Top Bankers honoured during the African Development Annual Meetings

6 Jun 2012 15:09 Africa/Lagos

Top Bankers honoured during the African Development Annual Meetings

ARUSHA, June 6, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Africa's Top Bankers gathered in Arusha, Tanzania, to celebrate the 6th edition of the African Banker Awards, under the patronage of the African Development Bank (http://www.afdb.org) . They reward outstanding talent and achievement in Africa's financial sector.


Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/award.jpg


Among those who attended this prestigious pan African event, which for the first time was held under marquees on an open field in the shadow of two of Africa's most magnificent mountains, Mt Meru and Mt Kilimanjo were the Ministers of Finance of Djibouti, Guinea, Rwanda, Senegal, as well as a number of central bank governors and high profile bank CEOs.


As the 450 guests enjoyed their dinner in one of East Africa's most spectacular landscapes, with the world-famous Ngorogoro national park only a few hours drive away, Omar ben Yedder said : We have recognised some superb individuals and institutions tonight. Africa's financial sector is a major vehicle for driving the economic growth that has become the talk of the investor community around the world. We have honoured individuals who are prepared to take the bull by the horn, to carry out well thought out visions and who have raised the bar and in some cases taken difficult decisions to deliver on their agenda. Good examples are the Central Bank Governor of Tunisia and the Finance Minister of Guinea. The winners this year represent a good mix between francophone and Anglophone Africa, big and small countries. They reflect the achievements in banking and finance all over Africa."


Perhaps the most moving episode of the evening came when Ecobank CEO, Arnold Ekpe, now regarded as a living legend among the continent's bankers, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the founder and chairman of IC Publications, (publisher of African Banker), Afif Ben Yedder. Ekpe was given a standing ovation. Ecobank had more reason to celebrate the evening, when the Togo based African multinational beat a very strong challenge to emerge as the Bank of the Year.


There were more cheers when Ethiopia's Dr Eleni Gabre-Mahdin, founder and managing director of the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange was named as this year's African Banker Icon. She follows in the footsteps of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Adebayo Ogunlesi who were previous winners.


Olusegun Agbaje, Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank, Nigeria scooped the prize for African Banker of the year. He was presented with his Trophy by Tim Turner, Director of the Private Sector Operations of the African Development Bank at the picturesque Frangipani Gardens, where the Awards ceremony took place.


The Best Regional Bank winners from each of the five regions of Africa were: Attijariwafa Bank, Morocco for North Africa; BGFI, Gabon for Central Africa; Bank of Kigali, Rwanda for East Africa; Access Bank, Nigeria for West Africa; and BCI, Mozambique for Southern Africa- thus highlighting Africa's diversity but strength as one continent.


The African Banker Awards are organised by African Banker magazine, IC Events and BusinessinAfrica Events. It is a landmark event that celebrates excellence and best practices in African banking and finance.Mediterranean Smart Cards Company (MSCC) is the Platinum sponsor for this year's African Banker Awards. Other sponsors include Bank of Industry, Harland Financial Solutions, Ecobank Nedbank Alliance, Giesecke & Devrient, Air Charter Logistics, AfreximBank, Africa Re, Africa Finance Corporation, and the Tunisian based BIAT.


Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of the African Development Bank.


About the African Development Bank

The African Development Bank (http://www.afdb.org) is a multilateral development bank whose shareholders comprise 54 African countries (Regional Member Countries - RMCs) and 24 non-African countries (non-Regional Member Countries - non-RMCs). The Bank Group's primary objective is to contribute to the sustainable economic development and social progress of its regional members, individually and jointly. This objective is met by financing a broad range of development projects and programmes through: (i) public sector loans (including policy-based loans), private sector loans, guarantees and equity investments; (ii) providing technical assistance for institutional support projects and programmes; and emergency assistance grants. The Bank Group approvals in 2010 amounted to $6.5bn. www.afdb.org


Through its private sector window, the AfDB provides a range of financial products to the private sector to complement its traditional lending operations to governments, including financial and technical assistance for viable projects. Private sector project approvals as at the end of April 2011 reached $7.7bn. Infrastructure, especially energy, is the core of the Bank's private sector operations priorities.


About the African Banker magazine :

African Banker is the only pan-African magazine dedicated to banking in the continent. Launched in 2007, African Banker reflects Africa's rapidly growing finance and banking sectors. **African Banker** is published in French and in English to comprehensively cover the entire continent. It has become an essential tool of the people and institutions that pull the strings in Africa's banking and finance industries. In line with its commitment to banking in Africa, African Banker organises the African Banker Awards to reward the people and financial institutions that are making a big impact on improving the banking industry in Africa.


About IC Events - IC Publications

IC Publications has over 50 years' experience in publishing magazines, newsletters, country supplements, industry reports and market intelligence on Africa. Our market-leading titles (African Business, African Banker, New African, and New African Woman) are published in both English and French, with a combined global readership of over 2 million.

IC Events was established to complement IC Publication's publishing arm. Together with its dedicated team of specialists and extensive network of contacts, IC Events tailors innovative forums, roundtables and workshops responding to the most pressing issues in Africa. IC Events' activities are 100% results-driven, bringing together major stakeholders and partners involved in the topics tackled to achieve concrete action plans.


About BusinessinAfrica Events (BIAE) : BIAE is a leading UK-based business communication company specialising in live events, public relations, media relations and reputation management for corporate clients, regulatory agencies and governments, with a focus on Africa.


Contact: awards@africasia.com

Source: African Development Bank (AfDB)

Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
8 Jun 2012
11:43	COMMUNIQUE OF THE ECOWAS COMMISSION ON THE SITUATION IN MALI
7 Jun 2012
16:09	Le Africa CEO Forum, le forum africain des chefs d'entreprise est lancé aux Assemblées de la BAD à Arusha
16:03	The Africa CEO Forum launched at the AfDB Annual Meetings in Arusha
6 Jun 2012
15:19	Les heureux gagnants des Trophées 2012 d'African Banker
15:09	Top Bankers honoured during the African Development Annual Meetings
14:44	Accra to Host PATTEC National Coordinators' Meeting
14:40	Closing Session of the U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission

Tweet

President Jonathan, Our Rescue/Aviation System Failed!

The burning debris of the Dana Plane Crash of Sunday June 3, 2012, in Lagos.


President Jonathan, like DIG Haruna, Prof. Onwuliri and Others our Rescue/Aviation System failed them

~ By John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D.

The reports are always the same with residents and neighbors in emergency matters, serving as rescue hands in plane crashes, and helping victims despite the dangerous situations.

This civilian effort is becoming all too common as emergency officials like the fire, police and other rescue officials are usually helpless in the face of lack of adequate equipment, poor water supply and the presence of unmanageable fire trucks.
In fact many of our fire stations are not in good working conditions resulting in rapid spread of fire, thereby making survival of lives and properties almost impossible.

As in the case of retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, John Haruna and his team, the men of the Plateau State Fire Service in charge of the area of the crash site reportedly were helpless to Haruna and others as they could be heard screaming for help inside the burning plane. There was no water in the fire service tanks. This was just a few months ago.

By the time another fire service in the Jos area came to the crash site, the wicked and the raging fire had consumed the victims to the point of demise.

In the same vein, reports from witnesses in the case of Prof. Celestine Onwuliri and 152 others in the Dana airplane crash in Lagos revealed similar helplessness in the initial response of the government’s rescue team; and it could be possible that some of the occupants were also screaming for help. But with a national rescue team known for its lack of promptness and equipment, death came too soon to all of the 153 occupants, including Prof. Onwuliri whose body reportedly was with no burns and had his Rosary in his hand.

In other words, Prof Onwuliri and others watched death in the face, as it took them out through the burring flame—only if our fire and other rescue services were healthy many of them could have survived.

Like the case of DIG Haruna, it was the neighbors who attempted to do their best initially but helplessly.

President Jonathan , there is something wrong in all of these gross stupidities; especially for a nation reportedly standing well economically per your Democracy day speech, yet we are unable to provide basic and adequate rescue amenities to the people.

Mr. President, our disaster management and aviation systems are so lacking that precious lives are being wasted ‘just like that’ and nothing seems to happen to those in charge who appear to discharge many of these services with indifference, negligence and feelings of being untouchable.
Mr. President, in recent time money has been poured into the rescue operations and aviation management but as usual someone or a few top officials as a result of ingrained corruption, deep seated greed and profound self-centeredness will let needed services die even if it is at the expense of the lives of innocent men, women and children.

Mr. President, these mannerisms are utterly unfair and change the course now for the sake of the perished which included those parents on the ground whose three children were searching for hopelessly.

Mr. President, take an aggressive stand for the sake of those four Nigerian-American children from West Hartford, Connecticut which included 5-months old Noah, Kaiyen and Kaima, 1-year-old twins; and 3-year-old Kamsi and their parents.

Mr.President, Prof. Onwuliri and four of his colleagues from the National Universities Commission were on official duties when death consumed them ‘just like that’ by an airplane known to have been certified by our aviation experts!
As you know Sir, Deputy Inspector General of Police Haruna and his co-occupants were pushed to quick death, and they were also on official duties.

Mr. President, from the point of psychology, many of our heads of agencies appear to be suffering from chronic and gross misconduct, and they always get away with these transgressions as they can easily find a way to make the ‘system’ work for them through many others of the same unwholesome mentality.

In a healthy society, by now those heads and officials that were in charge of certifying a plane like the Dana one, and those in charge of rescue services would by now be on immediate suspension while the case is being investigated; and at the same time they will be required to take series of psychological test as in personality and intellectual functioning evaluations, for the purpose of fitness of duty or continued leadership.

Unfortunately in our country where anything goes these rescue heads and aviation heads will concern themselves more with their personal survival than anything else. President, tell Nigerians not this time!

Mr. President, as a practicing clinical/forensic psychologist, unless we start some type of objective psychological cleansing in regards to staff and heads, successfully going through a series of psychological testing for the purpose of measuring their mental health, judgment, insight, alertness and problem solving skills; we will remain where we are now or even worse.

The Psychological testing will single out troubled staff or leaders that need rehabilitation or removal, and such test should be routine and recurrent. And this type of testing is not the same thing as psychiatric testing which is more about medication-based mental health assessment and treatment. The Psychological testing is essential as it would specifically help unearth these unusual careless and indifferent behaviors as well as uncover self-aggrandizement behaviors.
Mr. President, it is frustrating that basic amenities like water, well-stocked/equipped fire stations and proper rescue/emergency equipment, and transparent quality control/record management in aviation communications are still substandard.

Mr. President, the level of response to emergency situations will change heavily with psychologically, ethically and rightful-minded workers and heads.
Sir, do this on behalf of those who continue to lose their lives through burning houses, businesses, vehicles and airplanes in order to drastically reduce these noted harms. Enough is enough!


~ John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D., is an Abuja-based Forensic/Clinical Psychologist. Jos5930458@aol.com 08126909839.

Tweet

President Jonathan Cannot Win Another Presidential Election Even Today

President Goodluck Jonathan.


Judging by the current affairs in Nigeria, President G.E. Jonathan cannot win another presidential election even if it is done today, because he has disappointed majority of those who voted for him over a year ago, especially the youths.

The transformation he promised them is ironically turning into "transdeformation".
More youths are jobless.
Corruption increased with his election.
Oil theft and fuel subsidy scams increased since his election.
Insecurity worsened since his election not only in the northern states, but also in his native Niger Delta region that his wife feels safer in Lagos than in Bayelsa. She loves the peaceful ambiance of the ACN state than even Abuja or Port Harcourt. She sleeps better in Lagos than in Abuja. In fact, she is impressed by how Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola is directing the affairs of Lagos State even with the daily influx of thousands of Nigerians relocating from her own backward state and other violent states to the mega city of "Eko O ni Baje".
Lagos is better, healthier, safer and wealthier than Abuja and every other state in Nigeria. Of course, the governor of Lagos State has more credibility to win a presidential election than the president who should have been left to prove himself in the management of his small Bayelsa State for four years before being given the Herculean task of the biggest black nation on earth.
He was not prepared for the bigger challenges of being the head of state of Nigeria which only military rulers have been able to do since independence.

The worst Islamic rebellion in Nigeria happened during a civilian head of state Alhaji Shehu Shagari in the early 1980s, so whatever political badluck President Goodluck is having now has nothing to do with the fact of him being a Christian from the southern region, because the Islamic terrorism in Nigeria began when Nigeria had a Muslim President from the northern region until it was stopped by a military head of state until it returned again when another Muslim President Alhaji Umaru Yar' Adua was elected.

It is important to state these facts of history for the education of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the legions of ignorant tribalism-driven i-d-iots and fake Christians from the south-south and southern eastern region who have poor knowledge of the political history of Nigeria since majority of them have failed to read and the evil and wicked politicians and their errand boys continue to lie to them and mislead them in tribal conceit and political deceit to exploit their perpetual ignorance to rig and win electoral contests.

What we are seeing now are the nightmares of an incompetent president of a corrupt government that has failed woefully to direct the affairs of Nigeria after using his tribal conceit and political deceit to fool the ignorant electorate in the last presidential election.


~ By Orikinla Osinachi, Author of Children of Heaven, Scarlet Tears of London, Bye, Bye Mugabe, In the House of Dogs, Barack Obama and the American Dream and other books.

Tweet

Global Film Competition Helps to Raise a Glass to Dads This Father's Day

'RAISE A GLASS TO YOUR DAD'
GLOBAL FILM COMPETITION HELPS TO RAISE A GLASS TO DADS THIS FATHER’S DAY

AMSTERDAM, June 7th, 2012 / PRNewswire /-Some of the world’s most famous whisky makers, Johnnie Walker, Bushmills, J&B and Talisker, have harnessed the creative talents of up-and-coming independent film makers around the globe to help inspire people to ‘raise a glass’ to their dads this Father’s Day.

The whisky makers partnered with MOFILM, a global network of more than 45,000 film makers, to seek short films that pay tribute to fathers in a campaign called ‘Raise a glass to your dad’.

MOFILM challenged 20 film makers to create a short piece that told the story of their relationship with their father and how whisky plays a part in that.

Traditionally, consumers spend more on Mother’s Day than Father’s Day and the campaign aims to redress the balance.

The winner, New Yorker Jody Lauren Miller, was flown to Palm Springs to celebrate her win in style at the Coachella Music Festival. Her film, entitled ‘Victor’ – which featured her father and his fondness for Johnnie Walker - was described by the judging panel as “quite simply superb”.

Jody was presented with a $5,000 cash prize and a separate gift of a personally engraved bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label.

In a close second place was the Swedish team of Daniel, Fredrik & Henrik Lundh. Their entry – ‘The Man with the Nose’ – told the tongue-in-cheek story of their dad’s character and his amazing sense of smell that leads him to Talisker whisky.

In third place was Will Shipley of the US with ‘Like Father Like Daughter’ which celebrated Bushmills Irish Whiskey.

In fourth was ‘You Know Him’ by Canadian film maker Lloyd Choi, linked to J&B Whiskey, and in fifth place was ‘Sleepless Nights’ by John Waters from the UK, which also linked to Bushmills Irish Whiskey.

Andrew Fell, Global Customer Marketing Director, Diageo Global Whiskies Category said: “We believe film is an incredibly powerful medium to capture the feelings that people have for their fathers, a feeling that is often hard for them to express. The winning entries were all touching, amusing, provocative and innovative and perfectly illustrated the love and respect due to fathers.”

The JOHNNIE WALKER, BUSHMILLS, J&B and TALISKER words are Trade Marks.

www.DRINKiQ.com

Drink Responsibly

For further information contact:
Leanne Scott, Smarts
Tel: +44(0)28-9039-5500
Mob: +44(0)-7795-485-511
Email: leanne.scott@smarts.co.uk

• French
• German
• Spanish
• Chinese Simple
• Chinese Traditional
• Japanese
• Korean
• Urdu

Tweet

Nigeria with 34 Plane Crashes Since 1959, Princewill Asks For Judicial Probe

Prince Tonye Princewill and Wisam Fawaz.

07th June, 2012

PRESS RELEASE

WITH 34 PLANE CRASHES SINCE 1959, PRINCEWILL ASKS FOR JUDICIAL PROBE


President Goodluck Jonathan weeps at the site of the Dana Plane crash in Lagos.

With the Dana Air plane crash of last Sunday that claimed the lives of over 164 Nigerians including the entire passengers, crew members and innocent inhabitants of the site of the crash, it brings the number of plane crashes in Nigeria to 34 since 1959 when a DC10 crashed in Lagos killing all 87 people on board. In these, quite probably, "preventable" incidents, over two thousand Nigerians have been lost. And in all these crashes, the government of the day has rushed to set up one type of probe or the other without implementing the findings or recommendations contained in those or previous reports. To Tonye Princewill the Leader of Princewill Political Associates (PPA) and a PDP Chieftain in Rivers state,” this is no longer acceptable; we cannot continue in this way, snuffing out the lives of great Nigerians as if even one life is not too much. A stop must be put to this carnage”, he retorted.

 

CNG in an interactive session with Wisam Fawaz

Princewill attributed the recurrent decimal of plane crashes in the country to corruption in the Aviation Sector and insufficient regulation and asked for a continued and accelerated overhaul of the sector.” Until corruption is eliminated in Aviation with credible and capable hands appointed to man all aspects, Nigerians should expect more plane crashes. I am totally devastated with the number of causalities claimed and I pray God gives all those affected the fortitude to bear the loss. The word tragedy does not even begin to capture the scale of it. If we want to keep getting what we are getting, we should keep doing what we are doing.”

He further observed that the absence of consequence was the mother of all our evils as nobody was ever brought to book when the dust had settled. “Previous reports on the 33 other crashes are probably gathering dust somewhere, why won’t the 34th?” He called for a stop to the typical probe bound to be dumped by subsequent administrations and spoke in favour of the setting up of a Judicial probe were people found culpable in this latest incident are adequately jailed or accordingly sanctioned. There must be a cost to any wrong doing. The period of toying or taking the lives of Nigerians for granted will no longer be an option. I cannot comprehend the number of personal friends we lost in Sunday's incident.

Prince Tonye Princewill, Faruk Oyebanjo (member CNG) and Wisam Fawaz





Prince Tonye Princewill, Wisam Fawaz and members of the Change Nigeria Group.



Prince Tonye Princewill and Members of the Change Nigeria Group




Prince Tonye Princewill and Tom Sweeny in a brain storming session with the members of the Change Nigeria Group

The Prince of Niger Delta Politics who returned on an Emirates flight that landed a few minutes after the Dana plane had crashed had just taken 10 young Nigerians under the aegis of Change Nigeria Group (CNG) on a tour of Dubai and South Africa where they met with members of the UAE royal family, institutional investors and leaders from far and wide so they could discover for themselves the secrets of their success. The visit had culminated with a trip to Robben Island, the former address of the much respected Nelson Mandela where the price of leadership was in stark view. “No condition is permanent so change is inevitable. The question is what role each and every one of us will play and how history will judge after that change has come.” This is what my recent travels have taught us, he concluded. “Like the filling of a cup drop by drop, it is hard to point the finger at the drop which made the cup runneth over. It must be clear to us all that this recent plane crash has to be the last.

~ Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, Media Consultant, PPA.

Top Reports of the Week

Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
7 Jun 2012
16:09	Le Africa CEO Forum, le forum africain des chefs d'entreprise est lancé aux Assemblées de la BAD à Arusha
16:03	The Africa CEO Forum launched at the AfDB Annual Meetings in Arusha
6 Jun 2012
15:19	Les heureux gagnants des Trophées 2012 d'African Banker
15:09	Top Bankers honoured during the African Development Annual Meetings
14:44	Accra to Host PATTEC National Coordinators' Meeting
14:40	Closing Session of the U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission
5 Jun 2012
10:08	Accident d'avion au Nigeria - Déclaration de Yamina Benguigui (4 juin 2012)
08:41	Plane Crash in Lagos
08:17	Nigeria - Accident d'avion (03.06.12)
4 Jun 2012
15:01	RenewSys Launches EVA Encapsulant for Photovoltaic Modules at Intersolar North America 2012, Booth No. 5679, Moscone Center, San Francisco, USA
1 Jun 2012
18:21	BOURBON - Press Release : 2012 Combined Shareholders' Meeting
17:55	Philanthropic Groups Partner To Increase Participation In Secondary Education In Developing Countries
10:51	IFC and African Development Bank Sign ISDA Master Agreement to Expand Local Currency Finance

Deadly Italy earthquakes result in $6bn economic loss, according to Aon Benfield catastrophe report

The Boy Scouts of America Clarifies Membership Policy

SUMMER DAYS - Workers Cite Flexible Schedules, Leaving Early on Fridays as Most Prized Summer Benefits

Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Continue to Hit Record Lows

Wisconsin Recall Election

Electronic Entertainment Expo

Summer Health & Safety

Father's Day

 

Tweet

President Jonathan, Plane Crash Is Inevitable But Lessen It Through Healthy Regulations

President Jonathan, Plane Crash is inevitable but lessen it through healthy Regulations

~ By John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D.


President Goodluck Jonathan at the site of Dana Plane crash in Lagos.

On an emotional note your assertion that there will not be a recurrence of the air disaster is understandable and is well taken but it a fantasy at best.
The Dana Airline’s McDonnell Douglas MD-83 which perished more than 153 travelers and residents is a great shame as it was a disaster waiting to happen.
Mr. President, it could be said that the ministry of aviation under your watch may have been trying to improve on the health of aviation in Nigeria; the current occurrences do not support such attempts.

Mr. President this crash could have been avoided, if the nation’s regulatory agencies were up and doing in their responsibilities, given the apparent reports that this very airplane had a long and bad history of being mechanically deficient. And it certainly would be most surprising if this history of faultiness was new to the Nigerian aviation authorities.

Mr. President, like everything else in Nigeria the country remains a dumping ground for most things rejected from the Whiteman’s land.

Nigeria, as a land known for its ingrained corruption, deep-seated indifference and inadequate record management it is possible that the worst of the worst airplanes are all over the country.

Mr. President, like you in terms of your tearful visit to the site of crash in my role as a human psychologist in America for almost three decades till my recent return home it is profusely tearful and painful for me to know that this same plane was a reject from America.

Mr. President, it is not surprising that in a country where our people are helpless over what the government does that this American-built airplane was once a piece of mechanical nuisance. A cause and a curse that resulted in its original owners, an American-based Alaska Airlines selling it to the Dana Airlines in early part of 2009. The sick plane which was used from 1990 to 2009, and then dumped on the Dana Airlines for an apparently good price for the India Company would enter Africa and settle in Nigeria—where anything goes apparently.

Now we know from America that in November of 2002, the plane had severe mechanical faults, suffered from overheated light ballast, and in August of 2006, it had a smoking problem due to a chaffed wire bundle that was discharging and passengers had to be quickly moved out upon landing in Long Beach, California.

With all these life threating problems a plane such as this dumped on us having been certified by Nigerian aviation experts!

Mr. President, in your time our administrators including those in aviation should stop playing with the lives of Nigerians, especially now that we know that this same fatal plane reportedly continued to have problems in Nigeria as recently as a few days ago.

Mr. President, with tears in my face the colonial mentality that anything or anybody from the Whiteman’s land is better than anybody black is why a mechanically disturbed plane like the MD-83 with an aged background of 1983 would be certified as a go-ahead aircraft in Nigeria. Mr. President, this wrong!

Many of these deficient and aged planes are made worse by the Nigeria-conditions in regards to our aviation environments which are marked with poor electricity, and periodic failures of diesel generators which could affect everything from radar screens to all forms of communications.

Mr. President, as a practicing clinical/forensic psychologist it is a fact that pilots in places like America go through a series of psychological testing as it is away to monitor pilot’s mental health, judgment, insight, alertness and problem solving skills. Psychological testing which should be routine and recurrent, is not the same thing as psychiatric testing which is more about medication-based mental health assessment and treatment.

Psychological testing it is about personality characteristics and intellectual competence. Psychological health is a very essential aspect of safety therefore pilots flying in Nigeria should be tested by competent clinical psychologist as part of pre-employment and post-occupation requirements in Nigeria.

They should also be subjected to at least an annual medical certification examination by an ethical physician. Also video monitoring of what is happening in the cockpits of all planes is needed as it could enhance safety.

Mr. President, given that air business is risky our air controllers could also benefit from psychological testing as there have been various problems in this area.
The improvements in equipment and procedures in any matter involving air transportation is essential therefore for the benefit of all flyers every problem involving air safety no matter how minimal should be quickly investigated and corrected. This correction must be supported with documentation in electronic, internet and paper forms, followed by public announcement on radio and in the television.

There is also need for proactive safety checks and monitoring of pilots and aircrafts to ensure full quality assurance and continued aviation safety in Nigeria.
Mr. President, the saying by many Nigerians that some of stated recommendations are “things that they do in overseas and that we have not reached that point yet” makes many reasonable persons headache-bound as these are common sense procedures that are common to all humanity.

Mr. President, life in Nigeria has in the recent months been touched by numerous painful events and occurrences but for lessons to be learnt with regard to these challenges; appropriate, ethical and standard ways of being functional must be carried out and accomplished during your presidency.


~ John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D., is an Abuja-based Forensic/Clinical Psychologist. Jos5930458@aol.com 08126909839.

Tweet



An Open letter to President Jonathan on Minister Abba Moro’s Truths


Minister Abba Moro

~ By John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D.

President, every now and then in life you find an individual in various part of the globe who is willing to tell the noble truth. In Nigeria mostly, is it very difficult to find somebody with the courage to tell the truth especially if it is a bitter truth?

As a scholar and practitioner in forensic psychology with a focus on prison and police matters as well as one who recently returned home from the United States of America after about three decades, there is need for the full examination of some of these internal security issues.

Now, what are the lines of noble truths that came from the mouth of Comrade Patrick Abba Moro, the Minister of Interior?

His words are crucial to achieving the Jonathan Transformation Agenda especially in the areas of internal affairs of our nation.

Mr. President, only if you are able to have access to this open letter, it will be one way for you to be able to experience the pain and bitterness that Minister Moro described in many of his recent words about the internal-based security hurdles and other related matters.

Sir, we need experts, who in the spirit of the nation and for the service of the people will thrive to tackle many compounding issues raised by Minister Moro, and for the sake of the society the expert service should come out voluntarily, and it should be done professionally and in a timely way.

For the collectivization of services the expected services should be of help to all of us and not for one’s own selfish sake and in all of these we need experts and leaders with a cycle of clear conscience.

Speaking about clear conscience, we now know openly through the Minister that since 1981 at least 10 prison projects were contracted with many of them suffering abandonment. Again, since 1981.

Mr. President this information which you may already know of and be aware of remains mind burgling.

Mr. President, we all agree that nation-making must surely occur slowly but it must be executed progressively by men and women of conscience.

In another issue, the Minister as part of his sacred task and as a man who is vast of the elements and local factors evoked a sense of pain and worry about a nation where during personnel selection for a job a serving senator may send a letter requesting a member of his constituency to be selected—no matter what is on ground for the admitting agency.

The senator’s letter or request is generally obliged to in the midst of high competition for a tight position. And not picking the senator’s or another Higher official’s choice is a temptation that is not worth risking.

Mr. President, this dilemma could be reduced if employment to jobs are based on merit as you recently ordered for in executive positions where you made it clear that one does not need to know anybody to be employed.

Mr. President, as you vigorously put to practice your administration's national transformation agenda in the course of turning the country around we will need more of the likes of Comrade Patrick Abba Moro who will disclose real and painful aspects about our internal affairs. We need the likes of him who will stay on to drive the administration's transformation agenda in regards to many security threats in our country at this time.

Mr. President, as an expert in prison matters it is only proper to state to you to use boldness to reduce a long standing ambivalence raised by Minister Moro. In other words, how does one expect a Ministry charged with the responsibility of almost guaranteeing internal security perform superior, when functions which supposed to be under the control of ministry of internal affairs as done in healthy societies are placed under other ministries as in the case of the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Customs Service—Mr. President this is crazy.

In fact, internal security and community areas like the National Emergency Management Agency and the National Youth Service Corp should be under the ministry of interior or internal Affairs.

For the sake of coordination or planning security matters in regards to domestic affairs, disaster management and general national service one body or ministry should carry out all the required measures relating to internal affairs issues, especially when we all know that all these areas complement each other.

Mr. President, how can one argue in a non-psychotic way that the Ministry of Interior which is officially charged with Prison management and responsibilities has one of its mightiest challenges and issues—congestion—being handled by the Ministry of Justice where the prison decongestion program of the federal government is currently domiciled?

Mr. President, this approach is not only self-defeating but could cause unnecessary challenges due to operational logistics.

The Minister alerted the nation of inmates’ inaccessibility to the courts due to inadequate vehicles; now we see why the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Dahiru Musdapher cried out recently about the 110, 000 plus cases that are pending before our courts across the nation with no quick rescue in sight.

Mr. President, this is a serious issue that could have been addressed long time ago as convicts /suspects held in prison(a place that suspects are not supposed to be in the first place) could become more of institutional risk and judicial mess if these problems continues.

How do we tell the world that series of postponements of court appearances result from lack of vehicles to convey suspects or inmates to the courts in a country that is financially the largest market in Africa?

The Minister has shown that he is not only a focused and bold leader but an ethical leader as he continues to exemplify moral leadership in regards to his strong concern for children.

Mr. President, adult prison is no place for kids, yet as pointed out by the Minister there are juveniles in our prison.

There used to be a time when the practice of locking up undeveloped people or children with adult criminals across the world but that was a time marked with policies of the 1700s.

The Minister as part of his ethical leadership sees the urgent need for the building of an adequate number of remand homes for minors.

Mr. President, the creation of institutions and juveniles’ residential centers away from prisons is for the sole purpose of bringing modification in their behaviors and actions very early on. And putting a juvenile in prison could actually make a criminal out of a potentially good child. Mr. President what is wrong with us?
Actually the affairs of juvenile delinquents should be the non-function of the Nigeria Prison Service, instead it should be housed in a ministry that is concerned with social development, families and children as that is where substantial responsibilities of children usually takes place.

Mr. President with the continued revelations that our prisons are congested with about fifty thousand inmates as well as the fact that almost 70 percent of them are awaiting trial the criminal prosecution phase of our judiciary should be made to implement the provisions of suspended sentence and probation now.

The provisions of suspended sentence and probation are already directly or directly in the Criminal Procedure Act but for some reasons the Nigeria judiciary to date, still holds on to the colonial mentality of strict punishment. This plain insanity especially now that we are currently in the 21st century!

Mr. President it is time to put to reality Chief Justice Dahiru Musdapher’s call for a complete overhaul of our criminal law and policies in regards to full allowances for suspended sentence and other modern practices.

Mr. President, under Moro's leadership, change is certain in the management of our internal affairs but only if his very capable leadership continues to get the highest support in terms full blown realignment of institutional functions, and their delivery.

The expert breakdown of many the issues facing internal security have been raised in here in terms of their need for coherence.

While no one is asking the President, to help straighten out these problems today, you Sir should quickly help bring out some degree of transformation to many of these complications by putting a stop the madness.

Mr. President, our internal security challenges do not have to be this way as you know they can be reduced only if you go in full swing on many challenges revealed by the Minister Moro and analyzed with solutions by this expert.

Mr. President with a bold, timely, and rapid resolve to many of these issues you Sir will go into history as a real Transformation President in Africa.


~ John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D., is an Abuja-based Forensic/Clinical Psychologist. Jos5930458@aol.com 08126909839.

Tweet

NNPC Spokesman Levi Ajuonuma and others Killed in Dana Plane Crash

Dr. Levi Ajuonuma.

Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, the Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)was among the eminent Nigerians and others who lost their lives in the ill-fated Dana Airline flight 0992 from Abuja that crashed Sunday afternoon in Lagos with about 153 people on board. The plane crashed on Popoola Street, off Akande Street, Toyin Bus Stop, Agbado Road in Iju-Ishaga outskirts of Lagos. Ajuonuma was a popular Radio and TV producer and presenter


Photo of the air disaster from 360nobs.

The outdated McDonnel Douglas 83 aircraft of Dana Air Flight 0992 was already over 22 years old and flying it was a total violation of the aircraft age policy of the Federal Ministry of Aviation. The Federal Government of Nigeria should prosecute Dana Airline and make sure the management of the airline pays fully for the loss of lives and properties caused by this air disaster even if would mean revoking the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of Dana Airlines until further notice. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is also complicit in the culpable failure to prosecute erring airlines still violating the air safety laws in Nigeria.

The appointment of incompetent administrators is the cause of the maladministration destroying the government and causing the systemic collapse of all the apparatuses of public service in every sector of the Nigerian government. A bad government is responsible for bad administrators, bad roads, bad airports, bad railroads, bad hospitals, bad schools, bad security services and other bad consequences and repercussions such as the catastrophic air disaster of the Sunday afternoon in Lagos. There have been more air disasters in Nigeria since 1999 to date than from when Nigeria became independent on October 1, 1960 to 1998. That is; we have had more air disasters under the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 12 years than we had in 39 years before 1999. And the sooner we dismiss this bad government the better, healthier, safer and wealthier we would be to secure our lives and properties now and in the future, otherwise we would be losing more lives and properties under this bad government. The more time we are wasting the more lives and properties we are wasting as we continue to endure and tolerate the incompetent cabinet of the present corrupt administration of the Nigerian government. Enough is enough!


May the souls of Dr. Levi Ajuonuma and other precious people who died in the Dana Air disaster on Sunday June 3, 2012, in Lagos, rest in peace. And may God who alone knows the depth of the loss comfort the bereaved families, relations, friends, associates and the entire people of our beloved nation Nigeria.


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, Author of Scarlet Tears of London and other books.

Complete Manifest of Lagos Dana Air crash
On June 3, 2012 ·



Taiwo Lamidi, Awodogan Olusanmi, Obi Chinwe ,Shaibu Memuna, Maj. I D Mohammed, Nagidi Ibrahim, Attu Anthonia, Shaibu Sam, Ifeanyi Orakwe, Obinna Akubueze, Li Rui, Xie Zhengfen, Okoe Ese Oghene, Chukwuemeka Okere, Adekunmbi Adebiyi, Ibrahim Matunkari, Wasa Ruth, Wasa Awyetu, Ojukwu Alvana, Lawal Anakobe, Nabil Garba, Mohammed Falmata, Ibrahim Jangana,Okikiolu Olukayode, Komolafe Olugbenga, Dike Chinwe, Dike Chukwu Ezugo, Olusola Arokoyo, Adekola Ayoola, Akinola Olumodeji, Olukoya Banji , Saka Otaru, Adeleke Oluwadamila, Yusuf Ibrahin, Ikpoki Obiola, Aikhomu Ehime, Levy Ajuonuma, Mbong Eventus, Fatokun Olaoluwa, Oshunbade Aderoju, Fatokun Anjuola, Fatokun Ibukun, Buhari Maikudu, Amina Idris Bugaje, Ajani Adenike, Ike Abugu, Adijolola Abraham, Obot Emmanuel, Otegbeye Adiza, Ehioghae Sunny.

others are:

Onwuliri Celestine

Abikalio Otatoru

Norris Kim

Eyo Bassey

Ntuko Charles

Anibaba Tosin

Okocha Christopher

Shobowale femi

Phillip Chukwuebuka

Sparagano Lawrence

Shomolu Oluwakemi

Ariyibe Temitope

Mecha Eke

Ojugbana Amaka

Ojugbana Christopher

Hunna Walter

Coker Olumide

Lillian Last

Mutir Stephanus

Yusuf Alli

Lt. Chumba Ochigbo

Eribake Wale

Zhai Shutao

Wang Yu

D. Awani

O. Awani

N. Chidiac

Rejoel Dhose

Li Huizhu

Apochi Godwin

Kang Yi

Inusa Ahmed

Faysal Inusa

Mojekwu Adeobi

Ibrahim . D

Bamaiyi Adamu

Ifekawa Jones

Peter Nosike

Anthony Nwaokogbara

Mamudu Aliyu

Nnamdi John

Akwa Eze Elizabeth

Dorothy Adeduni

Echiedu Ibe

Maria Okuleri

Jennifer Ibe

Oloko Tunji

Sarah Mshelia

Ahmed Mbana

Okonji Patrick

Oyosore Rajulie

Oyosore Ugabio

Kaikai Farida

David Kolawole Fortune

David Kolawole Eyinlojuoluwa

Kaltun Abubakar

Dukawa Mammud

Pathience Sunday Udo

Asuquo Ini Obong

Onomelease Aimanehi

Onyeagosha Chidinma

Onyeagocha Ogechi

Ike Okoye

Amiaka Rapheal

Ijeoma Onyijuke

Garba Abdu

Abdu Aisha

Benson Oluwayomi

Anthoni Okaro

Onyeka Anyiene

Humra Lawal

Manuma. Ayune

Berki Sumyindadi

Ebuka Enuma

Oluchi Onyia

Sunday O

George Moses

Ogechi Njoku

Nsa Anyere

Kasmisgona Anyene

Stanford Obrutse

Kayinetochi Anyene

Okeke Hope

Kaimarachi Anyene

Rev. Ayodeji Cole

Ngozi

Noah Anyene

Ailendi Ehi

Oluwasegun Funmi Abiodun

Shehu Saad Usman

Aladi Martins

Auta Jennifer

Auta Josephine

Ike Achonogor

Joy Alison

John Ahmadu

Agu Rogers

Tatokin Anjola

Tatokin Idris


Catalogue of Air Disasters in Nigeria compiled by The Guardian Newspaper of Nigeria.

• November 20, 1969: Nigeria Airways BAC VC10 crashed on landing, killing 87 people on board.

• January 22, 1973: Royal Jordanian Airlines flight 707 carrying 171 Nigerian Muslims returning from Mecca and five crewmen crashed in Kano, killing all on board.

• March 1, 1978: Nigeria Airways F28-1000 crashed in Kano, killing 16 people.

• November 28, 1983: Nigeria Airways F28-1000 crashed near Enugu, killing 53 on board.

• December 1988: Skypower Brandeironte aircraft overshot Ilorin Airport’s runway, killing all the passengers.

• February 24,1991: British Helicopter crashed in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, killing all nine people on board.

• May 21, 1991: A Cessna Citation 550 of Ashaka Cement, Hombe, crashed, killing all on board.

• June 26, 1991: An Okada Air Bac-11 crashed in Sokoto, killing three persons.

• September 26, 1992: Nigerian Air Force A C-130 plane crashed minutes after take-off from Lagos. All 200 on board killed.

• June 24, 1995: Harka Air Services Tupolev 34 crashed on landing in Lagos, killing 16.

• November 13, 1995: Nigeria Airways Boeing 737-2F9 crashed on landing in Kaduna, killing 9.

• January 17, 1996: Ibrahim Abacha, son of Sani Abacha, was killed in a plane crash. The group “United Front for Nigeria’s Liberation” (UFNL) claimed responsibility for the crash.

• November 7, 1996: A Nigerian ADC (Aviation Development Corporation) Airline Boeing 727-231 flying from Port Harcourt to Lagos with 142 passengers and 9 crew members crashed on landing, plunging into the lagoon with all on board killed.

• January 31, 1997: SkyPower Express Airways Embraer 110PIA crashed on landing in Yola, killing five.

• September 12, 1997: NAF Dornier 228-212 in Nguru, Borno State ran into a ditch during take off, none of the 10 people died.

• January 5, 2000: SkyPower Express Airways Bandeirante 110P1A crashes on landing in Abuja, killing 17.

• October 26, 2000: Dornier aircraft plunged into a thick bush near the Niger Delta, 6 occupants injured.

• May 4, 2002: EAS Airlines’ BAC 1-11-500 with 105 people on board crashed and burst into flames in a densely populated suburb of Kano, killing 76 on board and 72 on the ground bringing total casualties to148.

• November 30, 2003: A Cargo aircraft of Hydro Cargo, Brussels, Belgium, crash-landed.

• March 6, 2004: An Aenail spray aircraft with registration number 5NBEF belonging to Berfieex Nigeria Ltd, crashed at the Bauchi Airport.

• July 26, 2004: Pan African Airlines’ helicopter crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in Eacraros, Delta State, killing four persons on board.

• December 29, 2004: A Boeing 727 of Chanchangi Airlines belly-landed at the MMA.

• December 29, 2004: A Kenya Airlines aircraft crashed- landed at the MMA due to gear fault.

• January 28, 2005: A Nigeria Air Force fighter plane crashed into a farmland in Yar Kanya, Kano State.

• February 25, 2005: ADC’s B73 aircraft had its tyre burnt while landing at Yola Airport.

• March 27, 2005: A Boeing 737 of Bellview had one of its engines caught fire.

• June 11/12, 2005: Lagos: a Boeing 727-200 aircraft belonging to the domestic Chachangi Airlines overshot the runway at Murtala Muhammed Airport, while yet another overshot the runway at the airport in Jos in central Nigeria a day earlier.

• June 24, 2005: A Russian aircraft belonging to Harka Air crash- landed at the MMA, all the people on board died

• July 6, 2005, Port Harcourt: An Air France A330 plane crashed into a herd of cattle at Port Harcourt airport, sustaining serious damage and killing many of the cows.

• July 23, 2005, a Lufthansa aircraft crash-landed at Lagos airport and was badly damaged, but no life was lost.

• October 22, 2005: A Bellview Airlines Boeing 737 with 117 people on board crashed shortly after take-off from Lagos. All on board killed.

• December 10, 2005: A Sosoliso Airlines DC-9 crashes in Port Harcourt, killing all 103 on board.

• September 17, 2006: A 18-seater Dornier 228 Air Force transport plane, carrying 15 senior army officers and three crew members crashed in Benue State, leaving only three survivors.

• October 29, 2006: Aviation Development Corporation Airline Boeing 737 with 104 on board crashed minutes after take-off from Abuja’s airport. All but 6 perished in the disaster.

• November 10, 2006: OAS Service Helicopter crashed in Warri, Delta state killing four on board.

• August 2, 2007: Bristow-owned helicopter crashed inside ExxonMobil facility in Port Harcourt.

• March 15, 2008: Beechcraft 1900D plane marked 5N-JAH, belonging to Wing Aviation crashed in Cross River State. The wreakage was not found until 6 months after. All four crew members died.

• March 14, 2002: A helicopter belonging to the Joint Task Force (JTF) crashed in Kabong, Jos, killing all members onboard including four senior police officers.

• May 4, 2002: Executive Airline Services (EAS) BAC-1-11-525Ft aircraft crashed at Aminu Kano International Airport Kano, killing 70 people.

• December 10 2005: A Port Harcourt bound Sosoliso Airlines flight 1145 crash-landed in Port Harcourt Airport, killing 109 passengers including 60 students of Jesuit Loyola College Abuja.

• October 22, 2005: A twin Engine Boeing 737, belonging to Belview Airline crashed in Lisa Village, Ogun State and killed all the 117 passengers on board.

• October 29, 2006: An ADC aircraft crashed when it took off from Abuja, killing 105 people on board.

• November 10, 2006: A six-seater helicopter belonging to Odengene Air Shuttle (OAS) crashed in Delta State and killed two people.

• September 16 2006: Air Force plane crashed in Benue State killing Army generals.

• March 15, 2008: A twin-turbo Prop 19-seater aircraft belonging to Wings Aviation Ltd crashed in Calabar while on a routine flight from MMA, Lagos.

• March 8, 2011: HS-125 chartered aircraft crashed in Bauchi. No casualty.

July 29, 2011: A Kwara State-bound helicopter crashed in Osun State killing all on board including the Managing Director of Josepdam Group of Companies, Mrs. Josephine Oluwadamilola Kuteyi and her personal assistant.

Tweet

Contemporary Russian Writers Meet New Yorkers on the Rooftop

Russian "Queen of Horror" Anna Starobinets


Contemporary Russian Writers Meet New Yorkers on the Rooftop

NEW YORK, June 2, 2012/PRNewswire/ --
Russia Beyond the Headlines (RBTH), an internationally recognized source of information on Russia, will participate in the Read Russia festival - an initiative celebrating contemporary Russian literature and book culture during BookExpo America at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City, June 2-7.

Some events will be held in conjunction with BookExpo America (BEA), where Russia is the 2012 guest of honor. Sponsored by Russia's Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communications, Read Russia is by far the largest and most complete program on Russian literature and culture ever organized in the United States.

Gary Shteyngart, author of New York Times Bestseller Super Sad True Love Story

A series of late-night parties, music, and performances devoted to Russian literature called Read Russia Roof at the Dream Hotel will take place during the festival. The full schedule is available at http://readrussia2012.com/events
The RBTH booth at the Read Russia festival (Javits Center, #2424) will offer visitors the latest print supplements appearing in the New York Times and the Washington Post. RBTH supplements provide readers with the latest news and analysis on Russia's political, economic and social life.

A special RBTH magazine - Voices of Read Russia - will also be available for free during the event. This useful guide to contemporary Russian literature will introduce readers to the likes of "Queen of Horror" Anna Starobinets and offer the opportunity to learn more about Gary Shteyngart, whose book Super Sad True Love Story appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list in 2011. The magazine will also feature special content on Dmitry Bykov, a writer and columnist for various Russian periodicals who also authored the verses for "Citizen Poet," a year-long satirical project on Putin's Russia.

Each day during the festival, RBTH will raffle off an album of travel photos, Russia Through a Train Window, by photographer Anton Langue. The album is a travelogue of his multi-year journey across Russia.

Since 2007, Russia Beyond the Headlines has published monthly supplements about modern Russia in leading global media. Currently, supplements are published in 19 of the world's leading newspapers, including The New York Times and The Washington Post. RBTH maintains a website http://www.rbth.ru, which features expanded content and resources, website for mobiles mobile.rbth.ru and RBTH for iPad. Free iPad app can be downloaded.:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/touch-russia/id479508480?ls=1&mt=8

Source: Russia Beyond the Headlines

CONTACTS: Anna Sergeeva, RBTH Representative in New York, Tel: +1-201-851-7469, E-mail: anna.sergeeva@rbth.ru



Tweet

Ginny, First Coal Mining Search and Rescue Dog in the World

Ginny, First Coal Mining Search and Rescue Dog.

1 Jun 2012 12:30 Africa/Lagos

Alpha Natural Resources Introduces Ginny, the First Coal Mining Search and Rescue Dog
Ginny underscores Alpha Natural Resources' ongoing commitment to safety



BRISTOL, Va., June 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Alpha Natural Resources (NYSE: ANR), a leading U.S. coal producer, today introduced Ginny, the first canine specifically trained to perform search and rescue in both underground and surface structures typically found at mining operations, as part of the company's signature safety process, Running Right.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120601/CG16907)

Kevin Crutchfield, chairman and CEO of Alpha Natural Resources, said, "We are excited to welcome Ginny to the Alpha Natural Resources family. She is a tremendous new asset for mine search and rescue, both for our company and the industry, and is part of our larger commitment to safety. Ginny also demonstrates our Running Right process in action, showing how our company takes employee ideas to enhance safety and makes them a reality."

Ginny, a brindle-colored Dutch Shepherd, is trained to search for missing, trapped, injured or unresponsive humans in unstable conditions or confined areas. She has a highly-developed scent ability and can canvass large areas in short amounts of time. To help protect and support her when working in the field, Ginny also wears a specially designed protective vest that carries sophisticated technology, such as an infrared camera and atmospheric gas detector when underground.

Ginny was bred at a kennel that provides some of the highest-performing dogs in existence to branches of the U.S. military, law enforcement and homeland security. Her formal training took over two years and was led by Bill Dotson, a well-recognized canine behaviorist with expertise in the development of highly specialized skills for search, rescue and recovery. Ginny continues to train with Alpha's mine search and rescue teams so that they know how to best work with her and leverage her skills.

Ginny currently resides with her handler, Rick McAllister, Alpha's Director of Continuous Improvement; Rick was also the employee who came up with the idea that the Company should train a dog specifically for mine search and rescue.

Ginny is making her first official public appearance today at the Governor's Cup Mine Rescue Contest in Cedar Bluff, VA. In the coming week, she will also be attending the 2012 National Search and Rescue conference in Lake Tahoe, NV.

To learn more about Ginny, please visit www.AlphaMineRescueDog.com, like her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter or watch her on YouTube.

About Alpha Natural Resources

With $7.1 billion in total revenue in 2011, Alpha Natural Resources ranks as America's second-largest coal producer by revenue and third-largest by production. Alpha is the nation's largest supplier of metallurgical coal used in the steel-making process and is a major supplier of thermal coal to electric utilities and manufacturing industries. In 2011, the company had more than 200 customers on five continents. More information about Alpha can be found on the company's Web site at www.alphanr.com.

Note to local media

Ginny will be at the Governor's Cup Mine Rescue Contest today if you are interested in meeting her in-person; two members of the Alpha Natural Resources search and rescue team who work closely with Ginny will also be present to speak with the press. The event is taking place at the Southwest Virginia Community College Activity Field located at 724 Community College Road, Cedar Bluff, VA 24609.

Directions to the event are at: http://www.sw.edu/community/directions.htm.

SOURCE Alpha Natural Resources

CONTACT: Samantha Davison, +1-443-603-8954, sdavison@alphanr.com; John Dudzinsky, +1-212-300-1817, jdudzinsky@apcoworldwide.com

Web Site: http://www.AlphaMineRescueDog.com

Tweet

Mr. President, Stop the Domestication and the Abusive Privatization of Police Officers

Nigerian Police officers on duty.

Mr. President, Stop the Domestication and the Abusive Privatization of Police Officers

~ John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D.

President Jonathan, it is time for an executive order to be issued in order to put an end to the ongoing deeply painful domestic and abusive relationship between law enforcement officers, the police in particular and very important persons in the country.

Many reasonable Nigerians take this issue extremely essential, and as one who specialize in police/prison science, forensic psychology and as one born to a father who contributed about forty years of police service to the Nigerian people; it is an eyesore for me to see on a daily basis, a sworn police officer in an enslaved posture in public.

In this respect, this is a personal issue for me and to many thinking Nigerians who see the basic duties and responsibilities of a police officer as that which include protecting the lives and properties of the people.

But as it is now, under the desire of some police officers and many highly placed persons/families in Nigeria a look at various public or open places will show the sight of an officer holding two or three mobile phone handsets, holding handbags, briefcases, umbrellas, coats, or a plastic bag of neatly packed food, and at the same time timidly holding a gun in the unfilled hand.

All these are going on with the very important person, “big man”, or “madam” or even oyinbo (a white person) who may be on the officer’s side spotting a look of superiority with completely empty hands.

Mr. President if this is not open insanity then the world would like to know what this type of image is, especially when both hands are supposed to be on a gun for the purpose of accuracy and quickness in a life and death situation?

If not for poor judgment the person being guarded ought to know that it is a lot harder to have an accurate grip of a gun with the officer’s gun resting on his/her side, or hanging on the wall, or anywhere else because both hands are occupied with goods and gadgets.

It is not unusual to see this type of sight with the officer in a standing or passive position while the important person or boss is using the phones interchangeably, talking/laughing loudly, seriously engaged in telephone or having a face to face talk in an open setting.

As a psychologist, I have always wondered what could be going through the thoughts and feelings of the police officer–turned servant who in many cases appeared to hold a face marked with a hungry look, a very serious expression or an artificially smiling face.

Mr. President, in a highly challenged society like ours there is need for highly placed persons to have security but for God’s sake the unscrupulous, authoritarian, unoriginal, dishonorable and imprudent behaviors of some in power or in high positions should stop now.

Mr. President, in the last one year the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, retired Deputy-General of Police, Mr. Parry Osayande, and just of recent the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, and a former Lagos State police commissioner, Mr. Abubakar Tsav have respectively called for a stop to the barbarous misuse of our law enforcement officers.

Mr. President, we live at a time when various areas of the Nigerian criminal justice system are being called upon locally and internationally to become more effective, efficient or valuable in their constitutional duties.

Just like the order you gave as in the case of the directive to have Executive positions being advertised and given out on merit, the same should be done in regards to the ethical and professional use of our law enforcement officers.
Sir, the brutal truth is that the dehumanization, oppression, bullying, and the cross sexualized image we see when a male uniform officer is holding an Italian shinning real leather handbag for “madam” due to misuse of power is disgusting and should stop now.

Mr. President, no matter what many of your aides say, including the acting Inspector-General of Police who is waiting to be confirmed by some of these social offenders to officers, it will be almost suicidal for a police man or woman to tell the very important person to carry his or her own handbag or briefcase.

Mr. President while of some of these power-that-be may defy your order as some have done in regards to your order that Ministers should have a certain number of aides, let this be different this time by applying the psychology of shame.

In an emerging democracy like Nigeria the duty of a police officer, whether in the service to an average or highly placed person is to extend his or her constitutional responsibilities which include ensuring the safety of the individual and not playing the role of a servant or a domestic as enslavement practices ended in Nigeria a very long time ago.


~ John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D., is an Abuja based Forensic/Clinical Psychologist. Jos5930458@aol.com 08126909839.

Tweet