Minister Denies Award Of Fuel Importation Contracts To Indicted Companies

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Thursday denied that some companies indicted by the House of Representatives over fuel subsidy scam were awarded new contracts to import fuel. Alison-Madueke spoke with State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. According to her, there is no way the companies indicted would have been patronized by the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Authority (PPRA). The minister said that all successful companies penciled down for the importation of fuel were thoroughly screened before selection. The Minister was in the villa to attend the meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). “All companies were vetted carefully and only companies that were cleared were put on the list,’’ she said.

Nasarawa Govt Begins Construction Of Drainages In Flood-Prone Areas In Lafia

The Nasarawa State Government has started the construction of drainage along water ways in all flood-prone areas in Lafia township to curb flooding. Gov. Umaru Al-makura, who stated this in Lafia on Friday during an inspection tour of the flood-prone areas, said the measure would check further floods in the state capital. ”The construction of more drains and culverts would divert storm water that is often responsible for incessant flooding,” he said. The governor noted that frequent flooding of the areas prompted him to access their ecological problems. He said the present CPC-led administration was extremely committed to making life better for the citizens of the state. Al-makura promised that he would do everything humanly possible to see that flood-related issues became a thing of the past in Lafia and the entire state. He said that the Nasarawa Urban and Rural Development Board (NURDB) had been mandated to come up with urban planning for the entire state. According to him, the gesture is to ensure that the state capital, and indeed the whole state, are fully planned for against environmental degradation. ”Prevention is better than cure, having looked at what happened last year, we are trying to see that areas that are vulnerable to disaster of flood are quickly attended to in good time,” he added. Al-makura however blamed the location of the state, especially Lafia, the state capital, as the major reason responsible for the flood. The governor noted that community enlightenment would be intensified so as to avert government from spending more resources to solve the problem of floods. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tour of the flood-prone areas took the governor to Dunama Primary School St. and Bukan Sidi area, among other areas that are worse-hit by last year’s floods in Lafia. (NAN).

Two Brothers Arraigned For Robbery, Kidnap

An Ikeja Magistrate’s Court yesterday granted two brothers, Olayinka Jagbojagbo,38,and Kabiru Jagbojagbo, 30, bail after being docked over alleged kidnap and robbery. The suspects are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, robbery, kidnap and attempt to escape, preferred against them by the police. The police prosecutor, Inspector Iranus Nnamonu, told the court that the accused and others at large, committed the alleged crime sometime in January, 2013, at about 3:20pm, at 26, Jagbojagbo Villa Erode, in Epe area of Lagos State. According to him, the accused and others at large received N8,500,000 ransom from ZTE Nigeria Limited, over a kidnapped Chinese national one Mr Kuang Vingjiun, who is a staff of ZTE Nigeria Ltd, at Osborne Road in Ikoyi. Nnamonu said that the suspects and other members of the gang, shared N200,000 each from the money realised as ransom. He said that the suspects procure charms for themselves and members of their gang, from one Taiwo Aduloju, to enable them escape being punished by the police. The prosecutor also alleged that the defendants kidnapped one Ilogbonu Kingsley Ifeanyi, on May 13, 2013, between 6pm and 7pm, at 26, Jagbojagbo Villa Erode, in Epe area of Lagos. He claimed that they unlawfully detained him, for four days in their house and also in an uncompleted building at Imokun area of Epe, until a ransom of N500,000 was paid for his release. According to the prosecutor, the offence committed is contrary to and punishable under section 409, 16 (B) (C) (D) and 269 (1) (2) of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011. The defendants however pleaded not guilty to the four-count charges. Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 each, with two responsible sureties each, one of the sureties, who must be a landlord in Lagos state. The Magistrate also added that one of the sureties must be a blood relation to the defendants, show payment of tax and address to be verified by the police. The matter was adjourned to September 17, 2013, for mention.

Police Uncover Human Skulls, Concoction Pots In Kidnappers’ ‘Warehouse’

Men of the Delta State Police Command have uncovered a warehouse operated by kidnappers and native doctors in Okwe community near Asaba, recovering 16 human skulls and pots of concoction in the raid. State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Lucky Uyabeme, confirmed that the detectives acted on a tip-off after rescuing a 60-year-old mother of four from a four-man kidnap gang on her way from Onitsha to Asaba, adding that the warehouse located inside a thick forest in the community, stinks. “The detectives, on getting there, found nobody but recovered items used by the kidnappers including foams of different kinds used by their victims,” adding that “the detectives, on their way out of the bush, arrested a middle-aged man who claimed to be a farmer and who is currently helping the Police for further investigation. Mrs Ojukwu, a victim of the kidnappers, while narrating her ordeal, said she was standing along the Onitsha/Owerri Road waiting for a taxi to Asaba when a car operated by the gang stopped to forcibly take her into the bush where she stayed for days before being rescued by the police.

Russia won’t extradite Snowden to US – Kremlin

Moscow says security agency FSB is in talks with the FBI over Snowden. But the whistleblower will not be extradited to the US, a Kremlin spokesman said, adding he's sure the fugitive NSA contractor will stop harming Washington if granted asylum in Russia. “Russia has never extradited anyone, and will not extradite,” said Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Follow RT’s LIVE UPDATES on NSA leak fallout Russian President is not handling the case of the former CIA employee Edward Snowden, as “Snowden has not made any request that is subject to consideration by the head of the state,” Peskov added. The issue of Snowden asking for temporary asylum “was not and is not on Putin’s agenda,” Peskov continued, saying that it lies in the sphere of the countries’ security agencies. Head of the FSB Aleksandr Bortnikov and FBI Chief Robert Mueller are engaged in the discussion over Snowden, Putin’s spokesman said Friday. Responding to the question of whether the former NSA contractor will continue harming the US by leaking classified materials while in Russia, and if the situation is going to undermine Moscow’s ties with Washington, Peskov stressed that “the head of state has expressed strong determination not to allow this,” referring to Putin’s earlier statements. “I have no doubt that this will be the case, no matter how the situation develops,” the spokesman added. Meanwhile, the US Senate threatened Thursday that it might impose sanctions against any country that provides asylum to Snowden, including revocation or suspension of trade privileges and preferences. At the same time the US State Department does not believe that imposing international sanctions because of Snowden would be of any use, said State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki. “We have not seen the text of the proposed bill, but we feel that in general legislation imposing sanctions under these circumstances would not be helpful,” Psaki shared, adding that she is not going “to make a prediction about any step we may or may not take.”  “Our focus in this specific case is having Mr. Snowden returned to the United States, and we still feel Russia has the opportunity to do that and to take the right steps,” the spokesperson stressed. The 30-year-old Snowden has been stripped of his US passport, and is wanted by the United States on espionage charges for carrying out one of the biggest security leaks in the American history. The NSA leaker has been stuck in Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport since his arrival from Hong Kong, and remains there while his asylum plea is being reviewed by Russian immigration authorities. His request followed weeks of searching for a way to leave the country, which he had intended to pass through only briefly on his way to another destination.

Group of Senate Democrats urges Obama to choose Janet Yellen for Fed chair

About a third of the Senate's Democrats have signed a letter urging President Obama to appoint the eminently qualified Janet Yellen as chair of the Federal Reserve. The letter reportedly does not mention Larry Summers, but it's clear that he is the unpalatable alternative spurring the senators to campaign for Yellen: "There's a lot of concern among a lot of Democrats about an appointment of Larry Summers to that long-term position as Fed chairman," said Sen. Tom Harkin (D., Iowa), who signed the letter. "He was one of the architects of getting rid of Glass-Steagall, of getting rid of other regulations." [...] Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) said she had signed the letter, as did Sen. Angus King, an Independent from Maine, who described Ms. Yellen as an "excellent candidate'' with "a strong track record.'' Sen. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.), the assistant majority leader, also confirmed the existence of the letter and said he also had signed it. He said the letter was being circulated by Sen. Sherrod Brown, a liberal Democrat from Ohio. Summers has been actively campaigning for the position of Fed chair for years and, in recent weeks, has increasingly been spoken of as a likely choice by Obama, a possibility that's been widely panned. Yellen is vice chair of the Federal Reserve's board of governors, after a long and solid career including stints at the Council of Economic Advisors and leading the San Francisco Federal Reserve. What Summers has that she lacks is what Felix Salmon describes as a "generally toxic combination of ego and temper," but "surprisingly excellent" skill at "cultivating people with real power." A Summers choice would lay the groundwork for future economic crisis and would send a message that a bullying, egotistical man who's wrong about everything is preferable to a highly qualified, non-bullying woman.

Technology Running Your Home? 7 Tips For Limiting Kids’ Screen Time

According to licensed marriage and family therapist Cynthia M. Gill, MA, LMFT, the four things that kids need most are: to connect; to feel capable; to feel like they’re contributing; and the ability to handle life’s inevitable ups and downs. “None of these goals is really attained by screen time.” For instance, too much tech time robs kids of everything from making eye contact to expressing themselves verbally. It also preempts more valuable activities such as family conversations and reading, said Pam Withers, co-author of the book Jump Starting Boys: Help Your Reluctant Learner Find Success in School and Life with Gill, and the award-winning author of 15 bestselling teen adventure books particularly popular with boys. As a parent, you probably already know that too much technology is unhelpful. You might even have strict rules about screen time. But not all rules are created equal. Unfortunately, some rules can actually backfire and fuel tech battles in your home.

“Many parents either give up, give in, or use harsh punitive methods,” Gill said. Rules such as “if you disagree with me, you lose your phone, iPad [or] laptop for a day” might work temporarily. But they don’t build trust or nurture your relationship with your kids, she said. And they don’t “impart self-control.” The below seven strategies, however, can help you set screen time for good without ruining your relationship with your kids.

1. Have a family meeting.

“Family meetings promote collaborative problem solving,” Gill said. They also help kids feel heard and know their opinions matter to their parents. Have everyone in the family take turns suggesting possible solutions. Set ground rules, such as no interruptions or insults with calm communication. Keep meetings short, such as 30 to 40 minutes if your kids are teens. You can even set a timer.

2. Let your kids “earn” screen time.

They can earn screen time by doing constructive, creative or charitable projects and activities. For instance, some parents let their kids earn screen time by reading, Withers said. “[F]or every hour of pleasure reading they do, they are allowed half an hour of media time. This sends a clear message that reading is valued more than electronic-media time.” Gill knows a 14-year-old boy who’s earning screen time by creating an original picture book for his 3-year-old brother. She also suggested these service projects: “entertaining a younger sibling, raking the neighbor’s yard, sorting laundry [and] reading to the neighbor’s preschooler.”

3. Make cutting back a family affair.

Are you constantly on your phone? Does your laptop feel like another limb? Before making rules about your kids’ screen time, consider the kind of example you’re setting with your own tech use, Withers said. If you’re also committing to cutting your use, she suggested creating a parent/kid challenge: “Pin a chart on the wall with both parents’ and kids’ names over columns that track screen time.” Another idea is to create a “family electronic-device drop-box at the front door for certain hours of the day — at least for dinnertime.” Gill knows a family who takes an entire day off every week from technology.

4. Avoid setting extreme limits.

For instance, don’t set rules such as no screen time for two weeks, Gill said. “[It] is difficult to enforce, so the parent is tempted to give in after a few days.”

5. Replace screen time with other enjoyable activities.

“[T]hat way you are not focusing on the negative ‘you can’t’ [but] rather [on] the positive ‘look what you can do,’” Gill said.

6. Let your kids pick their tech activities.

Set a time limit for using technology, such as two hours per day, Gill said. ([T]he American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against screen time for children under two years of age — urging more interactive play instead — and recommends a maximum of one to two hours of quality programming per day for older children,” Withers said.) Then give kids the freedom to figure out how they’ll spend that time. Do they want to watch a TV show, play a video game or visit a favorite website? This teaches kids to “pre-plan, and [helps them] feel respected as you help them choose,” Gill said.

7. Be interested in what your kids are watching.

“Express curiosity about what’s happening on their screens, rather than trotting out judgment and lectures,” Gill said. Talk to your kids about what they’re watching, how popular it is with their peers and, most importantly, what they think of it, she said. “Teens love to be regarded as experts, especially by their parents, if only for moments a day.”