For N.J. Mayor, The Time To Adapt To Rising Sea Levels Is Now

Hoboken, N.J., residents walk through flood water in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Mayor Dawn Zimmer is advocating for better planning and increased funding for flood-prone urban areas.

Charles Sykes/AP

Last week, scientists warned that a massive chunk of the West Antarctica Ice Sheet will eventually drift into the sea and melt, raising sea levels at least 10 feet higher than previous predictions.
Even before the announcement, scientists at the nonprofit research organization that surging seas could put the homes of nearly 5 million Americans underwater by the end of this century.
Dawn Zimmer, mayor of Hoboken, N.J., is a member of President Obama's Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience. She's one of many elected leaders in coastal areas around the country working to stave off future flooding disasters.
Zimmer says that the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy — and the four floods that have hit her city since — moved her to action. Hoboken's strategy, she tells Morning Edition's Renee Montagne, includes purchasing land and building new parks to help absorb rainwater; retaining as much rainwater as possible and updating the city's drainage and pumping systems. "We need to figure out a way to live with water," she says.

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Interview Highlights

On Adaptation
We're living with climate change right now. We've had ... four major flood events [since Hurricane Sandy]. So that means people's cars are totaled, people's homes are still getting flooded. We're seeing it on a regular basis, these heavy downpours. So, to a certain extent, the climate change assessment that just came out reaffirms what we absolutely have to do. ...
I'm hopeful that we're going to implement this integrated strategy that is going to allow us to live with water. [Hoboken] potentially can be a model for this. ...
We have an opportunity that was impossible for other species. I'm sure that if the dinosaur could have predicted ... the ice age coming and observed it, and developed a plan, they would have done that. But they couldn't do that. We can do this. We can adapt. And we must adapt. We see it in Hoboken and Weehawken and Jersey City.

This is the no. 1 priority for me, as the mayor of Hoboken. This is the biggest challenge that our city is facing. We are living with this now and we need to figure out a way to live with water.

On Building Codes
We passed a flood-prevention ordinance that says, for future buildings, [they have] to be built with all of the utilities raised up — with the mechanicals for the elevators, for example, all raised up, so that those buildings in the future will be much more resilient.
On Federal Funding
As a member of President Obama's Climate Change Task Force, I'm continuing to advocate ... for changes in the National Flood Insurance Program, which would make it so that we could get money towards raising up our utilities. Right now ... we're paying into this system where we don't really get much out of it. So I think we really need to really try to look at those federal policies.

Big Flightless Birds Come From High-Flying Ancestors

by

May 22, 2014 3:59 PM ET

 

The egg definitely came before the chicken in this case — the skeleton is from a modern adult kiwi, the egg from its much bigger, long-extinct cousin, Aepyornis maximus.

Kyle Davis and Paul Scofield/Canterbury Museum

Big, flightless birds like the , the and the are scattered around the Southern Hemisphere because their ancestors once flew around the world, a new study suggests.
That's a surprise, because it means birds in Australia, Africa and South America independently evolved in ways that made them all lose the ability to fly.

“ The mystery was, how did they turn up on all the southern continents, and why were they so large — these great, big flightless things? They don't do any of the conventional bird things.

- Alan Cooper

These related birds — known as — have been a puzzle for evolutionary biologists for more than a century.
"The mystery was, how did they turn up on all the southern continents, and why were they so large — these great, big flightless things?" says , director of the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA at the University of Adelaide. "They don't do any of the conventional bird things. They don't fly, and they're fairly unspectacular-looking in many ways, apart from the fact that they're huge."
Scientists used to believe that these birds shared a flightless ancestor that once lived on a supercontinent called Gondwana that was in the Southern Hemisphere back in the Cretaceous — millions of years ago.

More than 6 feet tall and weighing more than 500 pounds, the now-extinct "elephant bird" ran through the spiny forests of ancient Madagascar. DNA evidence suggests New Zealand's kiwi is its closest modern cousin.

Courtesy of Brian Choo

The idea was that, as this supercontinent broke up into pieces, "the ratite birds were sitting on board and were being separated by these continents moving, and that that's how they came to be where they were," says Cooper. "And because they're flightless, it seemed like a pretty good model."
Pretty good — but also wrong. Or at least that's what Cooper now thinks, because of a recent discovery.
He and some colleagues extracted DNA from the bones of an extinct bird that lived on the island of Madagascar until about 1,000 years ago. It's called the "elephant bird," because Arab traders saw the remains of its giant eggs and imagined the bird that must have laid them.
"The legend was that this bird would carry off elephants," says Cooper. "That's how the elephant bird actually got its name."
The elephant bird couldn't fly and looked like an ostrich — except about 30 percent bigger. When Cooper's team compared the ancient bird's DNA to all the other flightless birds in the ratite group, they found that its closest relative was the kiwi, the little national bird of New Zealand.
Cooper was shocked. He says the kiwi was "the last one I would have predicted if I had to guess." He says the tiny, insect-eating kiwi looks nothing like the giant, plant-eating elephant bird.

“ You're looking at this result and thinking, 'It has to be flying!' You can't get from Madagascar to New Zealand any other way.

- Alan Cooper

Importantly, he says, "it's completely on the other side of the world." That means there's no way that separating continents can explain why a bird in Madagascar has its closet relative in New Zealand.
"And you're looking at this result and thinking, 'It has to be flying!' You can't get from Madagascar to New Zealand any other way," says Cooper.

He believes small ancestral birds must have flown long distances, taking up residence in new places. These small birds then independently evolved into the big, flightless birds we see around the Southern Hemisphere today, according to his team's report in the journal Science.
"No one would ever have expected it," says , a researcher at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. He used to believe that separating continents explained the evolution of these birds, but now he agrees that they must have had flying ancestors.
"You can't close your mind to this. And so when other evidence comes up that points this out, you have another hypothesis that you're testing and it appears to be a much better explanation of what's going on," says Baker. "I think that's fabulous. It's how science progresses."
One remaining question is why these birds around the world would independently lose the ability to fly and get big.
Cooper notes that this happened right after the 65 million years ago. Between that event and the eventual rise of mammals, there would be a time with no predators, when birds could become big and flightless without being eaten.

PDP advises APC against attacking government

Abuja - The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to desist from attacking well meaning individuals, government officials and institutions in the nation`s interest.

Olisa Metuh, the party's National Publicity Secretary made the call in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

“As a ruling party, we charge them to show maturity and stop unnecessary attacks on well meaning individuals, government officials and institutions.

“On our own part, we remain committed to the national interest and the welfare of all our people,’’ the party spokesman said.

He maintained that the PDP leadership would continually stand behind President Goodluck Jonathan as he vigorously pursues his transformation agenda and efforts to fight terrorism in the country.

He commended Nigerians for uniting against insurgency in spite efforts by the opposition to misdirect their energies for political reasons.

Metuh decried the continuous hauling of insults on President Goodluck Jonathan by the APC which he said was a direct insult on Nigerians.

Metuh further said that by constantly criticising every strategy adopted by the President in the war against terrorism it had  exposed its underlining design to distract government and frustrate the over-all anti-terrorism efforts.

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Organic Cat Litter Chief Suspect In Nuclear Waste Accident

Workers at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant are still investigating what caused a radioactive release at the site, but organic cat litter may be the culprit.

DOE/WIPP

In February, a 55-gallon drum of radioactive waste burst open inside America's only nuclear dump, in New Mexico.
Now investigators believe the cause may have been a pet store purchase gone bad.
"It was the wrong kitty litter," says , a geochemist in Richland, Wash., who has spent decades in the nuclear waste business.
It turns out there's more to cat litter than you think. It can soak up urine, but it's just as good at absorbing radioactive material.
"It actually works well both in the home litter box as well as the radiochemistry laboratory," says Conca, who is not directly involved in the current investigation.

Hundreds of drums may contain the wrong cat litter. They are being sealed in larger containers, just to be safe.

C. McDonald/WCS

Cat litter has been used for years to dispose of nuclear waste. Dump it into a drum of sludge and it will stabilize volatile radioactive chemicals. The litter prevents it from reacting with the environment.
And this is what contractors at were doing as they packed Cold War-era waste for shipment to the dump. But at some point, they decided to make a switch, from clay to organic.
"Now that might sound nice, you're trying to be green and all that, but the organic kitty litters are organic," says Conca. Organic litter is made of plant material, which is full of chemical compounds that can react with the nuclear waste.
"They actually are just fuel, and so they're the wrong thing to add," he says. Investigators now believe the litter and waste caused the drum to slowly heat up "sort of like a slow burn charcoal briquette instead of an actual bomb."
After it arrived at the dump, it burst.
"How come nobody caught this and raised a red flag?" asks , New Mexico's secretary of the environment. Flynn says that the cause of the accident still isn't 100 percent clear. Scientists at Los Alamos have yet to find the exact blend of cat litter and nuclear waste that can spark a reaction.
But he says it is clear that the wrong material went into some of the drums. He wants to know why the Department of Energy, which handles the waste, let this happen.
"I'm frustrated," he says.
Flynn says there are more than 500 drums packed with the wrong litter. The majority are relatively safely underground in the dump, but dozens are still at Los Alamos and another . None of these drums have burst so far, but the lab and the company handling the Texas waste have put them in heavy containers for added protection.
Flynn says federal authorities need to come up with a long-term solution and prevent future mix-ups.
"Ultimately [the waste is] the responsibility of the Department of Energy," he says. "It's also now their responsibility to clean it up and fix it."

'There are plans to bring down my government' - President Jonathan

Speaking during the 2014 Democracy Day Interdenominational Church Service in Abuja yesterday Sunday May 25th, president Jonathan said there are evil people that are trying to bring down his government and they are the ones behind the violence in Nigeria, Punch reports.

"You can imagine if this government had not been facing these distractions within this period, definitely, we would have moved farther than this. All these distractions are planned to bring this government down and since they failed, terror will also fail.

“We have been witnessing terror attacks for two years plus, but the Chibok incident has added a major dent on the security of the country. There is nothing God cannot do. With your prayers, our girls will be seen by our security personnel. Terror will not stop this country from progressing. We know that these terrorists are human and they are evil men. Definitely, they are among those we categorise as evil forces.

Forces of evil will never prevail. Forces of darkness will never prevail. I call on all Nigerians, Christians and non-Christians who pray, to continue to pray and I believe that God is on our side. Forces of evil and darkness will never prevail.” the president said

Kanu Nwankwo sends special shoutout as his wife turns a year older

Eni Balogun taking her masterclass at MINC

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The first ever Makeup In Nigeria Conference held in Lagos on 30th April at The Oriental Hotel. The event recorded a gathering of well over 700 makeup artistes, beauty enthusiasts/influencers and entrepreneurs.
The all-day event which had several beauty brands in Nigeria and Kenya present had over 8 demonstration sessions and with a panel session on "Building Sustainable Businesses within the Nigerian Makeup Industry".
Facilitators and speakers at the event included renowned make-up artist; Bayo Haastrup, Tara Fela-Durotoye, Idy Enang, Bimpe Onakoya, Eni Balogun, Bunmi Oyeniyi, Funmi Irantiola Olurinola, Bolanle Okusanya Feyita, Lola Maja Okojevoh as well as International make-up artists; Buntricia Bastian, Joy Adenuga and Khuraira Musa.
Check out pictures from the event below.

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  Tara Fela Durotoye of House Of Tara International 
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  Bayo Haastrup receives his award 
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• play Zaron's Top 10 Finalists
  

  play Photos From The First Ever Make-Up In Nigeria Conference
  

  play Photos From The Maybelline Beauty Master Class With Bimpe Onakoya
  

  play Photos From The Maybelline Make Over And Shopping Day Out
  

  play Lupita Nyong'O Is The New Face Of Lancome!
  

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Pawpaw Debunks Wedding Tales

Nollywood actor, Osita Iheme popularly known as Pawpaw, has denied reports making the rounds that he might be getting married soon.
He has since debunked this saying that he won’t be walking down the aisle anytime soon. Pawpaw was quoted saying, “Na lie! There’s no such thing; they are just rumours.”
The Mirror Boy actor has been previously linked with Ghanaian actress, Nana Ama McBrown, and London-based model, Brenda Gowon, rumoured to have dumped the actor in 2008 for unknown reasons.
His acting partner, Chinedu Ikedieze, a.k.a Aki, has been married since December 2011.
Stay up to date, follow us on Twitter; @thundergist

45 African Countries To Converge On Abuja For Queen Of Peace Pageant

The Messenger of Peace (MP), an NGO, on Monday said 45 African countries would converge on Abuja on Aug. 2 for the maiden edition of “Queen of peace Africa Pageant”.
Dr Suleiman Adejoh, President, MP, said this at a news conference to unveil the “Queen of Peace Africa pageant” in Abuja.
He said that this was sequel to the desire of the group to see that peace reigned in Nigeria, Africa and the World at large.
He said it would also change the minds of the youths from war and disharmony to pursuit of peace.
` ` Queen of Peace Africa pageant will bring together 45 beautiful and intelligent young ladies between the ages of 18 to 26 years to contest the first edition the pageant, the first of kind in Africa.”
According to him, this will be hosted in Abuja, Nigeria where the winner will take away 30,000 dollars, a brand new car and become the messenger of peace project in the African continent.
He said that the aim of the project was to use young people to propagate peace across Africa.
According to him, it will help to use dialogue and unity in diversity as an instrument to settle disputes, rather than allow bloodshed, and preach religious tolerance as a way to peaceful coexistence.
He said that this initiative would be useful to the youth by helping to spread the message of peace.
Mr Elvis Agukwe, Coordinator South East, MP, said that the involvement of the group in peace move became necessary following the growing insecurity in the country.
He said that a situation where people would turn to a suicide bombers hiding under the guise of religion was unacceptable, and that no religion supported such dastardly act.
Agukwe said that religion should not be imposed on anybody, and called on the youthds to be part of the effort to stop insurgency, and that government could not do it alone.
He said that the Queen of Peace Africa pageant would be used to preach peace,and that all hand must be on deck to restore peace to Nigeria, Africa and the world. (NAN)

Caleb University students asked to pay for damages caused during riot

On Wednesday May 14th, students of Caleb University, Imota Lagos, went on a rampage destroying school property after a school security personnel disrupted a Muslim student's prayers. The student had other grievances. (Read here)

Well, it seems the school wants to make every student, whether involved in the riot or not to pay for damages caused that day. In a text message sent to students yesterday, Caleb University asked male students to pay N100k and female students to pay N50k. Bit of the text sent out below...

CUL Parents and Students are hereby notified that school resumes Mon, June 2. Exams start Mon, June 9. Male students are to pay N100,000.00 while the female would pay N50,000.00 by Bank Draft to offset damage to school property. Balance of Sch. fees should be paid into (account details). No student would be allowed into the University premises without evidence of payment of school accompany each student with a letter of undertaking to be of good behavior.

Is the school right to ask students to pay for damages?

Nigeria shooting: Boko Haram crisis: Nigeria air raids target militants

Rihanna Mocks Charlie Sheen By Cozing Up With Fans At Same Cafe She Ignored Him In!

Their word war on Twitter began when Charlie claimed RiRi snubbed him in a Restaurant

Rihanna and Charlie Sheen in heated Twitter rant

Kim & Kanye step out in style as they attend their pre-wedding bash

The power couple looking great as they step out to attend their full blown pre-wedding bash at the Palace of Versailles. But where's Kanye's family and friends in all this? See more pics after the cut...

Uche Nnaji, Dayo D1, Ibinabo Fiberisima, others made NDLEA ambassadors

Celebrity clothier Uche Nnaji, AGN President Ibinabo Fiberisima, Yes Magazine Editor-in-chief Azuh Arinze, actress Grace Amah and Dayo Adeneye were among those the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, announced as its ambassador at a ceremony that held today May 23rd. See more pics after the cut...

'A Northern Affair' starring John Dumelo&Joselyn Dumas exclusively on iROKOtv.com now!

The long awaited Ghanaian romantic movie “A Northern Affair” starring John Dumelo and Joselyn Dumas, is now available for you to watch online on iROKOtv.com.

A Northern Affair is about Esaba Jomo (Joselyn Dumas), a nurse who is sent to a remote village to assist Dr. Manuel Quagraine (John Dumelo) in providing healthcare to the villagers. Initially, he is unimpressed to see that she is a very attractive woman who does not fit into his idea of a nurse. Esaba and Dr Manuel are forced to spend more time together due to the nature of their work, sparking an attraction that neither of them can resist. They both, however, harbour secrets from their past that threatens their new found love.

 

Written and directed by multiple award-winning film-maker, Leila Djansi, there’s no surprise that the movie won 8 awards at the 2013 Ghana Movie Awards before its cinema release in Ghana. The movie was produced by Mabel Germain with the support of iROKOtv and iFactory Live.

The movie features the talented actor John Dumelo and the gorgeous Joselyn Dumas along with popular Ghanaian stars Jon Germain, Kofi Adjorlolo, Beverly Afaglo, Gifty temeng and others

You wouldn’t want to miss the on-screen chemistry portrayed by John Dumelo and Joselyn Dumas – dubbed the JD Couple

Watch ‘A Northern Affair’ Here only on iROKOtv.com

Watch trailer below...

UN blacklists Boko Haram

The United Nation Security Council committee yesterday May 22nd blacklisted Islamic sect Boko haram after the Nigerian government on Wednesday May 21st made a request asking for the sect to be blacklisted.

 

A statement released by the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power says the move was to help close all avenue of funding received by Boko Haram members

"Today, the Security Council took an important step in support of the government of Nigeria’s efforts to defeat Boko Haram and hold its murderous leadership accountable for atrocities. By adding Boko Haram to the U.N.’s 1267 (al Qaeda) sanctions list, the Security Council has helped to close off important avenues of funding, travel and weapons to Boko Haram, and shown global unity against their savage actions,”

With this blacklisting, it makes it an offence for any country or individual to provide any form of support to Boko Haram. The group is now subject to an international asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo.

Schoolgirls: Local Hunters Identify 9 Hostage Camps

Members of the vigilante group in Borno State yesterday confirmed the identification of about nine Boko Haram camps around Sambisa, where the abducted girls are currently being held.
The group said their members, who are operating in the neighbourhood of Sambisa, had noticed strange movements in the area that led to the confirmation that the abducted schoolgirls had been split up into tiny groups and shared  among different camps in the Sambisa forest.
“We are very sure of our discovery and we have informed the security operatives accordingly,” said the state leader of the vigilante group, Alhaji Adamsi Tar, who spoke to LEADERSHIP alongside the group’s spokesman, Muhammed Gava.
“As we are talking to you now, the girls are being held in forests near Ashigashiya, Dure Tsiradawale, Gwadale, Kirawa, Valangade, Yamatake, Shinagawa, Garinwabi and Sasawa,” he said.
“These are communities surrounding Sambisa forest in the southern part of Borno State. A large number of the girls is being held in the forests of Ashigashiya and Shuwaram, only a few of the girls are in Tsiradawale, Mitele and Alagarno, which is a border town near Boso in Niger Republic.”
The vigilante members, who are also seasoned hunters that know the terrain, said the Boko Haram members were tactically shifting their camps to the edges of Sambisa, because “the Sambisa forest itself becomes a swampy and marshy place during the rainy season and it is usually not very habitable; except during the dry season.”
The group said they get such privileged information, because they are spread across all the local government areas of the state.
“We have over 9000 members in the state and our members operate along the highways and the bushes of their localities. We could do better at complementing the conventional security operatives if we are better equipped,” said Gava.

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Sani Danja Calls For Restructuring Of Nigerian Movie Industry

— May 19, 2014

Sani Danja, a Nigeria artiste, on Monday in Abuja, called for the restructuring of the movie industry to enable film makers to recover their investment and make profit.
Danja, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said if restructured, the movie industry in the country would be able to generate revenue for stakeholders.
He said the industry had the capacity to become the best in the world.
“You cannot just be producing movies and at the end of the day you will be living like a church rat.
“So many of our film-markers, our producers, our actors and actress are not even making anything from the movie.
“So I think the government should come in and restructure the money-making aspect. Let it be something that at the end of the day if you produce just one movie, you are okay for that year.
“We learnt that people from the U.S., people from the Bollywood, were paid more than 20, 30 million per movie, so when will that start in the country.
“Now we are rated number three. Even though it is in terms of production or in terms of quantity, it does not really matter.
“As far as you are number three in anything, you are number three, and I think we need to be number one, and how do we do that? We have to copy, we have to get resource persons.“
Danja urged the Federal Government to include veteran film makers in its decision-making process.
He said that the method of distribution of movies in the country was a major source of concern to film makers.
He said: “we don’t want films produced in Nigeria to sell only in Nigeria or in our neighbouring countries. No!
“Just the way every movie produced in the U.S. is sold worldwide, we want movies produced in Nigeria to be sold in every part of the world.
“The movies should be advertised everywhere and they should be seen and viewed worldwide. That is where the government should come in because we have already made this industry without the help of anybody.
“Now is the time for the government to come in and lend support.“
He also urged the government to intensify effort at curbing piracy in the industry. (NAN)

Bank Customers React To Perforation Of Trapped ATM Cards

— May 19, 2014

Mixed reactions have continued to trail the latest policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which directs banks to destroy all trapped ATM cards, as many bank customers said the policy is a step backward for the cash-lite policy.
Speaking with LEADERSHIP variously, many bank customers condemned the policy, urging the CBN and banks to ensure that all ATMs are functional and well maintained before making such policy which according to them is not only time consuming but would be an additional burden on the customer.
Although the practice of destroying trapped ATM cards by perforation has been ongoing in most banks for months, the CBN last week in its approved “Guidelines for Card Issuance and Usage in Nigeria,” directed that any trapped card in the ATM be rendered unusable (by perforation) by the acquirer and returned to the issuer on the next working day.
According to one customer, “apart from the fact that I will have to pay for the new card, it is time wasting because that means I have to wait for weeks before I get another card. For me I don’t think it makes sense and the message they are sending is that we should start carrying cash around again.”
Another customer who identified himself as Ayo stated that the “policy is against the drive of the apex bank to promote the cashless policy as confiscating trapped cards will only discourage people from using cards and applicable means i.e. POS, ATM, online shopping.
“What happens to folks that are still learning how to use the cards? People like that easily get their cards trapped trying to learn and they should be considered. Even me, on two occasions I left my card unintentionally after getting the cash and had to go retrieve it days after. We understand that CBN is trying to help the banks make money as several streams of their income have been heavily regulated and some totally blocked but this policy is a killer of our cashless vision.”
For one student, Chisom, “they just want to take undue advantage to cheat on the customers. If a card is trapped the owner might not be at fault at all. Many times the service will suddenly go off and before the card owner knows what is happening the card would be swallowed up by the machine. Does this mean that the customers must be penalised for failure of the bank?”
Narrating his ordeal, a trader, Sefiu Adebayo said “last Easter on Good Friday, I withdrew N20, 000, the ATM dispensed the cash brought out the card a bit, I tried to retrieve it but couldn’t. That’s how the ATM swallowed my card in my presence. Thank God for my wife that borrowed me money that I used for the Easter celebration. I went first working the bank on the first working day which was Tuesday and they asked me to apply for another. It took them one month to give me and they were charging each time I used the banking hall to withdraw small amount.”
Reacting to the policy, another bank customer who declined to mention his name noted that “some bank policies are made based on experience. It is possible that whoever came up with it experienced a fraud issue involving releasing trapped cards to non-owners. I would not crucify anyone just yet. We all know policies cannot make everyone happy. It favours a few. So I will advise you use your bank ATM to make withdrawals and/or make a forecast of your cash need and withdraw from the bank ahead of a weekend so you don’t get broke. Alternatively, a lot of shops/vendors now have POS machines so save your liquid cash and pay with a POS.”
The policy was also commended by another customer who described it as a good development. According to the customer, “you certainly would not appreciate it except you have once been a victim of ATM card fraud. Once your card is no longer in your possession, anyone can transact with it by just using your serial number and the three digit code at the back of the card for online transaction, anyone including bank employees. Once the card is trapped and has to go from hand to hand, it is already compromised and it could be used in future long after it’s been returned to you.”
Director, banking and payment system department of the CBN, Mr. Dipo Fatokun had at the weekend described the policy as a global practice, pointing out that the policy does not only apply to other banks’ ATMs alone, saying that cards trapped in issuing banks’ ATMs would also be perforated.
According to Fatokun, the central bank introduced the policy in order to protect bank customers, adding that the apex bank is collaborating with banks to lessen the burden of the policy on cardholders. “We are working with the banks to ensure that when these cards are trapped, not because the customer did something wrongly, and a new card is to be issued to the customer, we are discussing on how it would be done such that the burden would not fall wholly on the cardholders.
“We have also discussed with the banks to ensure that cards that are trapped can be communicated electronically between the acquirer on which the card was trapped and the issuer of the card. Furthermore, he noted that for cards trapped in issuing banks’ ATMs, if the machine is located within the premises and the cardholder goes into the banking hall to report the situation, the bank may decide to retrieve the card immediately and return same to the customer without perforating it.
However, for trapped issuing banks’ ATMs located off-site, he said the financial institution may decide to invoke the provision of that guideline to issue the customer another card and perforate that one that was trapped.

Kano Govt Donates 64-Seater Bus To Pillars

— May 21, 2014

The Kano State Government yesterday said the donation of a new 64-seater Marco Polo bus to Kano Pillars FC would boost the team’s performance in future national and international competitions.
Dr Rabiu Bichi, the Secretary to the State Government, said the donation was also to show appreciation to the players for what they had been able to do at the local scene.
“The gesture is to further encourage them and appreciate the efforts they are making to bring more laurels,’’ he said.
Bichi urged the team to make good use of the bus to actualise the desire of the state government to attain greater heights.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Club, Alhaji Ibrahim Haruna, lauded the governor for the donation.
He said that the gesture was in appreciation of the team’s  “back to back’’ victories in the Nigeria Professional Football League.
He assured that the club would retain the victory in the 2014 GLO Premier League.

Boko Haram in fresh attack in Borno, kills 17

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Boko Haram in fresh attack in Borno, kills 17

According to BBC, Boko Haram members last night May 20th launched a fresh attack at Alagarno village in Borno State killing at least 17 people. Village sources say virtually all the buildings in the village were

The real Abubakar Shekau is dead - SSS Spokesperson

At a briefing this evening with newsmen in Abuja following the release of a new video by Boko Haram showing kidnapped Chibok girls, spokesperson of the State Security Service (SSS), Ms Marilyn Ogar said the man in the video claiming to be Abubakar Shekau is not really Abubakar Shekau, that the real Shekau who is believed to have founded the dreaded sect, is dead

"Boko Haram has become a franchise, anybody can assume and lay claim to any name. What I know is that the original Abubakar Shekau is dead; the person claiming to be the national leader now is not the original Abubakar Shekau. If security sources tell you that somebody is dead, you don't have to come out and doubt that" she said.