Custom Android 4.4 KitKat ROMs now available for the Galaxy Nexus

As expected, the development community has come to the rescue of the Galaxy Nexus, after Google announced that its 2011 Nexus wouldn’t be getting updated past Android 4.3 to 4.4 KitKat – a couple of custom Android 4.4 ROMs are now available for the device, built from the Android 4.4 source that Google released right on the day of announcement of the new version of the OS.

For those unaware, Android 4.4 is one of the biggest upgrades Android has ever received, with a focus on improving performance and reducing RAM usage on devices with as low as 512MB devices, and other features like a new launcher with inbuilt Google Now (accessed by swipe to the right on the homescreen), better media features (with options such as closed captioning across the system), full screen mode for apps (similar to TouchWiz, with the status bar and navigation keys available with a swipe down from the top edge of screen), and more.

There are two ROMs available, and except for a few issues like animation and graphical glitches, most things seem to be working fine, though since these are early builds, you’ll probably not want to use them as daily drivers. Head to the links below to take a look at the ROMs’ details, and to start enjoying the sweet taste of chocolate-filled Android.

Download: A Taste of KitKat ROM | SlimKat ROM

Apple has the goods, Microsoft the vision

iPad Air: it appears to deliver what Apple promised.

(Credit: Apple)

The iPad Air isn't visionary, but it's a strong update. That's good enough for me.

I've been using the Air for the last 24 hours and it does pretty much everything Apple promised: it's faster than the iPad 4 (which I traded in at Verizon), thinner, lighter, better looking, and appears to have equal or better battery life.

That's a tall order considering the challenges of packing a power-hungry 9.7-inch Retina (2,048x1,536) display into a one-pound, 7.5mm-thick package. (And one of the reasons that theiPad Mini Retina is delayed, as the Mini is much smaller but with the same, demanding high-resolution Retina screen.)

And anyone doubting its battery life, should check out Anandtech's claim that the Air delivers 24 hours of battery life as an LTE hotspot on a single charge.

The one quibble I have is that Apple is still offering the same vision of the tablet that it did back in 2010 with the original iPad.

That's where Microsoft and Surface/Nokia Lumia 2520 come in. In an interview I had this week with Raj Talluri, a senior VP at Qualcomm, he swore that the Lumia 2520, which runs Windows 8.1 RT, is the only computer he needs. (In the spirit of full disclosure, the 2520 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor and Talluri has an early version of the device, which is not yet available to the public. )

"It's the only computer I have with me. It's got a keyboard, it's got Outlook, does Powerpoint...It's pretty much got everything I need," he said, speaking from Asia, where he was traveling.

It's an enticing vision, as Microsoft tried to elaborate on last week.

But one I don't buy into (yet). As I said before, I had a Surface Pro for two months but ultimately sold it because it didn't deliver on the vision: it was a decent laptop but a lousy tablet.

The Lumia looks like it has potential as a hybrid device that may obviate the need (for some people) to carry around two devices -- if you can live with Windows RT, that is. (Note that Microsoft is in the process of acquiring Nokia's mobile device business).

It's certainly a vision worth pursuing. But for now, I'll stick the with the two-device (one-laptop, one-tablet) paradigm.

Nokia Lumia 2520: the only device you'd need?

(Credit: Nokia)

NSCDC Uncover Human Parts Market At Ife Bush

Officials of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and some members of a vigilante group in Ile-Ife, Osun State, have discovered a place where some criminals are selling human parts. 
Public Relations Officer, Osun NSCDC, Mr. Ayo Olowe, confirmed the incident. But human parts were not found at the shrine. Our correspondent gathered on Friday that the discovery of the camp caused panic among residents of the ancient town. 
Four suspected members of the syndicate operating at the market were said to have been caught and handed over to the police. 
Those arrested in connection with the shrine are: Aliyu, Eneji John, Tosin Olalekan, and Segun Fakanyi . They were said to be employees of Aliyu in the shrine. One of the residents of the area who identified himself as Niyi Adewumi, told our correspondent that security officials acting on a tip off discovered the scary site located at Sarajo area along Ifewara Road in Ile Ife on Wednesday. 
He said that the hideout which had shrine, small coffins and blood in some kegs. According to him, an underground tunnel of about one kilometer long was discovered at the place and scary objects suspected to be human parts were found at the place.

Police Ban Sale Of Petroluem Products On Roadsides In Sokoto

The Sokoto State Police Command on Friday banned the sale of petroleum products on the roadside in Sokoto metropolis and its environs.

The Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Shaibu Gambo, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto.

Gambo said the ban was to prevent fire outbreaks which might lead to loss of lives and property, especially during forthcoming harmattan.

He called on motorists, especially motorcyclists to buy their petrol from filling stations, warning that “anyone found violating the ban will be arrested and prosecuted”.

The commissioner said the command had already taken concrete measures to enforce the ban.

He said that Divisional Police Officers in the metropolis had been briefed on the ban and directed to deploy personnel to ensure compliance with the ban.

He solicited the support of the public, saying: “the ban is not aimed at witch hunting anybody. (NAN)

FG dissolves PHCN, pays workers N360bn

The Federal Government yesterday handed over the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, and the 14 successor companies created following the unbundling of the PHCN to their individual new owners across the country in spite of threats by the former workers to cause crises during the ceremony across the country. The handover ceremonies took place in Abuja, Enugu, Egbin, Eko, Ikeja, Benin, Kaduna and Jos simultaneously.

The Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, said that yesterday’s handover marked the concluding stage of the transaction for the four generation and 10 distribution companies.

Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, who performed the official physical handover of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company to its new owner, Kann Utility Consortium Nigeria Limited, at a ceremony in Abuja noted that the government had successfully paid most of the former PHCN workers their severance and pension packages.

“Already, N360 billion has been paid out. The remaining N30 billion or so is in the pipeline and all the issues of certification, biometric capture and making sure that clearance is done are being completed,’’ he said.

Nebo explained that the Federal Government and the two key workers’ union leaders in the sector reached an agreement on Thursday to peacefully handover the power firms to their new owners.

According to him, “agreements have been reached. Please never in the history of this country has a government kept its word in issues like this as has been demonstrated by the present administration.

“Government is on it and the date has been fixed for some as November 15, while November 30 is for others. I have given my word and I am saying that no worker will be short-changed.”

Earlier in his address, Vice President Sambo, had said that the handover marked the concluding stage of the transaction for both the four generation and 10 distribution companies.

Sambo who was represented on the occasion by Professor Nebo said the participation of the private sector would bring about higher generation capacities through the provision of more efficient and cost effective power stations as well as improvements in distribution in the areas of billing, collection and transmission networks among others.

In Jos, the planned protest to disrupt the handing over of the PHCN facilities to investors could not hold as there was a successful handing over of the Jos Distribution company comprising Plateau, Benue, Gombe and Bauchi States to its new owner, Aura Energy limited amidst tight security.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony held at the Electricity House in Jos yesterday, the Vice-President, Arch Namadi Sambo who is the Chairman of the National Council on Privatization said the exercise is the roadmap to move the economic growth of the nation.

Sambo  who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information, Mrs. Folashade Esan said the successful privatization of PHCN indicates that where there is a will, there is a way as the event is “a culmination of 14 years painstaking efforts to liberalize Nigeria’s electricity industry”.

His words, “The reform is a necessary tool for laying a solid foundation for sustainable power generation and service efficiency in the sector and a precondition for the start up of a competitive electricity market in Nigeria.

”The reform and privatization program are rightly focused on the big picture which will impact on the economy as a whole and ultimately, the greatest good for the greatest number of Nigerians as it will open up the government dominated sectors of the economy to the private sector as well as divestiture of government interest in such sectors”.

Though acknowledging the challenges the sector is going through, Sambo assured the creation of an enabling environment and urged the new owners to ensure that the sector is “transformed to a world class company of reference in terms of quality of service delivery, social corporate responsibility, customers’ satisfaction and profitability” as appropriate agencies will “continually monitor the operations of the successor companies and would not hesitate to sanction any core investor that does not deliver on the performance agreement that was executed with government”.

Earlier in his address, the Acting Managing Director of Jos Electricity Distribution Company, Engr. Fidelis Obishai urged the investors to engage in training and re-training of staff to change their orientation from the public sector to private sector driven entity as well as involve in investment in metering.

Obishai further called on the former PHCN staff to “make the best out of the circumstance in which we find ourselves and understand that either in or out, it is a win-win situation for us”.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Aura Energy Ltd, Alh. Tukur Modibbo assured the staff not to panic as “staff of PHCN have worked under terrible conditions for long due to lack of investment in the power sector” hence, “adequate investment through privatization will ensure improved power supply and conducive working environment for staff”.

”We welcome you on board and assure you that in this new environment, hardwork and initiative will be rewarded and Nigerians will no more suffer from the pollution from generators”, he added.

It was gathered that only about 15 out of the over 200 staff working in the zonal office were able to get their entitlements paid before the handing over.

Also, in Enugu, the Inter State Electrics, took over the management of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC,with a promise to tackle the problems militating against power supply to the people of the South East states.

Two certificates transferring the control of the 18 business units that make up the EEDC to the new investors .were signed by the Chief Executive Officer of EEDC,  Suleiman Yahaya and the Managing Director/CEO of Interstate Electrics Limited , Robert Dickerman.

The new Chief Executive Officer of the EEDC, Dickerman, said that through the change in ownership, “there will be some reshaping of the company’s strategy, goals and objectives.”

Said Dickerman: “We will use integrity to make sure that all information we report internally and externally is correct and accurate. We will manage our operations and financial processes with integrity so that we can and do account for every naira, every piece of equipment and every asset that we are responsible for to the standard of an external audit”

He also assured members of staff that they would be considered as share holders of the company as a way of creating in them a sense of belonging, while calling on all to support the new vision of the company.

Vice President Namadi Sambo, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Alhaji Danladi Kefasi, urged the new investors to stick to the rules of engagement.

Outgoing Chief Executive Officer of the EEDC, Suleiman Yahaya, said that the Enugu Distribution Company was made up of 18 business units covering Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi states and have resourceful workforce that if given the right infrastructure would grow into sustainable and profitable company.

Chairman of the Interstate Electrics, Offor, said, “We want to turn around the place so that the people start getting light, start getting value for their money. It is not our duty to determine tariff. But we will provide good and qualitative services for them”, Offor stated.

In another ceremony in Benin, the Federal Government also formally handed over the Benin Electricity Distribution Company to core investors, Vigeo Power Limited. Vigeo Power Ltd with 60 per cent interest, is core investor in the BEDC.

Speaking during the ceremony, Chairman, Presidential Taskforce on Power, Mr Beks Dagogo Jack who represented the Vice President Sambo, described the occasion as a milestone, that would not have been possible without the commitment of President Goodluck Jonathan as the process of power reform in Nigeria was well-thought out and had been painstakingly pursued.

Chairman of Vigeo Power Limited, Mr. Victor Osibodu, in his address said that history would  “forever remember President Jonathan for this bold step.’’

Speaking at a similar event in Lagos Vice President Sambo, said the Federal Government would  monitor as well as punish any of the private core investors that failed to operate in accordance with the agreement signed with it.

Speaking through the Director, Bureau of Public Enterprise, BPE Mr. Benjamin Dikki, Sambo said, “Let me state clearly here that both the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission and the BPE will continually monitor the operations of the successor companies and would not hesitate to sanction any core investor that does not deliver on the performance agreement that was executed with the government.

“The participation of the private sector would bring about higher generation capacities through the provision of more efficient and cost effective power stations and improvements in electric power distribution, in the areas of billing and collection and transmission networks. Such capital injection and efficiency have been inadequate in PHCN over the years, resulting in gross inadequate power supply with the attendant negative effects on the citizenry and the economy at large.

In his address, Abiodun Ajifowobaje, Managing Director, Ikeja Distribution Company, commended  the Federal Government for the feat, describing it also as a watershed in the history of development of electricity industry in Nigeria.

Ajifowobaje commended the new owners of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, NEDC/KEPCO consortium for taking over the largest electricity distribution network in the country,”

West Power and Gas, WPG, the new owner of Eko Distribution Company, said it will spend over $250 million (about N40 billion) in the next few years to re-position the company.

Chairman of the company,  Mr. Charles Momoh, made this known, and explained that the amount would be invested in metering and cleaning up the cables, transformers and making sure that everything was in line with what have been specified.

“We have the responsibility to light up Lagos and keep it lit. This is a task before us which we must do and do it profitably.

“Our homes and businesses deserve the chance to thrive without the added expenses on generators and constant threat of outages. It will take time. It will take solitude. It will take commitment. It will take collaboration. But as with most things, the only difficulty that could arise is within ourselves. We know that this will not happen overnight, but we are optimistic that only success will follow,” he added.

25 feared dead in Anambra stampede

NO fewer than 25 persons, who attended the weekly crusade at the Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Uke, in Idemili North local government area of Anambra State, lost their lives during a stampede at the end of the ceremony in the early hours of Saturday.

The crusade, organized by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obinma for prayers, healing and spiritual retreat, attracts thousands of people, but the one that was held Saturday, on the Feast of All Saints turned tragic.

As estimated 100,000 worshippers attended the crusade because, apart from coinciding with the Feast of All Saints, it was also the first Saturday of the month.

The Adoration Ground after the stampede.

Apart from the dead 25, whose bodies were said to have been deposited at Immaculate Heart Hospital and Maternity, Nkpor and Charles Borromew Hospital, Onitsha, several others, who sustained various degrees of injuries, are receiving treatment in various hospitals in Onitsha.

Court sacks two senators, eight Reps member from Katsina

The Court of Appeal on Friday upheld the
decision of the Federal High Court which
voided the INEC Certificates of Return of 10
defunct CPC lawmakers from Katsina State. Those whose certificates were voided are Sen.
Abubakar Yar’adua; Katsina Central, Sen. Hadi
Sirika, Katsina North; Reps. Ahmed Kaita and
Salisu Salisco. The others are: Reps. Umar Abubakar, Salisu
Daura, Isa Doro, Sani Mashi, Abbas Machika and
Mansur Funtua. Justice Jimi Bada, who delivered the judgment
in Abuja, held that the leadership of the
National Assembly erred by accepting to
swear-in the appellants in spite of a subsisting
court order. Bada said that the Federal High Court was right
to have dismissed the objection raised by the
appellants “The certificate of returns issued to the
appellants is a nullity as INEC issued them
without order from any court or tribunal,’’ he
said. Abdu Yandoma and Ahmad Sani, Murtala Isa,
Muntari Dandutse, Musa Salisu, Aminu Ashiru,
Umar Katsayal, Muhammad Tukur, Tasi’u
Doguro, and Abdu Dankama challenged the
issuance of the certificates of return to the
appellants. The two senators and eight serving members
of the House of Representatives appealed to
the Court of Appeal to set aside the decision of
the lower court. They had urged the appellate court to set aside
the decision that voided the certificates of
return issued to them by INEC in December
2011.

FG spends N634bn on kerosene subsidy

The Federal Government has paid a whopping N634 billion as subsidy for kerosene importation over a three year period, 2010-2012. The sum is about a third of the country’s capital budget.

The removal of fuel subsidy had sparked off nationwide protests in January 2012, a development that led to the unveiling of deep-rooted corruption in the management of the Petroleum Subsidy Fund, PSF.

WAITING: Queue for kerosene at a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mega Filling Station in Yelwa, Bauchi State, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

In the case of kerosene, except for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, retail outlets, no other filling station anywhere in the country sells kerosene at N50/Litre, the reason the product is being subsidised.

The development has raised dust among economic analysts, who wonder why the product remains subsidized, since it is not being sold at regulated price.

The Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Dakuku Peterside, disclosed this yesterday, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI Petroleum Downstream Group Seminar on Kerosene.

Peterside, who gave a breakdown of what made up the figures, revealed that in 2010, Nigeria spent over N110.068 billion to subsidise kerosene.

He said further: “There were also some investigations that showed that the downstream sector is entrenched in deep corruption in Nigeria in the 2011. That year, we spent about N324.1billion on kerosene subsidy. In 2012, although we are yet to reconcile this, we spent N200billion subsidising kerosene.

“And so in three years, we’ve spent N634 billion subsidising kerosene which one third of what we spend in a year of capital budget. But we do not spend up to N4.5billion on capital budget in a year.

ASUU strike: FG has not released a kobo out of N100billion intervention fund – Union insists

The Academic Staff Union of Universities,
ASUU, has again debunked claims by the Federal government that the sum of
N100billion had been disbursed to public universities to improve infrastructure. According to ASUU, none of the 59
government-owned varsities had received the
said sum as reported in some publications. Chairman of the Federal University of
Agriculture, Makurdi branch of ASUU, Dr.
Celestine Aguoru, stated this yesterday after
leading members of the branch on a peaceful
march. The members numbering about 200 converged
on the Kenville Parks and Gardens, High Level
in Makurdi, the Benue State capital as early as
8.am, chanting solidarity songs. However, few minutes after they kicked off
the march, armed policemen and men of the
Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps
(NSCDC) arrived the scene, blocking them with
their vehicles. The striking lecturers insisted that the action
will continue until their demands are met,
recalling that they gave government enough
time to implement the 2009 agreement. Aguoru in his address said “As we are talking
today, government has not released one kobo
out of the N100 billion they claimed they have
given the universities; this goes to show the
level of insincerity on their part. “The N100 billion they are talking about is just
by word of mouth. All that ASUU is asking is for
government to implement the 2009 agreement
and stop playing politics with the education of
our students.” “The truth is that government is paying lip
service to the development of education in this
country and has therefore resorted to playing
politics with the education sector and the
future of our children. He said it is unfortunate that majority of the
nation’s present leaders attended schools on
scholarships, but have refused to extend such
benefit to today’s youth. “Today we are faced with a situation where the
amount Nigerians spend yearly to educate their
children in Ghana is far more than the yearly
budgetary allocation to the education sector”,
he continued. “Our leaders are not being fair to our country.
Government should as a matter of priority
implement its agreements with ASUU.
Nigerians are tired of this deceit; they should
remember that if they continue to negate their
responsibilities to the people, one day they will certainly give account to God,” the leader
added.

ASUU strike: Police disrupts rally by UNIABUJA lecturers

The police on Wednesday disrupted a
peaceful rally by members of Academic
Staff Union of University (ASUU),
University of Abuja Chapter, in
Gwagwalada, FCT. Dr Clement Chuks, ASUU Chairman,
Uniabuja chapter, said the rally was
organised to sensitise the public to the
level of decay of infrastructure in
Nigerian universities. The heavily armed policemen, fired
teargas on the demonstrating lecturers,
barricaded all entrances leading to the
university and prevented other members
from joining the rally. One of the lecturers was rushed to the
University Teaching Hospital for
treatment after he inhaled the teargas. Some of the lecturers carried placards
with inscriptions; “ ASUU is fighting for
the good future of Nigerian children and
the nation,’’ “Support ASUU to save
university education in Nigeria’’. “Implement 2009
agreement, we do not
want to teach under trees again,’’ “2009
agreement is the key for producing
quality graduates’’ among others. According to Chuks, the rally is also to
draw the attention of the public to the
Federal Government’s inability to address
critical issues surrounding the education
sector. Chuks stressed the need for the Federal
Government to inform Nigerians on the
true position of things regarding the
strike. “The essence of the protest is to
sensitise the public on government’s
inability to honour the 2009 agreement,
we will continue the struggle until the
government says yes to us, stopping our
salaries will not solve the problem. “Our demand is that our universities
should be made to compete with others
in the world,’’ he said. Chuks decried the action of the police in
the protest. Commenting on the rally, the Divisional
Police Officer, Gwagwalada, Mr Tony
Okon, said the presence of policemen at
the campus, was to protect innocent
citizen against hoodlums. “Shooting of teargas was to prevent
hoodlums from joining the protest so
that they do not take advantage of the
situation and cause any damage’’ Okon
said. (NAN)

Labour suspends planned ports shut-down

MARITIME Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN,
yesterday, suspended the plan to shut down
the nation’s ports starting from today over
eight months unpaid salary arrears to members
of the dockworkers branch of the union,
following an agreement with the management of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA.
This came as the union dismissed claims by
NPA that it had paid 56 per cent of monies
owed dockworkers, saying NPA was being
economical with the truth.
President-General of MWUN, Mr. Anthony Emmanuel Nted said: “It is not true that NPA
paid 56 per cent of monies owed dockworkers. What the NPA paid through Stevedoring
Company is even less than three months. The
NPA released about N400 million to the
contractor to pay over 1, 400 dockworkers. But
the same NPA released N300 million to its own
contractor, “Cargo Surveyor” to pay about 100 workers which it hired.”
Meanwhile, following a meeting between the
management of NPA and MWUN leaders, after
government waded and directed that the
contending issue be resolved, the pending
industrial unrest was suspended. It was gathered that NPA team led by the
Executive Director, Finance and Administration,
Mr. Olumide Oduntan, agreed to pay the
balance of the five months before November
15, and that the January to March had been
paid to employers of the workers (tally clerks and onboard security), Wednesday. Confirming the development, President of
Dockworkers’ branch of MWUN, Adewale
Adeyaju said the union would hold a meeting
this morning to brief the workers on the
development.

Police disperse pro-Oduah protesters in Abuja

The controversy surrounding the pur-
chase of two BMW bullet proof cars for the
Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, took a
new dimension yesterday in Abuja, when a
group of women staged a solidarity march for her. However, the women were later dispersed by
the Police. Numbering about 50, the women stormed the
Federal Secretariat, chanting solidarity songs,
while carrying placards with different
inscriptions. Some of the placards read “Leave Stella Oduah
alone,” “Stella has transformed the aviation
sector.” The leader of the group, who identified herself
as Rita Obu and President of Goodluck
Jonathan Women Support Group, alleged that
there was an attempt by Oduah’s political
opponents to frame her up in the same manner
they framed up Patricia Etteh, former Speaker of the House of Representatives. Obu said: “Is Stella Oduah the only minister or
public officer for whom bullet-proof cars have
been bought in this country?” “What her male political opponents have done
is to frame her up. Whenever any woman is
appointed into any high office in this country,
the men would go and rake up untidy things
about her for the purpose of bringing her
down. “Have the men exposed other political office
holders who are also riding bullet-proof cars? “I want all these questions answered.”

Driver kills 20-yr-old woman over NURTW’s N50 fee

A disagreement between a
commercial bus driver and a member of the
National Union of Road Transport Workers,
NURTW, in Ibadan over a union fee of N50,
yesterday, led to the death of a young lady. The bus, with number plate Lagos XR 989 ISR,
hit the lady at Agodi Gate area of the city. According to an eyewitness, the driver was
trying to avoid paying the fee when he ran into
the lady, whose age was put at 20. The incident drew the ire of passers-by and
traders in the area, who attempted to lynch the
driver and burn the vehicle. The arrival of
policemen put the situation under control. Vanguard gathered that the driver refused to
stop when the NURTW officer waved him down
for the daily fee. While struggling with the
union member, he reportedly lost control of
the vehicle and hit the lady, who was said to
have died instantly. Police took him away to their station, while the
lady was confirmed dead at Adeoyo State
Hospital, Yemetu, Ibadan. The state Acting Police Public Relations
Officer, Mr. Inyang Ignatius, said contrary to
the accusation by the public that the police
were protecting the driver, he was put in
protective custody.

ASUU strike: ABU Zaria lecturers embark on peaceful protest

Members of the Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU), Ahmadu Bello
University (ABU), Zaria branch, on
Thursday, embarked on a peaceful
protest to enlighten the public on the
ongoing university lecturers strike. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
reports that the ASUU members trekked
about two kilometres in Zaria as part of
the protest. Addressing journalists after the trek, the
Chairman of ABU Zaria branch of the
union, Dr Mohammed Kabir-Aliyu, said
the essence of the protest trek was to
enlighten the public on the demands of
the lecturers. He said “we are on strike because our
universities are dying. We want our
universities revitalised. We are not on
strike because of allowances or salaries. “Our intention is to
revitalise our
universities to compete with other
universities in the world.’’ The chairman said “lecturers are on
strike to rekindle the hopes of children
from indigent backgrounds by making
the system work as it should. “Our students know that the system is
not working the way it should because
the facilities that will make it work are
just not there.’’ On Federal Government’s stand that it
had no sufficient funds to cater for the
demands of ASUU, Kabir-Aliyu said “what
the union is asking for is negligible.’’ He appealed to the Federal Government
to endeavour to address the lecturers’
demands to save the nation’s education
from total collapse. Some students of the institution
participated in the protest. (NAN)