University of Lagos ranked 9th best Univeristy in Africa

According to a new ranking released by Africa.com, University of Lagos is the 9th best University in Africa. Cairo University is the still the best University in Africa.

See the top 10 best Universities in Africa below...

1. Cairo University – Egypt
2. American University in Cairo – Egypt
3. Mansoura University – Egypt
4. Makerere University – Uganda
5. University of Nairobi – Kenya
6. University of Dar es Salaam – Tanzania
7. University of Botswana – Botswana
8. University of Ghana – Ghana
9. University of Lagos – Nigeria
10. Ashesi University – Ghana

D'banj's Younger Sister Set To Marry Dotun of Cool Fm

On air personality with Cool Fm, Dotun Ojuolape is in a love relationship with D'banj's younger sister, Taiwo Oyebanjo.

Dotun who was recently suspended for slapping a colleague from Cool FM, we learnt, has been seriously having a smooth-sailing relationship with D'banj's younger sister, Taiwo Oyebanjo, former Mo'hits accountant but now a boutique owner in Victoria Island.

Sources say Dotun and Taiwo are head over heels in love with each other, with the former often saying Taiwo has ‘changed his life.’

We hear he has also met her parents and has gotten approval from them and D’banj himself.

Dotun, who has been working at Cool FM since 2004, currently anchors the ‘Midday Oasis Show’ alongside singer-presenter Temilola ‘Taymi’ Balogun.

He also doubles as an MC at various shows, helping out at the weekly talent showcase Industry Nite once in a while

Sexy Nollywood Actress, Beverly Naya Sizzles in New Photoshoot

Beverly Naya is a rising Nollywood actress. She first appeared in a small role in the 2010 movie, Guilty Pleasures.

She then went on to star as lead in the movie, Home in Exile, which was directed by Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen. She has more than 9 movies scheduled to be released in 2013.

These include Tarila Thompson’s Up The Creek Without a Paddle, which also stars Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Patience Ozokwo, and Van Vicker. Beverly Naya is currently shooting Lotanna, a new movie, which also stars Chris Attoh, Iretiola Doyle, Bimbo Manuel, Jide Kosoko and Chris Okagbue.

Beverly Naya recently had a photo shoot with Korede Olabanji.

Pictures from the photo shoot.

Who is the Most Handsome West African Actor?

West Africa has it’s fair share of handsome actors. In your opinion, who is the most handsome West African actor? Ramsey Nouah or Majid Michel, Mike Ezuruonye or Van Vicker? Desmond Elliot or John Dumelo? Jim Iyke or Chris Attoh?

 

BREAKING NEWS: Akin Ogungbe, Veteran Yoruba Actor Dead

Veteran Yoruba actor, Akin Ogungbe, is dead.

Reports have it that veteran Yoruba theatre legend, Pa Akintola Ogungbe died this morning in his hometown, Abeokuta on Wednesday.

Pa Akin Ogungbe was popular with the epic film, 'Ireke Onibudo'.

According to reports, his death was confirmed by a popular Abeokuta, Ogun State-based actor cum producer and director, Segun Ogungbe this morning.

He was aged 78 before his death.

The Dating Game: Why Women Need To Play Hard To Get

We tend to think of “playing hard to get” as a bad thing. The word “playing” is in the term so automatically we think of playing games and being dishonest.

The term has gotten such a bad rap that many of us vigorously practice the art of doing the opposite—of being as open and forthcoming as possible, of over-sharing and baring it all on the first date. But this can have its repercussions too.

Playing hard to get used to be the way to go

There’s a reason “playing hard to get” was the way to go for centuries before this era of having a therapist as a hobby, and tweeting your every emotion. Maintaining some privacy doesn’t necessarily mean being emotionally constipated. It’s also just a form of valuing yourself, and showing the world that you’re selective of who you let in, which makes being let in by you seem all the sweeter. This works especially with women.

Women want to earn everything you give them

Like with anything in life, rewards are more enjoyable when earned. Why do you think the guy that sits on the street corner cat calling anything in a skirt never gets a number? Because those women didn’t have to do anything to get his attention besides exist. And there’s nothing enticing about that.

We’re much more than just a pretty face

The best “womanizer”—pardon the expression—is an incredible empathizer. He constantly practices the exercise of stepping outside his own body, and his own thoughts, and imagining what it’s like to be the woman that he is pursuing. He gets in her head. And that man recognizes that a woman is not just a pretty face. She is a complete being, with years of life lived behind her, with stresses about work, plans to achieve her goals, and ideas of how she’ll resolve that fight with her best friend buzzing through her head.

Women want to feel tapped into

A man doesn’t have to be a mind reader to win a woman over. You can’t possibly know exactly what a woman is stressed about or what her goals are. But you simply need to be aware that those exist. Because once you’re aware of that—that there is an entire being behind that pretty face—you realize just how petty the, “Hey gorgeous” line comes off to a woman. She needs to be complimented on a much deeper level to even give you the time of day.

The first compliment will make or break you

You see if you give a woman a compliment too quickly, she won’t appreciate it. She won’t feel all giddy and intrigued, as you’d hoped she would. And what use is a compliment if it flies right over her head? And once it does fly right over her head, you’ve pretty much lost that woman forever. A woman guages your level of intellect and sensitivity based on when and how you compliment her for the first time. She guages your ability to get her based on this, too.

Which is why you have to wait to compliment her

Tell a woman she’s beautiful within the first minute of speaking to her, and she thinks, “Great. So he can recognize symmetrical facial features and nice hair. So can an infant.” But tell a woman she is beautiful twenty minutes into speaking to her and she feels that you’re seeing much more than just the way she looks. She feels that her personality, the way she made you laugh, or how intelligent she ismade you suddenly see her as a potential mate. This, of course, is not how the male mind works at all. You’ve been looking at her as a potential mate since she walked in the bar.

But women need to feel they won you over

Women need to feel that you first saw them as just another regular person, and that after you observed them and picked up on subtle details about them, it “clicked” for you that they could make a great mate. And that moment when it “clicked” is when you paid that first compliment.

But if you paid that compliment too soon…

A woman feels that what you saw in her up until the moment you paid the compliment, is all you will ever see. Because we believe the moment you pay that first compliment, is the first moment you ever looked at us as a potential mate. And if you’re already looking at us that way one minute into conversing…well that doesn’t say much for your standards. Not to a woman it doesn’t.

This concept works for any stage in a relationship

When you are finally dating a woman somewhat regularly, the next thing she wants to earn is your commitment to her. That’s why after getting that first date, you don’t want to jump into inviting her to meet your parents and move in together. Similar to how after one minute of conversing, a woman doesn’t believe you should have gathered enough information on her to know if you want one date with her, she also doesn’t believe that after only a couple weeks of dating you should have gathered enough information on her to know if you want to spend your life with her.

We never want to feel replaceable

Women need to feel that you observed them for ample time and picked up on what exactly about them would make them a good life partner. We never want to feel that just anybody would have sufficed. We never want to feel replaceable,which is exactly what we feel if anything is given to us too quickly.

We worked hard to be who we are

You know how you’ve had a hard life? Sure you have. You’ve had struggles. You’ve overcome hardship. You have issues with your parents. You have things you’re insecure about. You have layer upon layer within you. Those are all the things that today make you a strong, stable, loveable person. You worked hard to get where you are as an individual!

Well guess what? So did that woman you’re interested in!

A woman needs to feel that you see every layer of her to feel satisfied with your affections for her. She will not settle for a man that likes or loves her only after having seen the top layers. She didn’t struggle through half a lifetime, to have most of who she is ignored or looked over. And that’s exactly how a woman feels when you compliment her too soon, or ask her out too soon, or ask her to marry you too soon—that you’ve ignored part of who she is. That you didn’t even care to get that information. Love it or hate it, a woman needs you to get that information in order to feel close to you.

We also want to feel that you know what you’re doing

A slow man is also a learned man, as far as dating goes. The man that’s never had a serious relationship jumps right into one. He wouldn’t even know what traits to look for, or avoid, so he doesn’t know the value of taking his time to look for those before committing.

But a man that’s been around the proverbial block…

Knows what works and what doesn’t for him. And a woman knows that a man that takes his time to commit really means it when he finally does commit. He’s not suddenly going to disappear because something surprised him. He already took the time to make sure there would be no surprises. That’s why when a woman is made to wait for commitment, she can just relax in the knowledge that that guy isn’t going anywhere, once he does commit. The trial period is over.

How To Get Rid Of Jealousy

It's normal for women to feel jealous every now and then, but when it gets out of control, and you turn into a hideous green-eyed monster, that's when it becomes frightening.

Jealousy is a sign that you don't trust your partner as much as you should. It doesn't just wreck your self-confidence, but it can also destroy your perfect relationship. Even the sweetest and most loyal partner can be driven away by constant jealousy attacks.

You don't have to become a jealous, overbearing monster all the time. There are ways to get rid of this nasty emotion. You just need to remember several important tips to banish that green monster forever.

Here are some tips to help you overcome jealousy.

Paranoid?

There are two kinds of jealousy: the normal type, the one that you think might be real, and the paranoid kind which exists only in your mind. Determine which one of these two are you feeling. Normal jealousy really serves a purpose. It's the one you get from things you see or hear, like when your partner kisses another girl on the cheek or walks her to the bus station. It alerts you, and gives you a sign that your partner might cheat on you in the future, letting you stand your guard.

On the other hand, paranoid jealousy is just in your head. Even if your partner hasn't shown any signs of infidelity or flirting, you still think he's going to cheat on you someday. That's why you become so jealous. Paranoid jealousy is more complicated and threatening than normal jealousy, because even if your boyfriend is being sweet and loyal to you, you still think negative thoughts about him.

Ask yourself whether your jealousy is real or just a paranoid feeling. One way to figure this is by reflecting on your past relationships. Did you have trust issues with your ex-boyfriends or have you always been jealous, even if you don't have any reason to be? If your answer is yes, then you're just the only one bringing up the negative issue. Get rid of your paranoia. Only then will you learn to let go of your doubts and jealousy.

Stop Comparing

It's common for people to compare themselves to others, and that includes you. You always manage to see what others have that you don't. She's got great legs, you don't. She's got blemish-free skin, you don't. She's intelligent, you're not. It's like you're always sizing yourself up against the other person.

The same often happens with exes. You keep thinking that he loved her more than he loves you, and you'll never be the kind of woman she is. Soon, a false sense of self-worth builds up, and you feel yourself becoming more and more insecure. Before you know it, you're throwing snide, jealous remarks at your partner.

Stop the comparisons. Remember, everyone is different and unique. Don't think about things you're missing, but what you do have. You've got your own good and bad qualities, accomplishments, charms and intelligence. You've got exemplary attributes no one (not even the other person you're jealous over) has. His ex is probably missing wonderful qualities that he saw in you, and that's the reason why they broke up, and why the two of you are together.

Know The Facts

Sometimes the first reason why women become jealous is they don't get all the information they need. What happens is they think of negative scenarios that turn into intolerable, dubious conclusions. As jealousy seeps in, the trust begins to crack and the bond soon dissolves.

It's very important to keep an open communication with your partner, to keep your relationship strong. When you start feeling doubt, don't be afraid to ask questions. It's your right to hear it straight from his mouth, so you'll feel better. Know the facts. Of course, it doesn't mean you have to grill your partner with questions or start spying or snooping around. Just ask questions in a calm manner, and let him ask his own questions too. You'll both realize that knowing everything about situations helps squash jealousy.

Draw The Line

Your boyfriend's phone book is filled with names and numbers of women friends you don't know. He's very friendly to other girls while you're out clubbing, even when you're with him. He also talks and goes to lunch with his female coworker. All of these are done with friendly intentions, but soon enough, they start to bug you, and you become suspicious. Eventually, the jealous feelings all burst out.

Most of the time, you get jealous because of what your partner does, and not what other people do to him. To solve this, talk about where to draw the line. Tell him it annoys you that he's got many female friends and it makes you uncomfortable when he goes out to lunch with them. Discuss about bachelor stuff you want him to let go of. Then, promise that if he does leave them, you'll never doubt him again.

At the same time, don't be so domineering, or your partner will feel all choked up. Learn to let loose. Say you don't want him to go on lunch dates with his female officemates, but don't stop him from going to company outings. You have to know where to draw the line to your control over him too.

Where's Your Self-Esteem?

According to studies, the worst cases of jealousy is incited by insecurities. People who have a low sense of self-esteem about their personalities or their lives are very likely to build up on this negative emotion. Eventually, they don't only feel jealous, they also start to feel as if they don't matter, that no one loves them, and that their existence is unimportant in this world. They fall into a pit of despair and self-pity.

Don't end up like this. Build your self-esteem, and take steps on appreciating yourself and your qualities. You can do this through different ways. Here are several examples.

• State an affirmation or recite a feel-good mantra. Every time you feel your self-confidence beginning to dwindle, recite something like “I'm beautiful, I'm well-loved and I'm as good as everyone else!”, out loud or in your head.
• Make an inferiority list. Face your insecurities in a unique way. Get a piece of paper and think about all the negative things about yourself you're unhappy with, list them down, then study them. You'll see how silly some of those inferiorities are. Then, determine which ones you can change and how you're going to change them.
• Ask for your friends and family's encouragement. The bonds you form with these people are different from that you form with your romantic partner. They love and appreciate you for who you are, and you can always rely on their encouraging words and advice whenever you're in self-doubt.
• Talk to a counselor. Getting professional help is an effective way to remove unpleasant emotions like jealousy.
• Keep a positive outlook. When you think positive, you'll feel positive and confident. Soon your jealous worries will be gone.

Think Positive

Jealousy is annoying, but it might be able to have a positive effect on you. All you have to do is look at the negative emotions jealousy brings and look at it in a positive light. Let it motivate you. For example, your boyfriend drools over sexy magazine models in their skimpy swimsuit. Think about how you can obtain a sexy figure for your own. Exercise, practice good hygiene and go on a diet. Soon, you'll be too focused on your goal to obtain the same thing for yourself, that all your jealousy will fade, and when your boyfriend sees your gorgeous body, there's no more reason for you to feel that annoying emotion.

Strengthen Your Bond

Jealousy causes endless arguments, fights and doubt between you and your partner. If you're always jealous, then somehow, your relationship isn't as strong as you think it is. There's something missing or you've lost something amidst all the troubles you're going through.

Call a truce, then sit down and have a long talk. Evaluate and think about what's lacking. Do you two still spend quality time? Has the passion left you? Discuss each other's faults and say sorry for your own. Once you've addressed the problems, you can work with your partner to strengthen your relationship. It's better than wasting energy and time on empty jealous feelings.

It's The End

After some time, you realize that it's not just you being paranoid. Your boyfriend really is the flirt you feared he is, and he's provoking your jealousy. Don't make him think that he's the center of your universe. Maybe it's time you let him go and end your relationship. It'll hurt, but it'll save you from a worse dilemma in the future. You can do better than get involved with players and flirts like him. There's a million other guys who'll want to be with you, and none of them will make you feel insecure or jealous.

It's not bad to feel jealous once in a while, but when this annoying feeling often overtakes you, then it's time you do something about it, before you completely lose your spirit or drive your partner away. Try these tactics and suppress the green-eyed monster within you. Soon, you'll feel all the jealous emotions leaving, and you can have a happy and peaceful relationship with your sweetheart and yourself.

Dickson Suspends Four Civil Servants Over Alleged Fraudulent Acts

Hard times await recalcitrant workers in Bayelsa State civil service, as Governor Seriake Dickson has ordered the immediate suspension of four civil servants over alleged fraudulent acts and insubordination.

Their offences, as disclosed by the governor during an interactive session with the workers in Yemagoa, ranged from employment racketeering, indiscriminate allotment and allocation of land against the masterplan of the City Council Development Authority and acts of insubordination.

Expressing the readiness of his administration to partner workers in the state, the governor said his administration would not condone truancy, lateness to work and financial impropriety on the part of workers.

The governor said anybody caught mismanaging public funds would be dealt with in accordance with the law, adding that his administration had been able to gather reports on the alleged fraud perpetrated by some workers in the state civil service.

He said: “We want to get more. We are not only going to take them out of the system, the prison will be ready very soon for them. “Those who commit payroll fraud, their cup will be full soon. But on a serious note, the Head of Service should help us. We want to see how we can reduce the huge wage bill.”

On the alleged participation of workers in partisan politics, the governor advised that any worker, who wants to take part in active politics should resign his/her appointment in accordance with the civil service edict, threatening that anybody that fails to heed the advice would be shown the way out of office.

Why We Can’t Disclose Jonathan’s Assets

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has blamed its inability to publicly disclose the assets declared by President Goodluck Jonathan and other public officers on constitutional constraints.

Chairman of the bureau, Mr. Sam Saba, said this Tuesday in Abuja during the 2012 ministerial press briefing organised by the commission. He stated that Section 3(f) the constitution was against the letters of the Freedom of Information Act, upon which the assets declaration are required to be made public.

Saba insisted that the bureau would not compromise the letters and spirit of the constitution by revealing the personal assets declared by the president and other public office holders, except and until a pronouncement is made by the National Assembly to that effect, or the section in the constitution is repealed.

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is superior to the FoI Act, and until the National Assembly says otherwise, CCB would not make public the assets declaration forms of office holders,” he said.

Saba also said that a total number of 134,717 defaulters of assets declaration were identified throughout the federation in 2012, following the review of assets that had been declared by public office holders.

According to him, during the year under review, assets declared by state governors, deputy governors, ministers, commissioners, and other top government functionaries, including local government chairmen and councilors, were verified through a conference field verification.

“A total number of 230 eligible declarants were identified, and issued with assets declaration forms for completion, while a total of 83,653 acknowledgment slips were issued throughout the federation and a total of 134,717 defaulters were identified,” he stated.

How Abuja SARS Was Attacked –Witness

The gunmen succeeded in freeing some of their members in detention. Sources said 15 people may have been killed, but the police confirmed only two, even as another source narrated how the attack was carried out, saying it was brutal. The police said they have re-arrested 25 of the 30 detainees set free by the gunmen.

The attackers, who invaded the SARS office located along the Nyanya-Karu Expressway in Abuja at exactly 2am, according to Daily Sun sources, killed a police Inspector and an anti-riot policeman.

They escaped with a good number of their members in a shoot-out that lasted for about two hours. In a statement issued yesterday, Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), confirmed the attack and the killing, but said only five suspects who were not terrorists, escaped. He said the gunmen were successfully repelled.

The source, who does not want his name mentioned, told Daily Sun that the suspected terrorists stormed the SARS premises located around a mountainous area from the bush and forced the gate open with bullets and made their way straight to the cells, located at the back side of the building where their members were detained and set them free.

The invasion also led to the escape of other robbery suspects, who used the opportunity created by the Boko Haram members to escape. Apart from being well armed and prepared for the operation, the gunmen were said to have been armed with very powerful security light with which they flashed directly into the eyes of the policemen on duty to completely blind them mometarily.

The powerful rays from the flashlight they were carrying, was said to have had a serious impediment on the policemen who struggled to get their actual position.

Those who escaped were re-arrested in the bush, several policemen on duty sustained injuries and have been rushed to the hospital. Mr Mba’s statement reads: “In the early hours of today, November 26, 2012, at about 2am, unknown gunmen in large number attacked the premises of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Federal Territory Police Command.

Policemen on duty responded swiftly and engaged the gunmen in a gun battle that lasted for some minutes, at the end of which the gunmen were successfully repelled.

“However, in the confusion that ensued, about 30 suspects in the detention facilities of SARS broke out of the cells and attempted to escape. Tactical and coordinated efforts to re-arrest the fleeing suspects yielded instant result. So far, twenty five (25) of the suspects have been re-arrested, while five (5) suspects originally being held in relation to robbery-related offences are currently at large. Two (2) policemen died during the operation while two (2) of the attackers have been arrested.

“It needs to be emphasized here that no suspect held for terror-related charges, escaped from SARS detention facilities. No explosive or IED-related materials were used in the botched attack. “Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP MD Abubakar, has personally visited the scene of the incident to assess the situation.

He has equally raised a high-powered investigative panel headed by a senior police officer to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incidence. “Similarly, the IGP has ordered water-tight security around all government and police-related facilities nation-wide. The Police High Command uses this medium to appeal to Nigerians for calm while reassuring them of the force’s preparedness to perform its constitutional and statutory responsibilities of providing adequate security for the state and the entire citizenry.

The force therefore, enjoins the public to continue to go about their lawful duty without fear or intimidation as adequate strategies have been put in place to guarantee the general security and safety of all Nigerians”, Mba said. Meanwhile, the police have beefed up security around SARS office, even as IGP Abubakar and the FCT Commissioner of Police, Aderenle Shinaba, visited the scene of the incident to assess the situation.

Reporters were barred from gaining entry into the premises while a photo journalist with the Daily Independent, Jide Oyekunle, who tried to capture the scene was beaten. His camera was seized. He was detained for hours by SARS officials, who took serious offence by the presence of journalists. One of the sources that would not want his name mentioned said there had been complaint over the location of the SARS office considering the security situation in the country because the office is considered vulnerable to attack.

The source said the authorities were making plans to relocate the office. Narrating the incident to Daily Sun, the source said, “even though we have been complaining about the location and that we may be attacked one day, we never expected this kind of brutal attack.

“The whole thing happened like magic and nobody had the premonition that this kind of thing will happen in Abuja because we were all doing our job when at exactly 2am, we heard a very loud gunshot and the shooting continued like that for about two hours non-stop. “At first we didn’t know where the gunshot was coming from so, we took cover only to discover that the firing was coming from the bush behind us, meaning the attackers came from the hills and may have stayed there for some days planning their attack.

“The attackers succeeded in gaining access into the premises and went straight to both the male and female cells, fired several shots and forced them open and freed their members because we have some of them in detention. It was when they succeeded in breaking into the very place where we detained the Boko Haram suspects that we now knew what they were up to.

“Our men tried because they did their best to defend the office as they too engaged the attackers in a gun battle. But it seems the attackers came prepared because apart from their shooting continuously for as long the operation lasted, they were armed with very powerful torchlight that shines like mercury light, they used that light to almost blind us because we could not see them, but they were seeing us.

“So When the firing got too much for us, we had to run into the bush and remained there for sometime and in the process, some people sustained injuries and lost their personal belongings and by the time the firing stopped, we found one Inspector and one anti-riot policeman, those ones that wear red beret dead. “We just thank God for everything because we were able to arrest some of the suspects who escaped and some armed robbery suspects who are in our custody also used the opportunity to escape”. The source said.

Why Email Is And Must Remain Private

When I was a child, my grandfather offered me some advice: "Don't do anything you wouldn't want to read about in the newspaper". To my nine-year-old self, this advice seemed strange, almost flattering. What could I possibly do that would be worthy of public interest? Why would anyone care?

Decades later, this advice still seems strange, but not for the reasons my grandfather envisioned. The internet has made us all the media, able to broadcast the indiscretions of ourselves and others with ease. What seemed horrifying to him - transgressions exposed to an audience of thousands, maybe even tens of thousands - now seems like a comparatively good deal. How quaint to experience personal humiliation on a local level, endured for a day instead of preserved for eternity.

The aftermath of the Petraeus scandal, in which the CIA director's emails to his mistress biographer were considered grounds for his resignation, has sparked debate on whether email should be considered private communication. "I assume that every single email is something that will be in the public domain," investor Peter Thiel, a board member of Facebook, proclaimed at a panel discussion on social media and politics hosted by The New Republic last week. He edits his emails meticulously, in anticipation of their inevitable reveal.

Corporations like Facebook and Google have long abandoned privacy as a tenable goal. Their CEOs tend to echo the moralising platitudes grandfathers use to keep their grandchildren in line. "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place," former Google CEO Eric Schmidt told CNBC in 2009.

In 2011, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg famously declared that the erosion of privacy was "a social norm... that has evolved over time". Social media companies' constant shifts in privacy settings, always in the direction of increased openness, have led users to anticipate surveillance and intrusion, euphemistically branded as "sharing".

On social media networks, we have come to expect that what is private one day may be public the next, and that what we erased years ago may suddenly reappear in an archive. But this expectation did not hold, until recently, for email. Most people assume that the audience of their email is the person with whom they are emailing, and that once you delete the email, it is gone. Security experts decry this viewpoint as hopelessly naïve. "Don't put anything in an email that you wouldn't send to your mother," says cyber security expert Jeff Ahlerich, in a manner yet again reminiscent of an elder scolding a child.

But we are not children. We are adults who cannot possibly maintain the energy or fortitude to police our every online interaction. That doing so is viewed as common sense raises basic questions of how we want to live our lives. We should not be asking how to police our emails, but what it means that we expect our emails to be policed - and what this expectation does to our ability to interact, express ourselves and change.

Celeb videos leaked
When I was in high school, Pamela Anderson, the star of Baywatch, married Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee. On their honeymoon they made a sex tape, which was stolen from their home, released on the internet and marketed by entertainment firm IEG. Anderson and Lee sued, but IEG argued that as celebrities, they had forfeited their right to privacy. Four years later, the now divorced couple won their case, but only after the video had become the best-selling porn title of all time.

The Pamela and Tommy video was followed by a slew of celebrity sex tape videos, many of which solidified the stardom of their career-deprived protagonists. While the novelty of Pamela and Tommy's "honeymoon" tape was what fueled its success, over the years the shock value wore off and a celebrity sex tape came to be seen as a rote enterprise.

The onus fell on the celebrity to behave. They were chastised for being so stupid as to film their sexual activity and they were admonished with reminders that all publicity was good publicity, even when it came unwanted. They experienced, as Zuckerberg dubbed it, a "shift in social norms".

The same values that apply to the celebrity porn industry are now being applied to the online communication of ordinary people. While circulating embarrassing personal material on a public website has long been considered unwise, now the same warnings extend to semi-closed networks like Facebook - where one woman recently may lose her job due to an insulting photo she posted on her private page - and to emails sent from personal accounts.

The problem is that ordinary people lack the financial security, PR resources and media savvy to play to an unseen spotlight. We do not operate in the celebrity economy, where scandal can be its own reward, but we are as susceptible as celebrities to the mass schadenfreude of strangers. In a very literal sense, we cannot afford our moral failings.

Facing an increasing loss of control over our privacy settings, our reputations and our legal rights, we are told to police our speech and patrol our behaviour. In short, we are told to behave like citizens of authoritarian states.

Self-censored life
Much has been made, in the aftermath of the Petraeus affair, of the effect of online surveillance on civil liberties. "When the CIA director cannot hide his activities online, what hope is there for the rest of us?" wrote privacy researcher Chris Soghoian, in a sharp take on the US government's surveillance capacity.

Numerous commentators have criticised government ability to access email and social media accounts. Less remarked upon are the psychological effects of expecting surveillance in the first place. For the past seven years, I have conducted research on internet use in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, two authoritarian states with different approaches to online media. Uzbekistan censors all unsanctioned political content. Azerbaijan does not.

But citizens of both countries behave similarly online - because the issue is not censorship, but the self-censorship that arises from the expectation of surveillance. Accustomed to being monitored, citizens have learned to avoid controversial topics, to withhold their opinions, to adhere to rigid social and political norms - to behave, in other words, like everything they say can and will be used against them.

These are not systems one should want to emulate. But the erosion of online privacy - not only in a legal sense, but in the sense of shifting "social norms" - means we are moving toward a society in which we have less freedom to confide, to criticise, to make mistakes, to change our minds. Surveillance societies are marked by lack of trust. Many have already lost their trust in governments and in corporations like Google and Facebook, all of whom have violated our privacy.

The expectation that private communication will be monitored will damage trust between individuals, making it harder to form relationships and exchange ideas. Email, the most intimate form of online communication, should be considered private by default and legal rights to privacy must be strengthened. The self-censored life is not worth living.

Kate Henshaw Becomes Face Of Perfume Line

Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw has again bagged another brand ambassador deal, this time with a UK based perfume line.

The perfume line which is called Blessings Perfume, is owned by a UK based Nigerian and is exclusively sold in Harrolds, London. Although she did not disclose how much was involved in the deal, NET gathered that the company parted with a ‘mouth watering’ sum of money to have the actress sign the deal.

Henshaw started her acting career in 1993 and has featured in over 50 movies. She is presently a judge on the ongoing Nigeria’s Got Talent show and is also on set for an upcoming soap opera, Crossroads, along with other actors, including Emeka Ossai.

Pictures of Some Foods I Cook

Sometimes I cook. I usually cook enough to last a couple of meals or more. Sometimes I remember to take pictures, but usually at the end of everything. And having thought about blogging about home cooking, I have found that I may never like to take pictures step by step. I don't think I'll make a good tutorial blogger, but I'm working on better camera skills to back up recipe posts, coming your way soon. Below are some so-so pictures of food I cook. The bigger images are below these small ones:)

Egusi Soup with Beef and Okporoko

Lentils with Spinach

Fried Beef in Tomato Sauce

Simple Jollof Rice

9 Ways to Know When You're in Love

This is a question I have to consider for my characters in each romance novel I write, and one I had asked myself several times in the past after meeting one or two people. There are some people you meet and you just know they’re a fantasy or fancy which will fade even the next day. And there are those that tug at your heart and you begin to wonder, could they be THE ONE? 

The truth is that if we’re not sure about this, whether deciding to allow a friendship develop into something more or taking the decision to get married, we could be making the mistake of a lifetime. These are some of the pointers I came up with to recognize that special person. They are by no means comprehensive and I will not presume to speak for everyone.

1. They’re in your future: This means that when you visualize your future, say 10 to 20 years ahead, you can actually see yourself with this person. They can fit into or support your long term personal as well as professional goals. You also share the same core values that will make living together enjoyable.

2. They become number one in your priorities: We all have our priorities in life, even though these might change with time and situation. Love usually happens at different times for most of us depending on our seasons and when we are ready. So when you fall in love, that person comes at the top of your to-do list and you cannot get them off it.

3. You welcome compromise: Love is a feeling of togetherness and mostly leads to two people spending lots of time in close proximity. You find that with love, a relationship has less disagreements because each person is happy to give in during times of disagreement; and even when you do find yourselves on completely opposing sides, you make up easily afterwards. The beauty of love is that it allows you to see the minuses and overlook them, because what you see at the end of the day is the person you love and not their quirks. Remember love should be for better or for worse.

4. You want to spend time together and they make you feel good: You’re happy and feel high, songs and books begin to make sense, the world is more beautiful. So you want to spend moments together, you talk, go out – to eat, to movies, plays, etc. Being in love makes these periods an enjoyable one for both people, something to look forward to. You also enjoy quiet times together, because there will be down times when none of you is in the mood to go partying and the like.

5. The pain of the past is healed: Love heals and when you do fall in love, there is the tendency that you begin to forget any pains you may have in the past, either from childhood or any failed relationships. It may just be that the person you’re in love with is happy to hear you speak about such pain, or you can be your real self around them, or they give you the support you need to seek adequate help.

6. You worry about their well-being, you want to know all about them: When you fall in love, the object of your affection burrows into your heart. You find that you begin to care about their welfare. Have they eaten, is their car running well, do they have their finances sorted? You ask more questions, you are happy to squeeze time out of your hectic schedule to meet their friends, family and co-workers. You ask the mum their first words, at what age they walked, you name it.

7. There is chemistry: Of course! LOL…Maybe I should have said this one first? Chemistry is a big part of love because we’re all sexual beings and being able to express ourselves through love-making is one of the glues that hold relationships together. However, you have to realize that sex has to be within the context of marriage. There should be no issue of one person coercing or forcing the other into something they’re not ready or willing to do. You should not change your values to satisfy the other person.

8. They can affect you deeply in their actions: Who doesn’t know this? There’s the saying that those you love are the ones with the power to hurt you the most. Yes, and this is why some of us are so scared and afraid of falling in love. Not because we’ve been hurt before, but because we do not want to open ourselves to future pain. So love is a decision, a choice you make to take that risk.

9. You can be yourself with no pretense: If you cannot do this, your love might not be able to last or sustain itself. Most of us wear masks on a daily basis, at work, school, church, with strangers and outsiders. When you fall in love, you want to make a space where you can come home and feel calm and relaxed without worrying about pretending to be what you’re not. At the same time, you find that you are willing to change for the better to please them, so you upgrade your wardrobe, improve your hygiene, party less so as to spend more time, etc.

Finally, these are just some of the ways to recognize love, many more abound. Also, love is personal and for each individual, there may be a different experience. However, love is also universal, so if you see that your love is very different and in a way that negates what others experience, like various forms of abuse, control, etc, then it may not be love.

I hope no one finds themselves in this situation and have the support to help them get out if they do. True love is beautiful and no matter what happens, remains the thing we all search for. May we all find and experience true love.

'Payment Of 13% Derivation Fund To States Illegal'

Oil and gas producing communities in the country have argued that “it is clearly an implementation tragedy by the Federal Government to pay 13 per cent Derivation Fund into any account of state government.”

In their memorandum to the Senate Committee on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution which sat in Calabar, the Cross River State capital and made available to THISDAY in Benin City, the communities traced their struggle to win the 13 per cent derivation concession from the Federal Government to the 1994/95 Constitutional Conference through to the drafting of 1999 Constitution when the issue was captured in Section 162 (2) of the constitution.

The communities told the Senate Committee that 13 per cent Derivation Fund was not part of “State Joint Local Government Account” provided for by Section 162 (6) of the 1999 Constitution and contended, therefore, that: “lt is illegal to pay 13 per cent Derivation Fund through a third party.”

The communities urged the Senate Committee to amend Section 162 (2) to read “that 13 per cent Derivation Revenue accruing to the Federation Account directly from any natural resources be paid as first line charge from the Federation Account to the oil and gas producing communities through a National Derivation Board, whose members shall be recommended for appointment by the President on the advice of leaders of oil and gas communities.”

In addition, they recommended that the National Derivation Board should have Executive Chairman, Secretary and members, including a member from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RAMFC). Besides, the oil communities proposed that the chairmanship of the Derivation Board should rotate amongst Oil and Gas Producing states every four years.

They further proposed that the board should receive and distribute the 13 per cent Derivation Fund directly to respective state implementation committee, whose members shall be solely nominated and appointed by leaders of oil and gas communities for the purpose of proper direction, distribution and judicious utilisation of the fund.

From Carpenter’s Son To Music Star -Brymo

A popular myth has it that the destiny of a child is determined at birth and will one day come to pass, no matter how long it takes. If this is a truism, then Chocolate City artiste, Brymo, was destined for limelight.

Out of the blue, his break-out single, Ara, tore the charts within a week of its release, earning the 26-year-old singer some 10 nominations and awards. These include Headies’ Recording of the Year Award and 2012 Channel O’s Most Gifted Afro Pop Video of the Year.

According to the singer whose real name is Ashimi Olawale, his album titled TheSonofaKapenta,released this week, chronicles the journey of his life. As the only son of a carpenter father and petty trader mother, the artiste had a humble upbringing.

‘’I was born and raised in Okokomaiko and have been there since the late 80s. I grew up in a mixture of backgrounds. I cannot tell you that I came from the ghetto.  I had friends who lived opposite my house who I did not see more than thrice a year because they were in boarding schools and friends who I always saw brandishing the latest phones.  I was living opposite them in a face-me-I-face-you. House,’’ he says.

Notwithstanding his upbringing and exposure while growing up, Brymo is  considerably at home with the English Language. The boyish-looking singer says although his parents were not learned, they placed a premium on his education.

He adds, “Everything was available for me. From their meager resources I was sent to school. I went to Lagos State University for my tertiary education but I had to run away after two years. I was studying Zoology because I was unable to handle the rigours of the course. If I had decided that I wanted to be a mechanic or a carpenter like my father, I could have been that. If I decided that I just wanted to go to school, I could have done that. For a few years, my father taught me how to use the saw, how to mend chairs, but sincerely speaking I didn’t learn anything. My mind was elsewhere – in music.’’

 In 2002, he alongside three other friends formed a group called Aliens. But the group was disbanded in 2005. Brymo went solo and released his debut album Brymstone in 2007. But his fortunes changed overnight after a surprise phone call.

 “I had this Nokia phone I was using then and I remember I actually just finished charging the phone and an hour after, the phone call just came in. This was in 2010. I was like ‘Wow, thank God my phone was charged. It was Denrele, who I had met earlier, that called me one day to tell me that MI had seen me perform somewhere and was interested in meeting me and the rest was history as I got signed on to Chocolate City almost immediately.”

 Brymo also discloses how the track, Ara, came about. “The chorus of Ara is actually an old folk song which I just reconstructed into the techno beat that I had and it sounded good and I was like okay, it works.

Some weeks later, after a very nice meal in the afternoon, I think it was Oha soup or Banga soup, the idea behind the title came to me. I was under pressure at that time and I needed to submit a single to Chocolate City and everybody had already agreed that my first single, which is Good Morning, should come first because it was recorded six months before Ara was written, but I guess God had other plans.”

Staying true to his Yoruba roots and love for Fuji music, Brymo’s Afrocentric sound is unmistakable and reflected in all his songs.

He says, “Music has no boundaries. I believe that people would rather listen to a sweet Yoruba song even if they don’t understand what the person is saying than listen to a horrible English song that they understand what the person is saying.”

As he looks forward to a positive reception from his sophomore album, the singer pledges to always reflect in his father’s advice, “that I should be careful with what I do because anything I do today would not go away. The day in itself would pass but your actions would be remembered.”

5 Things That Test Even The Best Of Relationships

Regardless of what you may think, no relationship is indestructible. Yes, there are great, epic romances out there, but even the most solid relationships will have some form of kryptonite.

It's not always a tragic, humiliating betrayal. Affairs aren't the only things that can cause a union to self-destruct. In fact, I think most romances fail because of seemingly innocuous, everyday annoyances that build up over months, years, or even decades. But all hope is not lost. Here are five sneaky relationship wreckers to avoid:

Low self-esteem. Women have a habit of being self-deprecating. We constantly complain about all of our flaws to friends, family, and worse, the man we love. Sometimes it's an attempt to solicit a compliment (i.e., "No babe, you don't look fat" or "You are just as beautiful as when we met"). But for a lot of us, it goes beyond fishing for compliments. We can't stop obsessing about our weight or wrinkles and that is very unattractive to a man. You don't want him to change the way he sees you -- and this has nothing to do with that number on the scale. He didn't just fall for your looks, he was also lured by your coolness and confidence.

Nag, nag, nag. Yes, you have a right to complain about things. He may not take out the trash like he's supposed to or ever replace the toilet paper roll, but resist the urge to hound him all the time. It's hard, I know. But complaining about it every day will only make the both of you miserable. Where's the fun in coming home to a night full of nagging. Yes, those little annoyances will still be there, but don't harp on them every day.

Too much sex. That's right. Too much sex can be an issue if you don't have something else in common. I know couples that solve every argument with sex. Sure, it's fun, but there has to be something else that grounds the relationship. And it can't always take the place of talking things out.

Meddling in-laws. The relationship is just between you and your man even though it doesn't always feel like it. Despite your mother-in-law's so called best intentions, her advice and suggestions can really overstep bounds. It can be the source of endless arguments if you start becoming angry and resentful of the unsolicited input. Try to set some boundaries -- tell the in-laws where their advice is appreciated and when it's best that you and your hubby handle things. Hopefully they listen. If not, move and don't leave a forwarding address.

Kids. I'd argue that this is an even bigger stressor on a relationship than financial problems. Children are a ton of work and no one really understands just how much until they have little ones of their own. Fights about who does the most and who does more are inevitable. Try to work out a division of labor plan. Of course you will still carry the lion's share, but he should have clear responsibilities too and be prepared to give you a much needed break. 

Naira Advances To Highest Value In Two Weeks At N157

The Naira advanced to its highest level in two weeks on Thursday amid increased inflows for purchases of fixed-income securities.

Nigeria’s currency rallied for a second day, gaining 0.3 per cent to N157.3 a dollar its strongest closing since November the 8th.

The Naira has appreciated 3.2 per cent this year, the second-best performing currency tracked by currency analysts.

Nollywood Actor, Sam Dede, Loses Mother

Sam Dede, Nollywood Al Pacino, as he is monickered, is grieving the departure of his mother, Elsie Iyenginagbaibo Godpower Abel Dede, who died at the age of 86.

A statement signed by Sam Dede, a respected Nollywood actor and current Director-General at Rivers State Tourism Board, says the remains of the acclaimed philanthropist and community leader will be commited to Mother Earth at the family House, Okrika, Rivers State on Saturday November 24, 2012.

The statement reveals that the burial arrangement commences with a Service of Songs at Port Harcourt Civic Centre by 5.p.m. on Thursday, November 22, and ends with a Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, November 25, at St. Peters’ Cathedral, Okrika.

The late Mama Iyenginagbaibo was until her graceful end a benevolent woman and foremost business mogul who contributed immensely to the development of her community.

She is survived by four sons, four daughters and many grandchildren.

Kate Henshaw Speaks About Her Past

Are your wounds healed now? Have you moved on?

I am happy, I’ve moved on. I’m working. Sometimes, when things happen to you, you wonder how people would see it. I asked myself, am I going to lose friends? Loose my social standing? Is my brand going to be tainted? Nothing has. You know how you just fall, and you stand up, dust yourself and move on. That is what happened. I’m very grateful to Promasidor, they were extremely supportive and of course, everyone else who was there for me.

Would you give love a chance again?

I will oh! Me, I’m a lover I’m not a fighter. I’m only going to be very picky. I don’t know about marriage but maybe love.

Corruption: No One Will Be Spared —Jonathan

He described corruption as a monster that must be tackled at all costs.

The President said this at the graduation ceremony of the Senior Executive Course No 34, 2012 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, near Jos on Saturday.

He said his government was determined to enthrone and sustain good governance, accountability, transparency and the rule of law.

Jonathan said, “These objectives are at the heart of our transformation agenda. Our efforts are yielding positive results. At least for once, we should be proud to say we have gotten our electoral system right.

“Credible elections are the stepping stone for good governance. I am glad that we have made tremendous progress in the key areas of governance. We are equally making progress in other sectors.

“We are vigorously fighting the endemic corruption at all levels and in all sectors of our country. I can assure you that there will be no sacred cows. Whoever is found to have transgressed will be made to face the full wrath of the law,” he said.

The President added that the major plank of the transformation agenda of the government was to work assiduously for improvement in the power sector.

He said his administration was fully aware that once power supply substantially improved, more than half of the development challenges would be surmounted.

Jonathan said struggling industries would come on stream again, while millions of youths would be employed the moment a good arrangement was put in place in the power sector.

He said in order to achieve this objective, the government was implementing a well-integrated power sector reform programme, including institutional arrangements to facilitate and strengthen private sector-led power generation, transmission and distribution.

He commended Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, various security agencies and non-governmental organisations that worked tirelessly to restore normalcy to the state, and he charged them to keep the momentum for peace and development.

Director General of the institute, Prof. Tijani Mohammed-Barde, said the institute was facing several challenges occasioned by dwindling subvention from the Federal Government.

He therefore asked the President to come to the aid of the NIPSS to enable it 

Investigation- N5tn Stolen Under Jonathan

Our correspondents arrived at the stolen sum after poring over the reports of the various committees set up by the President to probe some sectors of the economy, particularly oil and gas. SUNDAY PUNCH also relied on disclosures by some senior government officials.

Five trillion naira is the summation of government funds said to have been stolen, according to the Mallam Nuhu Ribadu-led Petroleum Task Force report; the Minister of Trade and Investment’s report on stolen crude; the House of Representatives fuel subsidy report and investigations into the ecological fund, SIM card registration and frequency band spectrum sale.

The Ribadu report on the oil and gas sector put daily crude oil theft at a high 250,000 barrels daily at a cost of $6.3bn (N1.2trn) a year. This puts the total amount lost through oil theft in the two years of Jonathan’s government at over $12.6bn (N2trn).

Oil theft is common in the Nigerian oil and gas sector. In June, a special naval team impounded a French ship, MT Vannessa, at Brass Loading Terminal, Bayelsa State, for allegedly stealing 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day from the country.

Our sister publication, SATURDAY PUNCH, had reported that the suspects, in their confessional statements, indicted some political office holders, many fuel marketers and some officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and Department of Petroleum Resources.

In October, Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, in a letter to the President, said 24 million barrels of oil worth $1.6bn (N252bn) was stolen between July and September.

According to Aganga, his signature was forged on the Export Clearance Permit that was used to export the crude oil from Nigeria.

Confirming that oil theft was depleting Nigeria’s resources, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, in May, said the government lost a fifth of its oil revenues to theft in April.

Apart from income lost through oil theft, the Ribadu report also said ministers of Petroleum Resources between 2008 and 2011 handed out seven discretionary oil licences and that government lost $183m (N29bn) in signature bonuses via these deals.

The Ribadu panel discovered that three of the oil licences were awarded under the current petroleum minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, who took up her position in 2010. Alison-Madueke, however, denied knowledge of the discretionary awards.

Shortly before the Ribadu report, the House of Representatives had raised the alarm that the N2.6trn the Federal Government paid for oil subsidy in 2011 could not be properly accounted for.

The House said, “Fuel subsidy payments amounted to N261.1bn in 2006, N278.8bn in 2007 and N346.7bn in 2008, but, even after the subsidy on diesel had been removed, the ‘subsidy’ payments jumped to N2.58trn in 2011 — more than 900 per cent of the sum appropriated for the year (N245bn).”

A subsequent report by the Presidential Committee on Verification and Reconciliation of Fuel Subsidy Payments, led by Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, revealed that in 2011, 197 subsidy transactions worth N232bn were illegitimate.

These frauds are not limited to the oil industry, as similar probes have shown that almost all sectors are involved.

In July, the House of Representatives Committee on Environment discovered a tree seedling fraud worth N2bn awarded by the Ecological Fund office.

Chairman of the committee on environment, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, said this during an investigative hearing on the mismanagement of ecological funds for the development of tree nurseries and seedlings in the 36 states.

According to her, out of the N3bn approved by the Presidency in 2010, N2bn was released to the contractors and consultants without government getting value.

Minister of Environment Hadiza Mailafia, however, said the contract was awarded by her predecessor.

In the telecommunications sector, the House instituted a probe into the sale of the frequency brand spectrum, which was reportedly sold for less than its value.

The 450MHz frequency, which was valued at over $50m, was allegedly sold for less than $6m (a difference of $44m or N6.9bn) by the Nigeria Communications Commission.

In the same sector, the reps, earlier this year, commenced investigations into the N6.1bn SIM card registration project embarked upon by the NCC in 2011.

The investigation followed the delay in completing the exercise and the request by NCC for additional N1bn for the project in its 2012 budget.

The lawmakers insisted that the NCC had no business embarking on the project since various service providers were already registering their subscribers.

Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Communications, Mr. Usman Bawa, had said, “The NCC has no business with SIM card registration. Apart from that, the service providers have done about 80 per cent of the registration because they started before the NCC. To me, for the regulatory body to be involved in the registration is a duplication of effort, a waste of resources and time.

“Even, the manner with which the bill for the N6.1bn was passed during the Sixth Assembly showed that there was more to it than meets the eyes. From our investigations, from which our report was compiled, our interactions with the NCC contractors for the SIM card registration and the service providers, a lot has been exposed and this was part of the reason why we removed the N1bn that was budgeted for the same SIM card registration in the last budget.”

It would be recalled that the then Minister of Information and Communication, Prof. Dora Akunyili, had, in August, 2010, agreed that the amount budgeted for SIM card registration was exorbitant.

Reacting to the massive frauds that have greeted Jonathan’s tenure, Transparency International, told one of our correspondents that Nigeria would continue to slack in development as long as it keeps paying lip service to the fight against corruption.

It said via electronic mail, “President Jonathan should insist that those accused of corruption are properly investigated and punished if found guilty, irrespective of their positions and connections. The judiciary must be seen as impartial and fair.

“To signal a break with the past, the government should set up an independent investigatory panel to review charges of corruption within government and the private sector. President Jonathan should endorse the panel and commit to ensure it has both the scope and the power to investigate and prosecute.

“This is not just a matter of justice; fighting corruption can affect the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. The current culture of corruption hurts the majority of Nigerians while the inequality gap widens.”

Also speaking to SUNDAY PUNCH, the Director, Centre for Applied Economics, Lagos Business School, Prof. Pat Utomi, said the spate of corruption in the country was unprecedented.

The political economist argued that prosecution and jail terms for corrupt individuals would not be as effective as building a societal institution that would prevent corruption.

A former Vice Chancellor, Crescent University, Prof. Sheriffdeen Tella, also warned that corruption would spell doom for the country if the trend continued.

He said, “It is unfortunate that the country will not be able to meet the Millennium Development Goals. There is a need for the masses to hold a three-day protest against corruption to force government to prosecute those indicted for corruption.”

Similarly, Executive Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, Mr. Debo Adeniran, said, “For Jonathan to fight corruption, he must start with his cabinet. The way Jonathan is going about his campaign against corruption is not the best way to go about it.”

A global audit and financial advisory firm, KPMG, had on Thursday stated that Nigeria accounted for the highest number of fraud cases in Africa in the first half of 2012.

The cost of fraud in the country during the period was put at $1.5bn (N225bn).