7 Ways to Open a New Page in Your Life

Nowadays you’re living in the world of constant movement. It seems there’re millions of things and possibilities that can make you happier, but sometimes it’s very difficult to screw your courage up and open a new page in your life. You may feel paralyzed, because you simply don’t know what you want to be. Unfortunately, various fears and diffidence usually make you lose the best opportunities and chances. Consequently, you become despondent and limited, because it’s hard to keep hope alive when your world is falling apart.

Remember that this world belongs to you and you’re free to enjoy life and express yourself the way you like. The main point is to turn your energies to think more positively and get ready to start a new life. New life can bring you more inspiration to move on and develop in every possible way.I’m sure that people around you will appreciate your efforts and eagerness to change something in your life for better. I hope this article will broaden your outlook and inspire you to make considerable changes.

1. Analyze your present life

Don’t waste your time dreaming that your life will change for better by itself. If you’re not satisfied with your life and want to move to a new stage, then it’s high time to make the first step in the process of your life improvement. To my mind, deep analysis of your present life is one of the most important things you should start from. It will help you understand the source of the issue and weigh all pros and cons.

I don’t know about you, but when I face some problem or an inner conflict, I try to identify the issue and figure out a strategy on how to handle the situation. It usually takes me much time and efforts, but the success of your future actions depends on this first step.

2. Listen to your heart

When it comes to your life, you’d better try to find courage to follow your intuition. If you live in tune with your heart, you’ll be able to elicit your potential and do things you adore. Your mind’s function is to keep you safe and fill your life with logical decisions. I’m sure that every person has a great number of passions and desires hidden deeply in their heart. Don’t let your individual nature get lost in fears and prohibitions. Moreover, try to take important life decisions on your own, because the noise of other peoples’ opinions can totally confuse you. Only your heart knows the truth about your passions. It’s extremely difficult to ignore the common sense and listen to your heart. Take up a challenge and you’ll have a chance to do things you love.

3. Don’t fear to start from nothing

If you’ve already decided what you want to be and what you would like to change, then you should be ready to make a startup out of nothing. First of all, you need to overcome the fear of uncertainty, then try to focus on your personal achievements and skills, because they’re an inevitable part of your future success. Realize that everyone in this world starts from a place of nothing. A new start in life provides you with a possibility to fill your world with the colors you like.

Unfortunately, many people don’t believe in themselves and find themselves unable to build something out of nothing. Consequently, they’re not ready to meet the challenges of life. I believe that you’re strong enough to start something new and succeed in it, because every person is a winner.

4. Challenge yourself

I hope you’ve already understood what’s wrong in your life and you know what you want to do. If you’re not afraid to start from nothing, then it’s high time to move to the next step. After a considerable reflection on your life, you should start challenging yourself. Don’t fear to leave your comfort zone and move in different directions, otherwise you’ll never see any positive change.

I think that learning a new language is the best way to open a new page in your life. This skill will provide you with more interesting opportunities and the ability to communicate with people from foreign countries. Furthermore, it will help you broaden your horizons and become an all-rounded person.

5. Focus on your future

Wise people usually say that if you want to be happy and enjoy your life, then you should forget about the past and focus more on your future. I do agree with this statement since it’s pointless to sacrifice your personal time thinking about things that hurt you. It’s been proved that obsessive thoughts about past failures exert big negative influence on human emotional state.

You should do your best to create an action plan that will help you enter a new stage of your life. Every time you have a free minute, try to visualize your success.

6. Fill your life with something new

It often happens that bad habits and behaviors from the past don’t let you change your lifestyle. In that case, try to change your mindset and replace these habits by something new. Fill your casual life with activities you feel passionate about. One day, they can become a significant part of your life.

The more you try the faster you’ll find your vocation and things that really attract you. If parachute jumping is not your pair of shoes, then try to do needlework. A bit later, you can turn your hobbies into a business.

7. Get used to your new lifestyle

The process of changing your life isn’t as simple as you may think. It requires your innovations to turn into habits. The research tells that if you do new things for three weeks, you’ll easily get used to them.
If you decide to master meditation, you should spend about 20 minutes meditating on a regular basis. This repeated action will prove your conscious mind that you’re going to change and develop yourself. I think it won’t be difficult, because good things are easy to get used to.

Everything is real in this world. If you’re sick and tired of your casual life, you should find something new that will help you achieve your goals. The main thing is to know what you want out of life. Plus you should get rid of the fear to start from nothing and move towards success, because you have all chances to become a happy person. Have you ever tried to change something in your life? Feel free to share your experiences with us.

WOMANITELY

Six Players Who Could restore the Super Eagles’ Wings

By Solace Chukwu, Ed Dove & James Ezimoha

Following Nigeria’s disappointing Cup of Nations Qualifying results, it’s clear that something needs to change for the Super Eagles. A change of coach, a change of leadership and a change of tactics are all popular ideas, but what about the players?

Nigeria are not short of talent, yet the Big Boss has been guilty of persisting with consistent underperformers over the last 18 months.

In this feature, three Goal Nigeria writers each propose two uncapped players that they’d like to see incorporated into the squad in the near future.

Comment below and let us know which of those listed you’d like to see acknowledged by Keshi. Also, tell us the names you’d like to see given a chance in the famous green shirts and we’ll respond to your selections in coming editorials.

Godswill Elohor & Chuks Aneke

Godswill Elohor

The Super Eagles have not achieved stability in the right-back spot for some time. Chidi Odiah held down the fort admirably, but since his exit from the national team set-up, the void has been filled gamely by Efe Ambrose.

However, the Celtic man is very much a centre-back playing out of position and often struggles by the touchline going forward, often preferring to cut into the centre of the field where there’s more space. The rise of Godswill Elohor is set to change all that.

The youngster, who left the shores of the country at a young age, is highly rated in the Barcelona youth ranks. Physically imposing and mature beyond his years, he captained the Blaugrana’s U-19 team to victory in the UEFA Youth League last season.

His integration into the Super Eagles would address an immediate need, and give the team attacking balance on the right.

Chuks Aneke

Just like Elohor, a call-up for 21-year-old Chuks Aneke would solve a headache that Stephen Keshi has failed to in his reign: the right person to complete the midfield three. In recent qualifiers, especially against Congo in Calabar, the Super Eagles struggled with staticity in the middle with a trio of Ramon Azeez, Ogenyi Onazi and John Obi Mikel.

If the Big Boss intends to persevere with his 4-3-3/4-2-1-3 hybrid, then Aneke is perfect for the farthest forward position of the three. Standing at 6’3, his physical attributes dovetail nicely with supreme technique. The former Arsenal youth player has been compared with IYaya Toure by Arsene Wenger, and while the ability is not quite the same yet, the style sure is.

His range of passing, forward-playing inclinations from midfield and scoring touch (he notched 14 for Crewe Alexandra on loan last season from midfield) would give the Eagles a different, and more dangerous dimension.

Follow Solace Chukwu on 

Moses Odubajo & Abiola Dauda

Moses Odubajo

It was March this year when I had the good fortune to watch Moses Odubajo play in the flesh. Here was a player, they had told me, who was destined for great things.

They weren’t wrong, the winger fired home an 82nd minute goal to secure a victory for his side, Leyton Orient, against Colchester United.

At the time, the Os looked good for promotion, heading into the game in top spot in League One.  The London side faltered, however, and missed out on the Championship.

Odubajo was clearly good enough for the third tier and after a bidding war between various sides, was eventually snapped up by Brentford.

The Nigerian has taken to life on a grander stage like a duck to water; already he has scored twice, contributed one assist and been named Man of the Match on one occasion. Only 21, there is a lot more to come—there’s no reason why he couldn’t be an exciting back-up option on the right with a view to the future.

Abiola Dauda

Following Nigeria’s defeat to the Republic of Congo and their goalless draw with South Africa, calls have returned for La Liga hotshot Ike Uche to be returned to the national team.

It’s understandable to see where the clamouring comes from. Uche is a fine poacher and bagged 14 goals in 19 starts last term. He’s already averaged a goal-a-game in Spain so far this season.

However, despite his qualities, it’s fair to say that, at 30, the striker is a short-term option at best. Similarly, even if he does patch things up with Stephen Keshi, he remains a loose cannon and a potentially divisive influence.

Might Abiola Dauda be an altogether safer option?

The 26-year-old managed 11 goals in 24 appearances with Red Star Belgrade last term and was in ferocious form this weekend for new club Vitesse Arnhem.

The Eredivisie can be a propitious division for a player with a turn of pace and an eye for goal, and if Dauda’s fine form continues, he would be an ideal candidate for a phone call from the Glass House.

Follow Ed Dove on 

Carl Ikeme & Chuba Akpom

Carl Ikeme

With Vincent Enyeama excused from international duty against Congo, things fell apart. Austin Ejide’s inability to challenge the Number One has resulted in the over-reliance of the Lille shot-stopper.

Could Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Carl Ikeme be the answer?

The keeper, who signed a three-year deal in June with Wolves, broke the 90-year club record for most clean sheets in a season as they stormed back to the Championship last term.

Standing at 6’3’’ (1.91m), the 28-year-old has the repertoire to give Enyeama a run for his money—in good spirit, if I might add.

Chuba Akpom

18-year-old Akpom, who like Ikeme was born in England, has continued to impress with Arsenal, and with the way he’s been banging in goals (the latest being a brace for the U-21s against Aston Villa), a first-team reward is not far off.

With Emmanuel Emenike struggling, latterly, to supply the goals for Nigeria, it is of great importance that Keshi uncovers new, diverse offensive options.

Having been schooled under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger since the age of six, rising steadily through the youth system at Arsenal, and then branching out on loan to Brentford and Coventry City for further experience, Akpom’s young shoulders have been drilled astutely.

The young, energetic, composed forward truly deserves examination by the national team handlers, certainly before England come calling!

Culled from Goal

Ebola Survivor Ada Igonoh Recounts How She Beat the Virus

Dr. Ada Igonoh

Dr. Ada Igonoh of First Consultants Medical Centre is one of the doctors who attended to Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian who imported the Ebola virus into Nigeria. She was infected by the virus and miraculously she survived to share her story with BellaNaija.

She recounted her story: On the night of Sunday July 20, 2014, Patrick Sawyer was wheeled into the Emergency Room at First Consultants Medical Centre, Obalende, Lagos, with complaints of fever and body weakness. The male doctor on call admitted him as a case of malaria and took a full history.

Knowing that Mr. Sawyer had recently arrived from Liberia, the doctor asked if he had been in contact with an Ebola patient in the last couple of weeks, and Mr. Sawyer denied any such contact. He also denied attending any funeral ceremony recently.

Blood samples were taken for full blood count, malaria parasites, liver function test and other baseline investigations. He was admitted into a private room and started on anti-malarial drugs and analgesics. That night, the full blood count result came back as normal and not indicative of the infection.

The following day, however, his condition worsened. He barely ate any of his meals. His liver function test result showed his liver enzymes were markedly elevated. We then took samples for HIV and hepatitis screening.

At about 5.00 pm, he requested to see a doctor. I was the doctor on call that night so I went in to see him. He was lying in bed with his intravenous (I.V.) fluid bag removed from its metal stand and placed beside him.

He complained that he had stooled about five times that evening and that he wanted to use the bathroom again. I picked up the I.V. bag from his bed and hung it back on the stand. I told him I would inform a nurse to come and disconnect the I.V. so he could conveniently go to the bathroom.

I walked out of his room and went straight to the nurses’ station where I told the nurse on duty to disconnect his I.V. I then informed my consultant, Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh about the patient’s condition and she asked that he be placed on some medications.

The following day, the results for HIV and hepatitis screening came out negative. As we were preparing for the early morning ward rounds, I was approached by an ECOWAS official who informed me that Patrick Sawyer had to catch an 11 o’clock flight to Calabar for a retreat that morning.

He wanted to know if it would be possible. I told him it wasn’t, as he was acutely ill. Dr. Adadevoh also told him the patient could certainly not leave the hospital in his condition.

During our early morning ward round with Dr. Adadevoh, we concluded that this was not malaria and that the patient needed to be screened for Ebola Viral Disease. She immediately started calling laboratories to find out where the test could be carried out.

She was eventually referred to Professor Omilabu of the LUTH Virology Reference Lab in Idi-Araba whom she called immediately. Prof. Omilabu told her to send blood and urine samples to LUTH straight away.

She tried to reach the Lagos State Commissioner for Health but he was unable at the time. She also put calls across to officials of the Federal Ministry of Health and National Centre for Disease Control.

Dr. Adadevoh at this time was in a pensive mood. Patrick Sawyer was now a suspected case of Ebola, perhaps the first in the country. He was quarantined, and strict barrier nursing was applied with all the precautionary measures we could muster.

A wooden barricade was placed at the entrance of the door to keep visitors and unauthorized personnel away from the patient.

Despite the medications prescribed earlier, the vomiting and diarrhea persisted. The fever escalated from 38c to 40c.

On the morning of Wednesday 23rd July, the tests carried out in LUTH showed a signal for Ebola. Samples were then sent to Dakar, Senegal for a confirmatory test. Dr. Adadevoh went for several meetings with the Lagos State Ministry of Health. Thereafter, officials from Lagos State came to inspect the hospital and the protective measures we had put in place.

The following day, Thursday 24th July, I was again on call. At about 10.00 pm Mr. Sawyer requested to see me. I went into the newly created dressing room, donned my protective gear and went in to see him. He had not been cooperating with the nurses and had refused any additional treatment. He sounded confused and said he received a call from Liberia asking for a detailed medical report to be sent to them.

At 6.30 am, Friday 25th July, I got a call from the nurse that Patrick Sawyer was completely unresponsive. Again, I put on the protective gear and headed to his room. I found him slumped in the bathroom. I examined him and observed that there was no respiratory movement.

I felt his pulse; it was absent. We had lost him. It was I who certified Patrick Sawyer dead. I informed Dr. Adadevoh immediately and she instructed that no one was to be allowed to go into his room for any reason at all. Later that day, officials from the WHO came and took his body away. The test in Dakar later came out positive for Zaire strain of the Ebola virus.
It was a sobering day. We all began to go over all that happened in the last few days, wondering just how much physical contact we had individually made with Patrick Sawyer.
They said we were going to be grouped into high risk and low risk categories based on our individual levels of exposure to Patrick Sawyer.

We were all officially under surveillance. We were asked to report to them at the first sign of a fever for further blood tests to be done. The anxiety in the air was palpable.

One week before Patrick Sawyer died, I had gone for a retreat in my parents’ house. I was still staying with them when I received my temperature chart and thermometer on Tuesday 29th of July.

I could not contain my anxiety. I soon started experiencing joint and muscle aches and a sore throat, which I quickly attributed to stress and anxiety

On Friday 1st of August, my temperature read a high 38.7c. I could not believe what I saw on the thermometer. On Saturday 2nd of August, the fever worsened.

The sore throat was getting worse. That was when I called the helpline and an ambulance was sent with WHO doctors who came and took a sample of my blood. Later that day, I started stooling and vomiting.
The following day, Sunday 3rd of August, I got a call from one of the doctors who told me that the sample which they had taken was not confirmatory, and that they needed another sample.

They came with the ambulance that afternoon and told me that I had to go with them to Yaba. I was confused.  I asked if they would bring me back.

He said “yes.” Even with the symptoms I did not believe I had Ebola. The only time I actually touched him was when I checked his pulse and confirmed him dead, and I wore double gloves and felt adequately protected.

We soon got to Yaba. I really had no clue where I was. I knew it was a hospital. I was left alone in the back of the ambulance for over four hours. My mind was in a whirl. I didn’t know what to think. I was offered food to eat but I could barely eat the rice.

The ambulance door opened and a Caucasian gentleman approached me but kept a little distance. He said to me, “I have to inform you that your blood tested positive for Ebola. I am sorry.”

I had no reaction. I think I must have been in shock. He then told me to open my mouth and he looked at my tongue. He said it was the typical Ebola tongue.

I was taken to the female ward. I was shocked at the environment. It looked like an abandoned building. I suspected it had not been in use for quite a while. As I walked in, I immediately recognised one of the ward maids from our hospital. She always had a smile for me but not this time.

I soon settled into my corner and looked around the room. It smelled of faeces and vomit. It also had a characteristic Ebola smell to which I became accustomed. Dinner was served – rice and stew. The pepper stung my mouth and tongue. I dropped the spoon. No dinner that night.

That evening, the symptoms fully kicked in. I was stooling almost every two hours. The toilets did not flush so I had to fetch water in a bucket from the bathroom each time I used the toilet. I then placed another bucket beneath my bed for the vomiting.

The next day Monday 4th of August, I began to notice red rashes on my skin particularly on my arms. I had developed sores all over my mouth. My head was pounding so badly. The sore throat was so severe I could not eat. I could only drink the ORS.
Every morning, I began the day with reading and meditating on Psalm 91. The sanitary condition in the ward left much to be desired.  The matrons would leave our food outside the door; we had to go get the food ourselves.

Later that evening, Dr. David brought another lady into the ward. I recognised her immediately as Justina Ejelonu, a nurse who had started working at First Consultants on the 21st of July, a day after Patrick Saywer was admitted.

She was on duty on the day Patrick reported that he was stooling. While she was attending to him that night, he had yanked off his drip, letting his blood flow almost like a tap onto her hands. Justina was pregnant and was brought into our ward bleeding from a suspected miscarriage.

I drank the ORS fluid like my life depended on it.
Shortly after Justina came into the ward, the ward maid, Mrs. Ukoh passed on. The disease had gotten into her central nervous system. We stared at her lifeless body in shock.
To contain the frequent diarrhea, I had started wearing adult diapers, as running to the toilet was no longer convenient for me.

Two more females joined us in the ward; a nurse from our hospital and a patient from another hospital. The mood in the ward was solemn.

On my 10th day in the ward, the doctors having noted that I had stopped vomiting and stooling and was no longer running a fever, decided it was time to take my blood sample to test if the virus had cleared from my system. I prayed that I didn’t want any more samples collected from me

On the evening of the day Justina passed on, we were moved to the new isolation centre. We felt like we were leaving hell and going to heaven.

The following night, Dr. Adadevoh was moved to our isolation ward from her private room where she had previously been receiving treatment. We all hoped and prayed that she would come out of it, but sadly it was not to be.

Two days later, on Saturday the 16th of August, the WHO doctors came with some papers. I was informed that the result of my blood test was negative for Ebola virus. If I could somersault, I would have but my joints were still slightly painful.  I was so full of thanks and praise to God, my husband couldn’t stop shouting when I called him
I went for a chlorine bath, which was necessary to disinfect my skin from my head to my toes. It felt like I was being baptized into a new life as Dr. Carolina, a WHO doctor from Argentina poured the bucket of chlorinated water all over me.

THISDAY

I Joined PDP to Resolve Borno Problem – Sheriff

Former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, yesterday said he joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to resolve the numerous problems bedevilling his state.

Sheriff, who was in the state to pay  a condolence visit on Alhaji Kashim Shettima, a governorship candidate of PDP in 2003 and 2007 elections, and the internally displaced persons in the state, said the allegation by the Australian hostage negotiator, Dr. Steven Davies, was hatched in Maiduguri, the state capital, by his detractors.

He said it was a great disservice to link him with the insurgency in the county, insisting that: “If I was a Boko Haram sponsor, there would not have been any government in the state for anyone to inherit.

“The allegation by the Australian was hatched in Maiduguri to smear my name by those who are not comfortable with my political goodwill,” advising that: “We should be careful how we treat issues because some of these things could later backfire.”

He lamented that: “It is sad to hear that the state owned television was for about four days broadcasting the allegation of the Australian negotiator against me, but the people of the state know who I am and what I have done and what I can do.”

“I have suffered a lot in their (Boko Haram) hands, they killed my brother just an hour after he was with me. They killed the governorship candidate of my party, a candidate that I supported. There is no body in the state that has not suffered from the insurgents.”

On why he left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the PDP, he said some changes are better done when you are in the government at the centre adding that he intends to make the needed change for his people.

According to him, “My being in the PDP is a personal sacrifice for my people. I am in PDP so as to make the necessary intervention for my people.
“There is no sacrifice too much for me to make for the people of the state because they have done so much for me.”

The former governor stressed: “It is sad that they have been saying I do not care for the state. I have always cared for the state because I take it that I am the most patronised person in state having been voted three times into the senate and twice as governor.

“I have been doing so many things behind the scene for the state, I do not need to come to the media to state what I have done.”

Sheriff, who was governor of the state from 2003 to 2011, said: “If it takes me to be sleeping 24 hours in the presidency for my people, I will do just that.”

In a swift reaction, the Borno State Government, said Sheriff was putting the cat before the horse in order to politicise the allegations against him and find a scapegoat and an easy escape route.

In statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda, the state government distanced itself from the allegations that it was backing Boko Haram.

Part of the statement read: “The Borno State Government has nothing to do with Steven Davis, unless if Sheriff had dealings with him or others when he was governor, that we don’t know, but under Kashim Shettima, we have no controversies of such and he shouldn’t drag this innocent, transparent  and hardworking administration into controversies, we have enough issues to worry about. Our concern is how to end the crisis and not to cause confusion,” it said.

Military Kills 100 Boko Haram Insurgents in Konduga

The Nigerian Army has crushed another  attempt by Boko Haram terrorists  to take the strategic town of Konduga, on Tuesday night, 16 September 2014, killing over 100 of them on the process.

This was confirmed   Wednesday in a statement signed by the Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Brig-Gen. Olajide Laleye.

The latest development, which was also confirmed by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade in his twitter handle.

Olukolade said that the troops  successfully crushed another attempt by terrorists who were on a revenge mission to Konduga, after 12 hours of fighting in the outskirts of the Borno State community.

“Troops are now combing the vicinity, in a cordon and search operation to determine the heavy casualties suffered by the terrorists in the encounter”, he said.
Details to follow

Bayelsa PDP chairman accuses politicians of undermining Dickson: Calls Abuja based politicians disgruntled and misguided elements

Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, Sam Inokoba, has accused Abuja-based politicians from the state of working against the government of Governor Seriake Dickson.

Apparently referring to the National Assembly members from the state, he equally blamed them for the seeming frosty relationship between Dickson and President Goodluck Jonathan.

Inokoba, a retired army colonel, made the accusation in a statement at the weekend in Yenagoa while reacting to a national newspaper’s report captioned: ‘First Lady’s ploy to hijack Bayelsa, Rivers thickens’.

He described the Abuja-based politicians from the state as “disgruntled and misguided elements” who want “to turn the state into a theatre of war”.

The PDP chairman said they could not be stocking political fire from outside in a bid to score cheap political points.

He said the party and the Bayelsa public know their antecedents, stressing that the people were now wiser.

Inokoba said the PDP would resist any attempt by the Abuja-based politicians to destabilise the government of Dickson and create crisis in the state.

“The PDP in Bayelsa State will resist any attempt by disgruntled and misguided elements to turn the state to a theatre of war. They cannot be throwing stones from outside, all in the name of playing politics.

“We know their antecedents and so do everybody in the state. People are now wiser. The era of political thuggery is over in the state for good.

“We, therefore, call on all party faithful in the state and indeed all Bayelsans to disregard and ignore the move by mischief makers especially at this season of heightened political activities to disrupt the existing peace and harmony in the state”, he said.

Gas explosion: Bayelsa community debunks Presidency’s relief claim

The Koluama community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has debunked claims by the Presidency that the Federal Government has done much for it since the gas explosion from Chevron’s KS Endeavour on February 16, 2012 in the area.

Youths of the community had at the weekend occupied an oil facility in the area belonging to Chevron to protest unfulfilled promises since the incident.

Chairman of Koluama security and employment committee and spokesperson of Keffes Development Foundation (KDF), Matthew Seleipri, said the body set up to co-ordinate development in the area, said the Presidency has not fulfilled any promise.

He was reacting to media reports on Tuesday credited to presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, who carpeted the spokesman of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Lai Mohammed, for accusing the Federal Government of neglecting Koluama.

Seleipri told reporters in Yenagoa that all the government had given the over 40,000 people of the area was just 15 bags of rice donated by the NNPC when the president visited several weeks after the devastating explosion.

He also revealed that promise by presidential adviser on the Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, that scholarships would be given to youths of the community and skills acquisition to the women had not been redeemed since 2012.

He said Mohammed’s remarks on Koluama were a true reflection of the untold hardship suffered by the people of the community since their means of livelihoods were destroyed by the gas explosion.

He, however, noted that Chevron did respond to their agitation by giving N1.2 billion palliative to all the impacted communities pending the outcome of report on the explosion.

Seleipri said no report on the explosion and its implications for the people and the environment had been released by the company or the government.

He advised the Federal Government to, in the interest of peace, be alive to its responsibilities to the people instead of engaging in propaganda.

Culled: Daily Independent

PDP accuses Governor Adams Oshiomhole of wasteful spending

Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Osi Orbih, has accused the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, of wasting state funds.

The party chieftain made the allegation when a senatorial aspirant of the party, Chief Richard Lamai, came to the party headquarters to signify his intention.

He alleged that within the space of two months the governor has approved over N428 million for overseas trip for himself, some members of his cabinet, some traditional rulers, the state House of Assemblymen and some of the All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts, among others.

Chief Orbih admonished the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Louis Odion, to always verify his facts before making comments.

In his comments, Chief Richard Lamai said that his desire to represent the people of the northern senatorial district of the state is hinged on his vision to give them qualitative representation.

The aspirant stated that the senatorial district, which is also the home of the state governor, Comrade Oshiomhole, needs a vibrant PDP candidate to stand up to the assumed political strength of the APC in the locality.

He promised that in less than a year of his assumption office he would establish small scale industries in each of the 64 wards of his constituency, adding that he knows the pains of the people and as such was in the right position to cater for their needs.

Tambuwal Gives PIB Panel 21-day Ultimatum To Submit Report

The speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, yesterday, gave the Ishaka Bawa-led Adhoc Committee on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) a 21-day ultimatum to submit a report.

Tambuwal gave the directive at plenary while declaring open the fourth legislative session of the 7th Assembly just as a PIB cash-for-passage allegation filtered round the National Assembly (NASS).

It was alleged that the ministry of petroleum and the state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) were being asked for cash to ensure the PIB’s passage, an allegation the House leadership dispelled.

“You don’t need anybody to give you a dime to do your job,” the deputy House leader, Leo Ogor, declared in response to the allegations.

“I am giving you my assurance vis-a-vis that of the Speaker that the PIB will be passed. Final touches have been put into that bill and I want to also state that I’m not aware that anybody is asking anybody for a dime. You don’t need anybody to give you a dime to do your job.

“Our oath of allegiance is to the Constitution of Nigeria, vis-à-vis the fact that we are lawmakers. So if somebody is going to be asking for money before doing his own job, then that is an aberration. I doubt it sincerely. I hope it’s not some kind of cheap blackmail,” Ogor said.

Meanwhile, Tambuwal in his remarks reported that although the election year 2015 is still unborn as far as the prescriptions of the Electoral Act and INEC Regulations and Guidelines are concerned, “for some, desperation has already taken over.” He called for “due regard” to the serious security challenge of insurgency and terrorism and the general volatile political atmosphere.

“The people should be our prime focus because without the people, there will be no country and therefore nothing to represent or to govern,” Tambuwal said, and described the security situation in the North East as “alarming” and of “grave concern.”

“It is a matter for grave concern that the insurgency in the North Eastern states of the country has graduated from sporadic acts of violence to an alarming situation where acquisition of territory has become the main focus, thus threatening our territorial integrity. This, therefore, calls for decisive action. The Nigerian Armed Forces have exhibited great sense of patriotism in the past towards the protection of our territorial integrity just as they are doing in the present circumstance and that invaluable selflessness must not be in vain.

“In this regard I seize this opportunity to once again commend our military and the security agencies for their gallant determination in flushing out insurgency. Our troops need full kitting, equipment and motivation that meets current international standards so as to insulate them from avoidable loss of lives and also to meet the force of the offensive. Let me assure them that the House of Representatives will meet all its obligations in that regard, Tambuwal stated.

He welcomed the proposal by the federal government to establish a Special Forces Unit to deal with insurgency and terrorism.

“…in my address to this hallowed chambers on June 25 this year to mark the commencement of the 4th session, I had specifically advocated the establishment of a Counter Terrorism Special Forces Unit as well as a National Counter terrorism Centre for our Armed Forces,” he said.

I am confident that the resolve of Government in this regard will deliver the desired dividends in terms of acquisition of operational expertise.

Monthly Oil Revenue Declines Further to N601.64 in August: As FG, states, LGs share N611.70bn

Again, production challenges including a force majeure declared by Shell and series of shutdown of trunk lines and pipelines at various terminals impacted negatively on monthly receipts as gross revenue for August further dropped by about N28.67 billion to about N601.64 billion compared to about N630.3 billion in July.

The situation becomes worrisome in view of the huge monetary interventions and other initiatives by the federal government to check pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering and other hiccups in order to improve revenue generation in the treasury.

Nevertheless, a total distributable revenue amounting to about N611.70 billion was yesterday shared among the three tiers of government for August.

It came as Chairman, Forum of Finance Commissioners, Mr. Timothy Odah, also said the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) believes the recent court judgment that the judiciary be put on the first line charge was unimplementable although it does not intend to bring the court judgment into contempt.

He said the matter was still being considered by the respective state governments to a final resolution on the issue.
Odah also re-echoed the committee’s stance that the oil subsidy programme be removed and the monies given to the states to better manage and prioritise the needs of their people.

However, addressing journalists after the monthly meeting of the committee in Abuja, Minister of State for Finance, Alhaji Bashir Yuguda, said gross revenue from value added tax (VAT) within the month under review also dropped by about N3.95 billion to about N61.51 billion compared to about N65.46 billion in July.

The minister also said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had paid N10 billion as first installment as part of its  N206 billion indebtedness to the federal government.

According to the breakdown in statutory distribution, the federal government received about N238.08 billion while the states got about N120.76 billion as well as about N93.10 billion to the local governments.

The sum of about N44.84 billion was shared to oil and gas producing states as under the derivation principle.

For VAT, the federal government received about N8.85 billion, while the states got about N29.52 billion as well as the local governments which got about N20.66 billion for the month.