FIFA to discuss Nigeria 2009

The FIFA Executive Committee has been scheduled to convene in Tokyo between December 19 and 20 to among other issues discuss Nigeria’s preparations for the Under-17 World Cup next year.
According to the world football ruling body on Tuesday, the meeting will be chaired by the President, Sepp Blatter.

The competitions that have taken place in 2008 including the U-17 and U-20 Women‘s World Cups in New Zealand and Chile will be reviewed.

Issues relating to member associations, including a review of all pending cases and reports on the FIFA transfer matching system, the regulations for the protection of minors, and the 6+5 resolution adopted by the FIFA Congress will be discussed.

Obasanjo’s role as petroleum minister illegal – Reps

A report of the House of Representatives ad -hoc committee that probed the oil sector from 1999 to 2007 has said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo held the position of Minister of Petroleum illegally.

It says his action breached Sections 138 and 147 (2) of the 1999 Constitution and raised serious questions on due process of the oil bloc bid rounds conducted by his administration.

The report, therefore, recommended that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Police should investigate those whose activities led to fraud when the bids were conducted.

Government reportedly lost hundreds of millions of dollars in Signature Bonuses from oil bloc bids during the Obasanjo administration.

Part of the money, if recovered, will be used to fund the over N1tn deficit in the 2009 budget.

Investigations by our correspondents showed that the panel’s report was ready for submission to the House last Tuesday, but was shelved because of the budget presentation by President Umaru Yar’Adua.

The 25-member ad- hoc committee, chaired by Mr. Igo Aguma, blamed the irregularities largely on Obasanjo who, it said, illegally occupied the office of the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

The committee observed that by appointing himself a minister, the former President contributed largely to the shoddy bid rounds that characterised his tenure in office.

Section 138 of the 1999 Constitution states: “The President shall not, during his tenure of office, hold any other executive or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever.”

Section 147 (2) states, “Any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President.”

Obasanjo never submitted himself to the Senate for screening as petroleum minister, let alone being confirmed in any form.

According to the committee, Obasanjo never directly interfaced with the bid processes, but related with his aides who might not have received his approval on all their actions.

It said that, without a constitutionally recognised minister in charge of the petroleum sector during Obasanjo years in office, the “legal due process of the bid rounds” was undermined.

Further, it cited Section II of the Petroleum Act to buttress its position.

However, two of Obasanjo aides who appeared before the committee said that they received all instructions from Obasanjo who was also the Minister of Petroleum.

The distortions in the bid rounds, the panel said, led to staggered payment of signature bonuses, some of which had been outstanding since 2001.

It said that in many cases, bid winners never paid the specified amount owing to “preferential treatment of winners at the conclusion of the bid rounds.”

The committee consequently demanded the full recovery of the revenues lost during the bids.

THE PUNCH had earlier reported that debts owed by the 16 oil firms (names withheld) involved in bid round rackets resulted in staggered and preferential treatments amounting to $1.148bn or about N134.34bn .

The committee’s Recommendation, 17 in particular, states, “The various acts of reprehensible conduct exhibited by the administrators (of) the Bid Rounds should be thoroughly investigated by the relevant agencies (the police, EFCC and ICPC, with a view to prosecuting those persons whose actions and conduct were induced by improper motives.”

The panel cited the case of a multinational firm, which won OPL 250 and paid only $75m signature bonus instead of $200m due to the distortion of the guidelines for the bid rounds.

It said, “The ad -hoc committee, therefore, recommends that signature bonuses must be paid in full at the time of the execution of the Production Sharing Contract.

“Even though this field (OPL 250) has been abandoned , the signature bonus balance of $125m should be recovered.”

The committee added that all outstanding signature bonuses should be recovered “subject to the express provisions of the PSCs, from the winners of the blocs who are in default of payment within a reasonable time but not exceeding 60 days from the date of this report.”

It said, “At the expiration of that time frame, the award should be revoked regardless of whether or not the blocs are either in development or production as non-payment of signature bonus is a breach of the fundamental condition for the award of the bloc. Such blocs should be returned to the basket.”

In addition, the panel directed that after recovering such funds, they should be audited to confirm whether they conformed with the true value, “identify and confirm any diverted payments; identify any acts of criminality and fraud in the process.”

The report identified the 2004 bid rounds and marginal field awards as one of the most-distorted. It said the officers charged with the duty of administering the bids and the minister of petroleum “who was in fact, the (then) President,” could not interface appropriately.

Stressing the anomaly of Obasanjo acting as a minister, it said, “The political buffers, namely the Presidential Adviser and the Special Adviser, Petroleum, interfaced between these officers and the minister.

“The officers did not have the opportunity of independent and or direct ministerial confirmation of actions that distorted the system.”

Sallah tragedy: Okiro’s PSO burnt to death

Tragedy struck in Abuja on Tuesday as the Principal Staff Officer to Inspector-General of Police, Mr. James Mshelia, was burnt to death in a domestic fire accident.

The inferno occurred at Central Police Officers Mess in Area 11, Garki area of the Federal Capital Territory.

A Deputy Commissioner of Police and PSO 2 to the IGP, Mshelia was burnt beyond recognition at the mess.

The fire reportedly occurred at about noon. It was gathered from police sources that the late officer was cooking at his lodge and later slept off when the gas cooker caught fire.

Armed police men were seen guarding the area when our correspondent visited his residence at about 3pm. Nobody was allowed to enter the building except senior police officers.”

Britney Spears' Circus Act Tops the Charts

Britney Spears is back at No. 1.

For the first time in more than five years, Britney topped the Billboard 200. Her new album Circus sold more than half a million copies for the week ended Sunday.

This gives Spears the second biggest female bow of the year, topping debut weeks by Mariah Carey, Miley Cyrus, Madonna, Janet Jackson and Beyoncé and only trailing Taylor Swift. Once the final retail receipts are counted, the album should claim the seventh biggest bow of 2008.

Back in October, Britney set the stage for her comeback when "Womanizer" became her first Hot 100 chart-topper since "…Baby One More Time" a decade ago. "Womanizer" also set the record for the biggest digital sales debut by a female artist (286,000 copies) since Nielsen SoundScan started tracking downloads in 2003.

"Imagine a year ago, did anyone think that today she would be able to come out with an album that would, not only just debut at No. 1, but also do half a million copies in its first week?" asks Billboard Senior Chart Manager Keith Caulfield. "It's surprising, but at the same time it's got to be pretty satisfying for Britney and for her record label."

And it's not just album and song sales soaring, because according to her website, "This tour is selling out like hot cakes! In response to overwhelming ticket sales, we have several more dates in cities including Los Angeles, London, Chicago, Toronto and Newark!"

So expect the circus to be coming to your town soon.

CARLING CUP UPDATE: Burnley 2-0 Arsenal

EH YA...OLD MAN SORRY O!!!!!!!!!!1

Two goals from Burnley midfielder Kevin McDonald sent Arsenal's young side crashing out of the Carling Cup.

McDonald opened the scoring after just six minutes, tapping home from close range after keeper Lukasz Fabianski had spilled the ball into his path.

The second came shortly into the second half with McDonald curling the ball past Fabianski from a tight angle.

Arsenal had several chances but found Burnley keeper Brian Jensen in fine form on a memorable night at Turf Moor.

Striker Nicklas Bendtner in particular endured a frustrating evening missing several decent chances for the Premier League outfit.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger kept true his promise to again field his youngsters who had been so impressive in their path to the quarter-finals of the competition.

Paul Rodgers, 19, was handed a debut while Arsenal also included 16-year-old Jack Wilshere and 17-year-old Aaron Ramsey.

Despite their lack of experience, Arsenal played with composure and elegance and at times were breathtaking in their play.

But as is so often the case with Arsenal, wastefulness in front of goal cost them dear as they came up against an organised and clinical Burnley side.

It was Arsenal who had the first chance of the game with Bendtner calling Jensen into an early save but the Danish striker fired straight at the legs of the Burnley keeper.

Just 80 seconds later, Burnley had the lead.

Chris Eagles created it, sending in a low cross from the right which keeper Fabianski spilled under pressure from Martin Paterson and McDonald was on hand to tap the ball home from six yards.

Arsenal had chances to equalise, several of them in fact, but Wenger's side, who had been clinical in front of goal in previous rounds, were in wasteful mood.

Bendtner missed the first opportunity to level, again firing straight at the body of Jensen following a decent flick-on from Carlos Vela.

Despite having the lead Burnley continued to press for the second goal with Paterson and Eagles in particular causing the Arsenal defence problems.

And Fabianski made sure the score stayed at 1-0 saving well with his feet from Paterson's low shot.

Shortly after, Bendtner's clever little flick found Mark Randall with just the keeper, but Jensen again came out on top with another fine save.

Again Bendtner turned provider this time playing in Vela with a header that split the Burnley defence but the Mexican striker failed to beat Jensen.

It was the final opportunity Arsenal had to level in what had been a highly entertaining and open first half.

Arsenal started the second period brightly with Fran Merida, who had a quiet first half, jinking his way past three Burnley defenders before curling the ball past the post.

But with Arsenal pressing for an equaliser they were caught with a sucker punch falling further behind after 56 minutes.

And it was McDonald who scored it claiming his second goal of the game with a fine finish.

The striker out-muscled Randall to Eagles' throw and curled the ball home with the outside of his right foot from 15-yards.

Soon after Paterson almost made it 3-0 but he headed straight at Fabianski from close range.

Jensen again prevented Bendtner from six yards out as Arsenal's frustration grew.

And late on Bendtner missed from close range with Jensen again using his legs to deny the Arsenal striker.

It was the last real chance Arsenal would have and summed up a frustrating night for the Premier League giants as Championship Burnley celebrated a famous victory and marched into the semi-finals.

Burnley: Jensen, Duff, Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan, Alexander, Blake (Elliott 77), McDonald (Gudjonsson 61), McCann, Eagles, Paterson (Akinbiyi 74).
Subs Not Used: Penny, Mahon, Rodriguez, MacDonald.

Goals: McDonald 6, 57.

Arsenal: Fabianski, Hoyte, Silvestre, Ramsey, Gibbs, Rodgers (Lansbury 46), Randall (Bischoff 72), Merida, Wilshere (Simpson 63), Bendtner, Vela.
Subs Not Used: Mannone, Coquelin, Steer, Frimpong.

Booked: Randall, Merida.

Att: 19,045

Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Burnley's Kevin McDonald 8.15 (on 90 minutes

Beyonce Didn't Want To Marry Jay-Z When She Was Too Young Singer tells Seventeen her rule was not to get hitched before she turned 25.

Beyoncé was in no rush to get married when she first met Jay-Z, not to him or to anyone else, she told Seventeen magazine in their December/January issue, according to UsMagazine.com.

"I was 18 when we first met, 19 when we first started dating," the 27-year-old said in the issue that hits newsstands November 18. "I really don't believe that you will love the same thing when you're 20 as you do at 30. So that was my rule: Before the age of 25, I would never get married."

The singer explained that she wanted to get to know herself first before making the commitment to the hip-hop mogul, which she finally did in a secret ceremony in New York this past April. Now they have become each other's support system.

Jay, 38, offers up advice for his wife all the time, B added, revealing the best wisdom he's shared with her so far: "I guess probably that we're all human," she said.

"I don't care if you're picture-perfect on every magazine cover, and you're the most handsome, successful, coolest guy — you still get sad, and you still get your feelings hurt, and you still get confused and vulnerable and nervous and scared. You have to find a person you can make it through the tough times with."

Beyoncé, whose double album I Am ... Sasha Fierce drops next Tuesday (November 18), also admitted that when it comes to criticism, she is her own worst enemy. "I feel like I'm my own competition," she said. "I don't try to compete with other people. I just try to better myself."

B revealed one of her secrets to staying on top of her game: studying videos of herself in great detail, like an athlete. "I go and watch everything that I've done," she said. "I have my YouTube days, when I watch every performance, and I listen to my music, and I watch my videos to figure out what I need to do, what I need to fix and how to become a better singer."

US carmakers publish rescue plans

Chrysler, Ford and General Motors have all submitted their proposals to Congress for multi-billion dollar loans upon which their survival could depend.

The so-called Detroit Three of troubled US carmakers have asked for a combined total of $34bn (£22.8bn; 26.8bn euros).

Slashing costs, reducing levels of debt and investing in greener technologies form the centre-piece of each proposal.

The chief executives of Ford and GM have even offered to work for $1 a year if Congress approves the emergency aid.

Sales at all three of the carmakers have plunged as US consumers tighten their belts in the face of the severe economic downturn.

Ford sold 31% fewer light vehicles in November compared with the same month last year.

GM suffered a 41% drop in sales for the month, while Chrysler fared worse still, with sales plummeting 47%.

Loan proposals

General Motors asked Congress for a loan of $12bn (£8bn), with an additional $6bn if necessary, to help it survive.

Ford meanwhile requested a $9bn (£6bn) bridging loan, which it hopes it will not need.

Chrysler sought $7bn to survive the dramatic slump in sales that has decimated its cash reserves.

In its submission, GM said that, if the loan was granted, it would draw on $4bn this month before beginning repayments in 2011.

It said it would continue its efforts to develop more fuel-efficient vehicles - including an investment of $2.9bn in alternative fuels - and cut costs, levels of debt and top executives' pay.

This would include reducing its workforce considerably by 2012.

GM also pledged to reduce its chief executive Rick Wagoner's annual salary to just $1.

Ford boss Alan Mullaly made a similar pledge, but only should it need to call on the emergency loan.

Ford also said it would sell its five corporate jets as part of its cost-cutting plan, and proposed other measures including selling some businesses, such as Swedish carmaker Volvo.

It said a $14bn investment was needed in new technologies in the next seven years in order to improve fuel efficiency.

"Ford is asking for access to up to $9bn in bridge financing, but reiterated that it hopes to complete its transformation without accessing the loan should Congress agree to make the funds available," the carmaker said in a statement.

It added that it expected to return to profit, or at least break even, by 2011.

Tough task

Analysts say the poor sales figures have highlighted what a tough task this will be.

"Every manufacturer is posting awful numbers and we are no exception," said Mark LeNeve of GM North America.

Indeed, Honda's year-on-year US sales fell by 32% in November, while Toyota's fell by 34%.

"The consumer is scared and sitting on the sideline. We need appropriate economic stimulus to get the consumer back in the game," Mr LeNeve added.

But the White House has already expressed scepticism about the bail-out proposals.

"We are sticking to our guns that the companies have to prove that they are viable before taxpayer dollars should be given to them," said White House press secretary Dana Perino.

And the Swedish government has ruled out a takeover of Volvo if Ford is unable to sell it.

Avoiding criticism

The heads of all three companies decided not to use private jets to travel to Washington for their presentations to avoid public criticism.

Mr Wagoner and Mr Mulally are both said to have driven one of their own companies' hybrid cars from Detroit, while Chrysler boss Bob Nardelli said he would not use a corporate jet.

GM has warned it could run out of cash in a matter of weeks and cannot wait until President-elect Barack Obama - who may be more sympathetic to industry pleas - takes office in in January.

The company was left with $16bn in cash at the end of September after losing $6.9bn during the previous three months.

But Republican critics and some Democrats say the financial crisis is not the only reason why the biggest US carmakers are in trouble.

They say that the Ford, GM and Chrysler's production is inefficient, and that their labour costs are higher than many of their foreign rivals.

Other critics want to make sure that the Detroit Three adopt more environmentally friendly policies, including strict fuel efficiency targets, in return for government aid.

The United Auto Workers (UAW) union is reportedly considering renegotiating their members' contracts.

Green credits

Most analysts think that GM is "too big to fail", while Chrysler is the most vulnerable of the three companies and might be forced into a partnership with a stronger rival.

Their presentations on Tuesday precede hearings in Congress later this week.

According to sources familiar with GM's proposal, the carmaker may consider selling off its Pontiac, Saab and Saturn brands.

Correspondents say it is unclear whether Congress could vote on the bail-out proposals. It could instead delay consideration until the new House of Representatives, with a much bigger Democratic majority, takes office on 6 January.

The Bush administration has offered to accelerate the payment of some $25bn in green investment credits already allocated to the car industry, but this has been opposed by Democrats in the House of Representatives.

Kanye West-Produced Jay-Z Song Confirmed For Bad Boy's 'Notorious' Soundtrack There is also talk that the Notorious B.I.G.'s son will appear on a 'One

It would have to be Bad Boy. You can't imagine a Notorious B.I.G. project without some sort of association with Diddy's label.

MTV News confirmed that the soundtrack to the Biggie biopic "Notorious" will, in fact, be released by Big's former recording home.

Although most of the performers and producers are still being confirmed, an album trump card has already been revealed: Big's good friend Jay-Z. Hov has the first track we'll hear off the album, "Brooklyn (We Go Hard)." Kanye West produced the song, and Santogold is featured on it.

"Brooklyn, we go hard, we go hard," Santo's voice loops throughout the song. "Cross that bridge face the consequence," she also raps in a verse.

"If a man tests my Stuy, I guarantee he won't like my reply," the Jiggaman cautions. "I'm a Brooklyn boy, I may take some getting used to."

There is also talk that Big's son, Christopher Wallace Jr., will appear on a remake of the classic "One More Chance." The capacity of CJ's participation is still unconfirmed by the label, but a source close to the Wallace family has told us he will be rapping with his dad. The young Wallace actually plays his father for a short while in the Biggie film.

The soundtrack is due in stores January 13. The movie is slated for release January 16 through Fox Searchlight Pictures. MTV News had the opportunity to catch a preview of the movie last week. True to the testaments of Big's inner circle, such as Lil' Cease and producer Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, Jamal "Gravy" Woolard accurately channels the late, great hip-hop icon. Gravy also has Big's husky voice down cold.

While Biggie's death was tragic, the filmmakers were able to make a large portion of the movie upbeat as they portrayed the Notorious One's astronomic rise to the hip-hop elite.

20 die in Pakistan, Afghan militant attacks

MILITANTS in north-western Pakistan yesterday attacked trucks ferrying supplies to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the United States (U.S.) forces in Afghanistan, killing nine people and destroying a dozen vehicles.

Also in Afghanistan, eight civilians and two police officers died after a suicide bomber detonated his explosives in a crowded market in southern Afghanistan.

The Associated Press (AP) yesterday quoted Helmand Province police chief Asadullah Sherzad as saying that the bomber targeted a police vehicle in the market.

Sherzad said 25 civilians and two police were also hurt in the attack and several shops were destroyed.

The spasm of violence comes amid a spike in tensions between Pakistan and rival India over last week's terror attacks in Mumbai, which New Delhi has blamed on Pakistani militants.

Pakistan has condemned the attacks and vowed to crack down on the perpetrators if New Delhi provides evidence. But there are fears that tensions could nevertheless boil over between the nuclear-armed rivals.

The attack on the U.S.-led coalition trucks took place at a terminal in Peshawar, which sits along the supply route from Pakistan to Afghanistan. The city has seen an upsurge in violence in recent weeks, including the slaying of an American working on a U.S.-funded aid project.

Several gunmen fired rockets and automatic weapons at the Faisal terminal, killing a driver and a clerk and destroying 12 trucks, said police officer Ahsanullah Khan.

An AP Television News reporter saw two Humvee military vehicles on board the trucks that were on fire following the attack.

Up to 75 per cent of the supplies for Western forces in landlocked Afghanistan pass through Pakistan. Earlier this month, suspected Taliban militants hijacked several trucks carrying Humvees near the Khyber Pass.

Pakistan halted traffic along the road for several days while it arranged for armed troops to guard the slow-moving convoys.

Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants in the north-western border region are blamed for rising attacks in Pakistan and also in Afghanistan, where violence is running at its highest level since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.

Pakistani security officials at the weekend, said they would withdraw troops from the volatile north-west if India were to mobilise its forces close to the Pakistan border following the Mumbai attacks, an alarming scenario for the West as it tries to get Islamabad to focus on the al-Qaeda threat.

Pakistani troops are battling the insurgents in at least two regions, including the Swat Valley, the scene of yesterday's suicide attack.

The bomber detonated his car while queuing up at the checkpoint, a military officer at the Swat media center said on customary condition of anonymity.

"Two passengers vehicles received the major thrust of the explosion and were badly smashed up," he said.

Police officer Dilawar Bangash said eight people were killed and 40 wounded.

The identities of the dead were not known.

Meanwhile, shooting and violence continued in parts of Karachi, the largest city and commercial hub of Pakistan, raising the death toll to 32 in three days of violence.

Riots yesterday forced authorities to close all educational institutions and postpone university exams as ethnic and political gangs clashed in different neighbourhood.

City Police Chief Waseem Ahmed said 32 people were killed and 55 injured.

Lagosians clamour for expansion of BRT

Residents of Lagos have called on the state government to expand the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to cover the unreached areas. The BRT launched in March 2008 has put smile on the faces of many Lagosians and eased their transportation problem.

In a survey conducted by post graduate students of the Mass Communication Department, University of Lagos and supervised by Professor Idowu Sobowale, it was revealed that Lagosians were happy and satisfied with the operation of the scheme because it saved them time and money. It also removed the tension of struggling to board commercial buses.

Through the research carried out by Oyelade Oluwaseyi, Apata Oluwayemisi, Madu Aloysius and Sulaiman Mudasir, it was revealed that 53.8 per cent of Lagosians who responded to the question whether they agreed that the BRT service should be expanded to cover other routes said they strongly agreed.

At least 36.2 per cent of the respondents said they agreed to the extension of the service.
Those who said they do not agree or strongly disagreed were 7.7 per cent and 2.3 per cent respectively.
The survey, which sampled opinions of 793 residents of the nation’s foremost commercial city indicated that the percentage of those who did not show concern about the BRT expansion was insignificant.

Prior to the advent of the BRT scheme, the transportation system in Lagos was chaotic to the extent that it was always war between conductors and commuters in commercial buses without a convenient alternative.
The commercial buses on Lagos roads were inadequate and operators increased fares arbitrarily at the slightest opportunity.
Lagosians commended Governor Fashola administration for the BRT scheme, noting that it had made life better and more comfortable for them.

FG unveils N2.87trillion … Recurrent expenditure – N1. 649 trillion … Capital expenditure – N796.7 billion

Less than four weeks to the end of the 2008 fiscal year, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua finally presented the 2009 Appropriation Bill of N2,870,510,042,679 to the joint session of the National Assembly, with a promise to remain focus despite the global economic downturn.

President Yar’Adua who spent about 57 minutes reading the 30-paragraph speech with no specific title said that Nigeria’s economic growth remains on track just as it is buoyed by strong performance of the non-oil sector in spite of the global downturn.

The president further noted that growth in the non-oil sector particularly in agriculture, remains robust, at an estimated 9 per cent saying that as the administration moves to reposition the economy to meet the challenges as well as take advantage of the opportunities that the people are faced with at home and internationally, it has to be recognized that the global financial crisis has led to slowing growth across the world’s economies.

According to Yar’Adua; "The changing international oil market poses grave concerns for our fiscal outlook. The global financial crisis has led to slowing growth across the world’s economies, resulting in a lower demand for commodities, especially oil.

While speculative investment activities had helped to buoy oil prices in recent months, the reality of the global recession is beginning to be fully appreciated across the globe, and more poignantly in Nigeria by its adverse impact on the international price of oil."

He noted that the recent volatility of the oil price is apparent in the unprecedented decline of prices from record highs of about US$147/barrel in July this year to current prices of about US$50/barrel, adding that there is no guarantee that the prices will not further decline despite OPEC’s recent mitigating efforts, stressing that there was the urgent need to adopt a prudent outlook that does not invest misplaced confidence in the expectation of unrealistically high prices.

He further said; "Notwithstanding however, the oil sector’s GDP contracted in 2008 by about 2.5 per cent due to reduced production levels precipitated by the ongoing situation in the Niger Delta. Overall, real GDP growth for 2009 is estimated to be about 7.5 per cent which compares favourably with the 6.6 per cent recorded so far in 2008.

The budget is 4.45 per cent higher than the 2008 budget of N2.748 trillion as well as an increase of 8.42 per cent over the 2008 Amended budget expenditure of N2.647 trillion.
The budget was benchmarked on a $45 per barrel of crude oil as against $59 of last year and a deficit of N1.09trillion or 3.95 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and a forecast production of 2.292million barrels of crude oil per day.
According to the President, the 2009 budget would seeks to tackle critical areas of national needs such as power supply, education, security, Niger Delta, human capital development, critical infrastructure, land reforms, food security and agriculture.

For critical infrastructure, the federal government planned to spend N361.2billion in 2009. This include N88.5billion for power, aviation N15.4billion, petroleum resources N26.5billion, works N129.3billion, transport N35.2billion and N48.7billion for critical infrastructure within the federal territory.

Others are human capital development for which N131.9billion was earmarked. This include N39.6billion for health, education N33.6billion, N32.6billion for MDGs conditional grants, N19.7billion for MDGs quick wins projects and N6.3billion for MDGs capacity building.
Federal Government also budgeted N91.8billion for land reforms and food security, focusing on agriculture and water resources, N67billion for security and N77.2billion on the Niger Delta.
Key projects that would be funded by the 2009 budget includes:

Mambilla Hydro-electric power generation project for which N3.5billion was budgeted, N21.5billion for other Generation projects (including N6.5billion for the completion of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company’s NIPP projects), N32billion for Transmission projects, and N19.25billion for Distribution projects.

Also, the Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline received N903.9million, while the Calabar-Umuahia-Ajaokuta Gas Pipeline got N6.7billion and the Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kano pipeline received N10.3billion.
Equally, N10.7billion was budgeted for access roads to 6 NNPC refineries and ports while N56.86billion was voted for highway construction and rehabilitation.
The sum of N4.3billion was voted for the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge at Onitsha and N3.6billion for the Guto-Bagana bridge across the River Benue.

The President also announced a vote of N12.4billion for the completion of the Ajaokuta-Warri railway line to the Delta Steel Jetty while N8.3billion was devoted for the modernization of locomotives, coaches and wagons, and N8.4billion for the dredging of the lower River Niger.
The health sector projects include, a N6.5billion on HIV/AIDS response, N3billion on Midwifery services scheme and N7.7billion Maternity and Children’s health while N6billion will go for Polio eradication.
The new ministry of the Niger Delta will invest N28.4billion in the East-West road to improve accessibility to the region while N92.8billion will be spent on projects to improve and restore the environment.

The President also voted N18.6billion on other projects in the Niger Delta particularly the establishment of two sophisticated skills acquisition centres to help the youths from the region to acquire skills relevant to the energy and petrochemicals industry.

Agriculture and water resources also received priority attention as N4.6billion was voted for the development of livestock development infrastructure, N15billion on the supply of fertilizer, N6.5billion on tractor service PPP schemes, N9.2billion on the construction and rehabilitation of dams, and N11.6billion on water supply and sanitation.

According to the President, the philosophy and thrust of the 2009 budget is on "delivering on the promises of the 7 point agenda of the administration by enhancing investment in critical physical infrastructure and human capital development, implementing socio-economic reforms and consolidating democracy."

The President said, the 2009 budget "is to give priority to the completion of ongoing projects, which will quickly deliver tangible results in service delivery. Accordingly, rather than embarking on new projects, this administration has opted to devote more resources to completing existing projects and discharging outstanding obligations from the 2007 and 2008 fiscal years. We will continue to ensure that all new projects are well articulated, properly costed, and sensibly prioritized, taking into account available resources and the implementation capacity of the MDAs."

"We must continue to improve national security and enhance the ability of the law-enforcement agencies to discharge their functions. As a responsible and people-centred government, we must continue to abide by the rule of law, promote transparency and accountability in governance, and relentlessly pursue our efforts to combat corruption. By remaining true to our vision, we will create a more prosperous and secure future for all the citizens of this nation," said the President.

The President also announced that the 2009 N1.09trillion deficit will be financed by outstanding signature bonuses, proceeds of ongoing privatisation, the recall of $200million from the Nigerian Trust Fund of the African Development Bank (ADB), any unspent balances from 2008 budget, domestic borrowing and a naira denominated international bond issue of US$500million.

According to the President, year-on-year headline inflation has exceeded single digit projections remaining at 14.7 per cent in October 2008 while core inflation remained in a single digit at 7.9 per cent. He blamed this on rising global cost of food and energy. " Our efforts to manage inflation will continue to build on increasing coordination between monetary and fiscal policy, and our emphasis on fiscal discipline and prudence in macroeconomic management."

On the global financial crises, the President said that Nigeria "is not immune to the challenges in the global financial markets arising from the acute contraction of credit and liquidity in the international financial markets. However, we have moved to protect the integrity of our nation’s financial markets and system by introducing several measures to strengthen our financial sector and restore investor confidence."
Unlike in the past, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan and most ministers were not present at the budget presentation that was witnessed by Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa and Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State.

Van Persie accepts goal was offside

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has conceded he was ‘a little bit offside‘ for his equaliser at Chelsea on Sunday.

The Dutchman strayed into an offside position before scoring the first of two goals in a vital turnaround against the Blues.

Van Persie, though, has pointed to a clash between the two London clubs when he had a seemingly onside goal ruled out.

He said in the Evening Standard, “I scored a goal against Chelsea (in a 2-0 home defeat in December 2005). I was onside, but the referee gave it offside and it didn‘t count.

‘This time was maybe a little bit offside, but it counted and that‘s all that matters.”

Meanwhile, Van Persie’s strike partner, Emmanuel Adebayor, has hailed the importance of the scalp that hauled them to within seven points of the leaders.

The Togo forward said, “It is a very big win because we went through a lot of difficult moments and people wrote us off in the Premier League. Now this is a message that we have sent out.

“We believe in ourselves, we can do something. Forget about what happened - we are always together. We always believed we can do something and these are the kind of results we can show again.

“Now everyone can see we have kept our title dreams alive and the more important thing now is to keep going.”

Mikel laments Arsenal defeat

Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi, on Sunday said his team’s 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in their Premier League match in London was painful but not enough to stop the Blues from winning the title.

Speaking with our correspondent after the match, the Super Eagles star said the Gunners won because they took their chances in the encounter, lamenting his team’s poor performance.

He said, “Football can be funny. We did our best but Arsenal got the goals and that was it. We are going to fight back and work hard to ensure we win the league this time because we have a good team that can achieve that for Chelsea.

“We still have many games to play and it is obvious plenty of drama awaits all the title contenders as we move on.”

Chelsea manager, Felipe Scolari, was forced to replace Mikel with Florent Malouda with 20 minutes to go in a bid to force an equaliser.

The Blues, who had not been beaten at home in the league for 86 games before its 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on October 26, have now lost two of their last four Premier League ties at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea was the only side in English professional football not to have conceded a second-half goal in a league game this season before Robin van Persie’s brace helped Arsenal beat its London rival on Sunday.

Decline deepens as market loses N189bn

Activities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange continued on a low note on Monday as market indices, declined further at the end of the first trading day of the month.

Specifically, the market capitalisation of the 302 listed equities, which had closed at N7.306tn on Friday, dropped by N180bn or 2.5 per cent to close at N7.126tn.

Similarly, the All-Share Index of the NSE slid by 811.4 basis points, or 2.5 per cent to close at 32,214.35, down from 33,025.75 on Friday.

Market analysts, however, attributed the persistent decline to profit-taking activities of investors.

According to them, the trend may continue well into the early part of 2009, as investors may want to cash in on their investments to meet up with responsibilities and year end celebrations.

Only 10 companies recorded price appreciations on Monday, with May and Baker Plc leading the chart by gaining 36 kobo to close at N7.50 per share.

Skye Bank Plc and Sterling Bank Plc followed, adding 17 kobo and 15 kobo, to close at N7.98 and N3.24 respectively.

On the other hand, major blue-chip stocks recorded significant losses in their share prices.

Conoil Plc led the losers’ chart with a loss of N4.73 to close at N89.90 per share.

Guinness Nigeria Plc lost N4.69 to close at N89.23 per share while the shares of Oando Plc and UACN Plc dropped by N3.94 and N1.47 to close at N75.05 and N30.03 respectively.

The banking sub-sector maintained its dominance on the activity chart as it accounted for 48 per cent of total volume traded on Monday.

Activity in the sub-sector was boosted by trading in the shares of United Bank for Africa Plc and Diamond Bank Plc, which represented 33 per cent of turnover.

The insurance sub-sector followed on the activity chart, trading 62,193 million shares, valued at N55.716m in 520 deals. It accounted for 31 per cent of volume.

Trading in the shares of Investment and Allied Assurance Plc drove the sub-sector’s volume, accounting for 70 per cent of turnover.

In all, investors staked N1.637tn on 201.119 million shares, in 7,012 transactions, compared with 294.985 million equities, valued at N2.612bn, exchanged on Friday in 8,142 deals

Etisalat unveils missed calls notification for subscribers

Nigeria’s newest mobile telecommunications company, Etisalat, has unveiled a feature on its pre-paid product, the Easy Starter, that allows subscribers on the network know any caller who tried to reach them even when they were not immediately available or while their phone was switched off.

The Missed Calls Notification feature is available to all subscribers on the Etisalat network at no cost. The firm said by allowing subscribers to be notified on attempts made to reach them on their phones even when a phone number was unreachable for whatever reason, it was helping to promote better businesses and personal relationships.

The feature notifies subscribers about those that tried to reach them, even when out of coverage area or when they switched off their phones, immediately they turn their phones back on or get back into an area where there is coverage. This implies that all attempts to reach a subscriber on the Etisalat network are registered and a subscriber is notified whenever this is necessary.

The firm said notification is sent as an SMS and includes the number(s) that tried to reach them, the date that the attempts were made, the time the number(s) called them and the number of times the number(s) tried to reach them.

This is a first in Nigeria’s telecommunications market and Etisalat said it was a default service on its network and did not require the subscriber to take any action to activate it.

Speaking about the feature, the Vice-President Marketing, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Wael Ammar, said that the feature was unique in the Nigerian market and was in line with Etisalat’s sincere desire to get Nigerians talking a lot more. He added that there was no charge attached to the service.

Visafone deploys Microsoft retail solution with Netspex

Visafone Communications Limited has signed an agreement with Netspex Limited to deploy 300 Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System licences to the former’s shops and kiosks.

Netspex, a Microsoft certified partner, is a leading provider of hospitality and retail solutions in Nigeria.

Explaining the benefits of the pact, the Managing Director, Netspex, Mr. Ohimai Unuigboje said, “Our recent signing with Visafone Communications is a landmark deal for us not only because we have been selected to deliver this cutting edge Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System to Visafone, but also because this solution will provide the company an opportunity to deliver superior customer service.”

The Chief Operating Officer, Visafone, Mr. Vinod Shah, whose firm now has almost two million subscribers nationwide, said the software to be deployed by Netspex would help in customer service delivery.

He said, “We are happy to sign this agreement with Netspex Limited to deploy Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System to our shops and kiosks. Microsoft is the leading software company in the world and they have a record of having software solutions that meet customer needs and that are also adaptable, and so, it was a natural and easy choice to deploy the solution to our shops and kiosks. We are also happy to partner with Netspex Limited, which is a leader in this area.”

Speaking further on the agreement, Unuigboje explained that Visafone needed a robust retail solution, which was scalable and, which had the capacity to address operational and reporting needs in the key areas of operation - warehousing, store operations and head quarters operations.

They required a solution that would simplify the processes of capturing retail information involving both stock and non-stock items. The solution should also be able to manage customers from a global and local perspective in order to understand customer buying and travel patterns in order to enable them deliver superior customer service.”

Obama names Clinton as Secretary of State

United States President-elect, Barack Obama, has nominated his former rival, Hillary Clinton, as his Secretary of state.

Obama described the former First Lady as a woman of ”tremendous stature” who had his ”complete confidence.”

Clinton lost out to Obama when the two contested a bitterly fought race for the Democratic Party presidential nomination.

At a news conference in Chicago on Monday, Obama also announced nominations for other key National Security team posts.

Obama said the time had come for a ”new dawn of American leadership to overcome the challenges of the 21st century, and to seize the opportunities embedded in those challenges.”

Obama said Robert Gates would remain as defence secretary, while retired Marine Gen. James Jones was named as White House national security adviser.

Former Justice Department official, Eric Holder, was nominated as attorney general and Arizona Governor, Janet Napolitano, as secretary of homeland security.

Obama‘s foreign policy team under Hillary Clinton will reassure the more hawkish elements in the US, but might disappoint those who wanted a more radical shift, says BBC News website world affairs correspondent, Paul Reynolds.

Obama said of Clinton, ”She‘s an American of tremendous stature who will have my complete confidence, who knows many of the world‘s leaders, who will command respect in every capital, and who will clearly have the ability to advance our interests around the world.”

”Hillary‘s appointment is a sign to friend and foe of the seriousness of my commitment to renew American diplomacy and restore our alliances,” said Obama.

Although the two repeatedly clashed during the nomination race, Clinton went on to campaign for Obama as he took on Republican John McCain in the race for the White House.

Former president Bill Clinton had cleared the way for his wife‘s appointment by reaching a complicated agreement on his financial arrangements, reports said.

The BBC said there had been fears her nomination could falter over the appearance of conflicts of interest between her husband‘s charitable foundation and lucrative speechmaking schedule.

Clinton has agreed to release the list of donors to his foundation by the end of the year, officials overseeing the presidential transition said.

He has also agreed to submit future engagements, speeches and sources of income to the State Department and the White House and to take a more behind-the-scenes role in the daily running of his foundation, sources said.

Clinton pledged to give the job ”her all.”

“The American people have demanded not just a new direction at home, but a new effort to renew America‘s standing in the world as a force for positive change,” she said.

The current secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, praised Clinton as an ”inspiration” who would ”bring enormous energy and intellect” to the role.

”And most important I know her to be somebody who has what you need most in this job: which is a deep love of the United States of America.”

Announcing his team, Obama said, ”The national security challenges we face are just as great and just as urgent as our economic crisis.”

Announcing that Robert Gates would remain in his job, Obama said he would be given ”a new mission” to ”responsibly” end the war in Iraq.

”We will also ensure that we have the strategy - and resources - to succeed against al Qaeda and the Taleban,” said Obama.

Selecting Gates - who was appointed by President George W. Bush two years ago - allows Obama to honour a promise to name at least one Republican cabinet member.

The BBC‘s Justin Webb in Washington reported that the re-appointment of Gates was a sign of pragmatism that would please those who had urged Obama to be cautious, but could also upset those who had wanted a clean break from the previous administration.

Gates said he was ”deeply honoured” to be asked to continue and that he did so with ”a profound sense of personal responsibility, to and for our men and women in uniform and their families”.

Retired General James Jones - a former top commander of NATO and US forces in Europe - was nominated as national security adviser.

He served in the Bush administration as a Middle East adviser.

Jennifer Hudson's Brother-in-Law Arrested for Family Murders

Jennifer Hudson's estranged brother-in-law has just gone from "person of interest" to prime suspect in the slayings of her mother, brother and nephew.

Chicago police today arrested William Balfour for the Oct. 24 shooting deaths that ripped the Dreamgirls star's family apart.

Chicago police detectives went to the Illinois' Stateville Correctional Center, where Balfour has been detained since two days after the murders. The 27-year-old was transferred into police custody at 2:45 local time.

“He is awaiting formal charges for three counts of murder,” a police department spokesman told E! News. “There likely will be a press conference once there are formal charges against him.”

Defense attorney Joshua Kutnick told reporters outside the police station that his client has maintained his innocence.

"He vehemently denies that he is guilty in this case," Kutnick said. "Any evidence pointing to Mr. Balfour is not even thin. It is very, very weak."

Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, and 29-year-old brother, Jason Hudson, were found shot to death in the family's Chicago home. Seven-year-old Julian King, the son of Hudson's sister, Julia, was reported missing and found dead from a gunshot wound to the head three days later in an abandoned SUV.

Police said that Julian was likely taken alive from the house and then killed in the vehicle. Hudson was called upon to identify the bodies of all three.

Balfour was deemed a "person of interest" in the case almost immediately after the murders transfixed the nation. But he was jailed on an unrelated charges of parole violation stemming from a 1999 attempted-murder conviction, for which he spent seven years in prison. He was released in 2006.

At a hearing last month, the Illinois Prisoner Review Board decided to keep him locked up after hearing evidence that he appeared in places where drugs were sold and, according to his girlfriend, being in possession of a gun matching the description of the Hudson murder weapon.

The suspect's mother, Michelle Davis-Balfour, told reporters tonight that the authorities didn't have a case.

"If they found gun powder on his hands, you got a case," she said. "If they found a gun on him, he had a case. If they found a fingerprint on the truck that he did this, you got a case— but they don't have nothing."

Hudson's publicist, Lisa Kasteler, had no comment Monday.

Yar’Adua stops inauguration of Plateau LG chairmen

There were indications in Abuja on Monday that President Umaru Yar’Adua had directed Governor Jonah Jang to stop the inauguration of the newly elected Local Government Chairmen and councillors in Plateau State.

A source in the Presidency told one of our correspondents that Yar’Adua informed Jang through the telephone that the inauguration could lead to another round of violence in the state.

He said, “On learning that the governor was planning to inaugurate the new councils today (Monday), the President telephoned him on Sunday evening to express his displeasure at such a move which could further inflame passion in the state.

“The President was highly incensed that the governor could contemplate inaugurating the councils in the face of the current development when tension was still high and people still counting their huge losses. The President told the governor to shelve the idea.”

It was learnt that Yar’Adua, who sent the minister supervising the Ministry of Health, Alhaji Hassan Lawal, to assess the Jos mayhem, also expressed displeasure that the state government had not done much in the supply of relief materials to the displaced persons.

“The President on Monday directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Yayale, under whose purview the National Emergency Management Agency operates, to ensure that efforts were made to provide relief materials for the displaced people,” our source said.

He added that Yar’Adua, at a meeting with security chiefs in Abuja on Monday, also directed that efforts should be made to ensure that the crisis did not spread to other states in the country.

It was learnt that President’s directive was informed by reports of rising tension in some states, including those in the South-East geo-political zone where reprisal attacks had been experienced in the past.

Just as our source made the disclosure, more families sought refuge in army and police barracks in Onitsha, Anambra State, as tension built up in the city over the Jos violence.

Sokoto Road, Headbridge, Haruna Street and other parts of the commercial city with high population of Northerners looked deserted when our correspondent in Awka visited on Monday.

The state Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, said through his Chief press Secretary, Mr. Mike Udah, that proactive measures had been taken to protect lives and property in the state.

Obi added that his administration had placed all the security agencies in the state on the alert.

Trouble broke out in Jos on Friday over the conduct of LG elections in the state. More than 300 people were reported killed and hundreds wounded in the two-day violence.

Also on Monday, the Deputy Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Alhaji Hassan Baba, narrowly escaped being lynched at the Jos Central Mosque by some displaced people.

Baba, who accompanied the Speaker of the House Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole and Lawan to the mosque, was accused by the displaced persons of abandoning them.

Our correspondent in Jos reported that Bankole saved the day as Baba had to cling to his hand before being moved to a safe place.

Before the incident, tension had heightened outside the mosque as the over 4,000 displaced persons refused the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Richard Chime, entry.

Chime, who also accompanied Bankole and Lawal to the mosque, then made frantic calls for security operatives to be dispatched to the scene.

A few minutes later, some operatives arrived in Armoured Personnel Carriers to bring the situation under the control.

A soldier told our correspondent that but for their quick response, there would have been another round of fracas in the troubled city.

But after the tension was doused, a mild drama occurred when a member of the House of Representative, Alhaji Samaila Mohammed, began to read an address on behalf of the victims.

As Muhammed, who is also one of those that took refuge in the mosque, was about to blame the state government for the crisis, Bankole, apparently sensing danger, quickly snatched the script and microphone from him and interjected.

He told the displaced persons that he was sent by his colleagues in the National Assembly to see things for themselves.

The Speaker said, ”We are from the National Assembly to see things for ourselves. We have visited the governor and he has told us his own side of the story.

“We need all of you now than any time because what you do in the next one hour can either save life or take away life. The difference between you and the people out there is that you are the leaders. Whether you like it or not, you must put your emotions into your pockets.

“You have lost property, sisters, wives, children or whatever, but they are not worth more than losing Prophet Mohammed. We will make sure that the people who did this are properly dealt with. You must allow us to do it.

“Because that is the job you have given us as elected representatives, you cannot do it yourself. You must be patient to allow us to investigate properly with facts and figures. I beg you, we beg you to do just this for us.”

Bankole reminded them that as good Muslims, they must pray, especially now that Arafat, the hallmark of the Muslim pilgrimage, was only six days away.

In his comment, Lawal assured the displaced persons, including a former Minister of State for Information and Communications, Mr. Dasuki Nakande, that the Federal Government would send relief materials to them.

He said that he was sent by the President to ascertain the level of destruction and the assistance they would need.

He had visited the injured at the Jos University Teaching Hospital on Sunday and the premises of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in Rikkos where reprisal attacks were recorded on Saturday.

Meanwhile, normalcy has started to return to many parts of the city. But movements are still being restricted, especially in the vulnerable areas.

However, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Gen. Yusuf Bomoi, said on Monday that corps members serving in Jos were among the over 200 people officially confirmed killed in the two-day mayhem that began on Friday.

He gave their names as Leke Akande, 23; Tola Odusola, 20; and Ibukun Oluwatosin Akinjogbin, 23.

Bomoi, who addressed batches A, B and C of the NYSC members currently in camp at the Zang Secondary Commercial School, Bukuru, assured them of safety.

He said as a precautionary measure, the batch C members would be allowed to go back to their respective homes.

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