Do you leave people better than you found them?

 One of the most exciting decisions you can make is to be on the lookout for opportunities to invest in others. For me,this has been one of the most powerful principle of momentum I've implement  in my life.
About ten years ago, I remember  driving to lagos with my family.I was listening to Zig Ziglar tape and on this tape he said,"You "ll always have everything you want in life if you "ll help enough other people get what they want."
when i heard this statement,literally,something went off inside me,and i said out loud,"I'm going to do it."
That decision to look for ways to help others,to invest in them, change my life.
 "There" are three key to more abundant living:
caring about others,
daring for others and
sharing  with others".
Assign yourself the purpose of making others happy and successful .People have a way of becoming what encourage them to be.
  There are two types of people in the world: Those who come into a room and say,"here I am" and those who come in and say ,"Ah, there you are!" Do this:"If you cannot win, make the one ahead of you breake the record".Invest in others is pays great dividends.
 

When God Made You It Put A Smile On His Face

When God made you it put a smile on His face. Yes, that’s what the book of I Corinthians tells us. So, why then do so many people not accept the way God made them? And even more incredibly, try and change the way God made them? He made you on purpose for a purpose. God has a job for you to do that no one else can do as well as you can. Out of billions of applicants, you’re the most qualified.

It’s been said that the biggest enemy of great is good. The biggest enemy most of us will face is ourselves. That nagging voice that says, “Be like him, you’re not worthy, do what she does, go where the crowd is going.”  You see, when you are trying to be like someone else, the best you can ever be is second best.

It’s time to get our eyes off of others and onto God. People will always detour you, but God will always keep you on track. To become the person God intended you to be, use what God has given you.  Follow your unique plan.  Resist imitation and live the unlimited life God has for you!

How many happy selfish people do you know?

You can make more friends in two months by helping other people than you can in two years by trying to get others to help you. Just one act of yours may be all it takes to turn the tide of another person's life. Find the problems that you're an answer to.

Abuja’s N3trn ambitious city within the city

Despite the daunting security challenge in the country, one event that the present administration celebrated in style was the nation’s centenary – 100 years of the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates to form Nigeria.

To show the significance attached to the project by the Goodluck Jonathan administration, a year-long programme was designed. Awards were given, competitions held, lectures were delivered and dinner was held, among others.

One outstanding thing however is the Federal Government’s decision to create another city to be known as the Centenary City from Abuja. Based on the grand dream, all the challenges being faced by dwellers of other big cities in Nigeria will be absent in this unique haven. There will be no security challenge, power will not be a problem, flood will not threaten its existence. Name them. It sounds as if one is reading from scripture but this is what this administration says it is set out to do.

Although activities marking the centenary celebration were rounded off on March 2, with an interdenominational thanksgiving service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, the groundbreaking of the new city did not hold until June 24 for one reason or the other.

The city is not hidden as it is located strategically on a hill on the popular Airport Road inward Abuja. The cost of the project designed to cover 1,200 hectares of land is put at N2.976 trillion ($18.6 billion). A Dubai firm, Eagles Hills Properties, will develop it from scratch at no cost to the government.

Jonathan had, during the ground-breaking of the city, said no other sign could demonstrate the symbol of his administration’s determination for excellence than the city which, he said, promised a unique and global standard in real estate project.

When completed, the President added, the project would turn out to be a modern city where modern beauty will merge with architectural creativity.

“We don’t want to build a city where everybody will have maiguard (security guards). We don’t want a city where everybody will dig their bore holes and where everybody will be buying generators,” he said.

The sum of N2.976 trillion was said to have been mopped up to develop the 1,200 hectares of land earlier earmarked by the Federal Capital Territory Administration for the purpose.

A total of N1.2 billion, being 100 per cent compensation, was also said to have been paid for economic trees of the original inhabitants as well as structures of some non-natives situated in the area. While 20 per cent of the plots has been earmarked for residential houses, 80 per cent is for mixed use and commercial purposes.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, whose office organised the centenary celebration, said the new city would be modelled after the likes of Dubai, Monaco and Singapore. He explained that it would serve as a political and economic tool for securing foreign investment.

According to the information available on the website of the promoters of the new city, it is designed to be the financial hub of the capital of Nigeria.

Describing it as a project of the future, they said it would be a high profitable entity for the government agencies, investors and users because of its designation as a “duty free zone” and “tax shelter” with special banking regulations.

It is also said to be conceived as a centre for the preservation of Nigeria’s political history and documentation of her contributions to the political, cultural and economic development and the advancement of peace and security in the world, as well as the hub of economic activities.

The goal, they added, was to create a modern urban centrality for the sustainable development of this magic land, where natural beauty and architecture icons must merge together to create an environment that is alive and productive.

One of the city’s features is zero waste management wherein domestic waste will be used to create nutrient-rich soil, fertiliser and incinerated as an additional power source while other wastes such as plastics and metals will be recycled or re-purposed for other uses.

The city will also boast an independent power source with a gas-fired 500MW power plant connected directly to a gas terminal. The claim is that constant power supply to the city can be taken for granted.

In terms of water management, they said, it was planned in an environmentally sound manner where approximately 60 per cent of the water used will be recycled and waste water reused as many times as possible.

For the city’s commercial area, what you will find are exquisite office towers, exotic hotels, magnificent shopping malls and cozy theatres and cinemas, among others, while the residential area will feature high-rise apartments, semi-detached houses, row houses and apartment blocks.

There will also be new ceremonial arcades called Unity Square to compliment the existing Eagle Square in Abuja, while a new Abuja City Gate will also be there to introduce the Centenary City and welcome visitors to Abuja.

“In sum, the city will be a revolutionary approach to urbanisation in Africa and champion private sector role in projects of significant magnitude. By the end of its planned five-year development cycle, this innovative and vibrant city would have created over 50,000 construction jobs and 5,000 permanent well- paying jobs.

“The city is planned for a residential population of about 100,000 people but to host about 500,000 visitors daily. It shall promote world-class multinational and domestic businesses in a world-class and master-planned environment that gives meaning to life, energy for work and pleasure for play, while permanently contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth, diversity and greatness into the next centenary,” the proponents said.

For the wealthy who may have started plotting how to relocate into the city on completion, Anyim told those who attended the ground-breaking that the city is not a housing project but strictly an economic project. He said the residential area that would be provided would only complement the business concerns.

This is indeed an ambitious project which the present administration said it was committed to. But how far it will go to deliver on this unique project? Only time will tell. This question is pertinent especially based on the many laudable projects that have either been corrupted, hijacked, sabotaged or abandoned by governments in Nigeria.

Army’s denial of vandalising BRT buses

Five days after the very mad and unbelievably shameless act of reckless, total devilment of several public transport buses in Lagos, by members of the Nigerian armed forces, the 81st Division released a statement of total denial.

The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Omale Ochagwuba, in his publicly released denial, claimed that “hoodlums” and not soldiers broke and burnt the buses.

The denial by the Nigerian Army is a painful – but not surprising – blow to Nigerians and a cause for great alarm. Too many Nigerian civilians of reputable character witnessed the vandalism and captured the act with their eyes and on camera. Too many Nigerians were barred by the members of the Nigerian Army from taking pictures of the mayhem, forced to raise their hands while they walked past. Too many Nigerian citizens were punished by the soldiers on the rampage that day.

The denial of this veritable narrative by the army is a cause for serious concern. Does the army in its denial mean that the soldiers seen vandalising the buses are hoodlums? With this denial, does this mean that those implicated will enjoy impunity for their acts of insolence, reckless endangerment and destruction of public property worth millions of naira?

What does this blatant denial tell us, the people, the army is here to defend, and what type of comfort does this give us with regard to all future matters of security under such authorised gun wielders? Is it this nature of people we give the right to bear arms and send to ‘defend’ our local outskirts communities?

If this denial of the truth stands, what kind of reassurance does this give us about our army’s engagement in the North-East; what does it tell us about the burning down of Baga in April 2013, for instance? In what type of hands are our citizens in the north conflict zones? What does this tell us about all the instances of claims of army excesses and army-on-army, civilian and civilian-JTF, terror in Borno State?

Is it every time that the army is barbaric that hoodlums and terrorists are blamed? At times like this, one misses Fela who would certainly have released a track about, Hoodlums in camouflage!

No one is above error, misjudgment and reckless misadventure, however when an institution like the army, fails to admit deadly blunders of its men, and rather than mete out the appropriate punishment to them, goes further in haste without responsible investigation, to attempt to cover up for treacherous atrocities, it puts the entire nation in a state of suspended discombobulation.

When the BRT vandalism first occurred, Nigerians expected the entire Division responsible to be re-deployed to Borno State. However, today we have been forced to take a different position. We cannot any longer trust these service men to wield weapons. We cannot be so callous as to send these lying Schmuck to our isolated north-eastern communities. These are the type of military men who aid and abet Boko Haam, who step back and allow Boko Haram stockup on weapons from the nation’s armoury; who receive money from Boko Haram and its federal sponsors to provide aerial support to the terrorists and assist the terrorists in bombing civilians and soldiers alike.

PDP won’t beg ex-president, ex-governors

Ekiti State Governor-elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose, has said that the party will not beg any ex-president, ex-governors or ex-senators wishing to defect from the party.

He stated this at a rally organised by the party’s South-West Organisation and Mobilisation Committee in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday.

The rally had in attendance the chairman of the committee, Buruji Kashamu, former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, state chairman of the party, Yinka Taiwo, party leader, Brimo Yusuff, governorship candidates of the party in Oyo, Hazeem Gbolarumi, Femi Babalola, Seyi Makinde, Teslim Folarin, Kehinde Olaosebikan and several members of the party.

Fayose said, “This is the last time that any member of the party, irrespective of his position, whether former governor or president will be begged to remain in the party. If they want to join other parties, they can go. They should not disparage the party again because if they do, they will go.

“They have enjoyed benefits in the party so they should respect the party, whether former president or senator. I left the party when I had misunderstanding with it and returned when we resolved our differences. The door is open for them to leave.”

He added that he was in a position to lead the PDP’s campaign against the All Progressives Party in the South-West being the only person in Nigeria to have defeated two incumbent governors.

He also promised that the best candidate would emerge from all the states, primaries as the party’s national chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, favoured credible process.

Akala said the purpose of the rally was to assure the people of the state that the PDP would release them from the suffering imposed on them by the present government in the state, calling on them to support the party’s return to power in the state.

Fayose said, “I am the only person in Nigeria to have achieved the feat of defeating two incumbent governors, so I am in a position to give advice on how to achieve victory at the polls. We will defeat the APC in Oyo State and other South-West states with the support of the people. Our business in government is to perform and give due recognition to the grassroots. The APC has wasted the opportunity it has to perform by neglecting the masses. Elections are not won by propaganda but at the grassroots level. If Ekiti can do it, Oyo people can do the same,” he added, while also addressing the large crowd to register en masse during the voter registration exercise.

FIFA suspends Nigeria

THE World football governing body, FIFA, has suspended Nigeria till further notice after government interfered in the running of football in the country.

The most immediate effect of the ban is that the country will not be entitled to participate in the upcoming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, coming up in Canada between August 5 and 24, except the suspension is lifted by July 15, 2014.

Nigeria will also forfeit an U-17 African qualifier in Democratic Republic of Congo, slated for July 20, if the ban is not lifted.

But the NFF in a statement late on Wednesday denied that FIFA had stopped Falconets from travelling.

In the statement by the NFF’s Acting General Secretary, Lawrence Katken, the body said, “It is a blatant lie to say FIFA refused to issue tickets to the Falconets. What happened was that the former General Secretary, Musa Amadu, mistakenly cancelled the earlier reservations, so when the delegation got to the airport, they could not find seats on the flight.

“FIFA has told us they are working hard at alternatives, because Lufthansa Airline flights from Abuja are fully booked for the next weeks, and promised to get the players and officials to their training camp in Canada even if they have to travel in batches, from Thursday (today).

Nigerian sports minister, Tammy Danagogo, had insisted the country would not be banned.

In a press statement on the website of the world football governing body, the FIFA Emergency Committee said it decided on Wednesday (yesterday) “to suspend the Nigeria Football Federation with immediate effect, on account of government interference. Article 13, par. 1 and article 17, par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes oblige member associations to manage their affairs independently and with no influence from third parties.”

The decision, according to the statement, “follows a letter sent by FIFA to the NFF on 4 July 2014, in which it expressed its great concern after the NFF was served with court proceedings and consequently an order preventing the president of the NFF, the NFF Executive Committee members and the NFF Congress from running the affairs of Nigerian football was granted by a High Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The said court order compels the Nigerian sports minister to appoint a senior member of the civil service to manage the NFF until the matter is heard in court, without giving any date for such a hearing.

The authorities then appointed a person who decided to convene an extraordinary general assembly on July 5, 2014.

“This extraordinary general assembly was convened in violation of the NFF statutes,” FIFA said.

Originally, an elective congress had been planned by the NFF to take place on August 26, 2014.

The FIFA statement further read, “The suspension will be lifted once the court actions have been withdrawn and the properly elected NFF Executive Committee, the NFF general assembly and the NFF administration are able to work without any interference in their affairs.

“As a result of this decision, no team from Nigeria of any sort (including clubs) can have any international sporting contact (art. 14 par. 3 of the FIFA Statutes).

“During the period of suspension, the NFF may not be represented in any regional, continental or international competitions, including at club level, or in friendly matches.

“In addition, neither the NFF nor any of its members or officials may benefit from any FIFA or CAF development programmes, courses or training during the suspension period.”

Curiously, few hours before the FIFA ban was announced, the sports minister, Danagogo, had said in Abuja that the world body had no reason to sanction the country over the removal of Maigari as the NFF president.

Danagogo, who spoke with State House correspondents shortly after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, said FIFA would not sanction Nigeria because Maigari’s removal was not as a result of government’s interference in the affairs of the federation.

He explained that the decision to remove Maigari was taken by a legitimate NFF congress.

He said, “Nigeria is safe, I can tell you that. What FIFA wants is for the right things to be done and there should be a high-level independence in what is happening.

“So far, if you look at what has happened, I think the government has been very fair; the government has done everything possible not to unduly interfere.

“As a government, we have constitutional duty to maintain law and order. When factions in football family begin to dispute, we have a duty to see that we don’t allow them kill themselves, we don’t allow them destroy the buildings where they are operating.

“Beyond that, we have not done anything. What we have done is to see that law and order is maintained.”

The minister said that when he returned to the country from the World Cup in Brazil, the Maigari-led NFF wrote to inform him that there was a court order saying that they were not the legitimate executive council of the NFF and that a civil servant had been appointed and directed to take over.

He said the NFF through the letter urged him to intervene to maintain law and order.

He said the group of FA chairmen and stakeholders, who also did not want the Maigari government to continue, called their congress and passed a vote of no confidence in the executive council.

He said FIFA must have handed down the ultimatum to Nigeria on the matter with the belief that Maigari’s removal was an action by the government.

The minister added, “Ordinarily, the tenure of the Maigari-led executive has almost come to an end by July, August. And it is a routine, even in our politics, that once we get to election season, there is always disputes between parties who are interested.

“So, what you are seeing is the normal election conflict within the NFF. The Maigari exco had tried to set up electoral machinery to ensure they were re-elected and the majority have come together to say no.”

Nigeria was banned from age group competitions for two years by FIFA in December 1989 after the organisation discovered age discrepancies involving some of its top internationals; Samson Siasia, Andrew Uwe and Dahiru Sadi.

Also, the country was threatened with a FIFA ban in 2010 just after the Super Eagles crashed out of the 2010 World Cup hosted by South Africa.

Human rights activist, Bamidele Aturu, dies at 49

A Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, is dead.

A source close to him said the vibrant legal mind died of high blood pressure on Wednesday. He was age 49.

Aturu, who was reportedly rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja in the early hours of Wednesday, was confirmed dead by medical personnel later in the day.

The late Aturu obtained a first degree in Law from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. Until his death, he was the Principal of Bamidele Aturu and Company in Lagos.

Commenting on the sad incident, a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, said he received the news as a shock.

“I just heard it but I am still trying to confirm; I was told he died of high blood pressure-related ailment. It is sad and I’m still in shock,” he said.

Another lawyer, Mr. Fred Agbaje said he was speechless.

Another legal luminary, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN), who told one of our correspondents that he had yet to confirm the death, said he wished it was not true.

Meanwhile, lawyers and rights activists have expressed shock over the death of the human rights lawyer.

A former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Monday Ubani, who sounded too shocked to talk, described Aturu as the best Nigerian, “whose activism was not targeted at attracting public attention or government’s appointment.”

Others such as the Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, Mr. Debo Adeniran, the National Coordinator, Legal Defence and Assistance Project, Mr. Chino Obiagwu and the Chairman of the Civil Society Network Against Corruption, Mr. Lanre Suraj, simply said they were too shocked to comment on his death in separate text messages to one of our correspondents on Wednesday.

Jonathan admits Nigeria passing through stress

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday admitted that the country was currently passing through stress orchestrated by the violence being perpetrated by members of the Boko Haram sect.

He said that was why his administration had resolved to tackle the insurgency from different fronts.

Jonathan spoke while inaugurating a steering committee for the Safe Schools Initiative, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The committee, which is co-chaired by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and a former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, also has the likes of Aliko Dangote, Nduka Obaigbena, as well as governors of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, among others as members.

He said, “This country is passing through stress within this period, caused by the excesses of the Boko Haram sect and our government has been approaching it from different fronts.

“We always insist that the defence or security does not end terror but we need to stop collateral damage on innocent people.

“For us to win the war, we need to look at it holistically: economic issues, educational issues, religious issues and socio-cultural issues, among others.

“At the federal level, we have the Presidential Initiative on the North-East. They are looking at the totality of what the Federal Government can do in collaboration with stakeholders.”

The President said he had already received a copy of the report of the North-East Economic Summit, and that based on that report, his administration was looking at areas where government would come in.

He said the Safe Schools Initiative was one of the areas, where his government was intervening.

He decried the high rate of school dropout in some of the states, which he said, had risen to 70 per cent in some states, saying that was not acceptable to his administration.

He said Brown pioneered the initiative with government to see how they could tap global fund for school security.

Jonathan said he would also set up a Victims Support Fund, to assist victims of terror attacks.

He said he would launch the fund on July 16.

The President said, “We are also coming up with a package. Because we know that we need to intervene to cushion the effect of Boko Haram. So many people have been killed; we have widows and orphans. Properties have been destroyed, schools burnt.

“Government is also coming up with what we call Victims Support Fund. We believe that government alone cannot cushion the effect. We want to mobilise resources within and outside Nigeria, just like we did during the flood of 2012.

“We are trying to get somebody that will head that fund. We are looking at the 16th of this month to formally launch the fund. Government will put something and individuals will do too.”

Jonathan said the safety of Nigerian children and the security of their education must be paramount to all stakeholders.

He said tragic occurrences, like the kidnapping of the Chibok girls, must not happen again in the country.

“In line with this, we have designed this initiative to enhance the safety of our children and the teachers within the school environment and maintain the confidence of parents in sending and keeping their children in school.

“Education and skill acquisition are key to the advancement of our country and ensuring the employment potential of our youths.

“In Borno State today, for example, children, especially girls, are not going to school because of the risk they face from terrorism and violence. This is not acceptable.

“I understand we can only make schools safer within the context of a secured nation but I want to assure you that my government will do everything possible to ensure safety of lives and property nationwide. We have challenges; we are confronting it and we will surely overcome,” he said.

Jonathan disclosed that in tackling insurgency, his administration was deploying a three-point strategy that focuses on security, seeking political solution as well as economic solution through various economic empowerment and job creation programme all directed at combating insecurity.

Bill Clinton Claimed to Have Debt Millions of U.S. Dollars Out At White House

Former President Bill Clinton defended his wife, Hillary Clinton, about their current statements about bankruptcy out of the White House. Hillary reaping a lot of criticism after issuing the statement when asked about his ambitions for running for President.

In an interview with ABC News in early June 2014, Clinton said her family went bankrupt when he left the White House in 2011. He also revealed in an interview with The Guardian at the weekend that Bill Clinton are not really rich.

“(Hillary’s statement) is factually correct, that (at that time) we were a few million dollars in debt,” said Bill Clinton, Tuesday (06/24/2014). Clinton’s defense revealed in an interview with NBC News that is scheduled to be aired on Sunday (06/29/2014).

In this interview, Bill Clinton said Hillary who also is a former foreign minister and one of the strongest candidates for running for President of the Democrats in the election in 2016, has a lot of work to overcome poverty throughout Clinton knew him.

Clinton family finances has been the subject of a complex related to the possibility of Hillary becomes the Democratic candidate to the White House seats. Hillary is not never been rich, giving a series of speeches with revenues of U.S. $ 250,000 for all appearances, after leaving the position of foreign minister of the United States in 2013.

Bill Clinton also often appear with good pay, since no longer be president of the superpower. The family tax report released in 200 to get the pair together have gained wealth worth 109 million U.S. dollars, since 2001. Couple has a home in Washington and a home again in Cappaqua, New York.

Clinton was in Denver to attend the Clinton Global Initiative conference. In this forum, Clinton will announce a plan to help employ and train young people through partnerships with major companies such as JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, Marriott, and Gap. The plan, in the Clinton forum will also announce a partnership firm with child development programs in low-income areas.

“The best thing to her (Hillary) do is focus on policy, because here she has a rather strong record in fighting for a program that will help the middle class,” said Julian Zelizer, a political history professor at Princeton University. “This is her chance to win an idea of ​​how the business community can be asked to fight for the less fortunate.”

Hillary is currently touring the center of international publications to his new memoir “Hard Choices”. “Hillary has described himself as someone who is in line with the middle class. Yet recent comments equating speech with a cost of millions of dollars of hard work and wealth to bankruptcy, making it lose touch it,” spokesman blasted the Republican National Committee, Kirsten Kukowski.

Related to the possibility of Hillary developed into one of the Democratic presidential candidate, who would he face competitors are Vice President Joe Biden. On Monday (23.06.2014), Biden said, “Do not compare (statement Hillary) was with me who did not have any piece of stock or securities.”

382 British subway passengers trapped in tunnel

Hundreds of subway passengers Eurotunnel from England to France yesterday stranded in the Channel Tunnel train they were traveling due to power failures.

The Daily Mail newspaper reported on Monday (7/7), hundreds of passengers were waiting patiently to be picked up.

Many of them even take pictures selfie in the tunnel before they picked up a car to be evacuated.

A total of 382 passengers and four dogs eventually evacuated to the terminal in Calais, France, to wait for the car pool.

Eurostar train company serving the route was forced to cancel a scheduled departure time in four days and gave the announcement delay. They even advise passengers not to travel if their journey was not essential.

The train finally arrived from London, England, to Lille, France, in five hours due to power failures. The train usually only take 90 minutes.

The train could not continue traveling around 07.30 when the new quarter to take a trip from Folkestone, England.

About 20 minutes later the passengers were told to leave the train and walk redirected to another tunnel.

By the company that the passenger train equipped with a pen, books, cards, torches, fans, water, and wet wipes.

“Suddenly I heard the sound of a collision., But such is not coming from the train. During the 20 minutes the train stopped and we do not know what happened,” said a passenger named Richard Byron.

Every Year 600,000 Employees in China Killed Due To Excessive Overtime

China appears to be facing an epidemic of “hard work excessive” sehinggi now in China even the term to refer to those who died from working too hard, guolaosi.

Guolaosi last case involving a senior official of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, Li Jianhua were killed by “working too long” in April. Li Jianhua (48), collapsed at his home and died shortly afterwards after a late night to finish the job.

Colleagues Li, Bloomberg said, he often worked until midnight and even early morning. Li also traveled to 10 provinces of China and met with 68 corporate financial management in the second half of last year.

The death of Li became the latest in a series of similar cases that invite the attention of the foreign media. Other cases override Jie Pan (25) an auditor of a public accounting firm Pricewaterhouse Cooper who died from meningitis in 2011.

Although there is no clear evidence of the disease, death and excessive work, but young women often upload a sense of fatigue through social media. “When there is no time to rest, the fever came,” Pan said in one of the booms in social media.

A co-worker Jie Pan claimed, the employee was given a job that can not be resolved without overtime.

Another young worker Gabriel Li (24), the employee of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, died last year of a heart attack and collapsed at his desk. However, the advertising company was denied Gabriel died due to prolonged overtime.

Based on the China Youth Daily newspaper, every year 600,000 people died as a result of China’s “too tired to work”. Redundant work that usually lead to heart attack and stroke due to work pressures and stress.

While China Radio International has called in April as many as 1,600 people died from various diseases related “excessive work”.

A similar situation befell Japan in the 1980s, which in the local language called karoshi. And this month, Japan’s parliament passed legislation to prevent karoshi, or death due to work overload.

In this law regulated government aid to private companies and consulting services for its employees

3.5m Nigerians live with HIV

A Professor of Medicine at the College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Salami Kazeem, has said that Nigeria ranks as the third HIV/AIDS most heavily burdened country, after India and South Africa.

He added that Africa carried the global heaviest burden of HIV/AIDS; and that about 3.5 million Nigerians are currently living with the virus.

He spoke at the Unilorin’s 149th inaugural lecture on Monday, in a lecture entitled, “Realities of living with HIV.’

Kazeem said although the national median prevalence of HIV had reduced in recent years, the reality was that the number of people living with the virus had increased by almost 500,000 in three years.

He said AIDS-related deaths had also increased in the same period because Nigeria was behind target in most success indicators for HIV treatment.

He also lamented that the incidence of new infection was common among married sexual partners who are not ready to let go of each other, even long after marriages to different spouses.

He noted that among this category, condom use was low, while the risk of transmission was high.

“Some high risk groups of the society also contribute significantly to the rising rate of new infection. They are hotels and roadside female sex workers. They and their clients, together with their clients’ partners, contributed about 40 per cent of the new infections in 2010,” Kazeem said.

He, however, noted that Nigeria had done well in the control of HIV, as the country had arrested and reversed the national seroprevalence rate from 5.8 per cent to 3.4 per cent.

He urged the government to take full ownership of HIV care, noting that donor agencies would cease to dole out aids by June 2015.

He counselled state and local governments to set aside some HIV/AIDS intervention fund so that appropriate control agencies could get involved in the clinical care of PLHIV.

NAPTON joins fight against fake drugs

The National Association of Pharmacy Technologists and Technicians of Nigeria has said it will collaborate with relevant stakeholders in the health sector in the war against fake drugs.

The Chairman of NAPTON, Cross River State chapter, Mr. Henry Tita, said this in Calabar in his acceptance speech after the chapter’s election.

He said, “I also dedicate this victory to late Prof. Dora Akunyili for what she believed in, and together with members of my association, we will fight to eradicate fake drugs in our society.”

Tita noted that the association was the technical arm of the pharmacy profession, urging related associations not to undermine its importance.

He called on the Cross River state government to accord NAPTON due recognition to allow for industrial harmony.

Also, the State Chairman of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Mr. Andem Usua, spoke in the same vein, saying the association should be allowed to play its part in fighting drug faking.

Pension operators target $100bn by 2020

Pension funds operators are targeting $100bn assets by 2020, which is an increase of 300 per cent over the $25bn currently under their management.

The Managing Director, ARM Pension Managers (PFA), Mr. Sadiq Mohammed, said this during an interview with our correspondent in Lagos.

“The expectation of PenOp is that the pension funds being managed will rise to about $100bn equivalent in 2020 from the present $25bn, while the National Pension Commission has a projection of $72bn by 2020,” Mohammed said.

According to him, the target is attainable because there are new contributors signing into the Contributory Pension Scheme, with high expectation of the economy getting more liberalised, and improved employment situation.

Mohammed also observed that the new pension law that raised the monthly contribution of workers from 15 per cent to 18 per cent would give the funds a boost.

He said that the industry would be investing in higher yielding assets because currently, operators had opportunities to invest in more assets than previously, based on the investment regulations.

With all the ongoing reforms in the economy, he said that there was more expectation for higher income as more businesses would be established.

Mohammed said that presently, the pension industry in Nigeria is the largest pool of long term investible funds.

The ARM Pension boss said that making additional voluntary contribution had a lot of benefits for the workers.

“We have identified additional contribution as part of the growth for the industry because apart from what the employer and employee contribute, there is an opportunity for people that are making additional income to also contribute further so that at retirement, the balance in the account will be substantial enough for the person to retire comfortably,” he said.

Should the new pension law allow contributors to use their pensions as collateral for mortgage, he said those with large amount in their Retirement Savings Accounts would have higher chances of using it for mortgage than those with less amount.

Again, he said there was the tax advantage because the additional contribution was not taxable.

“If you make additional contribution for five years, it is not taxable even if you want to take it after that period,” he said.

Mohammed said the investment return was also attractive because it would give better returns than when the funds were just left in a savings account.

He said, “If you look at our return over time compared to savings rate, it tends to be higher. At the point of retirement, that retirement money is able to ensure that you retire well because the purchasing power is still high because the return on your pensions is higher than the inflation rate.

“One could use it to plan for the children’s education by making voluntary contribution and five years on, you can collect it when it is tax-free and use it to pay for the education of the children.”

Keshi demands N10m-a-month contract

Stephen Keshi has reportedly demanded a significant salary hike to sign a new contract to remain as Nigeria coach.

According to africanfootball.com on Tuesday, Keshi, who announced last week that his contract with   the Nigeria Football Federation had expired after the Super Eagles crashed out of the World Cup following their 2-0 defeat by France, told President Goodluck Jonathan that he will sign a new deal if the NFF agrees to pay him N10m a month. The former Nigeria captain received N5m a month in his initial contract.

Africanfootball.com reported that Keshi made the demand when he met with Jonathan at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja on arrival from the World Cup in Brazil. He was also said to have demanded that his new salary be paid upfront to avoid the delays he suffered in the previous deal, as well as the recall of his former assistant Sylvanus Okpalla.

A top official at the Presidential Villa told africanfootball.com, “He (Keshi) demanded for N10m a month, which he wants to be paid upfront to check any delays.

“He also wanted what he called a free hand as regards his team selection and preparations, saying he no longer wishes to deal with the technical committee.He also wanted Okpalla back to his backroom staff.

“The President has assured him that his demands will be considered.”

Meanwhile, Keshi pocketed a total of $300,000 when he led Nigeria to the last 16 of the World Cup,africanfootball.com has learned.

Battle of dribblers:Messi faces Robben

The World Cup’s best dribblers — Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben — face off when Argentina and Holland meet in the semi-finals on Wednesday, according toAP.

In Brazil, Robben has been quick, Messi has been quicksilver.

In Sao Paulo, either one could turn the semifinal with a dazzling turn of pace or a weaving run to propel his team to the final.

“We have to cut the supply line to Messi,” Dutch defender Bruno Martins Indi said. The Barcelona star led Argentina through the group stage with four goals. He has also made 180 passes in his five matches so far.

Holland have shared the goal-scoring duties more evenly — Robben and Robin van Persie each have three, Memphis Depay has two of the team’s total of 12 — but the Bayern Munich winger’s scintillating sprints with the ball have often been the highlights of Oranje matches.

“We know that we will play against one of the best teams when it comes to counterattacks because of the speed of their men up front,” Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano said. “So we have to take precautions to not give them the possibility to counterattack, to always be well positioned, to not lose balls unnecessarily in areas where there’s a lot of risk.”

After scoring 10 times in group play, the Netherlands have managed only two in its two knock-out matches and the Dutch will be hoping captain Van Persie regains his touch in front of goal. He looked off the pace and missed an easy chance near the end of regulation time in the quarterfinal against Costa Rica.

The Netherlands will again be without their powerful midfield controller Nigel de Jong, who has a torn groin muscle. A possible replacement, Leroy Fer, is recovering from a hamstring injury and it is not clear if he will be fit for Wednesday’s semifinal at the Itaquerao Stadium.

Argentina will be without Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria, who is injured, but striker Sergio Aguero has been declared fit after recovering from a similar problem. “He’s a good player, but we look at the whole team, not one player,” Holland goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen said.

The two sides have a long World Cup history, including one of the Netherlands’ most heart-breaking losses. “It will be revenge if we win the World Cup,” Cillessen said. “But we have to wait for that. It’s not a final. It’s a semi.”

80 injured in South African train crash

At least 80 people were injured in a train collision near Berea in Durban on Tuesday evening, said South African officials.

The accident trains are passenger trains operated by Metrorail. The power line of the railway was shut down after the crash.

Emergency Service ER24 spokesperson Derrick Banks told media that the passengers, sustained minor to moderate injuries, had been transported to various hospitals.

Metrorail spokesperson Dumi Dube said no death have been reported.

The investigation of the accident is under way. However Dube said the collision could have been caused by faulty signals on one of the trains.

Seven killed in Algeria truck crash

 Seven people have been killed and one seriously injured when a mini truck fell down a bridge on Tuesday in the province of Mascara, in the west of Algeria, the state-run radio reported.

The accident occurred at 3 pm in the national road 17 in Mohamadia, when a mini truck carrying eight people skidded off the road and fell down from a 25-meter-high bridge, the radio quoted an official of the Mascara firefighting department as saying.

The seven workers who have been killed were aged between 28 and 53, while the 22-year-old driver is still in coma, the source confirmed.

The dead bodies of the victims were transferred to Dahou Dahaoui Hospital in Mascara, while an investigation was underway to determine the circumstances of the accident.

Figures provided by the National Center for Prevention and Road Safety show that more than 27,500 road accidents occurred in 2013, killing more than 3,700 people and injuring 49,120 others.

A driving license’s demerit point system is still not in force in Algeria though it was approved by the Transport Ministry in 2012. This new driving license rule is seen as an efficient step to curb the increase of deadly car accidents in the North African nation.

My father provoked me

The 21-year-old Redeemer’s University undergraduate, Tolani, who killed his father, Charles Ajayi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, last Thursday, has said his late father provoked him into killing him.

PUNCH Metro had reported that Tolani murdered his father at Canaanland Street in the Redemption Camp along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State.

The 300-level student of Department of History and International Relations, spoke with our correspondent on Tuesday at the Ogun State Police Command Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta , where he was being detained for the crime.

Tolani, who the vice chancellor of RUN said was facing a disciplinary committee in the school before he committed the crime, was initially reluctant to open up to PUNCH Metro.

He said, “Go and read the statement I made to the police.”

But he later changed his mind after a measure of persistence, saying he regretted his action.

Expatiating on how the father provoked him, he said there was an argument between him and his father.

He said, “My father went to the kitchen and got a stick (wooden spoon) which he used on me repeatedly and I tried to defend myself. Then, he bit me on the shoulder and I got angry.

“I initially used a normal small kitchen knife. Later, I used cutlass to attack him. I regret the action.”

He further explained that the incident happened around 1am, adding that during the scuffle, his father bit him many times.

He said during the incident, only he and the late father were at home, while his mother was in Abuja.

When asked whether his parents lived together as husband and wife, Tolani said “ We lived in Abuja; I schooled in the camp (Redemption Camp). My father came for a programme. My school was on break, so, I went to meet him. We were meant to go back to Abuja together, then the incident happened and here I am.”

Tolani, who said he had offended his mother by his action, added that he had sent some people to beg her on his behalf for forgiveness.

He said, “I know my mother is still grieving and I want to give her time. But I have sent some people to talk to her that I am sorry, and that she should forgive me. I have talked to my sister.”

When asked whether he was under the influence of drugs when he committed the crime, Tolani who confessed that he had been into drugs, said, “I   tried those drugs myself. I might have heard it from my friends, but I tried it myself.

“But I know there is no way Nigerians can help me. I am going to face my judgement. I am meant to pay for what I have done. It is not as if I am ready, it is something that is inevitable, something that is going to happen, I am just waiting for it.”

Chibok girls’ll be rescued soon

The Council of State, made up of former heads of government, on Tuesday held its second meeting in the year and came out with a promise that the abducted pupils of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, would soon be rescued.

More than 200 girls were seized from the school on the night of April 14 by members of the terrorist Islamic sect, Boko Haram. The incident has attracted global condemnation and protests. Almost 90 days in the custody of the terrorists, there have been many not-too-pleasant stories about the welfare of the girls.

But briefing journalists at the end of the Council meeting, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio said the military high command had given assurances that the girls were safe and would soon be rescued.

Akpabio said the council was satisfied that those security agents knew where the girls had been kept and that the soldiers were on top of the situation.

He said, “Top on the agenda of the meeting was the security of the nation. We were briefed by the President and the National Security Adviser on the steps that are being taken.

“Top on the security issue was the rescue of Chibok girls, which military authorities also confirmed that efforts were being made and that very soon we will have good news.

“It is also heart-warming to note that the issue is not whether we can rescue the girls, but the issue is how can we rescue them in a way that we can ensure their safety so that we don’t end up endangering their lives in the attempt to rescue them?”

He advised that Nigerians be patient in view of the worsening insecurity in the country, stressing that terrorism was a new development in the nation and that it would take time to put an end to it.

Akpabio said, “What also came out is the need for Nigerians to be patient because terrorism is a new challenge in Nigeria and it is not something that goes away immediately and we have to be meticulous in our approach and make sure that we take the best steps forward to reduce and minimise possible loss of lives in an attempt to curb the insurgents.

“We are very satisfied the security agents know very well where the girls are located and they are on top of the situation.”

At the meeting were ex-Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Shehu Shagari; former heads of state, Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalami Abubakar; ex-military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida; and former Head of the Interim National Government, Ernest Shonekan.

Maj.Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), who is a national leader of the opposition All Progressives Congress, was the only living ex-head of government that did not attend the meeting.

Also on the attendance sheet were Vice President Namadi Sambo; President of the Senate, David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; and some former Chief Justices of Nigeria as well as state governors.

Akpabio said the Council commended the security agents for being on top of the situation in the country.

The Council, Akpabio said, also ratified commissioners for the National Population Commission for Ekiti, Yobe, Jigawa, Zamfara and Kebbi states in line with constitutional provisions.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State said members of the Council were unanimous in their resolution that the media should put the country first in their reportage of issues bordering on security.

Oshiomhole argued that any report that celebrated terrorism would merely be giving the insurgents incentives, adding that the council also called on politicians to be more sensitive to national security.

He said, “It is not a partisan issue, because if there is no Nigeria, political parties become irrelevant and all of us can do better and we should change our language. Political parties should choose Nigeria first before partisan consideration.

“Also the role of religious leaders, that it is not helpful for any religious leader to seek to rationalise this act by suggesting that these people belong to one religion or that their target is another religion and that the entire thing is based on religion.

“It is clear that these are just criminals that are masquerading in whatever name they choose to call themselves. No genuine Christian or Muslim would think that God needs help to kill anyone.

“Nigerians, all of us whether in government or out of government on the issue of terrorism we should learn from the Americans; once America came under attack, whether you are a democrat or republican, everybody believes that without America, all these other divides will be irrelevant.

“I think Nigerians need to understand that and there can be no quick fix. What is required is that there is sufficient political will to deal with the situation to secure the Nigerian space.”

When asked whether Obasanjo got the Federal Government’s nod to engage the Boko Haram sect on the Chibok girls as he had requested in the media, Akpabio asked journalists to approach the former President to speak for himself.

“That would be a third party report. The best thing is that since he is outside there, you can approach him and ask if he got the nod,” the governor said.

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The 24-year-old actress attended the Chanel fashion show today as part of Paris Fashion Week in this Chanel crochet genie pants, a knitted white crop top, chunky silver necklaces and a pair of white heels. You like?

South Sudan: Official Orders Curfew Violators to Be Shot Dead

South Sudan Interior Minister Aleu Ayieny Aleu said Monday that anyone who violates the curfew in the capital is a criminal and security officers are under orders to shoot them dead.

"It is only witches who move at night," he said.

"They steal and kill our people... Shoot them. We have to strike hard to stop this problem, so now, even civilians cannot move about at night," Aleu said.

The council of ministers passed the shoot-to-kill order at its most recent meeting, Aleu said.

A curfew was imposed in Juba when fighting broke out in December. It currently runs from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., but there are reports that the authorites plan to move the start time up to 8 p.m. No one was available at the Interior Ministry to confirm or deny those reports.

Rights activists up in arms

Abila Tom Reuben, the human rights coordinator at the Voice for Change NGO said the minister's order violates people's rights - and is unlikely to work.

"With the situation the way it is currently, people in South Sudan do not get scared of death anymore," he said.

That means that a threat to shoot people who venture out at night will not achieve what it was intended to achieve - keep them indoors and bring down crime, Reuben said.

Reuben said that instead of shooting suspected criminals, the government should take steps to improve conditions in South Sudan so that people don't feel they have to turn to crime. Some South Sudanese have turned to theft and robbery to survive because their salaries have not been paid for months or essential services are not being provided, Reuben said.

Edmund Yakani of the Community for Empowerment for Progress also said that if the aim is to cut crime, a shoot-to-kill policy is not the way to achieve it.

"Shooting one criminal is not the solution," he said, adding that it would be better to arrest a suspect so that "through him, you can track down the other criminals."

Reuben and Yakani said they think the new policy is a tactic to divert attention away from the real reasons people are committing crimes, namely desperation, poverty and insecurity. All have been made worse by nearly seven months of conflict in South Sudan.

The threatened deadly crackdown on curfew violators comes at a particularly bad time for soccer fans in Juba, many of whom will be unable to watch the final games of the World Cup in Brazil because they kick off or finish after the curfew begins.

Up to now, many South Sudanese have been defying the curfew to watch the World Cup, and have said that security forces turn a blind eye if curfew violators tell them they are on their way home after a match. But that could change with the new order to shoot-to-kill.