yahaya, the village head of Sabon Gidan, Kakau, in Chikun local government area of the state, were arrested in an operation.

He said that investigations are still going on with a view to arresting other members of the syndicate and called for more support from the public in form of furnishing security agents with useful information that would aid efforts to safeguard the state against terrorism and other crimes.

Speaking to newsmen, Yahaya, who was accused of harbouring some of the suspects and being in illegal possession of guns, confessed his complicity in the crime, saying that he regretted his action.

The village head said that he bought the gun from one Mohammed Shuaibu for N150,000 to enable him to protect his household against the menace of armed robbers and assailants.

He said that Shuaibu told him that the gun was licensed, adding that he paid him half of the price with a pledge to pay the balance when all the gun’s registration documents were given to him.

Also speaking, Shuaibu, 45, confessed that he had been arrested by the police before in connection with illegal possession of arms.

He said that he had jettisoned the gunrunning business for over two and a half years before Yahaya contacted him to procure a gun for him.

He said that that he usually bought guns from his tailor, Mohammed Abdullahi, 55, who himself admitted that he had been in the gunrunning business for quite some time and that he usually purchased guns from a Nigerien (now at large) for subsequent sales to his customers.

He attributed his involvement in the crime to economic hardship, saying that he had three wives, 21 children and another nine children left behind by his deceased son, to cater for.

Traffic Marshal Suspended for Collecting N15, 000 Bribe

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Traffic Marshal Suspended for Collecting N15, 000 Bribe

Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

The Edo State transpprt commissioner, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, has ordered the suspension of an official of the state traffic management agency, for demanding and accepting N15, 000 bribe from a traffic offender.

Omo-Ojo who disclosed this in Benin while addressing officials of the agency during the weekly drill at the ministry’s headquarters, said the measure became imperative after several complaints and was taken to serve as warning to other officials of the against extortion of motorists.

“Right now, I have just ordered the suspension of one officer for taking a bribe of N15,000 from an offending motorist who drove against traffic, I am warning other officers to desist from such act,” he said.

The commissioner added that search is still ongoing for the bribe giving motorist and that when found he would be arrested and prosecuted for traffic violation and for bribing a government official.

Omo-Ojo who later led a team of officials from the agency on road traffic monitoring, impounded about 40 commercial vehicles yet to comply with the state government’s directive to paint their vehicles with the approved colour code.

“We have been sensitizing the public and concerned transport unions on government order on the uniform colour code for buses and taxis, and government gave a deadline of December 31, 2013. Yet as of today, you can still see defaulters which account for the reason for these impounded vehicles,” he said.

Owners of the impounded vehicles will pay a fine ranging from N40,000 for taxis to N60, 000 for buses to cover painting and administrative handling charges.

The commissioner explained that the decision to maintain a uniform colour for commercial vehicles was reached by the state government as part of measures to curb incidents of robbery attacks and other vices carried out with unpainted vehicles.
“With the colour code and the zone’s number code boldly written on the body of the vehicle, security operatives and the public can easily identify any offending commercial vehicle,” he added.

He said about 330 bus stops have been approved for use by all motorists, just as 330 sign posts will be installed at approved bus stops within Benin metropolis.

He appealed to car owners and motorists to ensure that they stop and drop off passengers only at these designated bus stops as officials of the state traffic agency have been given orders to apprehend anyone who breaches traffic rules.

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France Seeks Cooperation Among Peacekeeping Troops In CAR

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France Seeks Cooperation Among Peacekeeping Troops In CAR

French Defence Minister, Jean Le-Drian, has appealed for closer cooperation between the French forces and African troops operating under the auspices of the International Support Mission for Central African Republic, MISCA.

Le-Drian, who made the call on Friday after meeting with the Republic of Congo’s President Denis Sassou N’Guesso in Brazzaville, said that the cooperation had become necessary to enable the forces achieve good results on time.

The minister said that the issue of disarmament of all warring parties, deployment of MISCA everywhere and revival of the political process of resolving the crisis were discussed during the meeting.

France and the Republic of Congo are among the key contributors to the process to implement the UN resolution on Central African Republic, CAR.

France has deployed 1,600 soldiers while the Republic of Congo has close to 1,000 soldiers.

Le -Drian said that France was determined to ensure that the UN resolution was implemented in its entirety.

The French defence chief arrived in Brazzaville on Thursday, as part of his African tour involving also Mali, Niger, Chad, Gabon and the CAR.

Police Recovers Buried Arms In Kebbi

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Police Recovers Buried Arms In Kebbi

The Police in Kebbi on Friday said it recovered some arms buried by unknown persons in Rafin Kukah village in Yauri local government area.

The commissioner of police in the state, Sylvester Umeh, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that the arms were recovered on New Year’s eve.

He said the arms included three AK 47, seven magazines, 198 live ammunition and one paranol pistol loaded with eight rounds of live ammunition.

“A Good Samaritan reported it to the DPO of Yauri Police Division, Kabiru Abdul, who mobilised to the scene and recovered the arms,” he said.

The police chief called on the public to provide information to the police to help it in the detection and prevention of criminal activities, adding that security was a collective responsibility.

Umeh added that the command will ensure confidentiality of its informants.

He said investigations into the source and identity of the owner of the arms was ongoing and that the command will not relent in its responsibilities to ensure that the state is crime-free.

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