FAAN, NDLEA ASSURE HAJJ PILGRIMS OF ADEQUATE SECURITY

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other security agencies have assured intending pilgrims for the 2019 hajj of adequate security at the airports.

Specifically, agencies in charge of operations and security at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, are emphatic in their commitment to prevent recurrence of drug trafficking and other related theft during hajj operations.

They gave the assurance yesterday in Kano at a joint stakeholders’ meeting organised by National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Northwest zone, ahead of 2019 airlift.

Speaking on measures to curtail activities of drug cartels, head of operations, FAAN at the airport, Mohammad Bello, said FAAN had deployed necessary machinery, including secret cameras and scan facilities, to detect any form of criminality at the airport.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN

HAPPY EID-L-FITR

I felicitate with all Muslims for gaining the mercies and grace of the Almighty to witness his auspicious day. I beseech each of us to pray for infinite bliss, mercy, grace and peace...in our lives and that of our beloved country Nigeria.
I pray Allah bestows us with tranquility and helps us bring an end to all atrocities that befall this our Nation.
At this juncture of transition into the second phase of our current administration, I pray He grants us wisdom to direct the affairs of our dear Nation, and take us to a positive Next Level.
HAPPY EID MUBARAK

DR. ABDUR-RAHEEM ADEBAYO SHITTU (FNCS)

EID MUBARAK

As we have come to the end of the month of Ramadan, the month of fasting, the month of purity, the month of submission, the month of putting to test, the month of standing in prayer, I do hope it has been a month of realisation for you. Now, I'm wishing you the gift of faith, the blessing of hope and the peace of His love for today and every month beyond.
Have a great Eid-el Fitr celebration.

Olawakemi Ann-Melody Areola, CEO Vivacity PR

Only America is helping Nigeria find kidnapped girls

(AFP) – The United States is alone in helping Nigeria locate more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Islamists, Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday, despite help on the ground from Britain, France and Israel.

With 80 military personnel sent to neighboring Chad for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, the United States is the biggest foreign participant in the effort against the militant group Boko Haram.

Washington has also deployed surveillance drones, spy planes and about 30 civilian and military specialists to support Nigeria‘s security forces.

“Boko Haram, Nigeria, only the United States is there offering the assistance to help find those young women,” Kerry said during a dinner at the State Department.

“Other countries, not only aren’t they invited, but they did not even offer.”
Kerry spoke during a dinner at the State Department on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the US diplomatic corps.

However the United States is joined in Nigeria by Britain, France and Israel, which have sent their own experts. China, which saw 10 citizens likely abducted by Boko Haram in a region bordering Cameroon, has also proposed to help.

The United Nations earlier Thursday imposed sanctions on Boko Haram, blacklisting it as an Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist organization.

In his speech, Kerry also lashed out at France, whose Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has expressed regret that the United States did not attack Syria a year ago amid spiraling violence in the conflict there.

“People are angry because we did not strike Syria at one instance but guess what: Today, 92 percent of all the chemical weapons in Syria are out and being destroyed and the other eight percent will get out,” a visibly angry Kerry said, without mentioning France specifically.

“That never would have occurred otherwise.”

Kerry is said to have backed military action against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, only to have US President Barack Obama oppose the move at the last minute.

via vanguard ngr

Even If Boko Haram Releases Nigeria's Missing Girls, The Students' Troubles May Not Be Over

On April 14, Boko Haram militants kidnapped more than 300 Nigerian girls from a secondary school in the northern Borno state and drove them into the remote Sambisa forest. Weeks later, the group's infamous leader Abubaker Shekau claimed responsibility for the kidnapping in a video message, threatening to marry off the students and sell them in the market.

The girls' disappearance has moved communities worldwide. Social media users around the globe called for the students' release using the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls. African leaders declared a "war on Boko Haram" at a conference in France. Israeli experts joined the search. Britain and the United States sent surveillance planes, and the Obama administration even deployed 80 Marines to help in the search.

But as Human Rights Watch's Nigeria researcher Mausi Segun points out in a blog post for the British newspaper The Independent, even if the girls come home, their troubles won't be over.

Segun told The WorldPost that there are concerns about what happened to the girls in captivity -- they may have been sexually and physically abused -- and that the students may face stigma and shame upon returning to their communities. "If the girls come home, they need to be seen as survivors and not as victims," she added.

That may be challenging, however. Segun explained that there are previous reports of attacks on women who had been married to suspected Boko Haram members, and that among the families of Christian girls that were kidnapped, religious issues may come up as well.

In addition, chances are that upon their return, the students will continue to face a range of range of hurdles familiar to so many girls and women living in the country, especially in the north.

Northern Nigeria has some of the highest child marriage rates in the world, with UNFPA estimates indicating nearly half of the girls in the region are married by the age of 15.

Northern Nigeria has some of the highest child marriage and maternal mortality rates in the world.

While the country's 2003 Child Rights Act puts the minimum age for girls to marry at 18, federal law is not always implemented equally on the state level. In addition, Nigeria has civil, customary and Islamic legal systems operating simultaneously, and federal law only applies to marriages that take place within the civil system.

Early marriage often comes with disastrous consequences for girls' development throughout the rest of their lives. Studies indicate that child brides are at higher risk of domestic violence, rarely attend school and suffer more complications during pregnancy and child birth.

In fact, Nigeria has one of the world's highest maternal mortality rates worldwide. While maternal death rates have declined around the world, numbers in Nigeria have remained painstakingly constant. According to UNICEF, the United Nation's children fund, one in 13 Nigerian women dies from pregnancy or childbirth. Only India loses more of its mothers.

Many maternal deaths in Nigeria are entirely preventable, the U.N. argues. They are often related to a lack of accessible health care or communities' insistence that mothers go through childbirth alone or without relying on modern medicine. UNICEF research indicates just 35 percent of births are attended by a skilled health professional. Less than 20 percent of health facilities offer emergency obstetric care. “I don’t think it is proper for a male doctor to attend to my wife, not to talk of assisting her during delivery,” Hassan Kurfi, a 48-year-old farmer in the village of Nassarawa, told IRIN.

In addition, reports indicate more than half of Nigerian women say they experience physical, sexual and psychological abuse in their villages, often at the hands of their partners. International human rights organization Amnesty International echoed those concerns in its 2010 world report, arguing that violence against women by state officials and private individuals remained pervasive throughout the country. In addition, the organization warned that the failure of state and non-state actors to address sexual violence had led to an entrenched culture of impunity.

- Nearly half of girls in northern Nigeria are married by the age of 15.
- One in 13 Nigerian women dies from childbirth or pregnancy.
- Less than 20 percent of women in Nigeria's north are literate.

And while girls' access to basic education is already terrifyingly low in the north of the country, where less than 20 percent of women are literate and have attended school, the threat of Boko Haram may just make the education gap worse. As Amnesty International explains, the group's threats and attacks on schools in Nigeria's north have forced many teachers to flee and have prompted parents to withdraw their daughters from schools.

While the case of the missing girls is deservingly receiving worldwide attention, HRW's Segun argues that the horrors perpetuated by Boko Haram should not mask the routine violations of women's rights in Nigeria's north.

"Women's rights must be recognized as human rights and the government must recognize that women and girls require special measures," she told The WorldPost. "The double talk must end."

via huffingtonpost

I just wanted to say I'm sorry please forgive me. pleaseeee!!!!

Hi
I’m sorry I haven’t reached out to you in a long time.
I've written loadsa of letters but my words have never seemed right.
I thought as its Christmas maybe you might choose to forgive me.
So I’m writing this note as a sought of plea.
I wasn't sure you will read it but if you've got this far then I’m really happy.

I’m sorry I asked you for money towards my school fees.
I’m sorry I asked you for help with my child’s hospital bills.
I’m sorry I asked you for food when I was hungry.
I’m sorry I asked you for clothes when I was naked.
I’m sorry I asked you for water because my children were thirsty.
I’m sorry I’m in your face every time you switch on your wide screen TV.
I’m sorry I thought out of your small £20 you could spare 50p for me.
I’m sorry I judged you wrongly when you walked past me with your fat Christmas turkey.

I’m so sorry I formed a misconception of you. I thought you didn’t have enough to share as you have a family too.
I had to write this apology to make sure I let you and all your friends know.
I’m truly sorry; I didn’t mean to let my poverty show.
I do hope you get this, just in case I die of starvation before the New Year.

xxx Your friend you never met


Let’s have a Vivacious Xmas dear friends my turkey is ready is yours?

" If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:

 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth".

Deuteronomy 15:7-8

 

 Every little counts. please feel free to add other charities in the comments below

Ann-Melody Areola
Vivacity PR

http://www.charitychoice.co.uk/charities/international/global

https://secure.savethechildren.org.uk/donate/

http://www.wateraid.org/uk

What type of Christian am I ?

"I am not perfect. In fact I am far from perfect. I make mistakes and I make a lot of mistakes. There is always room for improvement in my life. I am work in progress."

How many of us can truly say the above, mean it and most of all act it?

You all know me guys I'm  not one for propaganda and idle criticism but today we are going to address a touchy subject. Its touchy because it deals with the YOU that you know you are, not who I see you as or who anyone else sees you as but that sneaky feeling deep down.

Do you have a “holier than thou” attitude? 
It is said that these people are especially people that come off as “spiritual” or are the ones that are professing “love and peace”. They can never admit they are not perfect. Is this you?

These people tend always find faults in others and will make it seem as if you had committed the worst crime over something incredibly benign. They tend to always add that they have a degree in psychology or law, and an x number of years of experience in a particular field to back up their argument. These people always find an excuse to say you have the problem and they don’t.

 And the most amusing part about these people is that they may actually the LEAST perfect of all! They are the ones that are the most insecure and unhappy, are heavily in denial, and needless to say they have a lot of inner work to do! They are the ones who need to take a good look in the mirror and realize that they are anything but “holier than thou”. I would think that deep down they know that, or maybe not. They may have trained themselves to believe their own “truths” or rather lies for so long they really do believe they are perfect.

This article is NOT to criticize anyone but just to make each of us take a quiet look into our lives, actions, reactions, thoughts etc and answer the questions

"What type of person am I and how can I be better?"
Truth is you don't have to share the answers with anyone, just implement your best correction process.

The information below is about Christians but personally I think its kinda true about people in general regardless your religion.

Here we go:-

The editors at Online Christian Colleges thought they'd poke a little fun at themselves and put together an infographic that explores the different ways most people see Christians. Doing this was eye opening because scripture says that as Christians we are supposed to be known by our love, but many of the common stereotypes are about as far away from that ideal as possible.

Take a look at nineteen typical types of Christians to see if you fit or break the mold and share....


From: Online Christian Colleges

"Jesus Is My BFF"

- Teenagers who think Christianity is trendy
- Can be spotted wearing "WWJD" bracelets, "Jesus Is My Homeboy" t-shirts, etc.
- May profess their faith, but not practice it or know much about it
- Favorites: Justin Bieber, Twilight, Christian rock/rap

True Heroes

- Focused on benefits of religion, good will and humanitarianism rather than debate, disapproval and antagonism
- Seek equality, happiness and prosperity for all
- This belief may sometimes take precedence over strict, literal biblical adherence
- Often martyrs--willing to die for what they believe in
- Examples/Inspirations: Martin Luther King, Jr., Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Right-Wing Zealots

- Some overlap with Haters and Reactives
- May participate in The Tea Party
- Actively opposed to liberalism, atheism, and all that comes with it
- Notables: Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Pat Robertson, Glenn Beck

Punk Rockers for Christ

- Often wear tattoos
- Aim to dispel the myth that Christians must be plain, simple, quiet
- Express themselves through appearance and music
- May attend skate church--a freeform, youth-focused, progressive church
- Notables: Steven Baldwin, MxPx, Good Charlotte, Tooth and Nail Records

Intellectuals

- Open to theological/world view debate
- Can be more open minded and tolerant of other religions
- May read RELEVANT (a fittingly intellectual Christian publication)
- Take their studies seriously
- Often well-traveled--may have engaged in studies abroad, especially in Europe
- May point to passages of Matthew and Mark, wherein Jesus asks, "Have you not read...?" "Do you not yet perceive or understand?"
- Favorite authors/scholars: CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, Alvin Plantinga

Holier Than Thous

- Draw attention to their faith through public displays of faith
- Publicly declare moral accomplishments that are rare (e.g. virginity through marriage)
- May believe they are spiritually superior to their peers
- May then believe their views are more important/correct
- May judge others based on their own moral compass
- Run the risk of hypocrisy
- Notables: NFL player Tim Tebow (his praying on the field inspired the verb "Tebowing"--to pray on one knee when no one else is)

Serving the Poor

- Work to correct humanity's wrongdoings
- Often sacrifice own comforts for the benefit of others
- Belief in public service/doing God's will
- May work in shelters, soup kitchens, missionary services, Peace Corps, or similar organizations
- Inspirations: Jesus, Mother Theresa, Shane Claiborne

Nostalgics

- Reminisce about the "good old days" (the '50s)
- May still wear antiquated hairstyles/clothing from said era
- Don't understand the modern, crass incarnations of Christians
- Favorites: Leave it to Beaver, piping hot dinner at 6:00 sharp, pies cooling on the windowsill

Artsy/Hipsters

- Poets, painters, musicians, writers, designers
- Channel God/spirituality through creative endeavors
- Taste in art often changes over time
- Choice of books may be dictated by cover art/typography
- Overt religious implications are usually avoided in favor of unique and subversive expressions of faith
- May dress in layers, with lots of draping, scarves, long tops, leggings... and the more vintage, the better

Salt of the Earth

- Try to lead simple lives
- Have less need for material wealth
- May indeed disassociate from all cultures of excess; may be Amish, Mennonite
- Primary interest is personal fulfillment/holiness
- No focus on admonishing others

Sentimentalists

- Avid fans of precious/delicate art with Christian undertones
- Scenery, happy families, children, etc.
- Mantles, living room and hallways may be decorate extensively with such art
- Favorite Artists/Collections: Thomas Kinkade, Precious Moments
- FYI, Kinkade has a history of fraud and a DUI arrest... so don't believe everything you see

Superstitious

- Old Catholic ladies never seen without rosaries, saints around their necks
- May strongly adhere to myths related to mother's backs and black cats
- May do well to remember the First Commandment, and that carrying superstitions indicates a lack of trust in God

Ignoramuses

- Blind, unquestioning faith, which may be professed more than practiced
- Favor faith over logic in all cases
- Keep a crucifix on the wall--it may be the only decoration in the house
- Probably have not read the Bible

Hucksters

- Those who try to market Christianity as a good/service
- Healers, psychics, etc.
- Notables: Benny Hinn, Sylvia Browne, Steve Martin as Jonas Nightingale in Leap of Faith

Moralizers

- Nearly opposite of Salt of the Earth
- Insist that others must hear and share their views
- Just as Holier Than Thous believe they are spiritually superior, Moralizers believe they're socially/morally superior
- May associate with Holier Than Thous, Reactives and Right-Wing Zealots

Haters

- Respond to those they disagree with with disdain and hatred
- Make people feel judged

Reactives

- Define themselves in opposition to some movement or group (anti-government, anti-evolution, etc.)
- Focused on eliminating what they perceive to be false teachings/schools of thought
- May support removal of evolution from public school curriculum (as fact, at least)
- May in turn support Texas' mission to replace evolutionary theory with creationism in textbooks
- Arguments in favor of their own opinions may take a backseat to the quest to prove conflicting viewpoints wrong

Bandwagoners

- Christian because, hey, everyone else around them is
- Attend church only on significant holidays (Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas)
- Memorize a few biblical verses to recite them at strategic times
- May wear crosses for fashion rather than faith
- Considerable room for overlap with the other types

Doubting Thomases

- Question their faith
- From the disciple Thomas (Didymus), who did not believe Jesus had risen from the dead
- He insisted he must see Jesus and his wounds before he would believe
- Modern version: The former Christian who has become agnostic but is still open minded about Christianity
- Want to believe, but sometimes find themselves unable
- May find that science or other Doubting Thomases are holding them back from full faith

NB:

OH! just before I go let me hint you that if you went through the document in its entirety then that's just awesome, you are well on your way. If you spent most time trying to classify your friends, family, colleagues etc. Then read the whole article again because it not about me or them its about YOU