Tuesday, May 5, 2015

5 of Top 20 Tourist Destinations That Look Like Another Planet

5) Dragonblood Trees
Dragonblood Trees


Dracena Cinnabari, is a tree that is native to Socotra, which are four little islands in the Indian Ocean. The trees are otherwise called Dragonblood trees and as seen in the picture, have an umbrella-molded top, with leaves that measure over to 60cm long and 3cm wide.


6) Giant’s Causeway


Giant’s Causeway

50 to 60 million years ago, an extremely solid volcanic movement happened in Count Antrim, Northern Ireland, which framed a gathering of around 40,000 interlocking basalt sections, the vast majority of these segments are a hexagonal shape, a percentage of the tallest are around 30ft high and 92ft thick.



 




NSITF: The Journey So Far

By Anayo Ude


The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) was established by Act No. 73 of 1993 to succeed the defunct National Provident Fund with mandate to provide a Social Insurance Scheme for employees in the Organized Private Sector. Prior to the enactment of the Pension Reform Act of 2004, it can be said that the Fund executed this mandate to the satisfaction of all.


However, with the coming of the Pension Reform Act, also called PRA 2004, though desirable in all of its ramifications, mark a turning point in the existence of the NSITF was on the flip side a big challenge for NSITF. Before the Act, NSITF had operated as a very successful government Agency from 1994 to2004. And just as it was about to stabilize as a Pensions provider came PRA 2004 and everything halted for NSITF. In fact, the Fund was almost disbanded.


Umar Munir Abubakar is the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Fund. He was the Director of Administration at NSITF when PRA 2004 was enacted. He says the Act presented a unique challenge to the continued existence of the Fund.


“If you look at the portion of the reform act that said we should be disbanded and transfer all our assets and liabilities to PFAs. Section 71 of the PRA said we should provide social security to the entire country – and that was what the PRA said and no more. Nothing was said on how we should go about it.


But under the Act, NSITF was required to transfer all the assets to a Pension Fund Administrator. And so the challenge was with what to do and how. Hear Abubakar.


“When the Act came into effect, we were forced to transfer the assets within months after the coming of the Act – and it came when were not ready for that. That was the first measure we had to grapple with. At that time, we had a staff strength of well over 2000 people and not only that, we had structures all over the country, and our assumption was that we were going to transfer these assets within 5years. And that we were supposed to take our time to transfer the assets year by year until we finish within 5years. But we were forced to transfer these things within few months after the take-off of the pension reform. Obviously we had to face very big challenges”


And the first was with how to continue to exist as an Agency of government. With PRA 2004, the Fund had nothing in the practical sense to do anymore. According to Abubakar, the situation was very dire.


“The new scheme we were looking forward to did not come up, the social security scheme mention in the Act did not come up and we were not given any means of earning revenue. Immediate the pension reform act came in, I remember PENCOM, the first statement it issued was in December 2004 asking all employers to stop contributing to NSITF Scheme. Immediately this was done, we were left with virtually nothing to run the scheme on. Six months thereafter, we now saw the problems coming in”


He said one of the options open to the Management was to restructure.


“We had to virtually down-sized from well over 2000 to 90 – 94 people. Don’t forget that we had offices all over the federation; these offices had to be virtually closed down. In most offices we had just 2 people each – and skeletal services, and this lasted for the next 7 to 8 years. So you can see what we went through. And within those 7 -8years, we did not earn a single kobo from anywhere”


That notwithstanding, Abubakar says the Fund had to find other ways to continue to exist and function because “We had to keep servicing the PFAs because they were already on ground, you know. We had to continue dealing with them – in terms of the beneficiaries and claimants.


He admits the situation even got worse with time “the issue became a very big problem for us. Even to pay salaries became a very big challenge for us. So, within the 7 to 8 years I mentioned, obviously, structures started coming down, and in all cases our offices were very old and some of them were being rented. So we could not even pay rent in most cases. Before you know it, all our offices became closed down; all the structure were down, equipment were down, ACs and generators were all down because we could not maintain anything. It was a very big problem for us, it was a very big problem”


The Managing Director/ Chief Executive remembers the sad and very challenging issue of what to do with the Fund’s strategic office in Ijora Lagos. The building is located by the Lagoon and was being threatened by the forces of nature.


“The Lagoon had almost swallowed half of that Office; we hadn’t any money to maintain it. That office had to be closed down for safety reasons because the Lagoon has taken over, water is percolating from underground, there is no parking space, everywhere was particularly taken over by water, there had been a lot of development and sand filling in other parts of Apapa, the sand filling and development forced the lagoon to come towards Ijora side and since we didn’t have any money to stop it, it came eroding our building.


“So, we did not have anywhere to stay in Lagos, we didn’t have offices that we could call real offices in Lagos because we didn’t have money to rent bigger offices. Unfortunately for us at that time also, our Victoria Island office lease was about finishing and we didn’t have anywhere to go” he added


It was therefore a big relief for the Fund when government approved and created the Employee Compensation Scheme, ECS, in 2011, to give bite to the Social Insurance portfolio of the PRA 2004. For seven years the Fund had floated without a scheme to operationalize the portfolio. Abubakar says President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan must be praised for exercising the courage and foresight in creating the Employees Compensation Scheme


“When the ECS came on stream, it was a very big relief for this organization … the government was able to sign the Act … by December 27th it was signed into law by 2011 we took off. And this is where we are today


But operationalizing the new scheme and getting it off the ground presented a different kind of challenge. Remember that by this time, the Fund was almost comatose. Offices across the country had all been closed, Staff strength and morale was at ground zero. So, Abubakar says Management was faced with the twin challenge of producing a roadmap for the scheme, being a new one in the country and sourcing for funds to provide the human and infrastructure needs of the weather beaten NSITF.


Hope however came with the appointment and inauguration of a Board of Directors for the Fund by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Led by divine providence and quest for the best for the Fund, President Jonathan appointed an amazon and a leader with a magic wand, in the person of, Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Olejeme to lead the Board as Chairman. And since then, the Fund has leaped from one achievement to the other.


Chief R.U Uche is the President of Nigerian Employers Consultative Association, NECA, and a member of the Board of the Fund “As you know a healthy work force is number one item for increasing productivity, as it is now, we have been very much the witness to the idea that the Fund has grown in numbers from year to year. From a Very modest beginning in 2011 we are talking about, maybe, tenfold increase since then. We are happy for that”


He says the Chairman of the Board Dr (Mrs) Olejeme has been an exceptional leader so far. “She is a woman that has passion for social security and the welfare of employees and it has shown both by the way she conducts the Board meetings and the way we have been able to implement this Act to the benefit of employees, she is truly a leader”


Also speaking on the person on the Chairman of the Board, Dr Olusegun Oshinowo, Director General of NECA, a major stakeholder in the affairs and operations of the NSITF says the appointment of Dr Olejeme has been critical to the successes recorded by the Fund so far.


“She has provided commendable leadership, she is a team player, I must say, and she has enormous respect of the social partners and to that extent we would want to say that the scheme has done very well”


Dr Emeka Wogu was the Minister of Labour and Productivity, the supervising ministry of the NSITF. He agrees and describes Dr Olejeme as a distinguished lady, an achiever and a wonder worker.


“I have not heard any incidences of conflicts or conflicts between the Board and management, not to my knowledge, so that means that underscores the administrative sagacity of the distinguish lady, the Chairman Dr Olejeme and we have not had any reason to say she has not done her job as a Board Chairman diligently, she is a nice woman, she is a woman who was consistent on the need to have a new NSITF with a new face”


One person who can attest to what NSITF gained under Olejeme is the Managing Director of the Fund. He says the task of repositioning NSITF within the short period it has happened would not have been possible without the leadership of Dr Olejeme as Chairman of the Board. Under her leadership he says the Fund has witnessed what he describes as a living Board


“We are lucky we have an indefatigable woman that is, in fact, let me tell you, when the scheme came on stream, she worked very hard, tirelessly to make sure that it takes off immediately. All the problems I mentioned like funding and so on, it was handled. She had to go up and down to make sure we are funded. We are glad she did that. And of course she had the support of the Board members.


He says Dr Olejeme has provided an all-round leadership as Chairman of the Board. “All the things we need, going to the national assembly and so on, she leads us. Whatever we need we have to talk to her, she is ready at any time to lead us to the national assembly, to the government, to the minister, so we thank the Board, the Board has a very good working relationship us, we respect the Board, we thank them, in fact, if not for the Board encouragement, we wouldn’t have gone far


Beyond the Executive Arm of government, Olejeme has also received encomiums from members of the National Assembly. Chairman House Committee on Labour, Honourable Essien Ekpeyong Ayi says the Board under Olejeme has done very well.


“Well I must sincerely tell you that the board in my own assessment has done well and there is no perfect human being you cannot say perfect but you don’t need 100% to say you have passed an examination, sometimes it is 50/60/70 but for me the board has done well because I have seen a lot of improvement in the functions of organizations, I have seen a lot of employment because I am in labour”


Even from the defender of the Nigerian workers, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, she has also been described as an exceptional leader according to Abdulwaheed Omar, former President of the Congress, the NLC is so far satisfied with the leadership of Olejeme.


“So far so good, because we have noticed with a lot of satisfaction the progress being made, despite the challenges I think the progress being made is appreciable”


But Olejeme says credit must be extended to other members of the Board, Management and Staff of the Fund for the successes recorded.


“I am just part of people that God used in bringing this vision to be we have very capable, very highly educated, very respected Nigerians that are on board of NSITF I just happened to the chairman but whatever we have done we have done together everyone including the GM, the deputy GMS and all the highranking to the lowest grade we have all you know worked together to bring what you have seen today so it’s not only the chairman that has done this that has done that.


“I cannot take the credit alone the credit 1st goes to Mr president who is magnanimous enough to see that the future of Nigerians could be better through NSITF and has given us the leverage to affect d life of Nigerians.so Nigerian youths Nigerian graduates today imagine taking off more than 6000 unemployed graduates out of the labour market It has done enough I mean the president has done enough and needs to be commended”

3 of Top 20 Tourist Destinations That Look Like Another Planet

3) Hydrothermal Vents
Hydrothermal Vents


These rocks may look like something that can be seen on Mars in any case, in 1926, Phreatic eruptions happened in Ethiopia which shaped a volcano known as the Dallol Volcano, eruption craters were additionally framed. These holes contain salt dish and are the most lowest known subaerial volcanic vents on the planet and are more than 150ft bellow sea level.


4) Glowworm Caves


Glowworm Caves

On the North Island of New Zealand, there is a vacation spot known as the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. The caverns are known for its populace of glowworms, the types of glowworms that are found in the hollows are only found in New Zealand and are around the same size as a normal mosquito.





7 of Top 20 Tourist Destinations That Look Like Another Planet (Painted Dunes)

7) Painted Dunes


Painted Dunes


8) Fortress Of Solitude


Fortress Of Solitude




9 of Top 20 Tourist Destinations That Look Like Another Planet (Mount Roraima)

9)Mount Roraima


Mount Roraima is the highest of not only the Pakaraima Mountains but also the Guyana’s Highland Range, located in Venezuela, South America. The mountain consists on the sides of cliffs that are 1,300ft high, it also serves as a triple border point of Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana.

Mount Roraima is the highest of not only the Pakaraima Mountains but also the Guyana’s Highland Range, located in Venezuela, South America. The mountain consists on the sides of cliffs that are 1,300ft high, it also serves as a triple border point of Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana.


 


10) Lake Baikal


Lake Baikal, found in Russia, is the largest, clearest and the oldest freshwater lake in the world, which contains around 20% of the world’s unfrozen surface fresh water. The lake was formed as an ancient rift valley, and is home to more than 1,700 species of plants and animals, some of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Lake Baikal, found in Russia, is the largest, clearest and the oldest freshwater lake in the world, which contains around 20% of the world’s unfrozen surface fresh water. The lake was formed as an ancient rift valley, and is home to more than 1,700 species of plants and animals, some of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.


 




11 of Top 20 Tourist Destinations That Look Like Another Planet

11) Vast Place
Vast Place
The Namib Desert in South Africa, stretches for more than 2,000 kilometers comprising of sand oceans close to the coast, and rock fields and scattered mountain outcrops further inland of the desert. Various strange types of plants and creatures have been found in the Namib, one of the plant animal varieties can be seen in the picture above.


12) Grand Prismatic Spring


Grand Prismatic Spring

This may look like a lake for Mars creatures to swim in, but it is actually known as the Grand Prismatic Spring is located in Wyoming, USA, and is one of the largest hot springs in the USA, and the third largest in the world. It is approximately 250-300ft in size and 160ft deep.





17 of Top 20 Tourist Destinations That Look Like Another Planet

17) Spotted Lake


The Spotted Lake is a saline endorheic alkali lake and is located just outside of Osoyoos, Canada. The lake contains various minerals, such as magnesium sulphate, calcium and sodium sulphates, it also contains silver and titanium. Most of the water in the lake evaporates over summer, revealing the minerals, making it look colorful. Large spots appear on the lake and are colored according to the mineral composition and seasonal amount of precipitation. Some of the minerals in the lake harden, forming walkways around and between the spots.

The Spotted Lake is a saline endorheic alkali lake and is located just outside of Osoyoos, Canada. The lake contains various minerals, such as magnesium sulphate, calcium and sodium sulphates, it also contains silver and titanium. Most of the water in the lake evaporates over summer, revealing the minerals, making it look colorful. Large spots appear on the lake and are colored according to the mineral composition and seasonal amount of precipitation. Some of the minerals in the lake harden, forming walkways around and between the spots.


18)Glowing Beach


A beach in the Maldives, known as the Glowing Beach, literally has waves that glow when they hit the beach. Some species of phytoplankton are known to bioluminesce for self-defense, even though the light would make them visible to things that are likely to eat them. They only produce the glow when they sense something that may consume them, but this can also be triggered due to waves or footprints.

A beach in the Maldives, known as the Glowing Beach, literally has waves that glow when they hit the beach. Some species of phytoplankton are known to bioluminesce for self-defense, even though the light would make them visible to things that are likely to eat them. They only produce the glow when they sense something that may consume them, but this can also be triggered due to waves or footprints.





13 of Top 20 Tourist Destinations That Look Like Another Planet

13) Salar de Uyuni


Salar de Uyuni

Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt pan, located in southwest of Bolivia, it was formed as a result of several prehistoric lakes reconstructing. The salt pan is 10,582 square kilometers, and is at an elevation of 12,000ft above mean sea level.


14) Iceland Caves


Iceland Caves

In Skaftafell, Iceland, during autumn each year, ice caves begin to form and last throughout winter, and are only safe to enter in winter as they are unsafe during other seasons and can collapse at any time. Tourists are able to walk through the cave through a 22ft entrance, as you get to the end, it comes to a squeeze and is no more than 4ft high.





15 of Top 20 Tourist Destinations That Look Like Another Planet

15) The West


The Algarve sea cave is the most popular tourist destination in Portugal, it has two entrances and the bottom of the cave is filled with beach sand, when looking up you can see through a hole that is known as the ‘window to the sky’.

The Algarve sea cave is the most popular tourist destination in Portugal, it has two entrances and the bottom of the cave is filled with beach sand, when looking up you can see through a hole that is known as the ‘window to the sky’.


16) Red Seabeach


A grass species known as Sueda is one of the few species that can live in alkaline soil, this grass has overgrown in Dawa County, Panjin, Liaoning, China, and is based in the biggest wetland and reed marsh in the world. This makes it look more like a beach, this giving the area the name ‘Red Seabeach’.





19 of Top 20 Tourist Destinations That Look Like Another Planet

19) Death Valley


Death Valley is a desert valley, known as the lowest, driest and hottest area in North America, the valley is located in Eastern California. The valley’s Badwater Basin is the point of the lowest elevation in North America, which is at 282ft below sea level.

Death Valley is a desert valley, known as the lowest, driest and hottest area in North America, the valley is located in Eastern California. The valley’s Badwater Basin is the point of the lowest elevation in North America, which is at 282ft below sea level.


20) Seven Colored Earths


The Seven Colored Earths are a geological formation found in Mauritius. It is a small area of sand dunes that contain seven different colors, red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow. The sands have formed over time from the decomposition of volcanic rock gullies into clay, and the different colors have been said to be the consequences of molten volcanic rock cooling down at different temperatures.

The Seven Colored Earths are a geological formation found in Mauritius. It is a small area of sand dunes that contain seven different colors, red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow. The sands have formed over time from the decomposition of volcanic rock gullies into clay, and the different colors have been said to be the consequences of molten volcanic rock cooling down at different temperatures.





Photo: Comedian Basketmouth turns 'trekker', set to congratulate president-elect




haha..

WOW! Pimp my ride Ankara car spotted in Bayelsa



This pimped sports car in Ankara fabric was seen in Yenogoa, Bayelsa state as of late. The seats are even pimped in Ankara. You like? See more photographs bellow.