MULTINATIONAL TASKFORCE TO PATROL GULF OF GUINEA - PRESIDENT BUHARI

President Muhammadu Buhari said Thursday in Abuja that a multinational taskforce will soon be established to patrol the waters of the Gulf of Guinea.

Speaking at an audience with the French Minister of Defence, Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, President Buhari said that patrols by the multinational taskforce will augment and boost ongoing efforts to improve security in the Gulf, and curb crude oil theft and piracy.

President Buhari and Mr. Le Drian also discussed ongoing French support for the Federal Government's efforts to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

The President expressed his government's appreciation of the assistance and support of France and other G7 countries, which he said, has helped Nigeria achieve significant successes against Boko Haram.

Maritime Security: PIRACY IN GULF OF GUINEA INCREASING AT ALARMING RATE -- US

*UN Security Council urges stronger regional approach on eradicating piracy

UNITED NATIONS -- The United States says piracy and armed robbery are increasing at an alarming rate in the Gulf of Guinea, pointing to two reports by industry experts of at least 32 attacks off the coast of Nigeria alone so far this year.

U.S. Ambassador Michele Sison singled out two pirate attacks off the Nigerian coast on April 11 that led to the apparent kidnapping of a total of eight crew members including the captain of one vessel, a Turkish cargo ship.

She told a U.N. Security Council meeting on Monday that "the economic consequences for the people of the region are devastating," pointing to a report by the London think-tank Chatham House saying as much as 400,000 barrels of crude oil are stolen every day in the Gulf of Guinea.

However, United Nations officials call for a comprehensive regional framework to eradicate piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea, with the Security Council stressing the importance of addressing underlying causes and strengthening justice systems and judicial cooperation in the region.

ENSURE SOCIAL JUSTICE TO CURB INTERNAL CONFLICTS - PRESIDENT BUHARI URGES AFRICAN LEADERS

President Muhammadu Buhari and
Foreign Minister of Equatorial Guinea,
Mr. Agapito Mba Mokuy

President Muhammadu Buhari said Monday in Abuja that to achieve greater peace and political stability in their countries, African leaders must work harder to ensure social justice for all their citizens.

Speaking at an audience with the Foreign Minister of Equatorial Guinea, Mr. Agapito Mba Mokuy, President Buhari also maintained that as leaders of sovereign nations, African Heads of Government must be allowed to discharge their responsibility for peace and security within their countries, without external interference.

According to SSA to the President on Media & Publicity Garba Shehu, the President said that this was why Heads of State and Government of the African Union decided against sending peacekeeping troops to Burundi during the country's recent political crisis.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL For Sunday 11 May 2014 - "COVETOUSNESS IS DEADLY" BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL For  Sunday 11 May 2014 - "COVETOUSNESS IS DEADLY" BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
Memory Verse: 1 Timothy 6:6

But godliness with contentment is great gain.


Read: 1 Kings 21:1-19

1 And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.

2 And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.

3 And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.

4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.

5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread?