FG plans local manufacturing of motor spare parts in Nigeria

 

 

Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Muhammed Sada, said this at Ota, Ogun State, during the inauguration of a new factory, Sun and Sand Industries Africa Limited.

Sada said his ministry would incorporate products from Sun and Sand Limited, ferrous and non-ferrous alloys, and other automobile manufacturing firms to realise the plan, aimed at creating jobs.

He said, “We are currently working on some projects whereby some of the major automobile manufacturers would be invited to the country to speed up activities in the production of basic spare parts for the motor industry with the hope that we would build it to the level where we would be able to produce motor vehicles.

“This is where you come in; we would not be thinking of this kind of programmes without companies like yours, you would be part of the framework with which the automobile framework will be built; your operations are central to whatever achievement that framework is aimed at.

“We are in a strong partnership with your company, which we believe would develop the industry, and most importantly, providing the required jobs for the Nigerian people.”

The minister said the government had decided to leave the development of the steel industry to the private sector, adding that the government would only serve as regulator for the activities within the sector.

“This has led government into privatising most of the operations in the sector. The idea is to ensure that a level-playing field and an enabling environment is created for businesses to progress and grow and be the drivers of the achievements that are found in the sector,” he said.

Sada added Sun and Sand Limited requested for approval to start mining projects that would support the backward integration of their operations.

“We have undertaken quite a number of geological studies and come to realise the abundant natural raw materials, which your company and many others in this country can take advantage of,” he said.

Founder and Managing Director, Sun and Sand Industries Africa Limited, Mrs. Shweta Satija, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its policies that had helped the company to survive.

She said plans had been concluded for the company to venture into some other projects to boost the nation’s economy and increase job opportunities for Africans.

Source:punch

HTC now preparing ‘metal-alloy’ smartphone for June launch

 

 

HTC is rumored to be preparing to release a mid-range variant of its critically acclaimed One smartphone. Earlier reports claimed that the device, codenamed M4, was similar to the HTC First without the integration of Facebook Home, however this my not be the case. According to Digitimes, the M4 will be equipped with a “metal-alloy chassis” that is being supplied by Catcher Technology. The latest rumors suggest that the mid-range smartphone will feature a 4.3-inch 720p HD display, a 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 processor and an “Ultrapixel” rear camera. The device may also include 16GB of internal storage, 1GB of RAM and Sense 5 atop Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Shipments of the HTC M4 are reportedly scheduled to begin in June with wider availability in the third quarter.

Meet HTC One:The best Android smartphone on the planet

 

 

The smartphone that changes everything is now available for purchase. The HTC One is unquestionably the best Android smartphone on the market right now, and it is available for purchase beginning Friday from both AT&T and Sprint. T-Mobile will then launch the sleek new smartphone next Wednesday. The HTC One release comes at a time when HTC absolutely needs a successful launch to help stop the bleeding. Unfortunately, the One has just over a week on store shelves at AT&T and Sprint before Samsung’s Galaxy S4 launches and draws away the spotlight.
BGR reviewed AT&T’s version of the HTC One earlier this month and called it the closest thing to a no-compromise smartphone the world has ever seen.
The phone is available now starting at $199.99 from both AT&T and Sprint. Beyond carrier stores, the phone can also be purchased in stores and online from Best Buy, RadioShack, Walmart, Target, Amazon.com, Costco, Car Toys, Sam’s Club, HSN.com and HTC.com.

I didn’t bomb Madalla Catholic church Says Kabir Sokoto

 

 

The alleged Boko Haram commander suspected of planning the December 25, 2011 bomb blast at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State, Kabiru Sokoto, this friday pleaded not guilty to an amended two-count terrorism charge brought against him by the Federal Government.

Sokoto, whose real name is Kabiru Umar, was arraigned amid very tight security before an Abuja Federal High Court presided over by Justice Ademola Adeniyi.

The arraignment was initially slated for March 20, 2013, but the non-availability of counsel for Kabiru Umar (Sokoto) stalled the process. On that ground, the suspect asked the court to give him time to get a lawyer.

When the matter resumed on Friday, a team of five lawyers, led by H. A. Ibrahim, appeared in court to defend Sokoto.

The other lawyers are Hassan Lukman, Yahaya Saidu, S. Okoh, and a human rights lawyer from Kaduna, Sadau Garba.

Sokoto’s family of his wife and child were also present in court.

Speaking through a court interpreter, the alleged terrorist denied the two-count charge when it was read to him by the court clerk.

Apart from the charge that he had prior knowledge of the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church bombing, Sokoto was also accused of planning to bomb the headquarters of the Sokoto State Police Command as well as other government organisations in the state.

Count 1 reads, “That you, Kabiru Umar (alias Kabiru Sokoto) member of an illegal terrorist organisation known and called Boko Haram, between 2007 and 2012, at Masiwa, Sokoto State, did facilitate the commission of terrorist acts to wit: by planting and encouraging your boys (now at large) at Masiwa, Sokoto, in Sokoto State, with the intention to bomb the police headquarters Sokoto and some other government organisations in the state, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004, and punishable under the same Act.”

In count two, the SSS alleged that on or about December 25, 2011, at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State, Sokoto had information about the bombing of the church and failed to disclose such to law enforcement officers as soon as possible, an offence contrary to section 7(1) of Terrorism and Prevention Act 2011, and punishable under section 33(1)(c) of the same Act.

After Sokoto’s counsel had taken his plea and denied the charge, the prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Chioma Onuegbu, asked for a date for trial.

She had earlier informed the court that about eight witnesses have been pencilled down to testify against Sokoto.

The suspect’s lead counsel rose to move an oral application, asking the court to grant Sokoto bail “in the most liberal terms.”

But the judge instructed Ibrahim that the rules of the FHC stipulated that such an application must be formal.

“If you propose to make any application, you must come formally and also serve the prosecution,” Justice Adeniyi said.

Ibrahim thereafter asked the court to transfer Sokoto from the custody of the State Security Service to prison custody.

He claimed that Sokoto’s lawyers were having challenges in getting access to him in the SSS detention facility.

“We need access to the accused person to enable us to prepare his defence,” Ibrahim added.

In a short ruling, Justice Adeniyi fixed May 2, 6 and 9, 2013, for trial.

He also ordered that Sokoto be remanded in prison custody until the trial date.

Top 50 Universities In 2013, By NUC

 

 

National University Commission, NUC, this week released the list of the Top 50 Universities in Nigeria for the year 2013 so far.
Below is the list showing University of Ibadan as the best school in the country as of now.

2013 TOP 50 University In Nigeria, NUC

1. University of Ibadan, UI
2. University of Lagos, Unilag
3. University of Benin, Uniben
4. Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU
5. Ahmadu Bello University, Abu
6. University of Ilorin, Unilorin
7. University of Jos, Unijos
8. University of Port Harcourt, Uniport
9. University of Maiduguri, Unimaid
10. University of Agriculture, Abeokuta,
11. Lagos State University, Lasu
12. Federal University of Technology, Futo
13. Covenant University, CU
14. University of Nigeria, UNN
15. Federal University of Technology, Futa
16. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Unizik
17. Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Esut
18. Pan African University
19. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology. lautech
20. Modibbo Adama University of Technology
21. African University of Science and Technology
22. University of Uyo, Uniuyo
23. Bayero University Kano, Buk
24. Ambrose Alli University, AAU
25. Redeemer’s University,
26. Babcock University
27. Federal University of Technology,
28. University of Calabar, Unical
29. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture,
30. Ajayi Crowther University
31. Bowen University
32. Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Rsust
33. Lead City University
34. Crawford University
35. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, ATBU
36. Abia State University, Absu
37. Usmanu Danfodio University,
38. Igbinedion University
39. Imo State University, Imsu
40. Niger Delta University
41. Bells University of Technology
42. Kwara State University
43. Nasarawa State University
44. Caleb University
45. Obong University Obong
46. Adekunle Ajasin University
47. Ekiti State University,
48. American University of Nigeria
49. Joseph Ayo Babalola University
50. Veritas University Abuja

Babcock University releases school fees for next session. Students protest

 

 

 

 

Well, they are not protesting in school or complaining to their school administration…they are protesting via the media. A few students from the school have sent me mails complaining about the exorbitant fees they are being made to pay to get an education. The university just released the school fees for the next session and some of the students feel its outrageous. See it below…

1) Accounting- N1.5million
2) Nursing- N1million
3) Law- N2million
4) Medicine- N3million
5) Others- N860,000

The students are scared to protest in their school because they could get suspended. Babcock is a Christian University and claims to be a non-profit organization, so students don’t understand why they have to pay such huge amounts to school there. But here’s my thing; complaining about the school fees of a private university is like complaining about the cost of a first class plane ticket. You have other options; business class, premium economy class, economy class. If this is too much for you, move to a federal school, state school or less expensive private schools. Not that I support these fees, I think it’s ridiculous. You pay N3million a session to become a doctor and when you eventually get a job, you make less than N200 thousand a month…doesn’t make much sense to me…but that’s the way the school wants to operate. You either take it or leave it! What do you guys think?

But meanwhile, is there anything the federal government can do for these students? Like, make their University bring down the fees?