Youths protest against subsidy probe report

Some youths, under the umbrella of the National Youth Movement for the Removal of Fuel Subsidy today, held a peaceful protest against the Farouk Lawan-led committee's report on the petroleum subsidy fund management.





The youths, who said the protest was against “falsehood” in the report submitted to the House of Representative by the committee, marched through the streets of Abuja to the National Assembly where security officers denied them access into the complex.

Jubril Umar, one of the youths who spoke to Daily Times, said: “We are not happy with the content of the report because there are a lot of lies and sentiments in it. The committee, instead of doing a proper job, used it to settle political and personal differences, as most of the people indicted were indicted wrongly.”

The protesters called on the House to reject the committee's report, asking for another investigation which will be "unbiased and balanced".
                                       Culled:dailytimesnig

RVP wins Football Writers’ Award, Association Player of the Year

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has been named Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association.

The gong comes just two days after the Dutchman was named the PFA Player of the Year.

The 28-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable season, scoring 34 goals in all competitions, and hauling Arsenal into the top four of the Premier League despite a disastrous start to the season.

The Arsenal captain has scored some incredible goals along the way, with particularly memorable volleys against Liverpool and Everton. He becomes the first Dutchman to win the award since Dennis Bergkamp in 1998.





Van Persie won by a landslide ahead of Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.

In third was Paul Scholes, who since coming out of retirement in January has helped United overhaul Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.

In fourth was Fulham’s Clint Dempsey. It was felt by many that the United States international, who has netted 16 league goals for the Cottagers this term, had been unfortunate not to have been nominated in either the PFA Player of the Year shortlist or the PFA Team of the Year.

FWA chairman Steve Bates said today: “Robin was the overwhelming choice of our members this season and deservedly so after a magnificent campaign for Arsenal. The quality of his goals, attacking movement and consistency in a turbulent season for The Gunners has been eye-catching.

“The considerable size of his majority in the votes cast by our members reflected the general view that he has been the season’s most outstanding individual performer.”

The Footballer of the Year award dates back to 1948, when it was won by Stanley Matthews.
                                                       Culled:247newsupdate

Man beheads lover in Ibadan

The Oyo State Police Command, Eleyele have paraded two suspects who allegedly killed a 42-year old woman, Mrs. Sekinat Emiola but the accussed claimed she died of Magun.

One of the suspects, Asimiyu Ayantayo the lover of the deceased allegedly beheaded her and cut off her two hands after making love with her.

But the suspect claimed the deceased died as a result of the killer charm (magun) that was placed on her by another man.

According to him, after making love with the deceased, she “under the spell of magun, somersaulted and died” he stated.






When asked why he beheaded her after her death, he said he never wanted to use her for rituals but to make it impossible for residents in the area to identify her.

“She was my mistress. I contacted magun on her during love-making. She wanted to sommersault but I helped her. Then she started vomiting after the act and she fell down from the chair and died. It was then I beheaded her and cut off her two hands. I don’t need the body parts for anything and I did nothing with it” he explained.

His accomplice, Mr. Isiaka Akanbi, also denied involvement in the act, saying his friend only sent him to buy a sack for him but did not know the purpose for which he needed it.

The parade of the suspects attracted many onlookers in Eleyele, who thronged the State Police headquarters to catch a glimpse of the suspect and the gory picture of the lady’s head and the hands that were severed by the suspects.

Speaking with journalists on the incident, the Oyo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Tambari Mohammed, said the neighbours of the deceased alerted the police about a headless body dumped in the area.

                                    Culled:247newsupdate

UI students protest epileptic power supply

 
Pandemonium this morning erupted at the Nigeria’s premier university – the University of Ibadan, as students took to the streets within the university to register their grievances and dissatisfaction over the epileptic power supply both from the PHCN and the university maintenance section.

The protest led by the newly inducted Students’ Union Executives started around 7am resulting to the closure of the institution’s main gate and lecture halls.

The protesters also barricaded the Sango-Ojoo road opposite the varsity main gate.
Motorists and other road users had to take alternative routes along Agbowo and Bodija road to their different destinations.

Meanwhile, anti-riot policemen and soldiers have been deployed outside the varsity main gate and on the Sango-Ojoo road to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
                                              culled:247nigerianewsupdate

4year old mistakenly kills father

A Saudi man was killed after his four-year-old son accidentally shot him in the head while playing with his father’s gun at their house in the Gulf Kingdom.

The father, in his 40s, had not noticed that his child had reached his gun and was playing with it before putting his little finger on the trigger. “The boy pulled the trigger and a bullet hit his father in the head, killing him instantly,” Sabq Arabic language newspaper said in a report form the southern province of Jazan. Another paper, Sharq, said the boy is considered as the “youngest killer” in Saudi Arabia
                                       Culled:247nigerianewsupdate

FCTA signs agreement on tourism master plan

To explore the Federal Capital Territory's tourism potential,the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it will involve tourism stakeholders in the development of the Abuja tourism master plan.

 The Minister of State for the territory’s administration, Olajumoke Akinjide disclosed
 this while signing an agreement for the design of Abuja's tourism master plan with the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHT) in Abuja.

According to her, the development of Abuja has over the years attracted both local and foreign visitors to the city and in view of this, the territory’s administration decided to develop tourism.
                                              Culled:dailytimesng

Gunmen abduct Access Bank manager

The whereabouts of the Regional General Manager of Access bank, Yemi Odunsanya, remains unknown, after gunmen kidnapped him on his way to church on Sunday.

It was gathered that gunmen riding in a yet to be ascertained vehicle, double crossed Odunsanya’s car at about 11.00am around Badore area in Ajah and whisked him away to an unknown destination.

Following the abduction, the police deployed a team to the area, where they discovered Odunsanya’s Jeep abandoned few metres from the scene of the abduction.

The police spokesperson, Jayieoba Joseph, confirmed the incident, adding that the entire Police Command had been put on red alert to find the victim.

                                      Culled:dailytimesnigeria

Benue woman allegedly gives birth to monster

Residents of Otukpo in Benue State, at the weekend, thronged St Theresa Hospital in the town, to catch a glimpse of an object which looked like a monkey, delivered by a woman said to be the wife of a hunter from Oju Local Government Area of the state.

The still birth monster baby shocked the mother who had in the past given birth to nine children.

An eyewitness, who said the monkey-like baby was a still born, told newsmen that the hospital was besieged by people who had stormed the place to catch a glimpse of the unusual birth.



Pic: Nigeriainfo

The medical director of the hospital, Dr Stanley Bwala, was said to have ascribed the situation to congenital malformation which, according to him, would have been be forestalled with regular ante-natal care.

However, the hunter husband was said to have removed the monster from the hospital.

Mile 12 traders threaten shutdown

Traders at the Mile 12 Market in Ketu, Lagos, have threatened to close the market in protest of what they described as the Ikosi-Isheri Council’s plan to impose a new leadership on them.

The Financial Secretary of the traders’ association (Perishable Commodities Section), Shehu Usman, said they are capable of selecting their leaders and will resist any attempt to impose a new leadership on the market.


 
 Pic:dailytimesnig

However, the Chairman of the Ikosi-Iseri Local Council Development Area, Abdulfatai Oyesanya, said the current executive was a caretaker committee inaugurated about six years ago.

“The committee was inaugurated following a House of Assembly recommendation. And the recommendation still subsists. The association is the council’s revenue agent whose yearly agreement lapsed in December 2011,” Oyesanya said.

“There is no agreement yet for 2012. So the council has the right to put in place a new executive and re-organise the association.”

The police have deployed officers and an Armoured Personnel Carrier to the market to prevent breakdown of law and order.
                                            Culled:Dailytimesng

Man hangs self over stolen motorcycle

Onuigbo Nwode, a commercial motorcycle rider, hung himself in the early hours of Sunday after losing his motorcycle to armed robbers in Awka, Anambra State.

The 20-year-old indigene of Ebonyi State moved to Awka three years ago and had been taking care of his family at home with the proceeds from bike riding.

 Report says, the motorcycle was snatched at gunpoint around 1:00a.m. along Zik Avenue and hours later, Nwode committed suicide at his residence in Ichida Road, Umudioka, Awka.



Image:Google

His corpse was removed by the police and deposited in a mortuary.

A relation to the deceased, who is also a bike rider, said that after the robbery the deceased came home feeling depressed but they never suspected he was contemplating suicide.

 The state police spokesperson, Emeka Chukwuemeka, confirmed the incident and said investigation was ongoing.

                                             Culled:dailytimesnig

Bank robbery-Ogun police foil attack

Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the Quick Response Squad (QRS) under the Ogun Police Command yesterday repelled armed bandits who attacked a new generation bank at Kuto, Abeokuta, the state capital.

It was learnt that the robbers arrived the bank premises about 5.38am and attempted to break the security door and the Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

They were said to have used hammers, chisels and methane/acetylene gas for the operation.

The security personnel attached to the bank and some members of the public reportedly noticed the suspicious activities of the hoodlums and alerted the SARS and QRS.

The police units reportedly mobilised to the scene and dislodged the robbers.

In a statement in Abeokuta, police spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi confirmed the incident.

He said SARS and QRS engaged the robbers in a gun duel, using the newly acquired security equipment.

Adejobi added that the SARS team received a back-up from the QRS and forced the robbers to flee with bullet wounds. The robbers were, however, said to have abandoned their operating tools.

                                  Culled:Ascologynews

Man sets seilf ablaze in Bayelsa

An unidentified man, in the early hours of Sunday, allegedly set himself ablaze in Etegwe, Bayelsa State.

Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred beside the bridge across the canal close to the Edepie roundabout, adding that the deceased was believed to have poured petrol on his body before igniting the fire.

The source said people saw the victim struggling before he fell into the canal.

The death caused a debate, as some of the residents believed he might have been murdered while others said he committed suicide.

The police removed the remains of the victim and deposited it at the FMC mortuary in Yenagoa.

The state police spokesperson, Eguavoen Emokpai said he hadn’t been briefed on the incident.
                                              Culled:Dailytimesnig

NWFL suspends league matches............To resume after Super Falcons finish first phase of camping

The Secretary of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), Danlami Alanana says matches in the 2011/2012 Women Professional League have been suspended until further notice.

She stated this while speaking with news men in Abuja.

Alanana, said the league’s suspension was as a result of the Super Falcons’ camping programme.

The 20-club league competition, which began on March 17, was to enter its eighth week on April 21, with matches in its two groups.

The Falcons resumed their first phase of camping on April 15, ahead of preparations for upcoming fixtures.








The team’s technical crew invited 53 players to camp, for preparations ahead of the qualifiers for the eighth African Women Championship (AWC).

However, only 26 players had reported for the camp’s first training session, with a few others joining some days later.

A number of those invited were held back at their clubs, causing the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) to direct the NWFL to suspend the league.
                                                             Culled:Dailytimesnigeria

Baby, two others crushed by train in Ibadan

Tragedy struck on Sunday as a moving train reportedly crushed a three-year-old boy identified as Quadri, son of a commercial bus driver, Alowonle, to death at Alajiki area of Adifase, Apata, Ibadan.

Also, two people on a commercial motorcycle with number plate OYO BQ 736 BDJ, were reportedly crushed to death by a moving train at Akobo Oju’irin in Lagelu Local Government area of the state on Sunday.

A sympathiser named Kabirat said the late toddler and his 11-year-old sister, Kabirat, were coming from their mother’s shop when the tragedy occurred through a train coming from Apapa.

She said, “The deceased sister crossed the rail line but the boy kept running along the rail instead of crossing to the other side.”

Meanwhile, the okada rider and the passenger was said to have attempted to hurriedly cross the rail when the train crushed them.

The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Police Command, Mallam Tambari Mohammed, confirmed the death of the two men on an okada.
                                                     Culled:247news

Power evacuation:Abia spends N1.5bn

The Abia State government has spent N1.5 billion to evacuate power from the 132/33 KV substation at Ohiya, near Umuahia, to five feeder stations at Afara, Ubakala, Ntigha, Nkwoegwu and Obowo near Umuahia.

Tony Ukasanya, the Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor Theodore Orji, said this on Friday, when he led journalists round the sub-station.

According to him, the exercise which was completed on March 29 will solve over 70 percent of the power need of the area and has already improved electricity supply in Umuahia, the state capital.

The people in the region had previously depended on the 132KV sub-station in Aba for their electricity.
Ukasanya, who expressed hope that the project would stimulate economic and industrial activities in the state, commended the Federal and state governments for their efforts in completing the project, which was awarded in 2001.

Chukwunonye Okafor, an electrical engineer with Valence Holding Company, the Lagos-based firm that handled the evacuation, said that the company had completed its job and the test-running of the project and handed it over to the Power holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

According to him, the substation is set to transmit 132KV to Mbalano and Ohafia and with the completion of the power evacuation from the 330 KV at Alaoji, near Aba, epileptic power supply in the state will become a thing of the past.
                                                    Culled:Dailytimesng

Police University to open in September

The Police University in Kaduna will commence academic activities in September 2012

The acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, disclosed in Abeokuta while speaking with newsmen

                          PIC:Dailytimesng


Abubakar said the university had been approved by the Federal Executive Council who said
the President is very committed for the take-off of the university reiterated that the Senate building is ready and the University already has a deputy Vice-Chancellor coordinating its affairs.

He gave assurance that issues of accommodation, welfare, training and other issues would be given priority by his administration.

                                               Culled:Dailytimesng

Baby for Messi?

Lionel Messi, considered one of the best players ever, might soon be facing bigger challenges off the pitch as there are reports he might be a daddy soon.

The news first broke on an Argentine radio program and has since been confirmed by multiple media sources.

Barcelona player Lionel Messi and his long-time girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo are reportedly expecting their first child together.

According to Diario Uno a newspaper where Messi is from say it tried contacting Messi's parents, to enquire as to whether the news were true.

They say nobody confirmed the story but nobody denied it either, concluding they think the couple are being left to break the story themselves. Maybe the couple is trying to bring the happy news with caution and only family and close friends would receive the news.

Messi became the all-time leading goalscorer for Barcelona, as he scored 234 times for the Catalans — and is still just 24 years of age.

Even Pep Guardiola has compared 'The little maestro' to basketball legend Michael Jordan.

Now fans are waiting for Lionel and Antonella to confirm the pregnancy.
                                         Culled:Supersport

Skills acquisition: FG sets up 39 centres across the country

The Federal government has so far established  thirty-nine functional Skills acquisition training centres across the country.

The Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment, Abubakar Mohammed disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Essien Udim, Akwa Ibom state

Mohammed said plans are underway to establish at least one skills acquisition centre in each of the 774 local government areas, to train youths on skills techniques.

He added that so far, the NDE had trained 16,475 artisans/technicians and most of them had been gainfully employed, and were contributing to national growth.

The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, who commissioned the centre, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to creating jobs for youths in the country, saying they will use job creation to confront the challenge of insecurity in the country.
.
He disclosed that the government is also making policies to reduce and eliminate poverty, and has targeted the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Scheme Programme (SURE-P) at creating jobs for 370,000 youths.


In a message to the occassion,Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, who was represented by Nsima Ekere, said that the problem of developing countries was how to create jobs for the teeming population.

Noting that government alone cannot create the needed jobs, he called on the private sector to be involved in helping young people to acquire skills.

The centre is expected to train 450 youths across the three senatorial districts of districts of the state.

                               culled:Dailytimesng

Hausa youths clash at Mile 12 in Lagos

An intra-ethnic clash today broke out between Hausa youths at the Mile 12 area of Lagos.


The cause of the clash could not be confirmed but the situation has been brought under control, with the deployment of armed policemen and Armoured Personnel Carriers in the area.

Report says the clash was caused by a struggle for the leadership (Serkin Hausawa) of the Hausa community in the area.

Combatants on different sides of the divide reportedly engaged in a violent clash with various weapons.

The area was the scene of a violent clash a month ago between Hausa and Yoruba youths after some Hausa allegedly attempted to dump the corpse of a man they had reportedly slaughtered in the nearby Majidun River.

                                                Culled:24/7newsupdate

Kenya parliament rejects bid to cap banks' rates

Kenya's parliament has rejected a proposal to cap commercial banks' interest rates, ending months of anxiety by bankers who feared the move would crimp their earnings and lead to credit rationing.

The house voted 58-17 against introducing amendments, proposed by some lawmakers, that would cap the interest rate at which banks can lend at no more than 400 basis points above the central bank rate (CBR).

The proposed changes also included setting the minimum deposit rate at 70 percent of the CBR.

An impasse over the amendments to the government's Finance Bill had held up the bill's passage through parliament, threatening to stall funding to the government, which has to get authority from parliament to implement its fiscal budget.

Legislators who made the proposals claim banks are charging borrowers too much interest while commercial banks have raised their interest rates to about 25 percent from 15 percent since October.

The Kenya Bankers Association, which strongly opposed the move to cap rates, was not available immediately for comment, following the vote in parliament late on Thursday.

Businesses in the east African nation of 40 million perennially complain of high credit costs with spreads between borrowing and lending rates averaging around 10 percentage points.

Martin Ogindo, the legislator who first brought the proposal to cap rates, vowed to fight on by refining his motion and submitting it again at a later date.
                                           Culled:Reuters