Elevating Electricity To Enigma

BASIC as electricity is to modern living; there is a basic misunderstanding about reflecting this importance in the lives of Nigerians. The people are unimpressed about government trumpeted gains in managing the challenges of electricity supply.
Last week, government admitted that only 40 million Nigerians, about a quarter of the population, have access to electricity supply. It was meant to be an indication of progress. Nigerians wonder who the 40 million are and regularity of supplies.
Many have electricity that is useless, even for ordinary lighting, as the supply illuminates below the level of a candle flame, what is technically called a brown-out. In the Nigerian experience, a brown-out is worse than a black-out, as the sufferers are reckoned among the supplied. Many parts of Abuja are currently under this burden. Government offices are not left out. Some have resorted to generators, or rationalised their activities to save valuable equipment from ruination.
Since the statistics were about people, did they include heavy users like industries, whose consumption in days could be what a sizeable community would require for months.
Are rural Nigerians among the 40 million?
We acknowledge that concrete steps are being taken to ameliorate the deplorable power situation. However, government must understand that Nigerians are not interested in titillating statistics that still leave them in darkness. Their understanding of improved electricity supply is light in every bulb and equipment they switch on, longer presence of electricity and in a quality that serves their needs. With the billions they are spending in generating their own electricity, Nigerians can find the means to pay a little more for better electricity supply.
A chunk of the stupendous revenues of fuel marketing firms can be adduced to the power situation as virtually everyone buys petrol or diesel to generate power, generate noise, and increase the level of carbon in the environment. High levels of carbon harm the environment.
Concerns for damages to the environment and the clearly stated prospects stable electricity supply holds for Nigeria are enough for government to target practical results in electricity projects.
More challenges lie on the long road to improved electricity. More stable power supply will increase demand as many who run on private power would patronise public electricity. Has this been factored into the demand for electricity?
Nigerians find no comfort in celebrating statistics and approximating them to action. The number of distribution companies, the length of transmission lines or the megawatts of electricity generated are mere efforts. Nigerians have spent decades listening to these lines. They understand improved electricity to mean uninterrupted power supply.
If government has similar understanding, it would be more sober in assessing its efforts.

Breaking News: Former NADECO chieftain, Wahab Dosumu is dead

Former NADECO  and Alliance for Democracy chieftain,  Senator Wahab Dosumu  is dead.
Vanguard gathered that he died in United States, Sunday.
Stay put for more details...

14 bad habits you should ditch before you graduate

Once you snag that diploma and propel your graduation cap into the air (cheesy and cinematic, but you’ve been dying to do that for years), your life will officially change. While securing a job, attending graduate school, or moving home with your parents are some of the more obvious changes, many grads forget that they’ll also have to ditch some of their bad collegiette habits before entering the real world. You had to do the same thing before you started college, so before you graduate, take a look at our top habits you should ditch before you graduate

1. Procrastinating
When your favorite frat is having their annual rager or a movie you wanted to see just came out, your deadlines mysteriously become less of a priority. It’s nothing to be ashamed of; even the most diligent collegiettes procrastinate every now and then.
However, we hate to be the bearer of bad news, but an excessive amount of procrastination is unacceptable in the real world. “The workplace has no room for procrastinating,” says Eden Lipke, a 2013 Boston University graduate who is also the co-founder and contributor for Beauty in the Bag, a beauty website. “Projects and deadlines will just pile up.”
To minimize your procrastination now, create a daily or weekly “To Do” list and reward yourself once you complete every task. If making a list doesn’t work, there’s an app for that. Programs like Self Control exist to minimize procrastination. After you create a customized list of websites you want to avoid and choose a length of time, Self Control blocks these tempting sites from your Mac for that amount of time. If you’re a PC user, try Self Restraint, which is compatible with Windows and Linux. By staying focused on the task(s) at hand, you’ll be able to accomplish everything you need to in a timely and effective manner.
2. Partying too much
As a collegiette, your social agenda probably looked a little bit like this: drinks with your crush on Wednesday, house party on Thursday, frat party on Friday, clubbing on Saturday, and drinks with the girls on Sunday. Let’s face it: college is almost synonymous with partying. You shouldn’t stay cooped up at home every night of your post-grad life, but leave going out four nights a week in college. “It’s less socially acceptable out of college,” says Lauren Grossman, a 2013 University of Delaware grad who is pursuing a career in social work. Though going to lecture hungover may be no big deal, your employers and coworkers will expect you to be focused and alert. Saving your crazy nights for the weekend may seem like a buzzkill (literally), but you’ll be happy you decided to stay at home when your boss notices your attentiveness. Not to mention, saving your going out for the weekend means you’ll have something to look forward to once the workweek is over!
3. Skipping classes
Most collegiettes are guilty of skipping at least one class during their four years at school. When your professor doesn’t take attendance and you have last night’s Game of Thrones episode to watch, how can you refuse? However, in the real world, skipping work is a big don’t. You won’t get points taken off your participation grade—you’ll just get fired.
If you’re no longer taking college classes, you can kick this bad habit by choosing a workout class to go to every week. Even though Pilates sounds more exciting than “Intro to Astronomy,” attending each class will help you get rid of that “I don’t have to go” attitude.
4. Wearing sweatpants all the time
Since it’s so easy to throw on sweatpants and a T-shirt and head to class, many collegiettes fall victim to this fashion crime. As much as we love our trusty college sweatshirt and matching pants, sporting them in public no longer suggests you’re a standard, stressed out college student—it just makes you look unprofessional. Instead, choose an ensemble that makes you look like a bright, driven graduate. For a comfortable outfit, opt for a chunky sweater and cozy pair of skinny jeans on the weekends. But what are you supposed to wear during the workweek? Try updating your wardrobe with these style tips.

D’banj is +1

Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo, D’banj one of Africa’s biggest entertainers was born today June 9th 33 years ago. Happy birthday to him. Wishing him many more successful years ahead.

I Didn’t Fight Ebube, Empress Over Timaya and KC Fresh— actress Anita Joseph

My name is Anita Joseph. I am an actress, a musician and a model. I am from Anambra State.
Journey into acting
I started acting in 2005. I was at the University of Calabar and saw a friend who was acting. I told her I wanted to act and she promised taking me to the National Theatre whenever I came to Lagos. She did when I came to Lagos and I had my audition with Emeka Rollas. Then, I did my first movie, ‘Good Samaritan’ with Obi Maduaga. That one-scene role was not too short and it kick-started my acting career
Life of an actress
It is a queer life because there is no privacy. Everything you do and say is made public. Any man you date is published on the pages of magazines/newspapers. It is a life that lacks privacy. Though interesting, there are times you don’t want to have your pictures splashed everywhere. I sing, I am a model and I’m sexy. So many people say lots of negative things about me. I am not bothered. I have grown a thick skin. It only makes me stronger because I didn’t do those things.
Handling fans
I treat my fans like friends. Fans are important in this profession because they make or mar you. You have to be careful with your fans. Embarrassed by fans? Yes, I remember when a man slapped my buttocks! I acted in a film and the role was that of a lady sleeping with many men. After the film, a man walked up to me and said he liked the way I shook my buttocks in the movie. He wondered if that was how I shake it in real life. I was embarrassed.
Dating fans
There is nothing wrong dating someone who loves and adores you. I have dated some of my fans. The best person to date, sometimes, is your fan. He loves what you are doing and you can act for him at home.
Relationship
I like men who are calm, calculated and someone I can learn from. I like a responsible man who talks well. I cannot stick loud-mouthed men.
Anita and controversies
I don’t believe that. I am not a controversial actress. On Ebube Nwagbo and Empress Njamah, the story was that I dated Timaya and KC Fresh, and fought with these actresses over these men. I never had any trouble with them over any man. We have never worked together on set.
Music
I love to sing and currently, I am compiling my works. My inspiration is from everything around me— nature, human beings, animals, etc.
Fashion
I wear whatever suits me or fits into any occasion I am attending. Also, my mood and the occasion determine what I wear. I love short gowns and bum shorts. I like it when people look at me; it makes me feel good. If you are a lady and nobody looks at you, then you should go back and look at your mirror.
Me and tattoos
I love tattoos. Though painful, beauty comes with pains too. I have tattoos in some areas of my body and I keep having more. It is so addictive.

See Photos From Tonto Dikeh’s Birthday Party In London

Tonto Dikeh flew to london with her new found best friend, Sexy steel to celebrate her 30th birthday at the cokobar night club London. The party was fun and lively, checkout some photos below...awesome pix.
 

Church robbery: Court remands suspects in Kirikiri

An Ikeja magistrate court has fixed June 24, 2013 for hearing of a suit filed by the police against three men who allegedly stole musical instruments from a Redeemed  Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Lagos. The suspects are  Akinbode Theophilus, Waidi Folorunso and Wasiu Olusola.
They were arraigned before magistrate Sule Hamsat of an lkeja  Court 8, which adjourned the matter   for mention to June 24. The police had arraigned the suspects for allegedly breaking into the RCCG, Kingdom Parish Ifelodun Street, Ijegun-Ikotun. The suspects pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge breaking and entry preferred against them.The magistrate  ordered the suspects to be remanded in Kirikiri Prisons pending when they would meet their bail conditions.

Revealed: Rooney holds secret talks with two mystery clubs

 

The Manchester United star met with a Premier League side on one morning before flying overseas for talks with a continental superpower in the afternoon

Wayne Rooney held secret meetings with two clubs in the same day as he lays the foundations for his Manchester United exit.

England's talisman is understood to have met with a Premier League outfit on one morning in June before flying overseas for talks with a continental big-hitter in the afternoon.

Mystery surrounds the precise identities of the two clubs but it is believed that Rooney himself was present in the top-level talks, along with his representatives, following his return from turning out for England in Brazil on Sunday.

The 27-year-old is ready to sever his ties with United as he sets his sights on a new club next season.

Chelsea, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco are among the mega-spenders who are closely monitoring Rooney's situation, while Arsenal, armed with the biggest transfer kitty in the club's history, are also regarded by insiders to be serious contenders to land the forward.

Arsene Wenger has gone public with his interest in Rooney and outlined the challenge that new United manager David Moyes has in "bridging the gap" with the striker after successfully suing him for libel in 2008.

Rooney's camp have given informal indications to Arsenal that the player would be interested in a shock summer switch to the north Londoners.

Furthermore, chief executive Ivan Gazidis explained in a wide-ranging interview that the Gunners now possess the financial muscle to compete for the world's elite players. Asked if Arsenal were now potentially in a position to pay a €29 million transfer fee and wages of €230,000 a week for one player, Gazidis declared: "Of course we could do that. We could do more than that."

Rooney has two years remaining on a United contract worth up to €295,000-a-week and will not accept a drop in salary.

PSG and Monaco, the nouveau-riche French clubs, have the spending power to match and even exceed Rooney's United package, although this might not be enough to persuade the England star to swap the Premier League for Ligue 1.

Real Madrid are in the market for at least one A-list front man as they prepare to offload Gonzalo Higuain, although Rooney has not been strongly linked with the Spanish giants.

Chelsea have also registered an interest in United's most high-profile player after learning of his availability, but the Londoners' priority is to capture a spearhead rather than a No.10. After losing out to Monaco on Radamel Falcao, Chelsea have turned their attention to Napoli's Edinson Cavani, while Fiorentina's Stevan Jovetic is also on their striker shortlist.

Contrary to reports that Rooney's relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson is central to his desire to quit the club he joined in 2004, sources have told Goal that the striker is unwilling to work under former boss Moyes, who was his first manager in professional football, and is "hell bent" on leaving.

Publicly, the new Premier League champions have insisted that Rooney is "not for sale" but they could be hemmed into a corner if he pushes hard for a move as his current transfer value will quickly depreciate once he enters the final 24 months of his contract.

He is believed to be keen on being a team's marquee player once again after seeing his status downgraded at Old Trafford last season, while the opportunity for a fresh challenge at an established Champions League club is also said to appeal to Rooney.

Amaechi’s Suspension justified – Filani

The South West People’s Democratic Party, PDP, appears to have mapped out a course of action to follow in a bid over-run the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria,ACN, in Lagos and other States in the region come 2015.
Already, consultation and reconciliation of all stakeholders of the party are on-going.  Recently, Chief Olabode George and Senator Ogunlewe  were said to have shook hands and ready to close ranks for the victory of the party in the next election.
Again, as if it knew where it had goofed, a source maintained that the stakeholders of the party have resolved to allow internal democracy to flourish where candidates for elective positions will be decided via a robust and transparent party primaries.
The chairman of the South-West Caretaker Committee of the party, Chief Ishola Filani recently at the May 29 Democracy Day rally held in Lagos, declared that some of the leaders of the party did not allow internal democracy, but reasoned that all that had been consigned into the waste bin of history as everybody is rearing to go. “Lest us confess, some of our leaders did not give room for internal democracy but we are making frantic efforts to see that internal democracy come into play.”
The chairman of the South-West Caretaker Committee of the party, Chief Ishola Filani said that considerable work in the area of reconciliation has been done and it is yielding positive results. “We have talked to the widest spectrum of leaders and sent teams to all the six states of the zone to collate the peculiar problems of each state and the critical factors of conflict and factionalisation. We are going to prepare enabling environment for our party members and officers including all stakeholders in Lagos and other states of the Sout-West to ensure that victory is ours in 2015.”
He called on leaders in the region to allow the sustenance and growth of internal democracy as it remained the only way the party can be victorious in the coming election.
He maintained that the party will be made more cohesive and efficient in pursuing its goals which according to him include attracting majority to its fold and also ensure that its members have the incentive to remain loyal to its cause.
“We must bring the PDP to every door step and every home in the South-West,” he boasted.
Filani stated that the party is poised to taking over the government of Lagos state and other states in the South-West at the next general election in the region.
“In Lagos, government has been turned into a family business.  The affairs of the state are being controlled by the former governor and his cohorts; they are buying all the lands in Lagos; destroying market places; high penalties for minor offences; high transportation cost; life have become so expensive because they did not allow okada to ply our roads, everything in Lagos is now for the high and mighty; there is nothing for the poor again; life is becoming unbearable for the poor who is entitled to the gains of democracy.  Only a few people who are members of the family and friends of the former governor are controlling the affairs of Lagos.  This is worse than the military era and this is what the PDP will change in 2015,” Filani stated.
Also, Owolabi Salis, New York-trained chartered accountant and lawyer and a former governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos, stated that Nigeria’s democracy has been bedeviled by religious and ethnic crisis, which according to him had distracted the leaders from focusing on developmental programmes but have been busy with how to resolve the various ethnic and religious crises plaguing the country.
He opined that Lagos state is a PDP state and the party will win the next general election in the state.  “Lagos state is a PDP state.   PDP has been defeating PDP in the state.  You can see that with the national outlook, and its population, PDP should  be controlling the state,” he stated.
“In 2002, we defeated ourselves, some personalities left to help AD, the story was the same in in 2007 and 2011. This time, it is going to be different  as we have all resolved to come together to take over power from these people.”
Salis added that reconciliation of all stakeholders are on-going. “I know that Chief Bode Goerge and Senator Ogunlewe have reconciled but there are other leaders who also need to be reconciled and I know the reconciliation process is on.” he stated. On the Party’s suspension of Governor Amaechi, Salis blamed the governor for going against the party rules. “This is about clash of interest.  With different diversities, there will be different interest to protect.  You either take positive initiative to manage your interest or you take negative initiative.  It is unfortunate that some negative initiatives are being taken.  My concern is that a leadership is a leadership.  The Party decided and then the governor went against it, it is unfortunate.”
Salis continued: “If the party at the highest level decides that this is what is going to happen, you don’t go against it but he went against the decision of the party.”
Commenting on the 2015 Jonathan ambition,  Salis however stated that there was nothing wrong with people having ambition, adding that people are only taking negative approach to issues instead of looking at issues from the positive angle.  “The president has the constitutional right to contest.  Whoever feels otherwise should rather take positive approach rather than resorting to negative approach.”
Filani in his own submission, stated that as long as actions are carried out based on democratic principles, on fairness, equity and rule of law, all the hullabaloo about the NGF will soon fizzle out.  He disclosed that a committee was set up by the National Working Committee of the party, and certain offences have been brought against him.  Now, if you want a thorough investigation, it is normal that you will not want the person involved to be part of it.  So, the suspension is to give room to allow fairness and justice in his case.  In fact, it is in his own interest, but the opposition are reading a lot of meaning into it.”
I think the action of the party is justified because it is only through that suspension that the rule of law can take place,” he surmised.
He stated further that the NGF though is not in PDP constitution, adding that it is good if they come together under one body with a view to cross-fertilizing ideas, but the forum does not in any way affect the workings and activities of the President.”
On June 12 as democracy day, against the publicised May 29 date,  Filani stated that June 12 was only significant to the extent that democracy was aborted by the military.  “Democracy was not allowed to take place by the military.  I was the National Director of Publicity of the campaign organisation of MKO Abiola.  I have an insight into everything that happened. It is one thing that if we don’t correct it, we will continue to regret it forever.  But the fact remains that, at the end of the day, we have to thank God that Democracy eventually started.  June 12 was the demonstration of military autocracy, but it was corrected on May 29 when all our democratic institutions started,” he said.

Researchers found 98% of Down’s syndrome cases could be detected by A new non-invasive blood test

A new non-invasive blood test which can reliably detect whether or not an unborn baby has Down’s syndrome during the first trimester of pregnancy is to go on trial at two hospitals next month.

The test, which analyses a baby’s DNA present in its mother’s blood, could be an improvement on current screening methods, according to researchers.
Down’s syndrome, and other chromosomal disorders characterised by an additional chromosome, is currently tested for between the 11th and 13th weeks of a pregnancy, using an ultrasound screen and a hormonal analysis of the pregnant woman’s blood.
Those deemed at high risk of carrying a baby with such a disorder are then given a definitive test involving chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis.
But this is invasive and carries a risk of miscarriage.
A study carried out at the Harris Birthright Centre at King’s College London is the first to look at the feasibility of screening for the chromosomal disorders – known as trisomies – using foetal cell free DNA (cfDNA) from a pregnant woman’s blood.
The tests, carried out at the 10-week stage on 1,005 pregnancies, were found to be more sensitive at detecting Down’s syndrome and returned fewer ‘false positive’ results than the initial combined tests usually carried out between the 11th and 13th weeks.
Researchers found that up to 98 per cent of cases of Down’s syndrome could be detected.
Invasive testing was then needed for confirmation in less than 0.5 per cent of cases.
The test costs £400 so will not be offered across the NHS at this stage, but it will initially be offered free of charge on a trial basis at two hospitals – Kings College Hospital in London and Medway Maritime Hospital in Kent.
The authors of the study, published in the Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology journal, said: ‘This study has shown that the main advantage of cfDNA testing, compared with the combined test, is the substantial reduction in false positive rate.
‘Another major advantage of cfDNA testing is the reporting of results as very high or very low risk, which makes it easier for parents to decide in favour of or against invasive testing.’
The authors added: ‘Screening by cfDNA testing contingent on the results of an expanded combined test would retain the advantages of the current method of screening, but with a simultaneous major increase in detection rate and decrease in the rate of invasive testing.’