PDP RIGGING ROADMAP: Jonathan, Atiku in hot exchange of words

 

former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and President Goodluck Jonathan 

The war of words be-tween President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over the authorship of a rigging roadmap for the 2011 presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, continued at the weekend, with Atiku’s campaign group blaming leakages in Jonathan’s campaign for the revelation.

While Atiku’s campaign blamed dissatisfied staff for the leakage of the alleged plan,  Jonathan’s campaign, on its part, disowned the alleged plans, charging Atiku to stop his seeming desperation for power.
The 141-page document details alleged plans by  Jonathan’s campaign group to compromise delegates, the police, religious leaders and other institutions which the Atiku campaign claimed were articulated by  Jonathan’s campaign group.
The Jonathan campaign had in its first reaction accused the Atiku campaign of cloning and doctoring its working documents and subsequently yesterday, disowned the document as circulated by the Atiku campaign to Western foreign missions in Abuja and the media.
Jonathan/Sambo’s camp
Mr. Mike Omeri, Director of Planning, Research and Strategy at the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign headquarters, said yesterday: “We totally deny ownership of this sinister document being circulated by the Atiku campaign and challenge it to prove its veracity to Nigerians.
“While, unlike the Atiku Campaign, we are not in the habit of threatening the media with legal actions in a veiled attempt to gag the Third Estate of the Realm, we would appeal to our friends in the media to be more circumspect with information made available to them by politicians.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we do not need to plan to manipulate a process that already clearly points to our success. As a campaign, we are doing everything lawfully possible to win the January 13, 2011, presidential primaries of the party.
“We have identified and are engaging with the delegates to the primaries. We have visited 32 of the 36 state branches of our party to engage with the delegates; and President Jonathan has personally gone to four of the six geo-political zones to meet with the delegates. The remaining states and zones of the party are scheduled to be engaged with this week after the Xmas festivities.
“We are glad that our efforts are already paying off. We have the endorsements of 21 of the 26 PDP governors and all the six geo-political zones of our party. Non-PDP members as well as non-partisan members of the public have also not hidden their preference for President Jonathan. In an unusual show of solidarity, the entire traditional rulers of the South-East as well as prominent and paramount traditional rulers in the North, South-West and South-South have declared their support for our President.”
Moles in Jonathan’s camp— Atiku Campaign
However, Atiku campaign spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, was insistent on the authenticity of the alleged rigging document which he said was obtained from leakages (moles) within the Jonathan/Sambo campaign headquarters.
He said: “It is a leakage from them and they don’t need to deny what they did. Afterall, didn’t Dr. Omeri say that it was a badly cloned document that we did and now they are coming out to disown it. Which one do we believe?”
On how Atiku campaign obtained the alleged document, Shehu said: “They have leakages in their camp and we are not to be blamed for that and it is because of lack of commitment and passion for what they are doing.
“Once we got it, we circulated it to diplomatic missions in the country to ring the bell about the injustice being planned against us.”
Atiku is desperate—Jonathan Campaign
The Goodluck/Sambo campaign was, however, dismissive of Atiku’s assertions, saying it was ridiculous for Atiku to insinuate that esteemed PDP delegates could be compromised.
It said: “We express our regret about the Atiku Campaign insinuation that the esteemed delegates and members of our party are incapable of making a decision on a matter of such national importance as the selection of our presidential flag bearer without financial inducement.
“This insinuation is an unfortunate manifestation of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s habitual contempt for our party and its members; an attitude which took him to the Action Congress in 2007 and has brought him back in 2010. We can only urge him to be less desperate about his political desire by putting our country and party first in all his subsequent political actions.”

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com
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2011: President Goodluck Jonathan campaign group disowns document

  President Goodluck Jonathan

Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organisation on Sunday disowned a document containing President Goodluck Jonathan’s alleged plan to rig the Peoples Democratic Party primaries and 2011 elections.

The group, in a statement in Abuja by its Director, Research, Documentation and Strategy, Mike Omeri, said the document was circulated by a PDP presidential aspirant, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

But the Atiku Campaign Organisation, which circulated the document to journalists, insisted that Jonathan planned to rig the primaries and elections.

It said the document was prepared by the GSCO.

The Media Director of Atiku Group, Mallam Garba Sheu, said, “What we are trying to do is to bring the entire document to the understanding of the all stakeholders, local and international.”

But the Jonathan group said, “We totally deny ownership of this sinister document being circulated by the Atiku Campaign and challenge it to prove its veracity to Nigerians.”

The group recalled that on Friday, it raised the alarm over a sinister campaign by the AACO to smear the image of the President.

It said the AACO had circulated a 141-page document to some media houses purporting it to be the campaign strategy of the GSCO to manipulate the PDP presidential primaries.

It said it was surprised that some newspapers ran a story last Saturday in the AACO’s spokesman confirmed that it had such a document in its custody.

“This admission by Malam Garba shows clearly how desperate the Atiku Campaign and its principal, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, have become in their burning desire to fly the presidential flag of the PDP in the general elections next year.

“These are interesting political times, and as we have seen, some politicians have become so desperate that they are prepared to do anything, including shedding the blood of Nigerians to achieve their political desires.”

The group, therefore, urged the media to be vigilant and ensure fairness and balance.

The GSCO said, “For the avoidance of doubt, we do not need to plan to manipulate a process that already clearly points to our success. As a campaign group, we are doing everything lawfully possible to win the January 13, 2011 presidential primaries of the party.

“We have identified and are engaging with the delegates to the primaries. We have visited 32 of the 36 state branches of our party to engage with the delegates; and President Jonathan has personally gone to four of the six geopolitical zones to meet with the delegates.”

It said that 21 out of the 26 PDP governors and all the six geo-political zones of our party had endorsed Jonathan.

The group added, “We as a disciplined campaign organisation cannot engage in actions that could undermine the electoral policy of our principal. President Jonathan has stated severally that he is committed to conducting the freest and fairest elections in our country.”

The document contains an alleged elaborate formula for the Jonathan campaign to undermine members of the opposition, compromise pro-democracy NGOs, religious leaders, electoral officials and security agencies.

The document also lists how alleged PDP operatives in each zone will be deployed to ensure Abubakar’s defeat in the primaries. Also, the document states that Abubakar’s business interests in Nigeria will be shut as a means of weakening his access to funds.

Source:punchng.com

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Electricity: Nigerians’ll enjoy 20,000MW by 2014 – Jonathan

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has given an assurance that power generation in the country will rise to 20,000megawatts in the next four years.

This, he explained, would be adequate for the needs of individual users and large manufacturing industries, which currently generate their own electricity at great costs.

Jonathan said this on Wednesday during a meeting with the former British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, and the Chief Executive Officer, JP Morgan Bank of the United States, Mr. Jamie Dimon.

According to him, from April, next year, the country will be generating enough electricity for homes, offices and commercial enterprises.

The President said that the Federal Government was also tackling the challenges in the area of power transmission.

He noted that the government intended to quickly construct a new national power transmission super-grid to replace the existing grid, which could no longer meet the nation’s needs.

The President told Blair and Dimon that Nigeria would welcome support from international financial organisations and global banks.

The support, he said, could be in the form of long-term financing of the super-grid project, which he said was critical to stable power supply in the country.

Jonathan said that his administration’s priority was to boost power supply in the country.

He said that the government believed that adequate and stable power supply would have a beneficial impact on employment generation and economic production.

The President also briefed the visitors on his administration’s efforts to boost agricultural production through large-scale commercial farming.

Blair said that there was a huge amount of goodwill in the international community on the efforts of the President to achieve rapid socio-economic development of the country.

The former prime minister said that the decision by JP Morgan, one of the world’s largest banks to upgrade its office in Nigeria to a full-scale branch, was a vote of confidence in Nigeria and the Jonathan administration.

Also on Wednesday, the President received the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Mr. Sergey Lavrov.

The minister was in Abuja for the implementation of bilateral agreements signed during the Russian President, Mr. Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Nigeria last year.

The President assured the minister that his administration would do all it could to facilitate the implementation of the agreements and the expansion of areas of economic cooperation between Nigeria and the Russian Federation.

Lavrov had earlier told the President that Russia was very keen on “enriching” its relations with Nigeria through large-scale economic projects.

Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201011183162356 Read more...

N30b From Goodluck Jonathan to Entertainers?

Ben Murray-Bruce welcoming Jonathan to Eko Hotel
Silverbird’s 30th Anniversary concert, which held at the Expo Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island Lagos on Saturday November 6, 2010 was an overwhelming night that will not be forgotten in a long time from now.
The Silverbird head-honcho Mr. Ben Murray Bruce engaged and committed Mr President in a passionate speech that gave many goose pimples and got the VIP audience on their feet in full ovation
‘’I want you to recognize the entertainment industry, you said you will never let them down, let the young kid go to the bank and borrow a million or two to make a record or make a movie, support the entertainers, if you support them, they’ll vote for you’, Murray-Bruce charged President Jonathan.
And Mr Jonathan, who is hoping to secure his party’s presidential ticket in next year’s general elections, responded:  ‘Nollywood is getting set to take over the world, I recognize the entertainment in the Nigerian economy, this government will support an industry that makes Nigerians happy. I gave them direct order to make sure entertainers have $200million worth of loan to work with. Make more movies, write and produce more hit songs, provide jobs and give hope to our people’ he promised while kokomaster D’banj cheered him on, chanting (‘Jona Jona, Goodluck Jona) at every quick interval of Mr. Presidents’ Speech.

Read more:http://www.thenetng.com/2010/11/10/n30b-from-goodluck-jonathan-to-entertainers/

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Jonathan to open Multi-Trex food factory

 President Goodluck Jonathan

Multi-Trex Integrated Food Plc’s new multi-billion naira factory along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Warewa, Ogun State, is to be opened by President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday,

The event is scheduled to take place during the President’s official visit to the state.

In a statement made available to our correspondent, the company’s Executive Vice- Chairman, Chief Dimeji Owofemi, said the cocoa-based factory valued at N8bn, was built in order to expand the company‘s product lines.

“This new factory will boost our market share and positively stimulate the Nigerian economy. Nigerians, will for the first time, enjoy the taste of real cocoa drinks as against the current situation where they have access only to cocoa flavoured drinks,” Owofemi said.

Source: http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201011063505696 Read more...

Jonathan seeks public-private partnership in tourism industry

President Goodluck Jonathan
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has canvassed for public-private partnership initiative in the culture and tourism industry as a means of solving some of the country’s problems.

Jonathan, who spoke on Tuesday at the 2010 National Festival for Arts and Culture programme in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, said that NAFEST over the years had done a lot in upholding the unity of the nation as well as spreading the message of good value.

The president said, “Much as we have the problem of youth unemployment, rural and urban poverty in our land, which many government policies have been put in place to tackle over the years, time is now ripe for the public and private sector to explore the great prospects that were bound in our cultural industries in alleviating poverty and diversifying our revenue base.”

He explained that the theme of the 2010 NAFEST which was on “Cultural Industry and Economy Empowerment” was carefully chosen in order to ensure that culture could be used as an alternative tools to diversify the country’s mono-cultural economy with a view to creating sustainable wealth that would empower the teeming youths.

Source: http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201011031385993 Read more...

Jonathan In Bayelsa, Says Amnesty Is Working

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said the peace initiative instituted by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua through granting of amnesty to militants in the Niger Delta is working for the country,  as there is sustained peace in the region.

Jonathan who spoke at a civic reception organized in his honour at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex during his three-day official visit to Bayelsa State, said the government is concerned about how to ensure peace and stability in the country so as to attract direct foreign investment.

According to him, with the peace now achieved in the Niger Delta, the governors in the region can concentrate on developing the area.

The president promised that the Federal Government would partner state governors in the area of development as well as create jobs for the youths.

“ I am one of you who grew up from the creeks; today I am at the centre. You do not need to be born with a silver spoon to be the president of the country; if you are committed and devoted to your duties, you will get there,” Jonathan said.

He told Bayelsans that they should be happy that one of their own is the president of the country and that everybody has the same opportunity that could take him to any height.

While thanking the state government for the reception in his honour, he also commended the past governors for their contribution to the development of the state.

Read More: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26852:jonathan-in-bayelsa-says-amnesty-is-working-&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

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Jonathan restates support for NAFDAC

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday restated the Federal Government support to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control in the fight against counterfeit drugs and other substandard regulated products in the country.

In a press statement, the Agency‘s Deputy Director, Public Relations and Protocol, Abubakar Jimoh, said Jonathan pledged the support during the commissioning of NAFDAC‘s ultra modern zonal laboratory in Agulu, Anambra State.

President Jonathan who was visibly impressed by the state of the art analytical equipment in the laboratory, according to the statement, vowed to sustain the war against drug counterfeiting and corruption in the country. He commended NAFDAC for its achievements and implored the management not to relent in the battle against fake drugs.

Conducting the president and his entourage round the laboratory complex, Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, said the laboratory was the heart of the activities of all science professions and the bed-rock of NAFDAC‘s regulatory activities.

Orhii disclosed that as a regulatory agency, ”NAFDAC has maintained its global leadership role as one of the top 18 medicines regulatory agencies in the world and the only such in the African continent.”

He further said, “We have also similarly undertaken the upgrading of the NAFDAC Central Drug Laboratory, Yaba which has been completed and shortly hope to commence the upgrading of the Oshodi Laboratory”.


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BBA5: Jonathan, others congratulate Uti

President Goodluck Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole; and Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, on Monday congratulated Nigerian-born Uti Nwachukwu for winning the fifth edition of Big Brother Africa.

Jonathan said in a posting on his Facebook page that Uti had “shown to the world once again that the average Nigerian is warm, charming and a delight to be with.”

He added, “Nwachukwu, I was briefed, displayed dignity, good character, self-confidence as well as love for our country throughout the duration of the contest. I recommend his disposition to Nigerian youths.”

In a statement on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Bakare, Dimeji said Uti’s feat had further shown the resilience of Nigerian youths to excel, regardless of any odd in whatever capacity they find themselves.

He added that the odds against the 27-year-old Nigerian were challenging especially with his father’s death in August this year. The speaker stressed that his determination to succeed was what earned him the victory.

He said, ‘‘The Nigerian youth is indeed an epitome of strength and courage and upon his shoulder rests the future of our dear country. I congratulate Mr. Uti on this feat and I am proud to identify with him.’’

Also, Uduaghan said that the success of the Delta State-born actor and musician in the competition was a deserved gift in honour of his (Uti’s) late father, adding that he had become a source of pride to his family, Delta State and Nigeria as a whole.

The governor, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sunny Ogefere, stated that the emergence of another Deltan, Miss Oluwadamilola Agbajor, as the current Miss Nigeria demonstrated that their was hope in the youth.

He urged other youths to emulate the duo and pursue virtues that promote peace and growth as against violent and criminal tendencies.

According to the statement, the feats by the youth had reinforced the state government’s promotion and encouragement of talented youths in the state.
Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201010193123023 Read more...

President Jonathan visits Anambra and Imo states.

President Goodluck Jonathan, being conferred with the Chinaemeze of Igboland title by the chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Cletus Ilumanya, during the president’s working visit to Anambra and Imo states.

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Fears over rising state of insecurity in the nation

PRESIDENT JONATHAN GOODLUCK
As the nation moves towards 2011 elections, there are increasing indications of fears and feelings of insecurity across the landscape.

Feelers from our correspondents show that members of the public are anxious that unless the situation is promptly addressed, the country may witness worse things in the days ahead. Particularly, the people have expressed worries that the general elections may spell doom for the nation if the rising state of insecurity is not given priority attention.
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Bomb Blasts: Jonathan Fingers Terrorist Group

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
President Jonathan has hinted that the perpetrators of the independence day bomb blasts are members of a small terrorist group residing outside the country, in what may be strongest link yet to the arrest of leader of Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, Henry Okah in South Africa yesterday. There have been reports that the MEND leader was arrested on suspicions that he was the brain behind the two explosions which claimed about 12 lives and injured scores of others in Abuja on 1 October. President Jonathan also alleged that the terrorists ” were sponsored by unpatriotic elements within the country”  and vowed that Government will not rest, until the killers are exposed and punished along with their sponsors, no matter how highly placed they may be.
President Jonathan  added that Nigerian security agents are on the trail of perpetrators of the bomb blasts and vowed that they will be fished out and severely punished.
The President stated this last night at the state dinner which held in the State House, Marina, Lagos, as part of activities to mark the nation’s 50th Independence anniversary.
“It is a small terrorist group that resides outside Nigeria that was paid by some people within to perpetrate the dastardly act. We are on their trail and I promise Nigerians that the matter will be investigated to the last, and until everybody that is connected is brought to book, we will not rest. Government will no longer condone this culture of impunity,” he stated.
“There was a statement purported to have been written by MEND, but investigations show that members of MEND have said they don’t know about it.”
“Anybody who thinks that he can come under the cover of Niger Delta struggle to perpetrate violence and criminality, your time is over. We will no longer tolerate it, we will not accept it, the security agents are on their trail, and Nigerians will soon know the actors behind this evil,” Jonathan stated.
While lamenting the dwindling state of the nation’s educational sector, President Jonathan disclosed that he has called for a special two-day interactive summit between the Federal Government and all stakeholders to brainstorm and proffer solutions on revamping the sector beginning from tomorrow.
He described the mass failures by students in secondary education examinations such as NECO, WAEC and JAMB as a big challenge to Government, stressing that this trend could always result to poor quality of university graduates if not promptly addressed.
“I am calling a special interactive session to look seriously into the educational sector this Monday. I and all the governors, the traditional rulers, religious leaders, and all key stakeholders in the educational sector will brainstorm for two days to improve the quality of education in this country because without educating our young men and women, we cannot go anywhere as a nation. We need trained brains and developed minds to change our society and we cannot achieve this without a viable educational sector.”
The President further noted that though the challenges that confronted the nation in the past 50 years have been daunting, there is hope of surmounting them with all hands on deck, as he is prepared and committed to drive the process towards a transformed Nigeria.
He called on Nigerians to refrain from self aggrandisement and place national interest first, pointing out that “if you alone are rich, and everybody around you is poor, then there is no value for your wealth.”
He assured of his preparedness to work with all levels and arms of government to re position critical sectors of the nation’s economy. He also assured that there will be frequent interaction and brain storming sessions with members of the business community henceforth to ensure a vibrant Nigerian economy.
Dignitaries at the occasion included the Senate President, Senator David Mark, Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, Governor Fashola of Lagos State represented by his deputy, Sarah Sosan, state governors, captains of industry and other top government functionaries.

Source: http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2010/10/03/bomb-blasts-jonathan-fingers-terrorist-group/
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Bomb Blasts A Wicked And Dastardly Act -Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has described the bomb explosions which rocked Abuja this morning as a “wicked and dastardly act”  and ” a low, dirty and wicked act of desperation by criminals and murderers who do not wish Nigeria well”.
The President also said those behind the blasts will be apprehended and punished for the “heinous crime”.
In his first reaction to the bomb blasts which claimed several lives even as the nation was in the tick of golden jubilee celebrations, President Jonathan in a press release this afternoon by Ima Niboro,  his spokesperson said the blasts are the worst independence celebration gift any nation can get.
While grieving with the family of those who lost their lives in the incidents, President Jonathan said the obvious intention of those behind the blast is to sabotage the independence celebrations.
The President said the victims of the bomb blasts have paid the supreme price for the nation’s unity.
President Jonathan also said he shared the” consternation and understands the confoundedment” of the victims’ families ” as they mourn while the nation celebrates”.
“The president wants these families to know that their loved ones have not died in vain”, Niboro added in the statement.
“Rather they have paid the supreme price for our unity; and in their death, they have watered the tree of our freedom.
“To those behind these vicious acts, the president wants you to know that you will be found, and you will pay dearly for this heinous crime.

Source: http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2010/10/01/bomb-blasts-a-wicked-and-dastardly-act-jonathan/ Read more...

2011: Jonathan, Sambo list key challenges for next president

President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo have said that the winner of the 2011 presidential election must be ready to tackle key challenges to ensure rapid national transformation.

This is just as they thanked Nigerians for the massive turnout at their declaration last Saturday in Abuja.

In a posting on their Twitter blog titled, “It’s time for transformation,” on Tuesday, Jonathan and Sambo said, “The incoming leadership in 2011 must be prepared to deliver on key promises, such as providing stable power supply; ending ethno-religious crises and regional agitation in the country, ensuring that the 2015 deadline for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals is achieved; and diversifying our country’s energy portfolio.”

Jonathan and Sambo, who declared their intention to contest the election on Saturday in Abuja, said Nigerians had ‘palpable’ expectations ahead of the 2011 elections.

“The anticipation of the Nigerian people is palpable as the country prepares for the elections. No one knows the future but one thing is certain; there must be a change; a veritable transformation of the nation’s state of affairs.

“The people are eager for a change and there is a need for a restoration of trust and hope. In spite of the collective progress we have made as a nation, there still remains a great deal of work to be done.

“While previous achievements are somewhat laudable, a hard look at the future shows that there is so much to be accomplished. Nigeria needs inspired leadership for the challenge ahead.

“Nigeria needs leaders that can inspire the people for the journey of national transformation because it will be arduous. All this points to a man who, despite his humility, possesses a quiet drive and determination to steer Nigeria to a bright sustainable future where the fruits of transformation will blossom.

“Would you not rather stand behind this man and support him in this quest for the restoration and transformation our country?” they said.

Meanwhile, Jonathan on Tuesday thanked Nigerians for the large turnout at the Eagle Square, Abuja, during the public declaration of his intention to run for president in the 2011 elections.

In a statement titled, “We thank you all,” which he personally signed, the President said the “record attendance by Nigerians of all walks of life and the joy and gaiety of the occasion”, made the event a ‘huge success.’

Jonathan, who also expressed appreciation to Nigerians on behalf of Vice-President Namadi Sambo, his running mate, also noted that the large turnout of Nigerians at the Eagle Square was an indication that his campaign’s “message of hope and commitment is resonating exceedingly across the land.”

He added that he was “grateful to the millions of Nigerians who witnessed the event at home and abroad via the electronic media and the internet.”

The President restated his determination to effectively address problems in the country, especially power, security, infrastructure and economic challenges.

He also pledged his commitment to the ongoing war on corruption, which he said has “revved into top gear with the high profile trials going on today.”

Source: http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009224492715 Read more...

MDGs: Nigeria on course – Jonathan

                                                              President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that Nigeria is set to meet some of the targets of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

He said the goal on reduction of child mortality in particular would be achieved, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

In an address delivered at the UN high-level summit on MDGs on Monday in New York, United States, Jonathan said the country still faced significant challenges in the area of environment, global partnership for development and maternal mortality.

NAN reports that the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, delivered the President’s address.

Jonathan said in spite of the strong determination by the country to implement the eight MDGs created in 2000, progress to date had been mixed.

“Nigeria is reasonably on course to achieve the target of MDGs on reducing child mortality, with a fall from 100 per 1,000 live births between 2003 and 2008.

“However, the issue of maternal health has been most intractable and challenging, given that for most of the early years of the MDGs, Nigeria had one of the biggest maternal mortality ratios in the world, hovering at 800 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births,” he said.

Jonathan said recent data from the country suggested that investments had recorded appreciable progress, with a drop in the maternal mortality ratio of 545 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.

Source: http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009224484832 Read more...