The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi and the state's deputy governor had a close shave with death today as a suicide bomber detonated his bomb just meters from where both were.
The incident happened around 2:15pm, immediately after Friday prayers at the mosque in front of the Shehu's palace. Witnesses said a youth of about the age of 15 was noticed walking towards the two dignitaries.
However, the suspicious manner in which he was approaching them immediately drew the attention of the security men guarding the Shehu who quickly tried to shield him. In the process, the bomb went off, killing at least 10 other people in the vicinity and critically wounding two of the soldiers.
JTF spokesman in the state, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa confirmed the incident but said only 5 people were killed and 6 others, including the two soldiers, wounded by the blast.
The area around the Shehu's palace has been cordoned off and more soldiers have been deployed to the scene.
Culled:Dailytrustnigeria
Friday, 13 July 2012
TV presenter abducted in Lagos, not yet found
A popular television presenter, Alhaji Razaq Gawat, abducted in Lagos, on Thursday is yet to be found.
Gawat, who is the anchorman of an Islamic TV programme during, E didè e ji sari, which is broadcast on Nigerian Television Authority Channel 10, was reportedly abducted around Apongbon end of Eko Bridge, Lagos Island on Tuesday.
One of Gawat’s friends, who spoke with newsmen said that the victim’s car was found but no contact had been made with his family. He, however, noted that the incident could still not be referred to as kidnap.
He added that the matter had been reported at the Adeniji Adele Police Division, which is very close to the victim’s residence.
The Police Public Relations Officer, in the state, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the incident to newsmen on the telephone, said that the police had commenced investigations into the matter.
She however said the matter was being treated as a case of missing person and not kidnap or abduction since no one had contacted the family.
She said, “The Divisional Police Officer Adeniji Adele said the wife of the victim came to the station around 10am on Wednesday and reported that Gawat was missing. She said she spoke to him around 5pm on Tuesday and he said he was on his way to Ikeja for a meeting.
“She said she continued to call his phones when he did not arrive but his phones were switched off.
Gawat’s vehicle was found at Apongbon end of Eko Bridge that same night and was recovered by Lagos State Traffic Management Authority officials.
“Investigations have commenced into the matter and the police are working very hard to ensure that he is found. He is still presumed missing and not kidnapped.”
Culled: 247nigerianewsupdate?Punchnigeria
Gawat, who is the anchorman of an Islamic TV programme during, E didè e ji sari, which is broadcast on Nigerian Television Authority Channel 10, was reportedly abducted around Apongbon end of Eko Bridge, Lagos Island on Tuesday.
One of Gawat’s friends, who spoke with newsmen said that the victim’s car was found but no contact had been made with his family. He, however, noted that the incident could still not be referred to as kidnap.
He added that the matter had been reported at the Adeniji Adele Police Division, which is very close to the victim’s residence.
The Police Public Relations Officer, in the state, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the incident to newsmen on the telephone, said that the police had commenced investigations into the matter.
She however said the matter was being treated as a case of missing person and not kidnap or abduction since no one had contacted the family.
She said, “The Divisional Police Officer Adeniji Adele said the wife of the victim came to the station around 10am on Wednesday and reported that Gawat was missing. She said she spoke to him around 5pm on Tuesday and he said he was on his way to Ikeja for a meeting.
“She said she continued to call his phones when he did not arrive but his phones were switched off.
Gawat’s vehicle was found at Apongbon end of Eko Bridge that same night and was recovered by Lagos State Traffic Management Authority officials.
“Investigations have commenced into the matter and the police are working very hard to ensure that he is found. He is still presumed missing and not kidnapped.”
Culled: 247nigerianewsupdate?Punchnigeria
Yabatech students abduct LASTMA official, injure three
Some youths suspected to be students of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, have allegedly abducted a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority official and injured three others on Thursday because the traffic officials reportedly accosted them for using the lane designated for Bus Rapid Transit on Wednesday.
The students were said to have also gone to LASTMA Zone 15 Office, Iponri, and vandalised four impounded vehicles in the office.
LASTMA spokesperson, Mrs. Bola Ajao, told our correspondent on the telephone that the students were members of the school’s Students’ Union.
She said, “On Wednesday afternoon, an unregistered Mazda bus with the inscription ‘Yaba College of Technology Students’ Union’ was seen using the BRT lane around Post Office, Oyingbo. The vehicle had eight occupants including one Ademola Adesola, the union’s leader
.
“The students became unruly and refused to cooperate with the LASTMA officials headed by Mr. Kayode Odunuga. So, anti-robbery policemen attached to Denton Police Division immediately rushed to the scene.
“After the police intervened, the students then cooperated and the vehicle was taken down to LASTMA Zone 15 office at Iponri. On getting there, the students were made to sign an undertaking which must be typed on a Yabatech letter-head paper. Adesola said he did not have an original but a photocopy of a letter-head paper. Based on compassionate grounds, we accepted it and they were allowed to go.
“On Thursday, however, the students suddenly abducted a LASTMA official, Mr. Obasanmi Oladimeji, who was on duty at Jibowu area. The students then went down to Zone 15 office with two buses; one commercial bus and the red Mazda bus which they used on Wednesday. The students vandalised four impounded vehicles which were on the premises.”
The incident was said to have caused a traffic snarl at Jibowu as on-lookers ran helter skelter.
Ajao said that as LASTMA officials tried to assuage the students, they got angrier and even assaulted three other officials on the premises.
She added that the fight would have escalated if not for the timely intervention of the policemen attached to Iponri Station
“When the students sighted policemen, they immediately took to their heels but luckily we caught one Joshua Toba, a 27-year-old man. Joshua claimed that he was not a student but an electrician who had been urged by the students to accompany them on a ‘peace mission,’” she said.
The students were said to have gone down to the LASTMA office, Oshodi where they also allegedly staged a protest before fleeing.
Ajao also allegedly said as at press time, the abducted LASTMA official had not yet been released by the students.
When contacted, the spokesman, Yabatech, Mr.Kunle Adams, said he had heard of the incident but had yet to get all the information.
When contacted, the an assistant to Ngozi Braide, the state Police Public Relations Officer, said she was in a meeting.
However, subsequent calls to her phone rang out.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate/ Punchnigeria
Government holds mass burial for tanker explosion victims
The Rivers State government has given a mass burial for most of Thursday’s oil tanker explosion victims, a Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) official said.
The State sector commander for the commission, Kayode Olagunju told reporters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital that 89 of the 95 persons who died in the petrol tanker explosion were given a mass burial at Okobe village in the Ahoada West Local Government Area of the State.
Mr Olagunju said six of the victims who died were identified and released to their respective families.
He said in all, 95 persons died in the incident with 18 others injured.
Police sources had earlier said that more than 100 persons were feared to be burnt to death, while many were injured while scooping fuel from a fallen tanker in the early hours of Thursday.
Stealing fuel from oil pipeline or taking oil from broken-down oil tanker truck is very common in Nigeria.
The past few years have witnessed a string of pipeline explosions, with each killing at least dozens of people.
Nearly 300 people were burnt to death in Lagos on 26 December 2006, as they scooped fuel from a vandalized pipeline.
Culled:channelstv
The State sector commander for the commission, Kayode Olagunju told reporters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital that 89 of the 95 persons who died in the petrol tanker explosion were given a mass burial at Okobe village in the Ahoada West Local Government Area of the State.
Mr Olagunju said six of the victims who died were identified and released to their respective families.
He said in all, 95 persons died in the incident with 18 others injured.
Police sources had earlier said that more than 100 persons were feared to be burnt to death, while many were injured while scooping fuel from a fallen tanker in the early hours of Thursday.
Stealing fuel from oil pipeline or taking oil from broken-down oil tanker truck is very common in Nigeria.
The past few years have witnessed a string of pipeline explosions, with each killing at least dozens of people.
Nearly 300 people were burnt to death in Lagos on 26 December 2006, as they scooped fuel from a vandalized pipeline.
Culled:channelstv
Alleged witchcraft: Woman, 70, lynched over step-son’s ordeal
A 70-year-old woman, Mrs. Rebecca Adewumi, was, yesterday, lynched by a mob in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State, over alleged witchcraft, even as the deceased family petitioned the police, asking for justice.
Narrating the ordeal her mother passed through to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, the first daughter of the deceased, Mrs. Grace Smith, said her mother was invited to the palace of Olomuo, Oba Noah Omonigbehin, some time last May on allegation that she used her witchcraft power to harm her step-son, one Ola.
“On getting to Olomuo’s palace, the family was asked to come the following day at 6a.m. and on the said day, the palace was full to the brim. She was then asked to undress to the pants, after which a series of questions were asked. My mother was then given a concoction (Obo leave)said to make witches confess and die. My dear mother was told that she would die within seven days if she was involved in Ola’s matter.
“Nine days passed and nothing happened and I left for my base in Lagos. Three weeks after, June 26, some youths in the town went to our house and brought out my mother and forced her to drink a poisonous item. They then took her outside into the rain where she was beaten and subjected to serious torture. When she was almost dying they took her back into her room and laid her on the bed. She died on June 30.
”While she was being beaten, some youths went to the house of her younger sister, Mrs Anike Orojo, who was also beaten for daring to cater for her.”
Grace said of the family members knew the whereabout of the corpse of her late mother.
Commenting on the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sotonye Wakama, said the police got report about the incident and the petition by the family.
The police boss narrated how the state Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dayo Akinlaja, contacted him about the issue on the said day. He said nobody had been arrested because no eyewitness to the alleged crime had come forward to identify any suspect.
Wakama said police could not rely on the names listed by the lawyers in their petition because they were not at the scene of the alleged crime.
Wakama said the command would send an ambulance to Omuo-Ekiti to bring the corpse for autopsy at a government hospital in Ado-Ekiti.The police boss said a member of the deceased’s family, who was reportedly an eyewitness, had agreed to come forward and identify the suspects. He promised that justice would be done in the matter.
When contacted on phone, Oba Omonigbehin asked reporters to come over to Omuo-Ekiti along with the persons who said they were witnesses to the incident.
Meanwhile, the family’s lawyer, Mr. Dele Omotoso, in a petition dated July 5, to the police, claimed that Mrs. Adewumi was subjected to trial by ordeal. He urged the police to investigate the circumstances leading to her death.
Narrating the ordeal her mother passed through to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, the first daughter of the deceased, Mrs. Grace Smith, said her mother was invited to the palace of Olomuo, Oba Noah Omonigbehin, some time last May on allegation that she used her witchcraft power to harm her step-son, one Ola.
“On getting to Olomuo’s palace, the family was asked to come the following day at 6a.m. and on the said day, the palace was full to the brim. She was then asked to undress to the pants, after which a series of questions were asked. My mother was then given a concoction (Obo leave)said to make witches confess and die. My dear mother was told that she would die within seven days if she was involved in Ola’s matter.
“Nine days passed and nothing happened and I left for my base in Lagos. Three weeks after, June 26, some youths in the town went to our house and brought out my mother and forced her to drink a poisonous item. They then took her outside into the rain where she was beaten and subjected to serious torture. When she was almost dying they took her back into her room and laid her on the bed. She died on June 30.
”While she was being beaten, some youths went to the house of her younger sister, Mrs Anike Orojo, who was also beaten for daring to cater for her.”
Grace said of the family members knew the whereabout of the corpse of her late mother.
Commenting on the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sotonye Wakama, said the police got report about the incident and the petition by the family.
The police boss narrated how the state Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dayo Akinlaja, contacted him about the issue on the said day. He said nobody had been arrested because no eyewitness to the alleged crime had come forward to identify any suspect.
Wakama said police could not rely on the names listed by the lawyers in their petition because they were not at the scene of the alleged crime.
Wakama said the command would send an ambulance to Omuo-Ekiti to bring the corpse for autopsy at a government hospital in Ado-Ekiti.The police boss said a member of the deceased’s family, who was reportedly an eyewitness, had agreed to come forward and identify the suspects. He promised that justice would be done in the matter.
When contacted on phone, Oba Omonigbehin asked reporters to come over to Omuo-Ekiti along with the persons who said they were witnesses to the incident.
Meanwhile, the family’s lawyer, Mr. Dele Omotoso, in a petition dated July 5, to the police, claimed that Mrs. Adewumi was subjected to trial by ordeal. He urged the police to investigate the circumstances leading to her death.
How P Square lost their mother
The mother of Paul and Peter Okoye of P-Square fame, Mrs. Josephine Okoye died five hours after a heart surgery in an Indian hospital at about 11pm (3am Indian time) on Wednesday.
The deceased, who was a devoted christian and church minister in Jos, Plateau State, died after a protracted battle with an undisclosed heart illness.
The late Mrs. Okoye was first admitted at St. Nicholas hospital, Lagos, but when there was no assuring development on her health, she was transferred to another hospital in Kolkata, India, where she eventually died last night.
Mrs. Okoye, who is popularly known as a major pillar and source of inspiration to the singing twin brothers (P-Square), had been in and out of the hospital for about four months before she eventually died.
She is survived by her Jos based husband, children; Ifeanyi, Henry, Jude, Lilian, Tony, Peter, Paul and Mary. She also had grand-children, one of which is Cameron, the son of Peter.
A condolence register has been opened in her honour at P-Square’s Omole Phase 1 residence. Friends and colleagues of the multiple award-winning singers have been visiting the house to commiserate with the Okoye family.
Some of the early callers in P-Square’s Square Villa resident this morning include their marketer, T-Joe, Flip Tyce, Samklef and Helen Paul-Bamisile.
Peter, a better half of the P-Square twin brothers, said their mother would be greatly missed, not just because she was their mother, but because she played a vital role in the success story of P-Square.
”You know that she was a prayer warrior, so I don’t need to tell you how she stood by us spiritually.
Besides, she was the only one that believed in us when we decided to make a career out of music.
”I can remember that she used to sneak us out at night then to attend shows without the consent of our father who insisted that we must quit music to face our education,” Peter said.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
Thursday, 12 July 2012
Legal committee confers SAN on Falana, 24 others
Human Rights activist and former president of the Nigeria Bar association (NBA), Femi Falana and 24 others were on Thursday conferred with the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The Legal Practitioners Privilege Committee (LPPC) has announced the names of successful candidates for the rank of SAN.
Over 125 people were said to have applied, 25 persons were deemed successful out of 71 people short-listed.
Below are the names of the successful candidates.
(1). Femi Falana
(2). Prof Yemi Akinseye George
(3). Rotimi Jacobs
(4). Ahmed Raji
(5). Theophilus Oyesanya
(6). Oluseye Opasanya
(7). Ndukwe Nnawuchi
(8). Aliyu Umar
(9). Akinlaja Dayo Moses
(10). Prof Dakaahs Clemens
(11). Aduroja Thaddeus Olumuyiwa
(12). Illo Katune Sanusi
(13). Paul Ananaba
(14). Francis Chuka Agbu
(15). Luke Chukwudi Illogu
(16). Selekeowei Larry
(17). Abenny Mohammed
(18). Charles Nwanne Obishai
(19). Mahmud Abubakar Magaji
(20). Mrs Connie-Jean Aremu
(21). Ogwu James Onoja
(22). Garuba Usman Cetenji
(23). Henry Oghogho Ogbodu
(24). Joy Okungbowa Adesina
(25). Rotimi Oluseye Oguneso
Two professors on the list are from the academia.
The newly appointed Senior Advocates will be sworn–in when the court returns from its annual vacation in September 2012.
The court will be commencing its annual leave on July 18.
Culled:Channelstv
The Legal Practitioners Privilege Committee (LPPC) has announced the names of successful candidates for the rank of SAN.
Over 125 people were said to have applied, 25 persons were deemed successful out of 71 people short-listed.
Below are the names of the successful candidates.
(1). Femi Falana
(2). Prof Yemi Akinseye George
(3). Rotimi Jacobs
(4). Ahmed Raji
(5). Theophilus Oyesanya
(6). Oluseye Opasanya
(7). Ndukwe Nnawuchi
(8). Aliyu Umar
(9). Akinlaja Dayo Moses
(10). Prof Dakaahs Clemens
(11). Aduroja Thaddeus Olumuyiwa
(12). Illo Katune Sanusi
(13). Paul Ananaba
(14). Francis Chuka Agbu
(15). Luke Chukwudi Illogu
(16). Selekeowei Larry
(17). Abenny Mohammed
(18). Charles Nwanne Obishai
(19). Mahmud Abubakar Magaji
(20). Mrs Connie-Jean Aremu
(21). Ogwu James Onoja
(22). Garuba Usman Cetenji
(23). Henry Oghogho Ogbodu
(24). Joy Okungbowa Adesina
(25). Rotimi Oluseye Oguneso
Two professors on the list are from the academia.
The newly appointed Senior Advocates will be sworn–in when the court returns from its annual vacation in September 2012.
The court will be commencing its annual leave on July 18.
Culled:Channelstv
UPDATE: 95 Dead, 18 Injured In Rivers Petrol Tanker Disaster
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says 95 persons died and 18 sustained injuries as the casualty figure rose in the petrol tanker disaster which occurred this morning at Okobe village, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers.
An earlier count by the Federal Road Safety Commission put the number of the dead at 80.
Dr Kayode Olagunju, the Sector Commander of the commission in Rivers, said in a text message to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that 93 bodies were recovered at the scene, while two died in the hospital.
He also reported that four vehicles, (1 tanker, 1 Toyota corolla saloon, 1 hummer bus and 1 Mitshibushi bus)
He said the accident which occurred around 6.30 am on Thursday, involved four vehicles, including the tanker which later caught fire when people started scrambling for petrol.
Thirty-four motor-cycles were also burnt at the scene, Olagunju added.
Culled:NAN
Aso Rock may be flooded – Ministry of Environment
The Federal Ministry of Environment has predicted that heavy rainfall and flooding would occur in 18 states if adequate precautions are not taken between now and July 20.
The Deputy Director, Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department, Morohunkeji Oyeleke, disclosed this in Abuja.
According to her, the areas to be affected are Argungu, Birnin-Kebbi, Bungudu, Bunza, Gwandu, Jega, Kalgo, Ribah, Rijau, Wara and Sakaba in Kebbi.
Others are Asokoro, Aso Rock, Garki 1 and 2, Gwarinpa, Kubwa, Mabushi, Maitama in FCT and Hadeja, Gumel and Miga in Jigawa.
She also listed Goronyo, Gunmi, Shagari, Shinkafi, Wamakko, Silame in Sokoto; Bindawa, Katsina, Jibia and Kaita in Katsina State as well as Echara, Onu-Ebonyi in Ebonyi.
Others are Eti-osa, Ikorodu, Surulere in Lagos; Gwarzo and Karaye in Kano State; Jamaare in Bauchi State; Mutum biyu in Taraba; New Bussa in Kwara; and Shendam in Plateau.
The deputy director appealed to governments of the respective states to take necessary precautionary measures to avoid loss of lives and property.
Culled:Channelstv
The Deputy Director, Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department, Morohunkeji Oyeleke, disclosed this in Abuja.
According to her, the areas to be affected are Argungu, Birnin-Kebbi, Bungudu, Bunza, Gwandu, Jega, Kalgo, Ribah, Rijau, Wara and Sakaba in Kebbi.
Others are Asokoro, Aso Rock, Garki 1 and 2, Gwarinpa, Kubwa, Mabushi, Maitama in FCT and Hadeja, Gumel and Miga in Jigawa.
She also listed Goronyo, Gunmi, Shagari, Shinkafi, Wamakko, Silame in Sokoto; Bindawa, Katsina, Jibia and Kaita in Katsina State as well as Echara, Onu-Ebonyi in Ebonyi.
Others are Eti-osa, Ikorodu, Surulere in Lagos; Gwarzo and Karaye in Kano State; Jamaare in Bauchi State; Mutum biyu in Taraba; New Bussa in Kwara; and Shendam in Plateau.
The deputy director appealed to governments of the respective states to take necessary precautionary measures to avoid loss of lives and property.
Culled:Channelstv
Nursing mum, 4 kids murdered
Gunmen yesterday killed a nursing mother and her four children in Yong village in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The development followed a denial by the state National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the state government that over 50 corps members were killed in a bomb blast at their Orientation Camp. The family of five were killed in their farm near their house.
The Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ladan, confirmed the incident to reporters. One of the children was reported to have died later in the hospital. Our correspondent learnt that the tragedy occurred in the early hours of yesterday.
Ladan said their bodies were found on the farm with gunshot wounds. The widower, Mr. Luke Jumtuk, said his wife and children were killed while working on their farm behind his house.
Jumtuk appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in the recurrent attacks in the area.
Meanwhile, the NYSC yesterday denied that no corps member was killed in the on-going orientation at Wailo Camp. The Director, Nuhu Kwaghe, briefing journalists, described the rumour as “wicked,” saying that all the 1, 350 corps members deployed are in good health.
Kwaghe said: “You are in Bauchi and if anything happened, you will be aware,. Nothing has happened like that at all. All is well in the camp right now and the corps members are on the parade ground as I am speaking with you now.”One of the corps members, Miss Penuel Thauthau, told Daily Sun at the camp that the claim came to her as a surprise.
She said: “My phone was bombarded this morning and throughout the day with the news of the blast.
I was very surprised to hear that there was bomb blast at the camp. “There is nothing like that. This is very wicked. On the contrary, we are having a good time in camp even though the exercise is very stressful, but I am enjoying it and meeting people and making friends. Why would anyone want to spoil it? It is very unfortunate.” The state government has also denied the rumour.
A statement from the Governor’s Office signed by Ishola Michael Adeyemi, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, described the rumour as “baseless, unfounded and an information that cannot be substantiated by the peddlers who are bent on disrupting the peaceful atmosphere in the state.
“The rumour is the handiwork of a few people who are enemies of peace and who want to cause unnecessary panic among the people particularly the corps members, who are visitors to the state, the rumour is a mere figment of the imagination of the mongers.
“As a government, we are committed to the protection of lives and property of every law-abiding citizen of the state, adequate security measures had been put in place and we are working with all security agencies in the state and the efforts are paying off as Bauchi has remained peaceful in spite of the security challenges the country is facing.
“We are therefore, assuring all those who have children and wards at the Wailo NYSC Orientation Camp that the situation there is calm as the corps members were seen going about their normal camp activities without any hindrances, we also want to assure them that their children are safe in Bauchi as adequate security measures have been provided at the camp, they should therefore, disregard the rumour,” the governor assured.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate/Thesunnigeria
The development followed a denial by the state National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the state government that over 50 corps members were killed in a bomb blast at their Orientation Camp. The family of five were killed in their farm near their house.
The Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ladan, confirmed the incident to reporters. One of the children was reported to have died later in the hospital. Our correspondent learnt that the tragedy occurred in the early hours of yesterday.
Ladan said their bodies were found on the farm with gunshot wounds. The widower, Mr. Luke Jumtuk, said his wife and children were killed while working on their farm behind his house.
Jumtuk appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in the recurrent attacks in the area.
Meanwhile, the NYSC yesterday denied that no corps member was killed in the on-going orientation at Wailo Camp. The Director, Nuhu Kwaghe, briefing journalists, described the rumour as “wicked,” saying that all the 1, 350 corps members deployed are in good health.
Kwaghe said: “You are in Bauchi and if anything happened, you will be aware,. Nothing has happened like that at all. All is well in the camp right now and the corps members are on the parade ground as I am speaking with you now.”One of the corps members, Miss Penuel Thauthau, told Daily Sun at the camp that the claim came to her as a surprise.
She said: “My phone was bombarded this morning and throughout the day with the news of the blast.
I was very surprised to hear that there was bomb blast at the camp. “There is nothing like that. This is very wicked. On the contrary, we are having a good time in camp even though the exercise is very stressful, but I am enjoying it and meeting people and making friends. Why would anyone want to spoil it? It is very unfortunate.” The state government has also denied the rumour.
A statement from the Governor’s Office signed by Ishola Michael Adeyemi, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, described the rumour as “baseless, unfounded and an information that cannot be substantiated by the peddlers who are bent on disrupting the peaceful atmosphere in the state.
“The rumour is the handiwork of a few people who are enemies of peace and who want to cause unnecessary panic among the people particularly the corps members, who are visitors to the state, the rumour is a mere figment of the imagination of the mongers.
“As a government, we are committed to the protection of lives and property of every law-abiding citizen of the state, adequate security measures had been put in place and we are working with all security agencies in the state and the efforts are paying off as Bauchi has remained peaceful in spite of the security challenges the country is facing.
“We are therefore, assuring all those who have children and wards at the Wailo NYSC Orientation Camp that the situation there is calm as the corps members were seen going about their normal camp activities without any hindrances, we also want to assure them that their children are safe in Bauchi as adequate security measures have been provided at the camp, they should therefore, disregard the rumour,” the governor assured.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate/Thesunnigeria
Criticism trails Jonathan's appointment as permanent secretary
The First Lady, Patience Jonathan has been appointed by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State as one of the seventeen new permanent secretaries in the state civil service.
A statement from the state's Office of the Head of Service, Gloria Izonfo, on Wednesday, confirmed the appointment.
"By the constitutional power conferred on the state governor, Seriake Dickson, in section 203 sub-section 2c, Dame Patience Jonathan and seventeen others have been elevated to the position of permanent secretary in the state civil service," stated Izonfo.
A deluge of criticism has trailed this historic development as respondents questioned the practicability of Jonathan combining her duties as first lady and that of the administrative leadership of a ministry.
Going by civil service requirements, the first lady, who served in the Rivers and Bayelsa states civil services before her husband’s election as deputy governor, is qualified to attain this highest rank in the service.
Jonathan has a National Certificate of Education in Mathematics/Biology, which she obtained in 1989 from the Rivers State College of Education. She also has a degree in Biology and Psychology (Education) from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Mackson Iworiso, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Seriake on Media and Public Affairs, confirmed the appointment, adding that the development was a ‘routine action’ in the civil service.
Culled:dailytimesnigeria
A statement from the state's Office of the Head of Service, Gloria Izonfo, on Wednesday, confirmed the appointment.
"By the constitutional power conferred on the state governor, Seriake Dickson, in section 203 sub-section 2c, Dame Patience Jonathan and seventeen others have been elevated to the position of permanent secretary in the state civil service," stated Izonfo.
A deluge of criticism has trailed this historic development as respondents questioned the practicability of Jonathan combining her duties as first lady and that of the administrative leadership of a ministry.
Going by civil service requirements, the first lady, who served in the Rivers and Bayelsa states civil services before her husband’s election as deputy governor, is qualified to attain this highest rank in the service.
Jonathan has a National Certificate of Education in Mathematics/Biology, which she obtained in 1989 from the Rivers State College of Education. She also has a degree in Biology and Psychology (Education) from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Mackson Iworiso, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Seriake on Media and Public Affairs, confirmed the appointment, adding that the development was a ‘routine action’ in the civil service.
Culled:dailytimesnigeria
P-Square Loses Mum
Top Nigeria’s music group, P-Square comprising Peter and Paul Okoye have allegedly lost their mother, Mrs Okoye.
Mrs Okoye died yesterday night after a brief illness. She was flown to India few months ago after being first admitted at St Nicholas Hospital, Yaba, Lagos.
Mrs Okoye was a good pillar to P-Square while she was alive. She was also reported to be very useful in shaping the music career of P-Square with priceless advice and care she gives the Nigerian music stars when needed.
Although,there has been no official statement from the Okoyes.
May God grants the Okoyes the fortitude to bear this huge loss. Amen.
May her soul rest in peace..........
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
Mrs Okoye died yesterday night after a brief illness. She was flown to India few months ago after being first admitted at St Nicholas Hospital, Yaba, Lagos.
Mrs Okoye was a good pillar to P-Square while she was alive. She was also reported to be very useful in shaping the music career of P-Square with priceless advice and care she gives the Nigerian music stars when needed.
Although,there has been no official statement from the Okoyes.
May God grants the Okoyes the fortitude to bear this huge loss. Amen.
May her soul rest in peace..........
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
Wednesday, 11 July 2012
Ekiti monarch deposes priest
The Alaaye of Efon-Alaaye, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare, has deposed the Alahun of Obalu in Efon-Alaaye, Chief Jacob Adelowo.
Adelowo, one of the town’s priests, was deposed via a letter dated July 6.
Oba Aladejare read the letter of deposition to journalists at a press conference in Ado-Ekiti.
He also ordered chiefs installed by Adelowo to stop parading themselves as chiefs, saying their installations were illegal.
The monarch accused Adelowo of parading himself as an oba, consistently failing to recognise his authority and claiming that Ahun was an autonomous community within Efon Kingdom.
He said, “It has shown that you are not a fit and proper person to have been made a priest (Aworo) of the Odua deity, in the first place.
“Therefore, in the exercise of powers conferred on me, as the prescribed authority in Efon town under the Chiefs Law, and by virtue of all other powers enabling in that behalf.
“I, Oba Alayeluwa, Dr. Emmanuel Adesanya Aladejare, Agunsoye II, Alaaye of Efon Kingdom, hereby depose you, Mr. Jacob Adelowo, as Chief Alahun of Obalu Quarters, Efon-Alaye; effective from the 6th day of July, 2012.”
Following series of complaints from the Alaaye, the Ekiti State Government had on March 14 ordered Adelowo to stop parading himself as an oba and should stop wearing monarch’s regalia.
The letter, which originated from the Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs and signed by E.A Abejide on behalf the Special Adviser to the Governor on Chieftaincy, directed Adelowo to limit himself to the role of Aworo, saying his request for autonomy lacked merit.
The monarch had earlier in a query accused Adelowo of precipitating crisis in the town.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate/punchnigeria
EX-GENERAL’S MURDER: Joint police patrol for Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG, in charge of Zone 2, Onikan Lagos, Mr. Mamman Tsafe, said, yesterday, that a joint police patrol of Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, by men from Lagos and Ogun state commands would soon start.
The police boss said this following the brutal killing of Brigadier-General Sylvester Iruh (rtd), by persons suspected to be Fulani herdsman atop the long bridge near Berger Bus-stop, Lagos, last Friday.
The ex-army general was on his way from Ilorin where he attended a burial of a church member before he met his untimely death.
Sources said when he got to the long bridge that leads to Lagos, his attention was drawn by other motorists that he had a flat tyre.
He promptly pulled over with a view to attending to his vehicle when some armed men emerged from the bush and attacked him. He was stabbed several times by his assailants who were also said to have dispossessed him of valuables including cash.
The retired general, who hailed from Boji-Boji, Agbor, Delta State, was rescued by Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, officials patrolling the road, to a nearby hospital where he later died.
Others with him at the time of attack were also said to have sustained injuries.
The AIG, who assured that the incident would not recur, stressed that arrangement had been concluded by the Commissioners of Police of Ogun and Lagos states to commence a 24-hour patrol of the expressway, especially the black spots.
Tsafe said: “Yes, we are aware of the attack, but I can assure you that we are making effort to commence a joint patrol of the entire area; that I can assure you.”
Sources hinted that the spot is noted for its notoriety as the accused Fulani herdsmen were reputed to have terrorised motorists plying the way at one point or another.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the attack, said the attackers were hoodlums, adding that five suspects had been arrested.
He said the arrested suspects were helping the police in their investigations and were undergoing interrogation.
According to him, the arrest followed a mid-night raid on the scene where the attack took place.
Culled:Vanguardnigeria
The police boss said this following the brutal killing of Brigadier-General Sylvester Iruh (rtd), by persons suspected to be Fulani herdsman atop the long bridge near Berger Bus-stop, Lagos, last Friday.
The ex-army general was on his way from Ilorin where he attended a burial of a church member before he met his untimely death.
Sources said when he got to the long bridge that leads to Lagos, his attention was drawn by other motorists that he had a flat tyre.
He promptly pulled over with a view to attending to his vehicle when some armed men emerged from the bush and attacked him. He was stabbed several times by his assailants who were also said to have dispossessed him of valuables including cash.
The retired general, who hailed from Boji-Boji, Agbor, Delta State, was rescued by Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, officials patrolling the road, to a nearby hospital where he later died.
Others with him at the time of attack were also said to have sustained injuries.
The AIG, who assured that the incident would not recur, stressed that arrangement had been concluded by the Commissioners of Police of Ogun and Lagos states to commence a 24-hour patrol of the expressway, especially the black spots.
Tsafe said: “Yes, we are aware of the attack, but I can assure you that we are making effort to commence a joint patrol of the entire area; that I can assure you.”
Sources hinted that the spot is noted for its notoriety as the accused Fulani herdsmen were reputed to have terrorised motorists plying the way at one point or another.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the attack, said the attackers were hoodlums, adding that five suspects had been arrested.
He said the arrested suspects were helping the police in their investigations and were undergoing interrogation.
According to him, the arrest followed a mid-night raid on the scene where the attack took place.
Culled:Vanguardnigeria
Bankers committee to release a new guideline for bank charges
Members of the Bankers Committee have announced plans to release a new guideline for bank charges in the country.
Addressing journalists after the Bankers Committee meeting in Abuja, the Deputy Director in charge of Banking Supervision at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Markus Zakariya said that the initiative will help address issues of arbitrary charges currently experienced by some customers.
He also noted that the charges will enable the customers to know what charges will be deducted for services offered by respective banks.
Other members of the committee spoke on the need to ensure that the rights of consumers are protected and also bore their minds on the universal banking model as initiated by the apex bank.
Culled:channelstv
New trend: Nigerian celebrities giving out cash on twitter
Just last weekNewsfrombukolar brought to you a report about Don Jazzy giving out money to some of his followers on Twitter,more celerities have joined in the trend.
It is fast becoming a trend on twitter for Nigerian celebrities to distribute freebies. It first started with Don Jazzy who began the generous act by distributing free Recharge cards via his twitter handle, then he stepped up to distributing cash …N100, 000.
Well, Nollywood actor Chidi Mokeme and Musician Iyanya Mbuk have joined the league.
Today on twitter, ‘Kukere’ singer, Iyanya Mbuk distributed free MTN, GLO, AIRTEL and ETISALAT recharge cards to his followers.
Few minutes later, Chidi Mokeme also started the distribution of his freebies too, but unlike his previous counterparts, he made no announcement.
He caught his followers unaware by tweeting fastest fingers and the card nos. The followers that were smart enough won it and they joyfully tweeted back in appreciation.
Culled:Channelstv
Lagos residents take to the rails and waterways
The railways and water ways in Lagos have witnessed increased traffic as commuters take to these alternative means of transportation following the traffic snarls that have occurred as a result of the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge for repairs.
At various ferry and railway terminals in the state, the trains and boats were filled to the brim as early as 5am as Lagos residents moved to their respective places of work and business.
The Ijoko and Agbado terminals of the Mass Transit Train Service (MTTS) of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), which usually cater to hundreds of passengers per day, were overwhelmed by the increased traffic.
NRC operates six shuttles in the morning and six in the evening, with each shuttle being filled to capacity by passengers. The already congested coaches groaned at their seams as more passengers struggled to sit on the roofs cling to the sides of the coaches.
Following this development, some of the commuters urged the management of the NRC to provide more locomotives and coaches especially during the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge.
Olayemi Animashun, a civil servant, said that the train service had been turned to a dangerous venture as more passengers now risk their lives hanging to whatever they could hold all through the trip. “The NRC management should come to the commuters’ aid before lives are lost,” he said.
Reacting, Adeseyi Sijuwade, NRC Managing Director, said that three additional coaches would be added to each locomotive, jerking them up by about 25 per cent capacity. “Although this will put more pressure on our train, we need to move people especially at this period when our patronage tends to increase,” he said.
Water transportation has also recorded a dangerous surge in passengers following the development.
The car parks provided by the waterways transport operators at Majidun, Ebute, Ijede and Baiyeku in Ikorodu area were jam-packed as their owners took to ferry service.
Sekinotu Ajibade, a businesswoman, said that the closure of the bridge made her resort to the waterways as an alternative mode of transportation. “I envisaged that there will be traffic, so I decided to take the speed boat so as to avoid the rush and stress of going by road,” she said. “I spend just 45 minutes to get to the jetty to board a speedboat to Ebute Ero. I see the transport fare as an investment because I will get to my shop early.”
Zachary Dekina, Operations Manager, Metroferry Service, said that the company was prepared for the expected crowd that would result from the repair works on the bridge.
“We expected a large turnout of passengers and we are prepared,” he said. “We have been able to reduce the crowd because about 15 speedboats and a ferry left for Victoria Island and CMS between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. We have moved over 350 passengers within the hour.”
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
At various ferry and railway terminals in the state, the trains and boats were filled to the brim as early as 5am as Lagos residents moved to their respective places of work and business.
The Ijoko and Agbado terminals of the Mass Transit Train Service (MTTS) of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), which usually cater to hundreds of passengers per day, were overwhelmed by the increased traffic.
NRC operates six shuttles in the morning and six in the evening, with each shuttle being filled to capacity by passengers. The already congested coaches groaned at their seams as more passengers struggled to sit on the roofs cling to the sides of the coaches.
Following this development, some of the commuters urged the management of the NRC to provide more locomotives and coaches especially during the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge.
Olayemi Animashun, a civil servant, said that the train service had been turned to a dangerous venture as more passengers now risk their lives hanging to whatever they could hold all through the trip. “The NRC management should come to the commuters’ aid before lives are lost,” he said.
Reacting, Adeseyi Sijuwade, NRC Managing Director, said that three additional coaches would be added to each locomotive, jerking them up by about 25 per cent capacity. “Although this will put more pressure on our train, we need to move people especially at this period when our patronage tends to increase,” he said.
Water transportation has also recorded a dangerous surge in passengers following the development.
The car parks provided by the waterways transport operators at Majidun, Ebute, Ijede and Baiyeku in Ikorodu area were jam-packed as their owners took to ferry service.
Sekinotu Ajibade, a businesswoman, said that the closure of the bridge made her resort to the waterways as an alternative mode of transportation. “I envisaged that there will be traffic, so I decided to take the speed boat so as to avoid the rush and stress of going by road,” she said. “I spend just 45 minutes to get to the jetty to board a speedboat to Ebute Ero. I see the transport fare as an investment because I will get to my shop early.”
Zachary Dekina, Operations Manager, Metroferry Service, said that the company was prepared for the expected crowd that would result from the repair works on the bridge.
“We expected a large turnout of passengers and we are prepared,” he said. “We have been able to reduce the crowd because about 15 speedboats and a ferry left for Victoria Island and CMS between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. We have moved over 350 passengers within the hour.”
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
Ronaldinho sips Pepsi, cost him to lose $760k Coca-Cola deal
Anyone over the age of 30 will probably remember the famous ‘Pepsi challenge’ adverts, which got blindfolded punters to see if they preferred Pepsi or Coke.One thing’s for sure: Ronaldinho definitely prefers Pepsi. So much so that his fondness for the soft drink has cost the Brazilian football legend a sponsorship deal with Coca-Cola worth £500,000 a year.
Ronaldinho stunned Coke chiefs by turning up at a press conference and sipping nonchalantly from a can of their arch-rivals’ fizzy pop. Furious bosses at the Atlanta-based firm immediately demanded that the plug be pulled on his huge endorsement deal, according to a report in the ‘O Estado de Sao Paulo’ newspaper.
It’s just the latest blow for the 32-year-old, twice a winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year award, who has struggled to shine since he left AC Milan two years ago to finish his career in his homeland.
His spell at Flamengo came to an end last month after two unhappy seasons in which he was lambasted both for poor performances on the pitch and bad behaviour off it, with reports claiming that he consistently failed to turn up to training and was more interested in throwing wild parties.
Ronaldinho recently moved to a new club, Atletico Mineiro, and Coke bosses claim that they had already been growing weary of the star’s antics.
“The fact that the player has appeared with a can of Pepsi was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Coca Cola marketing chief Marcelo Pontes told the paper. “The sponsorship had become embarrassing.”
2 students shot dead in Delta poly cult clashes
An unidentified young man believed to be a student of Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State has been shot dead by two suspected to be cultists.
The victim was said to be the only child of his parents. He was returning from church service on Sunday when the assailants, operating on a motorcycle, accosted and opened fire on him. Before police from Ogwashi-Uku Police Station could storm the scene of the incident, the assailants had fled.
The remains of the deceased were deposited at a mortuary in Ogwashi-Uku. Spokesman of Delta State Police Command, DSP Charles Muka confirmed the incident. He said the police had intensified their search for the killers. A source said the killing of the young man was not unconnected with recent cult clashes at the institution.
Reports say that last Thursday, another young man believed also to be a student of the institution was felled by yet-to-be-unmasked gunmen suspected to be members of a rival cult group. According to the anonymous source, last Sunday’s killing was a reprisal attack on the group members that carried out the gruesome murder of last Thursday.
The head of last Thursday’s victim was said to have been severed from the body.“The way the incident occurred, we suspect those who killed the youth are members of another cult group whose member was killed four days before the Sunday.
“In fact, there are rumours that last Sunday’s victim was a member of the other cult group that killed the other student before the fateful Sunday attack. They said he was at the scene of the earlier murder.“But the unfortunate thing, we were told, about this latest development is that the Sunday victim was the only son and child of his mother,” the source said
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
Saturday, 7 July 2012
Mother of four beheaded in Ekiti
Aramoko-Ekiti in the Ekiti West Local Government Area, Ekiti State was a theatre of disaster Thursday morning when a mother of four was beheaded on the farm in the town.
Mrs. Bose Edijana Lucky was discovered murdered on the footpath which leads to the farm of her husband, Mr. Nnaefenwa Lucky, around 9:3am.
The incident was believed to have happened when the woman was taking food to her husband who was working on the farm.
Chief Samuel Okorefe, the chairman, Urhobo Community in Aramoko-Ekiti, told newsmen at his residence at the Amututu area of the town that he was contacted on the phone that a serious incident had happened which forced him to come home.
He explained that the victim was said to have gone to the market in the morning to buy condiments to prepare soup and after she had cooked food, she headed for her husband’s farm to give him food.
Shortly after Bose had gone to the farm, her husband was said to have come to town calling for help, informing other Urhobo natives that his wife had been beheaded by some unknown people suspected to be ritualists.
The community leader with other elders went directly to the palace of Alara of Aramoko, Oba Olu Adeyemi, and reported the matter.
They informed the police and a team of policemen drove to the scene of the incident and removed the remains of the victim.
The cops were shocked to discover that the head, neck and arms had been cut off.
The husband was taken to the police station where he made a statement.
He was later detained.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
Mrs. Bose Edijana Lucky was discovered murdered on the footpath which leads to the farm of her husband, Mr. Nnaefenwa Lucky, around 9:3am.
The incident was believed to have happened when the woman was taking food to her husband who was working on the farm.
Chief Samuel Okorefe, the chairman, Urhobo Community in Aramoko-Ekiti, told newsmen at his residence at the Amututu area of the town that he was contacted on the phone that a serious incident had happened which forced him to come home.
He explained that the victim was said to have gone to the market in the morning to buy condiments to prepare soup and after she had cooked food, she headed for her husband’s farm to give him food.
Shortly after Bose had gone to the farm, her husband was said to have come to town calling for help, informing other Urhobo natives that his wife had been beheaded by some unknown people suspected to be ritualists.
The community leader with other elders went directly to the palace of Alara of Aramoko, Oba Olu Adeyemi, and reported the matter.
They informed the police and a team of policemen drove to the scene of the incident and removed the remains of the victim.
The cops were shocked to discover that the head, neck and arms had been cut off.
The husband was taken to the police station where he made a statement.
He was later detained.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
Third Mainland Bridge repairs begin
The planned partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge for repair work has been slated for Sunday, July 8, 2012.
The Minister of State for Works, Bashir Yuguda, disclosed this at the official flag-off of the repairs in Lagos.
Yuguda said that repairs would take off on Saturday, but that “traffic diversion would start on Sunday.”
The new date is coming after an initial delay, as the project was expected to have started on July 1 before it was suspended.
Yuguda however said the delay was “necessitated by torrential rains witnessed in Lagos”.
On how Lagos motorists and commuters would adjust to the new date suddenly thrown at them, the minister said the suspension was never meant to be indefinite in the first place.
Third Mainland Bridge is the longest of three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the Mainland.
The planned repair works, which will last four months and end on November 5, 2012, is Phase II of similar repairs done in 2008.
Explaining the process, the General Manager of Messrs Borini Prono and Company Nigeria Ltd., handling the project, Gianfranco Albertazz, said the scope of work would involve the removal and replacement of eight defective expansion joints during the period of the
N1,055,477,608 billion contract.
But the resulting traffic congestion is perhaps the biggest concern to residents, considering the economic importance of the 11.8km bridge.
With the Island being the state’s commercial nerve centre, the livelihood of many residents, including those on the mainland, remain inadvertently tied to the connecting bridge.
It is estimated that an average of 200 cars use the bridge every minute.
The State Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, however, assured of improved traffic management compared with the situation in 2008, when four expansion joints were replaced.
During the period of repairs, traffic will be diverted from the side of the bridge under repair to its other side.
According to Opeifa, while the Lagos-bound side of the bridge is under repair, its traffic will be diverted to the outbound lanes between midnight and 12 noon, and vice versa.
He said alternatives routes like Ikorodu Expressway, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Muritala Mohammed Way have been rehabilitated to ease traffic flow.
“Also in 2008, there were 500 traffic officers; this time around, we will have 700 officers manning the roads and diversion points,” he said.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
The Minister of State for Works, Bashir Yuguda, disclosed this at the official flag-off of the repairs in Lagos.
Yuguda said that repairs would take off on Saturday, but that “traffic diversion would start on Sunday.”
The new date is coming after an initial delay, as the project was expected to have started on July 1 before it was suspended.
Yuguda however said the delay was “necessitated by torrential rains witnessed in Lagos”.
On how Lagos motorists and commuters would adjust to the new date suddenly thrown at them, the minister said the suspension was never meant to be indefinite in the first place.
Third Mainland Bridge is the longest of three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the Mainland.
The planned repair works, which will last four months and end on November 5, 2012, is Phase II of similar repairs done in 2008.
Explaining the process, the General Manager of Messrs Borini Prono and Company Nigeria Ltd., handling the project, Gianfranco Albertazz, said the scope of work would involve the removal and replacement of eight defective expansion joints during the period of the
N1,055,477,608 billion contract.
But the resulting traffic congestion is perhaps the biggest concern to residents, considering the economic importance of the 11.8km bridge.
With the Island being the state’s commercial nerve centre, the livelihood of many residents, including those on the mainland, remain inadvertently tied to the connecting bridge.
It is estimated that an average of 200 cars use the bridge every minute.
The State Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, however, assured of improved traffic management compared with the situation in 2008, when four expansion joints were replaced.
During the period of repairs, traffic will be diverted from the side of the bridge under repair to its other side.
According to Opeifa, while the Lagos-bound side of the bridge is under repair, its traffic will be diverted to the outbound lanes between midnight and 12 noon, and vice versa.
He said alternatives routes like Ikorodu Expressway, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Muritala Mohammed Way have been rehabilitated to ease traffic flow.
“Also in 2008, there were 500 traffic officers; this time around, we will have 700 officers manning the roads and diversion points,” he said.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
Woman Bites Off Neighbour’s Nose
A housewife, Mrs. Ruka Amoha who claimed her husband has denied her sexual intercourse for some months decided to vent her anger on her neighbour, Mrs. Yemi Adelani.
Ruka, who alleged that her husband, Wasiu Amoha, starved her of sex because he was enjoying an amorous affair with her neighbour, descended on Yemi and bit off her nose, during an argument at their apartment.
“I cannot accept a situation where Yemi is enjoying her husband and mine at the same time thus denying me the opportunity to enjoy my husband,” said Ruka, a mother of three.
The incident happened at 13, Adealu Street, Dopemu, Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
Doctors at the Lagos General Hospital, Orile Agege confirmed that Yemi’s nose was badly damaged and she needs plastic surgery to survive.
The victim, a mother of four kids, confirmed that Ruka accused her of sleeping with her husband.
She denied ever having any affair with Wasiu, Ruka’s husband, who rented a room in the same building Ruka and her husband where reside.
Yemi said that the difference between them is that she has been living peacefully with her husband unlike Ruka who was always fighting her husband and neighbours.
Wasiu, the man at the centre of the storm said that he has been having constant quarrel with his wife, Ruka because of her behaviour.
He alleged that it was because of her constant quarrel with him and he had no peace of mind to even think about sex.
On the day of the incident last week, Ruka reportedly ambushed Yemi and grabbed her nose and bit it off.
She bled profusely and was rushed to the hospital where she was treated. But she is still expected to undergo plastic surgery on the nose.
The police from Oke Odo Police Division later arrested Ruka. After interrogation, she was charged before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court sitting at Abule Egba for assault and inflicting injury on Yemi.
The offence, the police said, is contrary to Section 244 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.
She pleaded not guilty.
The presiding Magistrate, Mr. O.A. Komolafe granted her bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum; one of them must be her blood relation.
The matter was adjourned till 24 August, 2012 for mention.
She was remanded in prison custody at Kirikiri pending when she will fulfil her bail condition.
Culled: PM NEWS
Ruka, who alleged that her husband, Wasiu Amoha, starved her of sex because he was enjoying an amorous affair with her neighbour, descended on Yemi and bit off her nose, during an argument at their apartment.
“I cannot accept a situation where Yemi is enjoying her husband and mine at the same time thus denying me the opportunity to enjoy my husband,” said Ruka, a mother of three.
The incident happened at 13, Adealu Street, Dopemu, Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
Doctors at the Lagos General Hospital, Orile Agege confirmed that Yemi’s nose was badly damaged and she needs plastic surgery to survive.
The victim, a mother of four kids, confirmed that Ruka accused her of sleeping with her husband.
She denied ever having any affair with Wasiu, Ruka’s husband, who rented a room in the same building Ruka and her husband where reside.
Yemi said that the difference between them is that she has been living peacefully with her husband unlike Ruka who was always fighting her husband and neighbours.
Wasiu, the man at the centre of the storm said that he has been having constant quarrel with his wife, Ruka because of her behaviour.
He alleged that it was because of her constant quarrel with him and he had no peace of mind to even think about sex.
On the day of the incident last week, Ruka reportedly ambushed Yemi and grabbed her nose and bit it off.
She bled profusely and was rushed to the hospital where she was treated. But she is still expected to undergo plastic surgery on the nose.
The police from Oke Odo Police Division later arrested Ruka. After interrogation, she was charged before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court sitting at Abule Egba for assault and inflicting injury on Yemi.
The offence, the police said, is contrary to Section 244 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.
She pleaded not guilty.
The presiding Magistrate, Mr. O.A. Komolafe granted her bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum; one of them must be her blood relation.
The matter was adjourned till 24 August, 2012 for mention.
She was remanded in prison custody at Kirikiri pending when she will fulfil her bail condition.
Culled: PM NEWS
Friday, 6 July 2012
‘Dead’ masquerade storms Olubadan Palace
It was a big shock, yesterday, at the palace of Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana, when the most- dreaded masquerade, Oloolu, and its entourage besieged the monarch with injuries allegedly sustained in a fracas between them and men of the state security outfit, Operation Burst.
The melee, which started Tuesday, worsened, yesterday, leading to the arrest of no fewer than 20 followers of the masquerade.
The masquerade which dismissed reports that it had been killed, complained bitterly about ”unprovoked attack” by some Islamic scholars.
Some parts of Ibadan city were embroiled in crisis when some muslims who were observing the eighth day fidau prayer of a colleague, at Popoyemoja, advised the masquerade and its supporters not to come to the area because there were women there who the masquerade should not see, according to their belief.
But the masquerade and its adherents allegedly ignored the warning.
The trouble, which later spread to Idi-Arere and Beere, among others places on Wednesday night, generated much tension in the affected areas.
The leader of the Oloolu family, Chief Ojetunde Asoleke, who led the team to the Olubadan Palace, appealed to the monarch to prevail on the police and the personnel of Operation Burst to release 20 of their men arrested.
He claimed that the mask of Oloolu was seized and later released to them.
He said: “We feel saddened by the report that our man was killed as this was farther from the truth.
No doubt, he was badly wounded as you can all see (showing the wounds sustained by the Oloolu on his arm and head), but was not killed.
”The costume seized by the men of Operation Burst has been retrieved and the festival would resume in earnest.”
They threatened to come out today, but were prevailed upon that it negated the normal tradition.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
The melee, which started Tuesday, worsened, yesterday, leading to the arrest of no fewer than 20 followers of the masquerade.
The masquerade which dismissed reports that it had been killed, complained bitterly about ”unprovoked attack” by some Islamic scholars.
Oriperinmo Ojeyemi Oloolu Ibadan (left), and an aide, Wasiu
Ganiyu, at the Olubadan Palace, to protest to Oba Samuel Odulana, and show injuries sustained in a fracas between the most-dreaded masquerade, Oloolu, and its entourage by hoodlums, in Ibadan. Photo: Dare Fasube
Some parts of Ibadan city were embroiled in crisis when some muslims who were observing the eighth day fidau prayer of a colleague, at Popoyemoja, advised the masquerade and its supporters not to come to the area because there were women there who the masquerade should not see, according to their belief.
But the masquerade and its adherents allegedly ignored the warning.
The trouble, which later spread to Idi-Arere and Beere, among others places on Wednesday night, generated much tension in the affected areas.
The leader of the Oloolu family, Chief Ojetunde Asoleke, who led the team to the Olubadan Palace, appealed to the monarch to prevail on the police and the personnel of Operation Burst to release 20 of their men arrested.
He claimed that the mask of Oloolu was seized and later released to them.
He said: “We feel saddened by the report that our man was killed as this was farther from the truth.
No doubt, he was badly wounded as you can all see (showing the wounds sustained by the Oloolu on his arm and head), but was not killed.
”The costume seized by the men of Operation Burst has been retrieved and the festival would resume in earnest.”
They threatened to come out today, but were prevailed upon that it negated the normal tradition.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
Yobe to ban sale of firewood
The Yobe State government may soon ban the sale of firewood in the state, the state's Commissioner for Environment, Wakil Sarki said on Thursday in Damaturu.
He also said the state had concluded plans to procure and distribute 8,500 bags of charcoal to all the 17 local government areas in the state.
Sarki said this would serve as an alternative to firewood for cooking.
The commissioner, who said the charcoal would be purchased in August, said the action was expected to control the indiscriminate cutting of trees by people.
According to him, under the new arrangement, each local government would be given 500 bags of charcoal which would then be sold to the people at subsidised rates.
Sarki said that as part of the state’s afforestation programme, the government planned to employ 3,500 casual staff who would handle the planting and management of trees in the 17 local government areas.
The commissioner said that 30 staff would be designated to each local government, and the state government would soon enact a law to enforce the prohibition of indiscriminate cutting of trees and selling of firewood without permission in the state.
"More than 60 percent of our land is covered by desert; it is dangerous to be cutting trees for firewood purposes," he explained.
Sarki said that although kerosene was expensive and scarce, the ministry had discouraged the cutting of trees and usage of firewood in view of its negative ecological impact.
He, therefore, appealed to the people of the state to support the new scheme.
Usman Abubakar, a firewood seller in Gashua market, said: "I Pray this system would work, because you get charcoal from wood; it’s difficult to make people to accept it."
Amina Aji, a housewife in Jakusko town, said: "We are ready to cook with charcoal only if we cannot get firewood to buy.”
“Therefore government should ban the trading of firewood from neighbouring states if it wants this to be accepted.”
He also said the state had concluded plans to procure and distribute 8,500 bags of charcoal to all the 17 local government areas in the state.
Sarki said this would serve as an alternative to firewood for cooking.
The commissioner, who said the charcoal would be purchased in August, said the action was expected to control the indiscriminate cutting of trees by people.
According to him, under the new arrangement, each local government would be given 500 bags of charcoal which would then be sold to the people at subsidised rates.
Sarki said that as part of the state’s afforestation programme, the government planned to employ 3,500 casual staff who would handle the planting and management of trees in the 17 local government areas.
The commissioner said that 30 staff would be designated to each local government, and the state government would soon enact a law to enforce the prohibition of indiscriminate cutting of trees and selling of firewood without permission in the state.
"More than 60 percent of our land is covered by desert; it is dangerous to be cutting trees for firewood purposes," he explained.
Sarki said that although kerosene was expensive and scarce, the ministry had discouraged the cutting of trees and usage of firewood in view of its negative ecological impact.
He, therefore, appealed to the people of the state to support the new scheme.
Usman Abubakar, a firewood seller in Gashua market, said: "I Pray this system would work, because you get charcoal from wood; it’s difficult to make people to accept it."
Amina Aji, a housewife in Jakusko town, said: "We are ready to cook with charcoal only if we cannot get firewood to buy.”
“Therefore government should ban the trading of firewood from neighbouring states if it wants this to be accepted.”
Flood digs 500 bodies from graves in Borno
Over 500 dead bodies were washed up from their graves in Jajeri Moslem Cemetery in Maiduguri and Jere Council Area Borno state capital following a heavy downpour that started from Wednesday evening till the early hours of Thursday.A 10-year-old, who was buried two days ago, was also washed up.
Also, over 10,000 residents, were sacked from their homes while property worth millions of naira were destroyed.
The rainfall was said to be the heaviest in the state since the commencement of the rainy season.
Areas which were affected are: Bullumkutu, Ajillari, Jajeri, London Ciki, Polo, Bolori, Ummarari, Maduganari, Gomari Airport, Gwange and Mary wards of the metropolis. Most of the residents in these areas had to stay indoors. Others were seen evacuating their property and laying the items under the sun and on trees to dry.
Mallam Bukar Maina, a resident, said the affected people have planned to send an SOS to Governor Shettima to come to their aid.
Maina said: “This is not the first time we have taken our complaint to the governor on the devastating effect of flooding in the area due to our proximity to River Gadambul. But all our cries fell on deaf ears. We hope this time around the governor will listen to us.”
Meanwhile, Borno State Governor, Shettima has said the state government has awarded contracts worth N14 billion for the construction of roads and drainages in Bullumkutu, Dala, Abuja Talaka, Bullumkutu Tsalake, among other wards of the metropolis, to check flooding.
He said there was ongoing planting of over 10 million Arabic trees/seedlings across the 27 council areas of the state.
He said: “It is unfortunate that apart from some of my valuable documents and property which were destroyed, some section of my only hard-earned two bedroom bungalow was brought down by the flood. I am now totally confused as I have nowhere to go to with my family of 10.”
Culled:Channelstv
Arsenal cancel Nigeria tour
Arsenal have announced they have postponed their proposed pre-season trip to Nigeria.
The Gunners were set to play a match in Abuja on August 5, but have now decided against fulfilling the fixture as “a result of complexities linked to the planned game.”
Arsenal marketing director Angus Kinnear said in a statement: “Bringing a top-level club to an international market is always complicated and logistically challenging.
“With the proposed match in Nigeria planned for early August, we could not get comfortable on everything needed to satisfy our requirements, so we have reluctantly taken the decision to postpone the team’s visit.”
Kinnear continued: “We have a huge and loyal following in Africa, and we are sorry that the team will not be visiting this summer.
“However, we have a long-term commitment to Nigeria and we are already making plans for a visit next summer.
“In addition, we also have some exciting forthcoming activities planned with our commercial partners in Nigeria – Emirates, Airtel and Malta Guinness, which will kick off in the next few weeks.”
Arsenal are set to tour Asia later this month, with a fixture against Manchester City set for Beijing’s Bird’s Nest Stadium on July 27.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
The Gunners were set to play a match in Abuja on August 5, but have now decided against fulfilling the fixture as “a result of complexities linked to the planned game.”
Arsenal marketing director Angus Kinnear said in a statement: “Bringing a top-level club to an international market is always complicated and logistically challenging.“With the proposed match in Nigeria planned for early August, we could not get comfortable on everything needed to satisfy our requirements, so we have reluctantly taken the decision to postpone the team’s visit.”
Kinnear continued: “We have a huge and loyal following in Africa, and we are sorry that the team will not be visiting this summer.
“However, we have a long-term commitment to Nigeria and we are already making plans for a visit next summer.
“In addition, we also have some exciting forthcoming activities planned with our commercial partners in Nigeria – Emirates, Airtel and Malta Guinness, which will kick off in the next few weeks.”
Arsenal are set to tour Asia later this month, with a fixture against Manchester City set for Beijing’s Bird’s Nest Stadium on July 27.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
Don Jazzy shares money on Twitter
Mo Hits Records may have split but talented producer, Michael ‘Don Jazzy’ Ajereh, still knows how to create a buzz on Twitter.
On Tuesday, he caused mother luck to shine on some of his followers when he asked for their account details after they complained that they were broke. A few hours later, five lucky fans who had received deposit alerts tweeted back at him in appreciation.
On Tuesday, he caused mother luck to shine on some of his followers when he asked for their account details after they complained that they were broke. A few hours later, five lucky fans who had received deposit alerts tweeted back at him in appreciation.
One of the beneficiaries, identified as Mr. Adeyemi, claimed that the star producer sent N100, 000 to him. Another fan, @tweetlawunmi, expressed her gratitude in a tweet saying, “Thank You. Thank you! Thank You! God bless you abundantly. The gesture has spurred frenzy on Twitter, as numerous persons have been asking Jazzy for money, giving various reasons.
Although some may see this as a publicity drama, Jazzy says he is only trying to put smiles on the faces of his fans.
He says, “I do not want this to be perceived as a public relations stunt. I prefer to do my things in a quiet manner. I have sent money before but because this was on timeline it got public. It just so happened that some of them requested for money. It was on the spur of the moment and not planned at all. Many others have asked for advice, record deals and many different things, I just try and do the little I can.”
In the last few years, Don Jazzy has wormed his way into the hearts of many fans, giving out recharge cards and shopping vouchers. Such gestures may be responsible for his having almost 300,000 followers. This makes him the Nigerian celebrity with the highest number of Twitter fans, more than Asa, Genevieve, Dbanj and Wizkid. But he hints that he is not stopping yet as he already has a few account details in his Twitter message box.
Three killed, 30 vehicles burnt in Yoruba and Hausa clash
A bloody clash between some Hausa and Yoruba in Ibese, Yewa North Local Government of Ogun State late on Wednesday night has allegedly claimed the lives of three persons and left no fewer than 30 vehicles burnt.
Report says that the violent clash between the members of the two ethnic groups began on Wednesday night following a disagreement between two unidentified men over a commercial sex worker.
The violence was said to have later escalated and became an inter-tribal crisis.
About 25 articulated vehicles, three cars and five motorcycles were said to have been destroyed in the violence. Also, almost all the shops in the nearby market were reportedly looted.
Residents of the busy town were said to have fled the community.
Armed policemen were deployed in the troubled town to forestall further break down of law and order while an Armoured Personnel Carrier was seen stationed in front of the Dangote Cement Factory located within the community.
The Chairman of the task force in the affected market, Sikirulah Akinsola, confirmed to newsmen that the violence erupted due to a disagreement between two persons over a commercial sex worker.
Akinsola, who also doubles as the Bada Orile of Ijako Village, a suburb of the town, said more than 200 persons of Yoruba extraction who felt aggrieved by the alleged killing of their kinsman had decided to demonstrate on the streets when the crisis erupted.
According to him, one Kehinde had also allegedly been killed last May by a suspected Hausa man in the town.
However,the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi confirmed the incident, but said no one was killed.
Adejobi, an assistant superintendent of police however said the violence in the town had nothing to do with ethnicity.
He said, “It was caused by a prostitute and some of the drivers had a problem with some men who claimed to be Ibese indigenes. There was no ethnic colouration. There was no casualty and only 14 vehicles were burnt.”
Culled:Punchnigeria
Report says that the violent clash between the members of the two ethnic groups began on Wednesday night following a disagreement between two unidentified men over a commercial sex worker.
The violence was said to have later escalated and became an inter-tribal crisis.
About 25 articulated vehicles, three cars and five motorcycles were said to have been destroyed in the violence. Also, almost all the shops in the nearby market were reportedly looted.
Residents of the busy town were said to have fled the community.
Armed policemen were deployed in the troubled town to forestall further break down of law and order while an Armoured Personnel Carrier was seen stationed in front of the Dangote Cement Factory located within the community.
The Chairman of the task force in the affected market, Sikirulah Akinsola, confirmed to newsmen that the violence erupted due to a disagreement between two persons over a commercial sex worker.
Akinsola, who also doubles as the Bada Orile of Ijako Village, a suburb of the town, said more than 200 persons of Yoruba extraction who felt aggrieved by the alleged killing of their kinsman had decided to demonstrate on the streets when the crisis erupted.
According to him, one Kehinde had also allegedly been killed last May by a suspected Hausa man in the town.
However,the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi confirmed the incident, but said no one was killed.
Adejobi, an assistant superintendent of police however said the violence in the town had nothing to do with ethnicity.
He said, “It was caused by a prostitute and some of the drivers had a problem with some men who claimed to be Ibese indigenes. There was no ethnic colouration. There was no casualty and only 14 vehicles were burnt.”
Culled:Punchnigeria
Plane crash-lands in Benin
Travellers at the Benin Airport panicked yesterday when an air force plane crash-landed on the runway.
Sources confirmed that none of the two pilots onboard the aircraft, with registration number 5N-BKS, were injured in the incident.
“The plane landed on the runway with its tyres locked in, an indication that the tyres did not shoot out,” said a source at the airport. “But only the pilot can really explain what happened.”
An airport rescue team led Air Maritime Operations responded promptly with the emergency team.
The incident caused delays in flight operations for some hours.
The airport manager, Segun Ayodele, who confirmed the incident, however said he was not at the airport when it occurred.
The plane has been evacuated to Okada aircraft hangar along airport road.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
Sources confirmed that none of the two pilots onboard the aircraft, with registration number 5N-BKS, were injured in the incident.
“The plane landed on the runway with its tyres locked in, an indication that the tyres did not shoot out,” said a source at the airport. “But only the pilot can really explain what happened.”
An airport rescue team led Air Maritime Operations responded promptly with the emergency team.
The incident caused delays in flight operations for some hours.
The airport manager, Segun Ayodele, who confirmed the incident, however said he was not at the airport when it occurred.
The plane has been evacuated to Okada aircraft hangar along airport road.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
Thursday, 5 July 2012
Doctors remove 51-pound tumour from New Jersey woman
New Jersey surgeons removed a rapidly growing, 51-pound (23-kg) cancerous tumour from a woman who had delayed treatment for more than a month until she became eligible for health insurance.
"She was a skinny lady with a huge belly. I mean it looked like she was literally pregnant with triplets," said Dr. David Dupree, who led the surgery on the 65-year-old woman, at Riverview Medical Centre in Red Bank, New Jersey.
"She was just all belly," he said in describing his first meeting with the patient, a homemaker from nearby Union Beach, New Jersey, who asked to be identified only as Evelyn, her first name.
The tumour shortly after it was removed
About six to eight weeks before she showed up at the hospital, Evelyn noticed discomfort in her abdomen and that her normally 120-pound frame was rapidly ballooning. Dupree said she sought medical help on June 4, just days after her 65th birthday, when she would qualify for Medicare, the U.S. healthcare program for seniors.
"The reason she didn't go earlier was because she had no insurance," he said.
By now, she weighed more than 170 pounds, her legs were swollen with trapped blood, she was badly dehydrated, and, scans showed, the tumour - a malignant sarcoma - was crushing her inferior vena cava, one of the main veins returning blood to the heart, and putting her life in danger.
With her body too weakened to be operated on immediately, Dupree scheduled surgery for the following Monday, allowing time for her to become rehydrated and for her blood pressure to be brought under control.
But after she became short of breath on Sunday evening, Dupree brought the surgery forward.
"I knew that she wasn't going to make it through the night," he said.
"Either she goes now or she dies tonight," he recalled thinking.
Opening her up, Dupree and his team found the tumour, which appeared to have originated out of the fatty tissue around her large intestine, had engulfed many of her internal organs, and had to be sliced away "millimetre by millimetre" over the course of the five-hour surgery.
Evelyn was still recovering from the operation in a rehabilitation Centre on Tuesday, Dupree said. She declined to be interviewed.
Although the immediate threat to her life has passed, she must still see an oncologist about treatment for her cancer, which may not have been completely eradicated by the surgery, and may require chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Dupree said he would advise uninsured patients to see a doctor immediately if they knew they were unwell no matter how near their 65th birthday might be.
He said the hospital would have operated on Evelyn regardless of her insurance status, but added he did not know whether doing so would have cost her more money.
Culled:Yahoohealth
"She was a skinny lady with a huge belly. I mean it looked like she was literally pregnant with triplets," said Dr. David Dupree, who led the surgery on the 65-year-old woman, at Riverview Medical Centre in Red Bank, New Jersey.
"She was just all belly," he said in describing his first meeting with the patient, a homemaker from nearby Union Beach, New Jersey, who asked to be identified only as Evelyn, her first name.
The tumour shortly after it was removed
About six to eight weeks before she showed up at the hospital, Evelyn noticed discomfort in her abdomen and that her normally 120-pound frame was rapidly ballooning. Dupree said she sought medical help on June 4, just days after her 65th birthday, when she would qualify for Medicare, the U.S. healthcare program for seniors.
"The reason she didn't go earlier was because she had no insurance," he said.
By now, she weighed more than 170 pounds, her legs were swollen with trapped blood, she was badly dehydrated, and, scans showed, the tumour - a malignant sarcoma - was crushing her inferior vena cava, one of the main veins returning blood to the heart, and putting her life in danger.
With her body too weakened to be operated on immediately, Dupree scheduled surgery for the following Monday, allowing time for her to become rehydrated and for her blood pressure to be brought under control.
But after she became short of breath on Sunday evening, Dupree brought the surgery forward.
"I knew that she wasn't going to make it through the night," he said.
"Either she goes now or she dies tonight," he recalled thinking.
Opening her up, Dupree and his team found the tumour, which appeared to have originated out of the fatty tissue around her large intestine, had engulfed many of her internal organs, and had to be sliced away "millimetre by millimetre" over the course of the five-hour surgery.
Evelyn was still recovering from the operation in a rehabilitation Centre on Tuesday, Dupree said. She declined to be interviewed.
Although the immediate threat to her life has passed, she must still see an oncologist about treatment for her cancer, which may not have been completely eradicated by the surgery, and may require chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Dupree said he would advise uninsured patients to see a doctor immediately if they knew they were unwell no matter how near their 65th birthday might be.
He said the hospital would have operated on Evelyn regardless of her insurance status, but added he did not know whether doing so would have cost her more money.
Culled:Yahoohealth
Police rescue baby as he was about to be sold
The Delta State Police Command has recovered a seven-month-old boy, three days after the child was stolen from his parents.
The missing child was found at Agbor in Ika South Local Government Area of the state.
The state’s police spokesperson, Charles Muka, said the police had arrested five suspects in connection with the incident.
Muka said the child was snatched from his mother, Linda Madaka, on July 1, during a burial ceremony at about 11 p.m. at Umunede in Ika North East LGA.
He said that the suspects, including 52-year-old Chuks Elue and his wife, and one Patience Chukwuemeka, 40, confessed their involvement in the crime.
“Detectives, based on information, trailed the suspects to No. 69 Olo Street, Umunede, where one Colins Osekihe, 24, was arrested and he implicated one Chuks Elue, a father of 14,” he said.
“The two suspects led the detectives to Agbor where the child was recovered in good health from one Patience Chukwuemeka, a mother of seven children, on Tuesday. Also arrested in connection with the case include Chuks Okwudili, male, 18, and Uche Anyasi, male, 16.”
Muka said the suspects confessed that they had bargained to sell the child to Patience Chukwuemeka for N250, 000.
He said that efforts were on to arrest other fleeing suspects, adding that the suspects would soon face the full wrath of the law.
Muka, however, warned parents and guardians to diligently secure their children and wards from syndicates, stealing children.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
The missing child was found at Agbor in Ika South Local Government Area of the state.
The state’s police spokesperson, Charles Muka, said the police had arrested five suspects in connection with the incident.
Muka said the child was snatched from his mother, Linda Madaka, on July 1, during a burial ceremony at about 11 p.m. at Umunede in Ika North East LGA.
He said that the suspects, including 52-year-old Chuks Elue and his wife, and one Patience Chukwuemeka, 40, confessed their involvement in the crime.
“Detectives, based on information, trailed the suspects to No. 69 Olo Street, Umunede, where one Colins Osekihe, 24, was arrested and he implicated one Chuks Elue, a father of 14,” he said.
“The two suspects led the detectives to Agbor where the child was recovered in good health from one Patience Chukwuemeka, a mother of seven children, on Tuesday. Also arrested in connection with the case include Chuks Okwudili, male, 18, and Uche Anyasi, male, 16.”
Muka said the suspects confessed that they had bargained to sell the child to Patience Chukwuemeka for N250, 000.
He said that efforts were on to arrest other fleeing suspects, adding that the suspects would soon face the full wrath of the law.
Muka, however, warned parents and guardians to diligently secure their children and wards from syndicates, stealing children.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
Insecurity: NYSC introduces martial arts
The Ogun State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs. Theresa Anosike says the service had introduced martial arts training for all the corps members posted to the state as part of effort to ensure the security of corps members.
Anosike said in her address during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2012 Batch B corps members at the National Youth Service Corps Permanent Orientation Camp in Sagamu yesterday that the 2000 corps members comprising 999 males and 1001 females would be trained in martial arts to equip them with self-defence skills in addition to the normal para-military drills and physical training during the three-week orientation programme.
The state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, warned corps members posted to the state to eschew cultism, violence, religious intolerance and other anti-social vices during their service year.
Amosun said it was only by the ability of the corps members to resist involvement in such anti-social vices that they could realize the objectives of their one year national youth service to their fatherland.
The governor however assured the new corps members of their security, stressing that “Ogun State is a haven of peace and security.”
Culled:Dailytrustnigeria
Jonathan bans official delegation to London Olympics
President Goodluck Jonathan has banned official delegation to the 2012 Olympics in London.
Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed this on Wednesday at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Abdullahi assured that there will be no room for jamboree which had been the usual practice in the past where government officials with little or nothing to do at sporting events are dispatched to attend thereby constituting nuisance in most cases and also end up distracting the athletes.
The unprecedented move by President Jonathan, according to the minister was aimed at cutting cost and gets the athletes focused.
He said: “This is to ensure that we have value for what are doing. Any governor or top government officials outside of the participating teams seen at the London Olympics will certainly not have travelled on federal government ticket.
“What I can assure you for a start is that there is not going to be any official Nigerian delegation to this Olympic. So this is the first time in a long while that I know that you will not have an official Nigerian delegation to the Olympics, a global event like this.
“I want to also add that it is not always the case that there is anything wrong in officials being more than the athletes, for example you have only one boxer, that boxer must have a physiotherapist, a doctor, a coach, and even a psychologist in some cases.
” If you look at the American contingent, it is almost like the contingents of many of the countries put together. What we are doing is that we are taking all reasonable measures to ensure that every single person that is going to the Olympics have a business in the Olympics. Of course Olympics is a public event and if you find a state governor in London, it doesn’t mean that we are sponsoring him to be there, so he has the wherewithal to go by himself to go and watch the Olympics.
“But what I can assure you is that there is no official Nigerian delegation to the Olympics and that itself is a major one in ensuring that we have value for what we are doing,” the minister stated.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed this on Wednesday at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.Abdullahi assured that there will be no room for jamboree which had been the usual practice in the past where government officials with little or nothing to do at sporting events are dispatched to attend thereby constituting nuisance in most cases and also end up distracting the athletes.
The unprecedented move by President Jonathan, according to the minister was aimed at cutting cost and gets the athletes focused.
He said: “This is to ensure that we have value for what are doing. Any governor or top government officials outside of the participating teams seen at the London Olympics will certainly not have travelled on federal government ticket.
“What I can assure you for a start is that there is not going to be any official Nigerian delegation to this Olympic. So this is the first time in a long while that I know that you will not have an official Nigerian delegation to the Olympics, a global event like this.
“I want to also add that it is not always the case that there is anything wrong in officials being more than the athletes, for example you have only one boxer, that boxer must have a physiotherapist, a doctor, a coach, and even a psychologist in some cases.
” If you look at the American contingent, it is almost like the contingents of many of the countries put together. What we are doing is that we are taking all reasonable measures to ensure that every single person that is going to the Olympics have a business in the Olympics. Of course Olympics is a public event and if you find a state governor in London, it doesn’t mean that we are sponsoring him to be there, so he has the wherewithal to go by himself to go and watch the Olympics.
“But what I can assure you is that there is no official Nigerian delegation to the Olympics and that itself is a major one in ensuring that we have value for what we are doing,” the minister stated.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
Mother force-feeds baby to death
A mother in Lagos on Wednesday has allegedly the death of her only daughter while trying to force-feed her.
Chinwe, a housewife and bread vendor at Tedi Town in Ojo local government area of the state, was said to be feeding her year-old daughter, Ada, a meal of pap at home.
As is common with mothers in Africa whose children refuse to eat, Chinwe was said to have cupped a handful of pap over her daughter’s mouth with her right hand while she closed off her nostrils with the other.
The purpose is to make the baby gulp whatever liquid enters through her mouth, but it ended up killing her.
Unknown to Chinwe, Ada had been suffocating while she thought that the pap was being swallowed.
The mother raised alarm by the time she noticed that her daughter was immobile.
Co-tenants at House Number 3 on Lawal Street, where Chinwe and her husband Ikenna live, rushed to the baby’s rescue and took her to a nearby hospital.
However, she died even before they reached the hospital and doctors also confirmed Ada dead.
Ikenna, who had left for Auto Parts at Trade Fair International Complex along Lagos-Badagry Expressway where he works, was called back home by his neighbours.
The couple appeared grief-stricken as sympathisers condoled with them.
On the passage of the tenement building, popularly called face-me-I-face-you, Chinwe was seen sprawled on the floor with a lone sympathiser, not uttering a word.
Since his hasty return from work, Ikenna also stared vacantly into space, hands on both cheeks and head bowed, appearing to be lost to the sympathisers milling about the house.
Neighbours and sympathisers also appeared confused as nobody was sure of how to react to the avoidable death.
Also left unsaid was the obvious carelessness or wilful ignorance of Chinwe in trying to force-feed her baby.
Culled:dailytimesnigeria
Chinwe, a housewife and bread vendor at Tedi Town in Ojo local government area of the state, was said to be feeding her year-old daughter, Ada, a meal of pap at home.
As is common with mothers in Africa whose children refuse to eat, Chinwe was said to have cupped a handful of pap over her daughter’s mouth with her right hand while she closed off her nostrils with the other.
The purpose is to make the baby gulp whatever liquid enters through her mouth, but it ended up killing her.
Unknown to Chinwe, Ada had been suffocating while she thought that the pap was being swallowed.
The mother raised alarm by the time she noticed that her daughter was immobile.
Co-tenants at House Number 3 on Lawal Street, where Chinwe and her husband Ikenna live, rushed to the baby’s rescue and took her to a nearby hospital.
However, she died even before they reached the hospital and doctors also confirmed Ada dead.
Ikenna, who had left for Auto Parts at Trade Fair International Complex along Lagos-Badagry Expressway where he works, was called back home by his neighbours.
The couple appeared grief-stricken as sympathisers condoled with them.
On the passage of the tenement building, popularly called face-me-I-face-you, Chinwe was seen sprawled on the floor with a lone sympathiser, not uttering a word.
Since his hasty return from work, Ikenna also stared vacantly into space, hands on both cheeks and head bowed, appearing to be lost to the sympathisers milling about the house.
Neighbours and sympathisers also appeared confused as nobody was sure of how to react to the avoidable death.
Also left unsaid was the obvious carelessness or wilful ignorance of Chinwe in trying to force-feed her baby.
Culled:dailytimesnigeria
Fashola warns Lagosians to be vigilant
The Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola on Wednesday emphasized the need for Lagosians to be security conscious.
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In a meeting with religious leaders, he stressed the need for everyone to ask questions around their neighbor hood “If we do all of these and you know those are the real first sides of safety and security.
We have taken many things for granted for a long time and that really is the essence of the meeting.
Know your neighbor, ask questions, and don’t take anything for granted. If you are in doubt, call law enforcement and use the 767 and 112 numbers.
Also speaking on the issue was State Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), Bishop George Amu, who said “If you know your neighbor, strange persons cannot come to your neighborhood without you noticing it.
We were told that for every action, there is a consequent reaction and that whatever we sow we shall reap. The security of Lagos State is our joint concern. The Governor was straightforward in telling us that we should be careful, watchful and observant”.
Pastor of Daystar Christian Center, Rev. Sam Adeyemi who was also present at the meeting said there is a need for every citizen of Lagos State to know their neighbor, adding that people without addresses should not just be allowed to roam the streets in the State.
He added that they constitute a security threat and there was a need to create awareness about the emergency numbers that the state has, stressing that all the religious leaders who attended the meeting did agree that they have a role to play more than everything else and that it is God who keeps everyone safe and secure.
He explained that the State Governor also used the meeting to appraise the leaders of plans in the offing to keep improving things in Lagos State, adding that the Governor made the religious leaders see the role they should play in ensuring that the state is safe.
“A whole lot what is happening in the country has to do with the choices we make as individuals and the choices we make are influenced by our values and in shaping those values” he further added.
Mr Umaru Manko Lagos State commissioner of police, rounded up the meeting by saying everyone should be security conscious.
Chief Imam of Oriwu Central Mosque in Ikorodu, Sheikh Yahaya Ajagbemokeferi who also spoke after the meeting said “What is left for the religious leaders who attended the meeting is to ensure that just as the Governor has done his part by convening the meeting, it is compulsory for the leaders to relay the message to their followers and consider how to go about it so that no one will have cause to regret in Lagos State at all”.
Culled:Channelstelevision
.
In a meeting with religious leaders, he stressed the need for everyone to ask questions around their neighbor hood “If we do all of these and you know those are the real first sides of safety and security.
We have taken many things for granted for a long time and that really is the essence of the meeting.
Know your neighbor, ask questions, and don’t take anything for granted. If you are in doubt, call law enforcement and use the 767 and 112 numbers.
Also speaking on the issue was State Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), Bishop George Amu, who said “If you know your neighbor, strange persons cannot come to your neighborhood without you noticing it.
We were told that for every action, there is a consequent reaction and that whatever we sow we shall reap. The security of Lagos State is our joint concern. The Governor was straightforward in telling us that we should be careful, watchful and observant”.
Pastor of Daystar Christian Center, Rev. Sam Adeyemi who was also present at the meeting said there is a need for every citizen of Lagos State to know their neighbor, adding that people without addresses should not just be allowed to roam the streets in the State.
He added that they constitute a security threat and there was a need to create awareness about the emergency numbers that the state has, stressing that all the religious leaders who attended the meeting did agree that they have a role to play more than everything else and that it is God who keeps everyone safe and secure.
He explained that the State Governor also used the meeting to appraise the leaders of plans in the offing to keep improving things in Lagos State, adding that the Governor made the religious leaders see the role they should play in ensuring that the state is safe.
“A whole lot what is happening in the country has to do with the choices we make as individuals and the choices we make are influenced by our values and in shaping those values” he further added.
Mr Umaru Manko Lagos State commissioner of police, rounded up the meeting by saying everyone should be security conscious.
Chief Imam of Oriwu Central Mosque in Ikorodu, Sheikh Yahaya Ajagbemokeferi who also spoke after the meeting said “What is left for the religious leaders who attended the meeting is to ensure that just as the Governor has done his part by convening the meeting, it is compulsory for the leaders to relay the message to their followers and consider how to go about it so that no one will have cause to regret in Lagos State at all”.
Culled:Channelstelevision
Arsenal face fight to keep Vermaelen as Barcelona step up bid for defender
New Barcelona boss Tito Vilanova has given his backing to pursuing a move for Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen.
Pep Guardiola’s replacement wants sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta to step up attempts to sign a central defender after missing out on top target Thiago Silva, who has signed a new deal at AC Milan.
Catalan newspaper Sport says Athletic Bilbao’s Javi Martinez is the first alternative.
But, with both Manchester clubs and Arsenal also admiring the 23-year-old, his club are resisting offers below his £32million release clause.
The two alternatives are reported to be Arsenal’s versatile 26-year-old Vermaelen and Bayern Munich’s Holger Badstuber.
The club have also previously closely monitored Chelsea’s David Luiz.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
NYSC Cancels Yobe And Borno State Postings
Relief came the way of thousands of prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) call-ups today in Abuja as the corps management cancelled deployments to the troubled States of Borno and Yobe.
A statement signed by the Director-General of the scheme, Brigadier-General NT OKORE-AFFIA, said those posted to these two states will now have their orientation programmes in Nasarawa and Benue States respectively.
Corps members originally posted to Yobe will proceed to Nasarawa State, while those scheduled to have their orientation in Borno will go to Benue State.
And while their colleagues in other States are already undergoing their orientation, the corps members posted to the two troubled States will now have theirs between Thursday, 26 July and Thursday, 16th August, 2012.
NYSC had insisted on Tuesday that it would go ahead with the scheduled posting despite the outcry of Nigerians, especially southerners, whose children are billed to be posted to the volatile North where the activities of the dreaded Boko Haram have become deadly.
The statement by Mr. Okorie-Affa also advised all 2012 Batch ‘B’ prospective corps members deployed to Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Kano and Kaduna States who have collected their call-up letters but are yet to report in camp to report immediately at the NYSC Directorate Headquarters, Abuja for redeployment.
It would be recalled that many corps members were killed last year in the North, especially in Bauchi and Kaduna States, when angry youths from the region were protesting the conduct of the 2011 elections.
Below is the full text of Brigadier-General Okorie-Affa.
This is to inform all prospective corps members deployed to Yobe and Borno States for the 2012 Batch ‘B’ Orientation Course to note the following:
Yobe State prospective corps members will now hold their orientation course at Nsasarawa State NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Keffi LGA, and not as stated on their call-up letters.
Borno State prospective corps members will undertake their orientation programme at the Benue State NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp at Wanume, Tarka LGA, and not as stated on their call-up letters
Date: Thursday 26 July –Thursday, 16th August, 2012 as earlier published
In addition, all 2012 Batch ‘B’ prospective corps members deployed to Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Kano and Kaduna States who have collected their call-up letters but are yet to repport in camp should immediately report at the NYSC Directorate Headquarters, Abuja for redeployment.
SIGNED
NT OKORE-AFFIA
Brig-Gen
Director-General
A statement signed by the Director-General of the scheme, Brigadier-General NT OKORE-AFFIA, said those posted to these two states will now have their orientation programmes in Nasarawa and Benue States respectively.
Corps members originally posted to Yobe will proceed to Nasarawa State, while those scheduled to have their orientation in Borno will go to Benue State.
And while their colleagues in other States are already undergoing their orientation, the corps members posted to the two troubled States will now have theirs between Thursday, 26 July and Thursday, 16th August, 2012.
NYSC had insisted on Tuesday that it would go ahead with the scheduled posting despite the outcry of Nigerians, especially southerners, whose children are billed to be posted to the volatile North where the activities of the dreaded Boko Haram have become deadly.
The statement by Mr. Okorie-Affa also advised all 2012 Batch ‘B’ prospective corps members deployed to Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Kano and Kaduna States who have collected their call-up letters but are yet to report in camp to report immediately at the NYSC Directorate Headquarters, Abuja for redeployment.
It would be recalled that many corps members were killed last year in the North, especially in Bauchi and Kaduna States, when angry youths from the region were protesting the conduct of the 2011 elections.
Below is the full text of Brigadier-General Okorie-Affa.
This is to inform all prospective corps members deployed to Yobe and Borno States for the 2012 Batch ‘B’ Orientation Course to note the following:
Yobe State prospective corps members will now hold their orientation course at Nsasarawa State NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Keffi LGA, and not as stated on their call-up letters.
Borno State prospective corps members will undertake their orientation programme at the Benue State NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp at Wanume, Tarka LGA, and not as stated on their call-up letters
Date: Thursday 26 July –Thursday, 16th August, 2012 as earlier published
In addition, all 2012 Batch ‘B’ prospective corps members deployed to Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Kano and Kaduna States who have collected their call-up letters but are yet to repport in camp should immediately report at the NYSC Directorate Headquarters, Abuja for redeployment.
SIGNED
NT OKORE-AFFIA
Brig-Gen
Director-General
Teenager released from Kirikiri after four years for phone theft
A Lagos High Court on Wednesday ordered the release of Blessing Effiong, a 19-year-old girl, who had spent nearly four years in Kirikiri Prison for alleged phone theft.
“However, the period which the defendant used in custody has surpassed the six months and she has therefore spent out her prison term and she should be released immediately.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
In the case titled People of Lagos State vs Blessing Effiong, the teenager, whose plea was taken for the first time, was charged with possessing suspected stolen property.
However, before the charge was read to her, prosecution lawyer, Mr. W.A Quadri, sought and got the court’s permission to amend the charge against the teenager.
The charge was changed from receiving stolen property to possessing suspected stolen property.
Before the new charge was read to Effiong, Quadri informed the court that both parties had entered into a plea bargain and sentence agreement.
Justice Christopher Balogun berated both the prosecution and defence counsel for not intimating the court of the development ahead of time. He, nonetheless, allowed the case to continue.
“So, there was an issue of plea bargain and you did not inform the court ahead of time? You should have brought this to the notice of the court long before now,” he said.
The charge reads in part, “Blessing Effiong on or about the months of July and August 2008 at Descon Hotel, Apapa Road, in the Lagos Judicial Division was found in possession of a Starcomms handset reasonably suspected to have been stolen and was unable to give satisfactory account of how she came by the same.
“Having possession of a thing reasonably suspected to have been stolen contrary to Section 430 (1) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C17, Vol.2, Laws of Lagos State 2003.”
Effiong, who pleaded guilty, however, told the court that she was 19 years, when the judge asked her if she understood the implication of her plea.
Effiong’s lawyer, Nsikan Upong, urged the court to strike out an application for bail which was filed in respect of the previous charge dated October 24, 2011. The court granted this request.
Quadri argued that upon Effiong’s plea to her new charge, the court should convict and appropriately sentence her.
Before his judgment, Balogun noted that the law which Effiong contravened and pleaded guilty to carried about six months’ sentence or N200 fine.
He added that the said law which was amended by the state government in 2011 also carried a six months’sentence but a fine of N90,000.
Quadri argued that her crime was committed in 2008, before the 2011 law was promulgated and urged the court to convict her based on the 2003 law.
Effiong’s lawyer said she had been in prison for almost four years and begged the court to tender justice with mercy.
Upong said, “We urge the court to temper justice with mercy. The defendant was arrested since August 17, 2008 and was remanded on September 12 and has been in prison custody for over three and a half calendar years.
“This charge, which she has pleaded guilty to, carries a six-month sentence or a fine of N200. As you give your sentence, please she is also a first time offender and deserves the sympathy of this court.”
In his judgment, Balogun said, “Blessing Effiong is hereby sentenced to six months in prison for having possession of a thing suspected to be stolen, contrary to Section 430 (1) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C17, Vol.2, Laws of Lagos State, 2003.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
Lagos-Kano train route to be active by August
The Lagos-Kano train service will be restored before the end of this month.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Adeseyi Sijuwade stated this while speaking with newsmen in Lagos
Sijuwade said that although the commencement of the Lagos-Kano train service had been postponed twice, "it would surely be restored this July".
“The railway engineers have just returned from the final inspection of the tracks; our contractors are now working on the minor adjustments recommended by the engineers," he said.
“We are going to begin trial runs very soon, and most likely, full restoration of train services between Lagos and Kano before the end of this month, July 2012."
Sijuwade noted that the recent heavy rainfall in parts of the country, especially the South-West, damaged some of the facilities on the Lagos-Kano rail track, adding that repair works on the affected lines had been carried out.
The NRC boss also promised that the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri train service would be ready soon, as its rehabilitation had reached an advanced stage.
According to Sijuwade, the new standard rail gauge line between Kaduna and Abuja is 35 percent complete and should be delivered within the next two years, if adequate funds are provided.
“Fortunately, the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) is adequately funding the three railway projects; Kaduna-Abuja, Lagos-Kano, and Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail lines," he said.
“Although, only the Kaduna-Abuja new rail line is of the standard gauge among them, we are only waiting to complete the rehabilitation of existing lines before going full blast to having standard gauge on all routes.
“And by the time the standard gauge track will be fully in place, the current narrow gauge lines will be used for cargo trains alone because they cannot carry the speed of modern passenger locomotives.”
According to Sijuwade, the laying of the standard railway lines will be done in phases and will start with the Lagos-Ibadan route and extend gradually, just as it was in 1898 when the NRC began building rail lines.
Culled:Dailytimesnigeria
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Adeseyi Sijuwade stated this while speaking with newsmen in Lagos
Sijuwade said that although the commencement of the Lagos-Kano train service had been postponed twice, "it would surely be restored this July".
“The railway engineers have just returned from the final inspection of the tracks; our contractors are now working on the minor adjustments recommended by the engineers," he said.
“We are going to begin trial runs very soon, and most likely, full restoration of train services between Lagos and Kano before the end of this month, July 2012."
Sijuwade noted that the recent heavy rainfall in parts of the country, especially the South-West, damaged some of the facilities on the Lagos-Kano rail track, adding that repair works on the affected lines had been carried out.
The NRC boss also promised that the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri train service would be ready soon, as its rehabilitation had reached an advanced stage.
According to Sijuwade, the new standard rail gauge line between Kaduna and Abuja is 35 percent complete and should be delivered within the next two years, if adequate funds are provided.
“Fortunately, the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) is adequately funding the three railway projects; Kaduna-Abuja, Lagos-Kano, and Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail lines," he said.
“Although, only the Kaduna-Abuja new rail line is of the standard gauge among them, we are only waiting to complete the rehabilitation of existing lines before going full blast to having standard gauge on all routes.
“And by the time the standard gauge track will be fully in place, the current narrow gauge lines will be used for cargo trains alone because they cannot carry the speed of modern passenger locomotives.”
According to Sijuwade, the laying of the standard railway lines will be done in phases and will start with the Lagos-Ibadan route and extend gradually, just as it was in 1898 when the NRC began building rail lines.
Culled:Dailytimesnigeria
Tuesday, 3 July 2012
Nigeria to produce sickle cell anaemia drug
The Nigerian Export- Import Bank (NEXIM) has signed a financing agreement with the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) for the production of a sickle cell anaemia drug.
The Minister of State for Health, Muhammad Pate, and the Director of NIPRD, Karniyus Gamaniel, who both signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Robert Orya, NEXIM's Bank Managing Director, described the contract as a pacesetter for the production of Niprisan, a sickle cell drug.
Orya disclosed that the partnership will ensure that the drug is not only consumed locally, but also exported to other countries in demonstration of the bank’s concern for sickle cell patients and the need to minimise the scourge of sickle cell anemia in the country and in other parts of the world.
“This is a project that we are excited about because we have been committed to the resuscitation of this project...we will not just be aiming at the monetary gains, but also social gains for the country,” he said.
The Minister of State for Health said that an interministerial committee will be set up later this week to supervise the production of the drugs.
“There are millions of Nigerians who suffer sickle cell disease and at the same time, there are remedies that in many cases we will not be able to reach them.
“But we are fortunate now that a Nigerian product- Niprisan has been found effective at alleviating this and it’s as a result of the research that NIPRID had done,” Pate said.
The agreement would enable NEXIM provide funds for the commercial production of the sickle cell drug, which is to be made from four botanical species indigenous to Nigeria.
Culled:dailytimesnigeria
The Minister of State for Health, Muhammad Pate, and the Director of NIPRD, Karniyus Gamaniel, who both signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Robert Orya, NEXIM's Bank Managing Director, described the contract as a pacesetter for the production of Niprisan, a sickle cell drug.
Orya disclosed that the partnership will ensure that the drug is not only consumed locally, but also exported to other countries in demonstration of the bank’s concern for sickle cell patients and the need to minimise the scourge of sickle cell anemia in the country and in other parts of the world.
“This is a project that we are excited about because we have been committed to the resuscitation of this project...we will not just be aiming at the monetary gains, but also social gains for the country,” he said.
The Minister of State for Health said that an interministerial committee will be set up later this week to supervise the production of the drugs.
“There are millions of Nigerians who suffer sickle cell disease and at the same time, there are remedies that in many cases we will not be able to reach them.
“But we are fortunate now that a Nigerian product- Niprisan has been found effective at alleviating this and it’s as a result of the research that NIPRID had done,” Pate said.
The agreement would enable NEXIM provide funds for the commercial production of the sickle cell drug, which is to be made from four botanical species indigenous to Nigeria.
Culled:dailytimesnigeria
Monday, 2 July 2012
Repairs on Third Mainland Bridge suspended indefinitely
The Federal Government has indefinitely suspended the proposed repair work earlier scheduled to begin on the Third Mainland Bridge Sunday.
The Lagos Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Charles Akpabio, said the postponement of the repairs is intended to put more measures in place to ease possible traffic congestion the closure of bridge will create.
Mr Akpabio urged all motorists in Lagos to go about their activities and wait for further information on the bridge repair.
The FRSC had explained that traffic information would be communicated from time to time via Radio, Television, Newspapers and social media network.
The commission said that as the lead agency in traffic management in Nigeria, it had concluded plans to coordinate the various traffic agencies involved in the exercise.
He noted that Section 15 of the FRSC Act 2007 clearly stipulated that the operation of the Corps should cover all public roads, adding that the Corps statutory responsibility is to control and enforce traffic regulations on public roads “as we did during the 2008 maintenance work on the Third Mainland Bridge.”
The Third Mainland Bridge was to have been closed for about five months beginning Sunday and to be re-opened on November 6, 2012.
Channelstv
The Lagos Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Charles Akpabio, said the postponement of the repairs is intended to put more measures in place to ease possible traffic congestion the closure of bridge will create.
Mr Akpabio urged all motorists in Lagos to go about their activities and wait for further information on the bridge repair.
The FRSC had explained that traffic information would be communicated from time to time via Radio, Television, Newspapers and social media network.
The commission said that as the lead agency in traffic management in Nigeria, it had concluded plans to coordinate the various traffic agencies involved in the exercise.
He noted that Section 15 of the FRSC Act 2007 clearly stipulated that the operation of the Corps should cover all public roads, adding that the Corps statutory responsibility is to control and enforce traffic regulations on public roads “as we did during the 2008 maintenance work on the Third Mainland Bridge.”
The Third Mainland Bridge was to have been closed for about five months beginning Sunday and to be re-opened on November 6, 2012.
Channelstv
Fuji Artiste, Sunny T Dies Mysteriously
Sunny T Adesokan, aka omo ibo to nko fuji, a popular Mushin,Lagos based fuji artist dead.
Report says he died yesterday morning under mysterious and strange circumstances.
MetroNews exclusively gathered from his label owner, and boss of Eru-Owa /Sarolaj Records,Tunji Sarumi, that he went to bed yesterday hale and healthy after performing on friday night till Saturday morning.
His sister Sarumi told us still spoke with him at about 5am in the morning,only for him to start behaving funny later,he was rushed to Ikeja General Hospital,where he was confirmed dead.
Sunny T became a household item late 90′s.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate/Metronews
Nigerian airports do not meet ICAO standard
The inability of any of the 22 airports operated both by the federal and state governments to meet the international standards has been blamed on insufficient funding.
Apart from meeting the basic safety standard required of an airport, not one airport in the country has been certified by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
The airports are under the supervision of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), an agency of the Ministry of Aviation
As part of requirement for ICAO certification, an airport must have operational and perimeter fencing, certified aviation security personnel, state-of-the-art navigational equipment, while the personnel must be regularly trained and retrained.
Other conditions include standard runway and runway strength known as the Pavement Classification Number (PCN) which enables airports and airlines to know if a given aircraft may put undue stress on a runway, non-interference from government, adequate fire tenders, standard instrument landing systems, fuelling, baggage handling, apron and quick response to distress, among others.
As of today, most of the airports, including the four international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt, have not been able to meet the conditions.
Speaking on the issue recently, the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Harold Demuren, said the non-certification of the airports would continue for the time being, unless relevant aviation agencies put in place the necessary requirement by ICAO. He, however, added that the non-certification status of the airport does not imply that they cannot do safe operation.
“There is a requirement you must meet before meeting ICAO and NCAA certifications. If these requirements are not in place, I will not certify. Take Lagos for example; there must be perimeter fence; the same with Port-Harcourt International airport.
This does not mean the airports are not safe. There have been mitigating factors because the airports are monitored regularly as inspectors go through them”, he said.
Sources within the FAAN revealed that the non-certification of the airports was due largely to the high cost involved, while agencies saddled with the responsibility of maintaining the airports are not adequately provided for in the budget .
In some instances, investigations revealed, FAAN does not get any allocation for capital vote. In 2008, for example, the government did not release any capital vote to FAAN. In 2009, only the four international airports were made provisions for in the budget.
“A minimum safety standard has been achieved in the airports in spite of the present status. Safety is not something you achieve overnight and relax. It is an on-going exercise”.
“The Federal Government has started taking keen interest in the security of the airports through the office of the NSA (National Security Adviser) and soon all the old security gadgets would be discarded for modern ones”.
According to him, “it is not that FAAN is not insensitive to the need to get the airports certified, but certification involves a lot of things in terms of safety measures, security, infrastructure, record management”.
He however revealed that the agency is working closely with NCAA and has been putting in place some of the things the regulators have asked for.
“But we cannot do all the airports in the country at the same time, we are starting with the international ones in Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port-Harcourt. And because of the seriousness we are putting into it , it would form the major part of our budget in 2013”.
He however pointed out that it is not only the responsibility of FAAN to ensure the certification , it involves other directorates in the agency and government too, “but we are doing a lot now including the on-going remodelling of the airports in the country”.
According to him, N152 million to be sourced from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) was budgeted in 2010 in order to upgrade and meet certification parameter while another sum of N50million has equally been earmarked in the current budget by the Operations directorate for repairs and construction of perimeter fencing.
Culled:dailytimesnigeria
Apart from meeting the basic safety standard required of an airport, not one airport in the country has been certified by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
The airports are under the supervision of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), an agency of the Ministry of Aviation
As part of requirement for ICAO certification, an airport must have operational and perimeter fencing, certified aviation security personnel, state-of-the-art navigational equipment, while the personnel must be regularly trained and retrained.
Other conditions include standard runway and runway strength known as the Pavement Classification Number (PCN) which enables airports and airlines to know if a given aircraft may put undue stress on a runway, non-interference from government, adequate fire tenders, standard instrument landing systems, fuelling, baggage handling, apron and quick response to distress, among others.
As of today, most of the airports, including the four international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt, have not been able to meet the conditions.
Speaking on the issue recently, the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Harold Demuren, said the non-certification of the airports would continue for the time being, unless relevant aviation agencies put in place the necessary requirement by ICAO. He, however, added that the non-certification status of the airport does not imply that they cannot do safe operation.
“There is a requirement you must meet before meeting ICAO and NCAA certifications. If these requirements are not in place, I will not certify. Take Lagos for example; there must be perimeter fence; the same with Port-Harcourt International airport.
This does not mean the airports are not safe. There have been mitigating factors because the airports are monitored regularly as inspectors go through them”, he said.
Sources within the FAAN revealed that the non-certification of the airports was due largely to the high cost involved, while agencies saddled with the responsibility of maintaining the airports are not adequately provided for in the budget .
In some instances, investigations revealed, FAAN does not get any allocation for capital vote. In 2008, for example, the government did not release any capital vote to FAAN. In 2009, only the four international airports were made provisions for in the budget.
“A minimum safety standard has been achieved in the airports in spite of the present status. Safety is not something you achieve overnight and relax. It is an on-going exercise”.
“The Federal Government has started taking keen interest in the security of the airports through the office of the NSA (National Security Adviser) and soon all the old security gadgets would be discarded for modern ones”.
According to him, “it is not that FAAN is not insensitive to the need to get the airports certified, but certification involves a lot of things in terms of safety measures, security, infrastructure, record management”.
He however revealed that the agency is working closely with NCAA and has been putting in place some of the things the regulators have asked for.
“But we cannot do all the airports in the country at the same time, we are starting with the international ones in Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port-Harcourt. And because of the seriousness we are putting into it , it would form the major part of our budget in 2013”.
He however pointed out that it is not only the responsibility of FAAN to ensure the certification , it involves other directorates in the agency and government too, “but we are doing a lot now including the on-going remodelling of the airports in the country”.
According to him, N152 million to be sourced from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) was budgeted in 2010 in order to upgrade and meet certification parameter while another sum of N50million has equally been earmarked in the current budget by the Operations directorate for repairs and construction of perimeter fencing.
Culled:dailytimesnigeria
‘Travel by water,’ Lagos urges residents
As Lagos residents battles with the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge, the state government has disclosed that over 1.3 million commuters are ferried within the state monthly.
The Managing Director of the State Water Authority (LASWA), Adeyinka Marinho, said that the number rose from 300,000, which was recorded last year.
Marinho said the big difference showed that residents’ confidence in water transportation had grown considerably.
“I want to emphasise that people have known the importance of waterways,” he said.
“It is good to travel by water, especially now when rehabilitation works are expected to commence on the Third Mainland Bridge, which has been the major link for people moving from the island to the mainland.”
He, however, stressed the value of maintaining order on the waterways, assuring that water guards would be at the jetties to ensure compliance with rules and regulations.
“The fear of drowning is what discourages many people from travelling by water. In actual fact, the lagoon is quite large but safety is the watchword,” he continued.
“As long as you have the life-jacket on, even if you do not know how to swim, you can never drown.”
In anticipation of the partial bridge closure and the expected resulting increase in road traffic, Marinho said newly constructed Oworonshoki and Ipakodo jetties would be put to use during the period.
Also, according to him, 59 registered ferry operators would be operating at varying capacities to cope with the expected large turnout of commuters over the four-month period that the bridge would be partially closed for repairs.
He added that many of the state jetties had parking spaces for motorists who might wish to park and join the ferries, assuring that security would be provided to ensure people’s safety.
Adeleke Emoruwa, the Chairman of the Association of Waterway Transporters, disclosed that transporters would operate between 6:30 am and 7.30 pm on weekdays during the period.
He urged commuters to be safety conscious and expressed his association’s commitment towards ensuring same.
Meanwhile, commuters leaving Oworonshoki for CMS will pay N400, while commuters leaving from Ikorodu will be required to pay N500.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
The Managing Director of the State Water Authority (LASWA), Adeyinka Marinho, said that the number rose from 300,000, which was recorded last year.
Marinho said the big difference showed that residents’ confidence in water transportation had grown considerably.
“I want to emphasise that people have known the importance of waterways,” he said.
“It is good to travel by water, especially now when rehabilitation works are expected to commence on the Third Mainland Bridge, which has been the major link for people moving from the island to the mainland.”
He, however, stressed the value of maintaining order on the waterways, assuring that water guards would be at the jetties to ensure compliance with rules and regulations.
“The fear of drowning is what discourages many people from travelling by water. In actual fact, the lagoon is quite large but safety is the watchword,” he continued.
“As long as you have the life-jacket on, even if you do not know how to swim, you can never drown.”
In anticipation of the partial bridge closure and the expected resulting increase in road traffic, Marinho said newly constructed Oworonshoki and Ipakodo jetties would be put to use during the period.
Also, according to him, 59 registered ferry operators would be operating at varying capacities to cope with the expected large turnout of commuters over the four-month period that the bridge would be partially closed for repairs.
He added that many of the state jetties had parking spaces for motorists who might wish to park and join the ferries, assuring that security would be provided to ensure people’s safety.
Adeleke Emoruwa, the Chairman of the Association of Waterway Transporters, disclosed that transporters would operate between 6:30 am and 7.30 pm on weekdays during the period.
He urged commuters to be safety conscious and expressed his association’s commitment towards ensuring same.
Meanwhile, commuters leaving Oworonshoki for CMS will pay N400, while commuters leaving from Ikorodu will be required to pay N500.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate
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