News & Views Sunday, January 13, 2008

The African Nations Cup is up again for grabs as football fever grips the host nation, Ghana, with petty traders cashing in big time selling mugs, jerseys and other football related gears. Michael Essien who missed the 2006 tournament in Egypt due to injury is a sure bet to take Ghana to the finals. Sixteen nations will be competing in the tournament and all are top contenders for the CAF Trophy when the tournament kicks off on January 20, 2007. A whole lot is being said about Cote d'Ivoire Didier Drogba and Guinea's Pascal Feindouno who wants the trophy so bad and would do their utmost best. But the Black Stars team is getting richer with sponsorships perhaps to boost the morale of the players. Good marketing strategy.

The government of Nigeria in gearing up to equip the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Force (NSCDF) with guns, committees in the Federal House of Representatives are having mixed reactions for NSCDF personnel to bear arms. In a nation where hoodlums and armed robbers have a better access to all sorts of ammunition, wha should be illegal in providing a government agency with arms to protect its citizens in time of civil unrest? I just don't get it and here is the Vanguard report on the debate:

...Also speaking to Sunday Vanguard, Oke stated that the arming of the Civil Defence Corps would enhance security in the country, adding that any attempt to stop them in the National Assembly would not see the light of day." It is important. We need it. The main issue is training, capability. Are they trained properly to handle gun? If they can, why not? If they can be trained properly, we need it for security in this country. I don’t see anything wrong about that,” the Defence Committee chairman declared. Meanwhile, the NSCDC has defended the move to arm its personnel, saying that arms and ammunition were necessary in the war against vandals...