Zambia hits Nigeria again

Zambia has excluded Nigeria among the African and Commonwealth countries that do not require visa to enter the country.

 

Prior to this development, Nigerians travelling to Zambia obtained a visa at the point of entry into the country.

However, a new law, which suggests that bilateral relations between both countries have become frosty, requires Nigerians, even when passing through the country, to acquire visas from Zambian Missions abroad.

This move may be connected to the deportation of some Nigerians in December 2011 by then newly sworn in President Michael Sata for allegedly supporting his opponents during that country’s last general elections.

Some of the Nigerians deported then include Victor Adeniyi, a pastor of The Winners Chapel in Zambia and a bank manager who allegedly granted $1 million loan to Sata’s major opponent during the elections, Rupiah Banda.

"Nationals of all Commonwealth countries do not require visas to enter Zambia; except for those nationals from Australia, Britain, Canada, Gambia, Ghana, India, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sierra-Leone, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and Sri-Lanka who need visas on a reciprocal basis," read a statement posted on the country’s official website.

Nigeria was included to the list last month.

The change in visa requirement came to public notice when some Nigerian journalists failed to travel to Zambia for the CNNMultiChoice media wards held in Lusaka over the weekend.

 Some of the journalists realised about this at the last minute and were unable to meet the visa processing regulations on time.

After the deportation in December, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was working to resolve the issue and maintain cordial diplomatic relations between both countries. "It is like business; there is always risk in it," said Martin Uhomoibhi, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry. "So you take risks. We will normally not do anything that would hurt our diplomatic relations."
Culled:Vanguardnigeria

How man shot wife dead in Enugu

MATHIAS Nweze, a native of Umuida, Enugu-Ezike in Igboeze North local government area of Enugu State, has reportedly shot his wife dead.

The police said  that they had commenced investigation into the bizarre incident.

Report says that Nweze, popularly known as “Honourable”, claimed that while he was sleeping in his house that fateful night, his generator went off twice without knowing the cause.

Having woken up suddenly, he suspected that some thieves may have invaded his compound and as a result, brought out his pump action gun and pointed it towards the direction of the generator.

Without wasting time, he allegedly fired several shots apparently to scare the alleged invaders but unknown to him, his wife was around the place.

Nweze only realized that he had shot his wife when she screamed saying that the bullet had hit her.

 The woman fell down, bled profusely before sympathizers rushed to the scene.

She was later rushed to New Testament Hospital Ogrute, Igboeze North council headquarter where doctors confirmed her dead.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the incident, said the corpse of the deceased had been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy. “We have commenced investigation into the incident that led to the shooting of a housewife by the husband,” he said.
Culled:Vanguardnigeria

REVEALED: How we were caught after renewing our charms on penetration of bullets

LAGOS State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of a notorious robbery gang that have been on its wanted list, recovering five AK 47 riffles and nine magazines.

The gang that specialized in operating in almost all the parts of the country, reportedly started as an eight-man gang. But two of them have reportedly been killed in separate shoot-outs.

The arrested suspects who were paraded before journalists at the Lagos State Police Command, did not mince words in revealing their separate roles in the gang. One of them, Wale Adeniyi, revealed that he was the gang’s hit man.

27-year-old Taofeek Bukola said he was the gang’s driver while 20 year-old Oladun Agemo declared himself as the gang’s armourer.

 Luck ran against them while returning from a herbalist’s home where they had gone to renew their charms on the penetration of bullets, before going on an operation in Ogun State.

In this interview with Newsmen, Taoffek said he was tempted to join the gang because of his inability to get money for his mother’s medical bill. He claimed that he lost his father years back, leaving his mother to cater for him and his four siblings.

But along the line, he said his mother had a mental problem which confined her to a herbalist’s home.

 Since then, he said he had to cater for himself, his wife, two children and his siblings. But meeting some of the financial obligations of his mother, like buying of herbs and other things was the most tasking.

He said: “As a result of this, I would work in the bakery until 6am and then work as commercial bus driver, shuttling between Oshodi and Iyana-Ipaja. Yet I could not meet up, as I normally got N1500 to N2000 everyday, which I used to feed my family. Then three months ago, I met Akin who introduced me to the gang.

My job was to drive them to the venue of the operation, wait in the car while they went in and drive immediately they came out.

“So far, I have gone on operations in Ibadan, Ogun and Akure with them. In the first operation, I was given N150,000 and in another one I was given N70,000 while in the third one I was given N100,000. The money shared at the end of each operation depended on how much we realized in the operation. We usually operated with information. We don’t just go to anybody’s house.

…The suspects

“On the day of our arrest, I drove them to Ado where they said they were going to renew their ‘ijaya’(charm to instill fear on their victims) and also that which will not make bullet to penetrate into them. It was on our way back to Otta that we were arrested.”

Asked where he got money to buy the vehicle, he said he got it from the sale of his mother’s family plots, regretting that he was likely going to die. When 20-year-old Oladun Agemo was approached, he simply stated that he was the gang’s armourer, and that he had never gone on any operation with them.

He said: “They only give me their guns to keep at the end of each operation. When they come to keep it, they would give me N4000 and at times N5000. The guns are owned by Akin. He is the president of the gang. I met them when they came to have their hair cut because I am a barber.”

Asked what lured him into the gang since he at least, had a means of livelihood, he kept quiet, then said: “I regret everything now. The money I got was used only to eat. I did not even use it to buy a car. My only pain is that my four-day old son may not grow up to know his father because as it is, I do not know if I will come out of this alive.”

The third suspect, Wale Adeniyi, who could barely talk owing to the excruciating pains from the bullet wounds he sustained during exchange of fire with the police, said he was the gang’s hit man.

The 28-year-old Akure born who seems to have spent longer time with the gang than his colleagues, said he was into smuggling business at the border before joining the gang. Although he did not say exactly how many lives he has wasted during operation, he only maintained he was the gang’s best hit man.

He said: “Whenever we were going for an operation, I was usually given a riffle first before any other person. This was because of my boldness. It was Akin, our leader who introduced me into the gang.”

At this point, he kept quiet, clinching his teeth in pains. After a while, he shook his head, signifying he could not talk again. He tried to lift up his leg where he sustained the gun shot wound but could not. After a while, he laid on the floor and said:

“I knew this day will come. But what I did not know was how soon. When it clocked one year of my joining the gang, I started thinking of leaving them and returning to my smuggling business because I was getting tired of always watching my back in fear all the time. And to think that a policeman once warned me to leave this business, oh God, it is regrettable.”

He managed to say he got N400,000 to N600,000 in some of the operations with the least amount being N100,000, adding that his greed to have more led him to his end. Efforts to further get more information from him failed as he just gave a blank stare, apparently unsure of police next move.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko, said the police was still carrying out a manhunt for other members of the gang. The command, he said, was taking proactive strategic measures to curb criminal activities in the state by taking the war to robbers hideouts.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate/Vanguardnigeria

Update: 749 Corps Members Redeployed From Jigawa

No fewer than 749 members of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were redeployed from Jigawa state out of 1989 registered during the just concluded orientation camping held at Dutse permanent orientation camp in the state.

The state coordinator NYSC, Mr Ishaya S. Dede, revealed this during the of Batch B corps members who completed their orientation exercise in the state.

He explained that, most of the corps members redeployed from the state were released based on health condition or marital status.

He, however, stated the remaining corps members were posted to various places in accordance with federal government and NYSC guidelines which stipulated four sectors as main priority comprising: education, health, agriculture and rural infrastructure, to make the scheme more relevant and achieved the desire goals.

The coordinator urged the corps members to take along the gospel of honesty, tolerance, unity, selfless service and humanity, also enjoying them to be law abiding and to avoid any act which would tarnish the image of NYSC scheme.
247nigerianewsupdate

Lagos PHCN workers begin strike

Employees of the Power Holding Corporation of Nigeria (PHCN), in Lagos on Friday, embarked on an indefinite strike to press for the payment of their terminal benefits as the company gears towards full privatisation.

The President of the Senior Staff of Association of Electricity and Allied Company, Bede Opara, said the strike was necessitated by federal government's reluctance to address pending issues concerning payment of benefits to workers ahead of privatisation.

The workers, who shut down PHCN offices in the state, vowed not to return to work till their grievances had been addressed.

Top on the list of their grievances are issues of gratuity, pension and terminal benefits for the workers who stand to be affected by the privatisation.

“The government should have addressed all pending issues before the privatisation. We have had dialogues with them in the last 14 months, but there have been no results," Opara said.

“It will be unfair to embark on the privatisation without giving the workers their dues for serving the country for a long period. Many of the workers have put in up to 30 years of service, and so deserve to get appropriate benefits.”

In readiness for the privatisation of the Power Company, the federal government had directed the redeployment of affected workers to other ministries, but the workers expressed displeasure with their transfer.

In his reaction, the Vice Chairman, State Chapter of the National Union of Electricity Employees and Senior Staff Electricity Association and Allied Matters, Jacob Ishola, said not all redeployed workers were willing to remain in service.

“We want the entitlements paid so that those who intend to remain in the service can continue, while the ones that are not willing to continue can have something to leave with," he said.
Culled:Dailytimesnigeria

Ghana discovers more oil

The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC),has announced the discovery of another oil field.
 In a statement, the state-owned oil firm said that the Wawa-1 Exploration Well, located in the DeepwaterTano (DWT) Block offshore Ghana, discovered 20 metres (65 feet) of gas-condensate column and 13 metres (42 feet) of oil.

Samples of oil recovered from the well indicate that it was of “high quality of API values of between 38 and 44 degrees”.

GNPC said pressure data indicated the Wawa discovery was separate and distinct from the adjacent Tweneboa, Enyenra and Ntomme (TEN) cluster of discoveries.

It said further evaluation of this well would be conducted after which the well would be suspended for possible future use in appraisal and development operations.

“The Wawa discovery is a confirmation of the prospectivity of the offshore Western Basin,” said Thomas Manu, the Director of Exploration and Production at GNPC. “The discovery has enhanced the value of the TEN (Tweneboa, Enyenra and Ntomme) complex, for which the plan of development is currently being discussed among the partners.”

Manu added that further exploration drilling is planned within the block before the end of the year.
GNPC has 10 per cent carried interest in the Deepwater Tano Block and has the option to acquire additional paying interest of five per cent upon declaration that the discovery is commercial.

The other partners in the block include Tullow Oil plc (49.95 per cent working interest and operator), Kosmos Energy (18 per cent working interest), Anadarko (18 per cent working interest) and Tano Block Sabre Oil & Gas Holdings Ltd (4.05 per cent working interest).
Culled:Dailytimesnigeria

Fuel scarcity looms as petroleum marketers threaten shutdown

Petroleum products marketers under the aegis of Jetties and Petroleum Tank Farms Owners of Nigeria (JEPTFON) have threatened to shut down operations with effect from Monday next week if government does not rectify the subsidy payment process.



The marketers, who ventilated their grievance over the federal government’s unilateral action to withhold payment of subsidy, said the action of government was threatening the continued survival of their business and the larger economy.

In a communique issued at the end of an emergency meeting in Abuja on Friday, the Executive Secretary of the association, Enoch Kanawa said the withdrawal of subsidy payments is also a clear breach of contractual obligations, insisting that outstanding payments to subsidy claims should also be paid in full.

The jetties and tank farm owners also described as unacceptable the unguided statements by government officials labelling members of its association as fraudulent and irresponsible, demanding immediate apology.
Culled:Channelstv

Magistrate orders lawyer to frog-jump for noise-making

Mr. Adewunmi Makanjuola of an Osun State Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo, yesterday, ordered a middle-aged lawyer, Nnajite Okobie, to frog-jump for five minutes in front of the court premises as a punishment for disrupting court proceeding.

Makanjuola, who was presiding over a case of alleged rape of a 11-year-old pupil, was apparently disturbed from the noise by Okobie, who was having a conversation with two other people suspected to be his clients on the court premises.

The magistrate, worried by the development, sent the court orderly to warn the lawyer to desist from making noise. But the man failed to heed to the advice of the judge.

Provoked by the action of Okobie and his two clients, Magistrate Makanjuola ordered the court orderly to bring the trio before him and asked them to make a choice on whether to be docked for contempt of court or to frog-jump for five minutes for their punishment.

It was at this point that Okobie and his clients chose to frog-jump. Makanjuola then asked the court orderly to sanction them by engaging them in a five-minute frog-jump.

The magistrate stressed that the action of the lawyer and his clients had put the court in disrepute.

The punishment attracted many passers-by including workers of the court, suspects to the scene. Not a few people took pity on the lawyer while others made mockery of him while the punishment lasted.

After serving out the punishment, Makanjuola warned them to desist from making noise on the court premises, adding that the fact that Okobie was a lawyer should not give him the impetus to disrespect the court.

 He said: “Even if the court is not on, you should have respect for it and for the government, not to talk of when the court is in progress. Mr. Okobie, sorry for treating you like a novice.”
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate

Arik Air to repair damaged Air Force plane

The management of Arik Air Limited has agreed to repair the Nigerian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft, which was damaged by one of its planes at the Jos Airport.

It will be recalled that on July 14, Arik airline Boeing 737-700, while taxing, brushed the wing of the stationary Nigerian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft parked on the tarmac of the Yakubu Gowon Airport Helipad, Jos.

The airline agreed to repair the Air Force plane when Joseph Johnson, the Chief Executive Officer of Arik Air Limited, led his management team on a sympathy visit to the Nigerian Air Force, Abuja over the incident.

Johnson expressed regrets over the incident.

"We are here to commiserate with the Air Force and to say we are extremely sorry over what happened in Jos,” he said.

"We are here to also seek for a technical report on the damaged aircraft and we will do everything possible to fast track the repairs of your aircraft.”

Responding, the Chief of Air Staff (COAS), Air Marshal Mohammed Umar, thanked the Chairman and Management of Arik Air for personally visiting the Nigerian Air Force.

Umar sympathised with the airline over the incident, adding, "We know how busy Arik Air is as a leading air carrier in Nigeria and we know your operations will also be affected by this incident.”

He, therefore, called for the setting up of a joint committee by the two organisations, to speedily bring the aircraft back to full operations.
Culled:Dailytimesnigeria

Physically challenged persons to get special ATMs

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced plans to accommodate physically challenged persons in its cashless policy drive.

Ikechukwu Nwaoha, the bank’s Deputy Director, Consumer and Financial Protection Department, said this in a paper he delivered at the 17th seminar for finance correspondents and business editors.

The paper was entitled, “Issues, Challenges and Consumer Protection in a Cashless Economy”.

According to him, the CBN will soon introduce graphics moderated automated teller machines (ATMs) to facilitate the participation of physically challenged persons in e-transaction.

Nwaoha said that the illiterate populace would also be able to use the facility which, he added, would take care of all the concerns they had raised on the cashless policy at various seminars.

On consumer protection in a cashless economy, the deputy director said that the CBN had taken care of this by upgrading the consumer and financial protection division to a department.

He explained that upgrading the division to a department was to strength its capacity address issues concerning consumers.

Nwaoha also said that the upgrade would boost confidence in automated financial services and contribute toward the CBN’s plans for a consumer help desk at its headquarters and branches nationwide.

He disclosed that complaints about ATMs and Point of Sales (PoS) terminals constituted about 99 per cent of the grievances reported against financial institutions.

According to him, the low level of consumers’ enlightenment on product suitability, inadequate understanding of the security implications of divulging personal information and non-automated reversal of PoS, were other issues.

He said that the CBN had made efforts to eliminate the challenges associated with the policy, especially those that were technologically driven.

The deputy director said that one of such efforts was the issuance of a circular requesting financial institutions to expand their ATM help desks to accommodate consumers’ complaints.

Nwaoha also said that the CBN had been conducting periodic compliance checks on banks to ensure what he described as effective and functional compliance.

He listed the other efforts to include the introduction of Nigerian unified bank account numbers (NUBAN), as well as account numbers which facilitated electronic fund transfer among banks and reduced clearing errors.
Culled:dailytimesnigeria

Police foil bomb attack on Abuja Catholic school

The men of the bomb disposal units of the Nigeria Police on Thursday foiled a bomb attack on St. Alloysius Schools, Area 3, Garki, Abuja.


A security man, who briefed the Head Teacher of the schools, Sister Philomena Akem, said the item was planted under a mango tree near where pupils buy biscuits and other items after school.

According to the security man, a woman who saw the bag became curious and called the attention of the church security personnel to the strange item.

He said when the security personnel found the object they in turn called the policemen on duty at the St. Alloysius Catholic Arch Diocese to the bomb.

He added that the policemen alerted the bomb disposal unit which came in to defuse the device.

It was learnt that the incident caused a serious panic among parents, residents and passersby around the area while the police team cordoned off the road to prevent access to the device during the operation to defuse it.

The head teacher of the school, who was just arriving the school from a meeting confirmed the disturbing incident.

She said one of her members of staff called her during to tell her about the incident.

She said the management of the school had alerted the Development Control of the Federal Capital Territory on the need to close a portion of the road where the vast Catholic Church and the schools are located.

She said the development had sent some of its personnel to the school to take a look at the road in response to the school’s petition on Wednesday.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate

30 feared dead in boat mishap

No fewer than 30 persons have been declared missing and 10 bodies recovered after a passenger boat capsized  while crossing the Nupeko River in Bida emirate of Niger state.

Report says  that a woman lost two of her children in the mishap but was among the three survivors that were rescued.

It was learnt that the accident happened at night, making rescue operation difficult for divers.

Seven bodies were reported to have been recovered on Wednesday night while three others were picked yesterday morning.

One of the dead, identified as Abdullahi, a civil servant with the Niger state government, was said to be on official assignment.

Abdullahi left behind a child and a pregnant wife and that his corpse was taken to Kontagora for burial.

An elder of Abdullahi’s family and the Dangaladiman Kontagora, Alhaji Abubakar Dogo confirmed the death of their son in the incident.

He described the death of their son as a great loss to the family, adding that the entire people of Kontagora kingdom were at pains in mourning Abdullahi’s departure.

Although the immediate cause of the mishap is not yet known, it was learnt that the commercial boat came on board the river after the ferry boat owned by the Niger State Transport Authority (NSTA) packed up some weeks back.

The victims, consisting of traders, farmers and visitors travelling to Gbara village in Mokwa local government area of the state, did not put on safety jackets when the accident occurred.

Culled:247nigerianewsupdate/ Blueprint

Baby with many legs needs N1m to live

A baby girl that was delivered with many legs and no anus needs N1 million for corrective surgery for her to remain alive, medical experts say.

Baby Nafisat was born on June 18, 2012 to the family of Ahmed in Bayo Local Government Area of Borno state. But her parents’ joy was turned to sorrow when she was delivered with complex abnormalities.

According to medical surgeons, Nafisat needs an intensive surgery to make her remain alive.

But her parents have no means of paying for such surgery; hence, they called on the Borno state government, especially the First Lady, to come to their aid.

Dr Adamu Madugu, the Medical Director (MD) of the Federal Medical Centre, Gombe, said Nafisat risks losing her precious life if the surgery is not carried out immediately.

He said: “Nafisat was referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Gombe, and has been admitted in the Special Baby Care Unit with a case of imperforated anus and multiple abnormalities.

“The patient has to undergo a series of surgery in order to correct various enormities.”

Report says  that the girl, who now lives solely on various medical gadgets, needs N1 million for an all important surgery.

Madugu said with N1 million, Nafisat would be able to pay for her surgery, drugs, investigation, pints of blood, feeding and accommodation.

“Unfortunately, the parents cannot afford the money due to financial constraints,” said the Surgeon who solicited that only government can help the poor parents to save the life of the baby

Culled:247nigerianewsupdate

Goldie Arrives Nigeria After BBA Stargame Eviction

Singer, Goldie Harvey has arrived Nigeria after she was evicted from the competition. She was one of Nigeria’s representatives at the ongoing Big Brother Africa Stargame Season Seven, which also had Ola and Chris both who earlier left the house.

Goldie arrived the country last night and was received by her label boss, Kenny Ogungbe of Kennis Music and Denrele Edun.

Goldie was booted out of the show after being nominated twice for eviction. She has come under heavy attack for reportedly putting up a romantic affair with housemate, Prezzo from Kenya.
She arrived Murtala International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos at about 8pm.

Christian pilgrims to pay N406,150 for pilgrimage 2012

The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC has  announced fees of N406,150 for those intending to embark on pilgrimage to Israel for year 2012.

Executive Secretary of the commission, Kennedy Opara, in Abuja, also announced the appointment of two airline, Atlas Jet Airline and Messrs K S Travel/Empire Aviation Services, to airlift pilgrims for this year’s Christian pilgrimage.

On the fees fixed for this year’s pilgrimage, he said: “The package for the 2012 pilgrimage exercise to be paid by intending pilgrims is as follows: pilgrims travelling to Israel alone are to pay N406,150; those going to Israel, Rome or Greece are to pay N529,440, while the special group, which includes the aged and physically-challenged are to pay N400,425.”

He added that President Goodluck Jonathan had approved Easy Link Aviation Service and TAT Nigeria Limited to “be on standby in the event of failure of any of the first approved air carriers.”
Culled:Channelstv

We have not published 2012 May/June WASSCE results – WAEC

The West African Examinations Council says it has not published results of the 2012 May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

The Deputy Director, Public Affairs of the Council, Mr. Yusuf Ari, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos, denied the rumours.

Ari said the council had received information that some fraudulent individuals were trying to deceive the public by posting fraudulent information online concerning the results.

He added that some of the fraudsters even went as far as urging innocent individuals to buy scratch cards to access the results. “There is absolutely nothing like that from our council.

We are surprised about this information because we have been receiving calls concerning the said release of results.

“We have barely finished our examination. We have just concluded marking the examination scripts in some states while waiting on others largely due to security challenge in the country. “Going by our tradition, WAEC has never released the result of this particular examination in July,” he added.

According to him, there is no way the result of examinations that commenced in April across the country and concluded on May 17, will be released in July. “The policy officially is that results must be released 90 days after the last paper is taken.

“But in the recent past, we have been releasing results of this examination well ahead of schedule.

“And there is no way that the release of results of examination of this magnitude could be made without an elaborate news briefing by the Head of National Office,” Ari said.

The deputy director said members of the test body were currently working hard to ensure that they met the target set aside for the release of the results. Ari pleaded with candidates and other stakeholders to shun the rumours.

“Whenever we are set to publish our results, we shall announce it using all the media of communication, as had always been the practice. “Here in this council, we normally follow a pattern and we cannot start changing it now without following due process,” he said.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate

INCREDIBLE!!! Botswana Twin Sisters Marry Same Husband

It has been said that twins share almost everything but sharing a husband may seem unimaginable.

But Zambia's Livingstone-based twin sisters Gracious and Grace are happily married to a man they gave conditions to, they said “take all or none.”

The Tswana, Botswana twins are married to 25-year-old Kays Kaundula, who lives in Livingstone Island in Zambia.

Kaundula, his wives Grace and Gracious and his three daughters from the two twin sisters show off their family and lifestyle - Picture by Edwin Mbulo

Kaundula, his wives Grace and Gracious and his three daughters from the two twin sisters show off their family and lifestyles.

Kaundula runs his own motor vehicle mechanical workshop in Livingstone Island's residential area and shares a house with his wives.

Kaundula however was later to discover that the sisters shared a cell phone and that in his conversations he proposed love to both sisters and both accepted.

A visit to plot 140, the residence of Kaundula, was met with a sweet greeting of small twin girls, who are Kaundula’s four-year-old daughters from Gracious.

Gracious and Grace seem happily married and Gracious even says when her daughters grow up and decide to get married, she would want them to get married to one man.

“I want them to be together just like us. This is what we set for ourselves as we grew up and we are happy that we have achieved what is good for us and our children,” she says.

Asked what they would do if Kaundula decided to get another wife since he was already in a polygamous status, the two sisters at the same time reply, “we will divorce him.”

Kaundula’s marriage is one which he says he first could not understand as he was first confused when he met the two sisters.

“I was picked by an amateur football team to play in Gaborone in Botswana and after one game as I walked out of the stadium I was greeted with a sweet voice from one of my wives, I can’t tell who. I was told that I had played a nice game.

"From there I continued talking to her or now realise that it was them on a cell phone as I later discovered that they were using one phone so I was talking to either of the two every time I called,” Kaundula says.

He says their relationship continued from phone conversations until he was later to meet them again as if by destiny’s design in Livingstone when they visited one of their sisters.

“After I left Botswana, I enrolled at Livingstone Institute of Business and Engineering studies and I happened to one day meet one the twins when they came to visit their sister who was staying near the institute and from there here we are,” he said.

Kaundula, who is chief executive officer of Kays Auto Services dealing in engine overhaul, servicing, electric repairing and motor vehicle repair consultancy, says he was told by the twins when he proposed that they wanted to get married to one man and if he was not ready, he would have neither of them.

“I proposed and they told me that they have been discussing my proposals which I had been advancing through the phone. Mind you it was one phone that they shared and at that time they were much slimmer than now and I could not tell them apart, so I accepted and got married in 2007.

"My dowry was paid to my mother in-law who has since passed on in Botswana,” Kaundula says.

He said he underwent a few difficulties with his own family when he told them of the marriage arrangement.

“Some opposed and others seemed to agree but also said I was overloading myself. One funny thing I realised later was that on the day I met the twin in Botswana, I was greeted twice by a person I thought had greeted me earlier.

"I did not know that they were twins. It also surprised me that I fell in love with both of them and when I proposed they also said I would get none unless I got them both. They say love is not shared but for me it’s shared equally,” he says.

He says that he can now tell his wives apart, unlike the early days when he first met them. Kaundula says they would both answer to any of their names when he called.

“When I call and say Grace I would get a ‘yes’ at the other end when actually I was talking to Gracious. I have three daughters; one with Grace and twins with Gracious. I have Chiluba and Chipo aged four and one month old. Chiluba who is named after my only surviving sister who is a teacher in Mansa and the other after my other sibling Chipo who is in Lusaka.

"My other daughter from Grace is Blessings. I also have another brother in Lusaka (named) Paul,” Kaundula said.

Asked how people in the community react to the marital arrangement, Gracious and Grace say they have been told that they did a right thing.

“Our friends say we did a good thing and they envy us. I work at Tukale Lodge and my sister is at home helping with the children. On your question of him bringing another wife our only resolve would be to divorce him, we are very happy with the way we are staying as a family and that is what we want for our children,” Gracious says.

The sisters say they are the last children in a family of five and that all their relatives who are in Botswana approve of their marriage.

Kaundula has continued with his football career with Blue Arrows Football Club who train at the Zambezi Sports Club under the sponsorship of the Zambia Air Force.
Culled:Nigeriafilms.com

Sad end of innocent school boy •Crushed by reckless Mile 1 bus driver

TRAGEDY STRUCK at No. 103, Ikwerre Road, Mile 1, Diobu, Port Harcourt, yesterday when a hit-and-run driver crushed a 12-year-old secondary school student to death in front of his parents' house.

Three other victims, including a PHCN staff, are on danger list after they were hit by the same reckless driver at Emenike Junction.

The accident infuriated a lot of people who do one business or the other around the area.

A vendor with Newspread News Agency, a member of Port Harcourt NDAN, who was at the scene, told our reporter that the incident occurred at about 5:30pm when the driver of a commercial bus marked Rivers XB 755 AHD, bashed a PHCN SUV while making a U-turn at the busy junction.

Chased by the driver of the PHCN car, leading to a struggle that made him lose control. Our source said the bus hit two persons at the junction, during the struggle for control of the vehicle.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that the driver was saved by the quick intervention of policemen from the Mile 1 station, who quickly dashed to the scene as an angry mob descended on him.

The driver was immediately arrested and taken to the hospital for treatment, along with the other victims of the accident.

The remains of the dead victim were initially taken to the station and later to a morgue.
Culled:Thenation

Mikel Obi Opens Twitter Account,

Nigeria and Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi, has joined Twitter.

 The Super Eagles player’s account came verified and his followers were increasing by the minute as at last night.

His first tweet from his handle, @Mikel12Official, was: “Here I am on Twitter, this is my official page and it is ready to go once I get the hang of it all…”

Obi is currently on tour with the Blues in the US.
Culled:Naij.com

Displaced Makoko Residents Now Live Under Third Mainland Bridge

Following the demolition of shanties in Makoko waterfront, thousands of displaced residents have relocated under the Third Mainland Bridge.

One of the residents, Paul Aworetan, said the residents would cooperate with the state government but urged the government to resettle them.

 He said, “The order given by the government was that no structure must be built within 100 metres from the powerline and we are complying.


Pics:reporters365.com

“However, many people have been affected and have now relocated beneath the Third Mainland Bridge.

They are living in their boats and are being subjected to harsh conditions. Some others have moved in with nearby residents but I hope government could relocate them.”

“We are going to put together an environmental task force which will monitor compliance with sanitation rules. Our hope is that if we meet the conditions of the government, there wouldn’t be cause for further demolition,” he said

Aworetan said the government should consider building a city on water like developed countries such as Italy, rather than attempting to demolish Makoko.
Culled:Naij.com

25 investors bid for PHCN power generation coys

A total of 25 prospective investors have submitted technical and financial bids for the six electricity generation companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN.

The Federal Government had set a revised timeline of August 17, 2012 as deadline for receipt of technical and financial bids from the potential investors.

The four thermal power generating companies slated for privatisation are: Ughelli Power Plc, situated in Delta area in South-South region of Nigeria with a total installed capacity of 972 MW; Geregu Power Plc- situated in Kogi State in North Central Nigeria with a total installed capacity of 414 MW;



The others are: Afam Power Plc, comprising Afam I-V power stations located in Rivers State, South-South Nigeria with an installed capacity of 776 MW; Sapele Power Plc in Sapele, Delta State, South-South Nigeria with an installed capacity of 1020 MW.

There are equally two hydro power generating companies up for sale, namely: Kainji Power Plc comprising Kainji Power Plants and Jebba Power Plants located in Niger and Kwara States respectively in North-Central Nigeria and Shiroro Power Plc at the Shiroro Gorge, Niger State in North-Central Nigeria.

The next stage of the privatisation exercise, according to the spokesman of the BPE, Mr. Chukwuma Nwoko, will be the harvest of the bidders’ technical and financial proposals for distribution companies.

 It has July 31, 2012 as deadline.

The transaction timeline also reveals that the evaluation of the technical bids will take place between August 14 and 28, 2012.

 The National Council on Privatisation, NCP, will approve the results of the technical evaluation on/or before September 11, 2012.

The deadline for the shortlisted bidders for generation companies to submit their letters of credit is September 18, 2012 while October 2, 2012 is for shortlisted bidders for distribution companies.
The BPE will, between September 25, 2012 and October 10, 2012, open the financial bids of prospective investors for the privatisation of the successor companies.

Army Investigates Fashola's Arrest of Colonel Officer

Authorities of the Nigerian Army have expressed its willingness to conduct discreet investigations into the alleged arrest of a Colonel and a Sergeant by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State for violation of traffic laws.

A statement by Assistant Director in charge of 81 Division Public Relations Department Lt. Col Kayode Ogunsanya said the attention of the Nigerian Army was drawn to some newspapers report over the arrest a Colonel and a Sergeant on Lagos BRT lane.

He said a soldier is always guided by the laws of the state he was domiciled in, saying military personnel in Lagos not on operational duties ought to comply with the BRT edict.

General Officer Commanding 81 Division Nigerian Army Major General KTJ Minimah, according to him, directed that the incident be investigated and the personnel involved would be sanctioned accordingly.

Culled:Naij.com

FG approves $1.49 billion for Lagos-Ibadan railway line

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the renewal of contract for the Lagos-Ibadan double track railway line which could not be completed in 2006 due to financial constraints.

The contract awarded to Chinese construction company, China Civil Engineering Construction Corp (CCECC), was approved for the sum of $1.487 billion and it is to be concluded in 36 months.

The renewal of the contract is coming after a re-negotiation and re-phrasing of the contract between the Federal Government and the Chinese company.

The Council also approved a variation of contract for the design and construction of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit Project.

Addressing the issue power generation, the Federal Government will also be spending 2.075 million Euros for the supply and installation of spare parts for the Shiroro hydro-electric power plant.

The Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji who briefed State House correspondents on the contracts said that the projects will sustain the generators for another five years of dependable service.

He also stated that another $10.092 million was approved by the cabinet and that it will be for the restoration of the plant units in the Omotosho power plant.

The two contracts approved in the power sector are designed to take care of the short term measures taken by the Federal Government to restore electricity in Nigeria.

The two power plants can generate 300 MW of electricity when fully operational.
Culled:Channelstv

Former lawmaker on the run for killing elephants

The police in Cross River State are on the trail of Joseph Enem, a former councillor in Akamkpa Local Government Area wanted for allegedly killing four elephants and selling their tusks to foreigners.

Ubi Arikpo, a Commissioner in the state’s Forestry Commission, said on Wednesday that the councillor and his accomplices were hiding in the Oban Forest Reserve.


Pics:googleimages

According to him, the suspects ran away after the deal was exposed. “They are now hibernating in the forest after the police declared them wanted for illegally poaching four elephants in the Oban Forest Reserve,” he said. “They killed the elephants and threw away the bodies of the huge animals after removing their tusks which they gave to their agents for onward transport to Europe for sale.”

He said that the agents came into the state from neighbouring Cameroon; adding that the forestry commission had recovered and preserved the carcasses of the animals which would be presented as evidence in court.

The forestry officer said the elephants had been classified as endangered wildlife and poaching them was a serious crime under the laws establishing the commission.

The law provides two-year imprisonment with a N150, 000 fine or both as punishment.

He blamed communities living around the forest reserve for allowing poachers to carry out their activities freely and urged them to assist in protecting the animals.

According to him, the police recently arrested some poachers with 140 parrots stolen from the forest.

He said the suspects were in the process of exporting the birds to Europe through Cameroon when they were arrested.
Culled:Dailytimesnigeria

Driver kills LASTMA official

Mustapher Adeleke, 34, an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), was on Tuesday crushed to death by a driver who allegedly violated traffic laws at Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos.

The bus driver, Haruna Nuru, reportedly drove against traffic on the Isolo-Ejigbo Road and hit Adeleke from behind.

LASTMA authorities said Nuru tried to flee from the scene after the accident but was stopped by witnesses.

Adeleke was taken to the Isolo General Hospital where he was confirmed dead, and his corpse deposited at the hospital morgue.

General Manager of the traffic management agency, Babatunde Edu, in a statement on Wednesday, urged motorists to obey the state’s traffic laws. "We urge motorists to desist from attacking, maiming or assaulting innocent officers who are tirelessly working to ensure that we get to our various destinations on time and safely," he said.
Culled:Dailytimesnigeria

Aero Contractors’ patrons lament flight delays

Travellers at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Wednesday lamented the cancellation of flights by Aero Contractors.

The passengers, who could not fly as scheduled, described the action as insensitive.



A traveller, Bodurin Amosu, explained that he was scheduled to fly on Aero Contractors’ 2p.m. flight to Benin City, but it was cancelled without reason and prior notice.

“This is my first time of taking Aero Contractors. I can tell you categorically that I am not impressed.

They told us that we are going to fly around 2 p.m. today. Now they have cancelled our flight without giving us adequate reasons for such cancellation. I have been going up and down, as officials just toss me here and there,” he lamented.

Another traveller, Jerry Otu, explained that the11 o’clock flight from Lagos to Uyo had been delayed till 5 p.m.

“I am going to Uyo. They told us that it was scheduled for 11 in the morning but they moved it to 1 p.m. and was later moved to 4 p.m.. They are now saying there will still be one-hour delay again,” he explained.

“It is stressful. Why are they treating us like this? It is really painful.”

He urged the Federal Government to enact a law that would bring the airline operators to book if they default.

It will be recalled that no less than 20 passengers of Aero Contractors staged a protest last week, threatening to take the airline to court for allegedly causing them to miss their flights.

An official of the airline, who pleaded anonymity, stated that the flight delays and cancellations were due to shortage of aircraft, following a recent bird strike.

He said that four of Aero Contractors’ aircraft had gone for maintenance as a result of the bird strike.
Culled:Dailytimesnigeria

Pastor sets self ablaze, carpenter commits suicide

A pastor in Ekete waterside inWarri, Delta State has set himself ablaze on the popular Udu Bridge near the oil-rich city.

The pastor, had been complaining about family problems in recent time.

A source said on Wednesday that the pastor, who drove himself to the bridge, alighted from his car, took a 20-litre jerrycan of fuel from the booth, and set himself ablaze under the bridge.

It was learnt that before help could come his way, Obaleme, who was married and had children, died on the spot.

Meanwhile, a middle-aged carpenter resident in Asaba, the state capital, whose name could not be immediately ascertained, has reportedly committed suicide by jumping into the river that passes through Anwai area.

The carpenter, a native of Abbi, Kwale, reportedly had a disagreement with one of his lovers.

An eyewitness said the carpenter was seen on top of the bridge in Asaba before he jumped into the river.

It was gathered that his corpse had yet to be recovered.

A source said the carpenter, suspected to be impotent, had been having problems with women in his attempts to get married.

When contacted, the police spokesman in the state, Charles Muka, said he had yet to confirm the two incidents.

Culled:247nigerianewsupdate/ Punchnigeria

Two die on Lagos-Ibadan Road auto crash

Tragedy struck, yesterday, on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway when two persons traveling in a Toyota Camry saloon car with Number plate: LSD 716 AE were crushed as a truck ran over them on Otedola Bridge.

An eyewitness report says the truck which was heading towards Ibadan had brake failure before it ran over the car in front killing its two male occupants instantly.

According to the eyewitness, the incident happened around 6.30pm which resulted in a serious traffic jam. Meanwhile driver of the ill-fated truck with Jigawa Number Plate: SA 985 BBR and its conductor were said to have escaped from the scene the moment the accident occurred.

An eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Shola, said: “I was trekking to Isheri when the truck drove past me. Later I heard a loud bang and when I got closer I discovered that the truck had crushed a Toyota Camry with two occupants.

I was also told that the driver and the conductor of the truck had escaped. When contacted, the spokeswoman of the Lagos State Police Command, DSP, Ngozi Braide, told newsmen that traffic policemen from Isheri Police Station and officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA visited the scene to ensure the free flow of traffic.

“The policemen removed the corpses to a mortuary while officials of LASTMA towed the truck and the damaged car to their office in Oshodi”, she said.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate/ Vanguard

Fashola orders arrest of military officers for traffic offence

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, on Tuesday, ordered the arrest of two top Military officers for driving on the restricted Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane.

The officers, Colonel K Yusuf, and Staff Sergeant A. Adeomi, were accosted by the governor on the BRT lane at Outer Marina in Central Lagos.

Colonel Yusuf was driving an Army Green Peugeot 406 while Staff Sergeant Adeomi A.J. was in a black Toyota Camry.

Fashola expressed disappointment that military officers expected to be disciplined were the ones violating BRT regulation.

Colonel Yusuf repeatedly saluted and kept muttering “I am sorry, very, very sorry” in response to Fashola's queries.

The arrest, however, drew the attention of commuters and passersby, who commended Fashola for displaying good leadership.

Following the incident, the governor described the officers as "a very bad example for the Military”.
He said he had been assured by superior officers in the military that the culprits would be appropriately sanctioned for their action.

“But it signifies my commitment and the commitment of the Lagos State Government that all those who will not comply with our laws should leave our State; we will not back down," he said.

“There is zero tolerance for lawlessness. There is zero tolerance for breach of our regulations and we are going to do more of this. We are going to take control over our traffic."

Condemning the act of breaking traffic regulations, Fashola stressed that even he, the governor, abides by state laws and regulations.

“I don’t use the BRT lane. I sit down in traffic and I expect everyone who wants to drive his car to do the same. The alternative is to use the bus," he said.

“The bus is for those who cannot afford to buy cars. They have the right also to use the road and we cannot encroach on that lane which we have reserved for them. This is democratisation of the road and I will defend it."

The BRT lanes are restricted to the state mass transit buses, namely the BRT and the LAGBUS.
Culled:Dailytimesnigeria

Bukky Wright In Auto Accident, Rushed To Hospital

Nollywood actress, Bukky Wright was involved in an auto accident this morning, Monday, July 16, 2012 in Lagos.

According to a brief, but sketchy information gathered by Nigeriafilms.com, Bukky Wright was involved in the car crash in Epe, an outskirt of Lagos.

We learnt that she has been rushed to a nearby hospital, where she is presently receiving treatment.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate/ Nigeriafilms.com

Arik Aircraft brushes Air Force plane in Jos airport

An Arik Air Boeing 737-700 with registration number 5NMJI on a route flight to Lagos during the weekend brushed the wing of a parked Nigerian Air force C-130(NAF 917) at the Yakubu Gowon Airpor Heipang, Jos the Plateau state capital.



The incident happened at about 13:45 hours in the afternoon when the Arik aircraft was taxing at the airport tarmac in preparation for take-off.

The tank and wing tip of the NAF C-130 was damaged while the wing of the Arik aircraft was dismembered and hung on the NAF aircraft.

In a statement released by Wing Commander, Adebayo Makun on behalf of the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air force said there was no casualty recorded during the incident, however the two air crafts had to abort their flights.

The NAF C130 was in Jos to airlift students of the Air Force Military School and the Air Force Girls Military School.

The Statement further said that a joint investigation by the Nigerian Air force and the management of Arik Air has commenced.
Culled:Channelstv

Ladies, it’s time to get down on those of us whose make up bags are just as crowded as passengers waiting to board a train at Agbado Terminal Railway station........

It’s not news that ladies world over use one make-up item or the other, have you ever pondered on the fact that that make-up bag of yours, if not properly taken care of could just be a den of germs?

Pics: boutiquelolita.com

During the course of my research, here are some of the tips I stumbled on..........

Not convinced? Here are just some of the nasties known to love nothing more than a warm, damp make up bag or an unloved lippie.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterium commonly found in soil, water and warm, damp environments such as hot tubs and swimming pools. But if you think that steering clear of your local sports centre will help, think again: this bacterium is also found in old mascaras and can lead to painful eye infections.

Escherichia coli, or E. coli is normally associated with food, but it's also commonly found lurking in old make up - especially lipstick. When ingested, E. coli can cause diarrhoea and abdominal cramps and, if left untreated, can eventually lead to organ damage such as kidney failure.

If you need convincing that sharing make up sponges or brushes is a bad idea, look no further than our next offender, staphylococcus epidermis, a naturally-occurring bacteria found on the skin of humans. This bacterium is especially easy to transmit through the shared use of lipsticks, eye liners and eye shadows and can lead to infections such as conjunctivitis and folliculitis - an infection of the hair follicles.

Staphylococcus aureus - otherwise known as MRSA - isn't just found on dirty hospital wards. This particular bacterium loves nothing more than an old, damp make up sponge - you're most at risk when using an infected brush or sponge on broken skin irritated skin.

Use it or lose it                         

Holding onto products long after their use-by date doesn't just increase the risk of infection, but means that you're also using products which won't be performing as well as they should.

Mascaras, for example should be thrown out after four to six months, the average woman keeps hers for a year.
Pics:leilaandvanya.blogspot.com

Eye shadows, blushers, lipsticks and glosses shouldn't be kept for longer than 24 months, but on average, these products will be left to linger at the bottom of our makeup bags for a shocking ten years....

Pics:makeupbag.net

It's often the products we use the least which we end up hanging onto.

Go through the contents of your make up bag at least once a month, and be ruthless - if you haven't used a product for more than a few weeks ask yourself if it's really worth holding onto.

While knowing the shelf life of products is important, remember that this varies according to the brand. "Liquid foundations in particular have a shelf life that varies between 12 and 24 months depending on the brand," researchers say.

Note, be especially ruthless with any make up that's used on the eye area.

In a recent survey published in Optometry journal, researchers gave forty women different brands of mascara. The women were instructed to use the mascaras once a day. After three months, the mascaras were returned to the researchers and tested. Microbes were found in 33 percent of the mascaras, while staphylococcus or streptococcus was found in the majority.

Don't be fooled by talk of anti-bacterial agents either - while an increasing number of products do contain these, they only have a life span of around six months.

Tool time

It's not just the products we use on our skin that can transmit bacteria — it's the tools we apply them with, and the average germ loves nothing more than a warm damp brush.

"Make up brushes should be cleaned every three to five months," says Bobbi Brown.

"To clean makeup brushes, use a mild household liquid soap.

 Use your hand as a cup for the warm, soapy water and swirl brushes in your palm until they are clean.

 Rinse well, and then squeeze excess water from the brush. Air dry by laying the brush over the edge of a counter or table so that the bristles are open to air at all times.

 Sponges can be washed in the sink, but ensure they're completely dry before going back in your make up bag. Consider investing in a multi pack of makeup sponges and wash or replace your sponges at least once a month.

Pics:mychemist.lk

It's just as important to keep hair accessories clean. A recent study conducted in the UK found that there are more bacteria on the average hair brush than there is in a dog's bowl.

Pics:cachebeauty.com

But while most of us would never dream of going for more than a few days without washing our hair, we're not quite so vigilant with the tools we use to keep it under control.

Don't allow hair to build up on the brush. To remove, use a comb, or a brush cleaning tool. Soak the brush in an antibacterial liquid, and wash with hot water. It sounds horrible, but once the brush is clean of visible hair, put it in your dishwasher on a high temperature. This will eradicate any remaining bacteria."

Chase's top tips

·          Once you have used your lip-liner or eye-liner pencil (especially if you have shared), sharpen it.

This removes the previous layer and reduces bacteria. Once a week take an alcoholic wipe and smooth over the tip.

 

·         Regularly give your make up bag a thorough wash to ensure that any spilled make up and harmful bacteria is washed away or destroyed.

 

·         For cotton/material bags wash in hot water using The Body Shop Tea Tree Facial Wash and for Plastic/Nylon types wipe thoroughly use cleansing wipes or an Alcohol/Anti Bacterial liquid solution.

·         Replacing and securing lids will ensure that there is never any make up spillage allowed to accumulate in the bag.

 

·         If your make up bag starts to smell, you could have mould or bacteria growing in the small, warm, dark corners. Clean it thoroughly and if the smell persists, invest in a new bag.

 

·         If you use a plastic or vinyl make-up bag, always remember to keep it out of the sun and away from warm/hot surfaces as bacteria will thrive in this type of warm and moist environment.

Culled:Yahoolifestlyes

Rivers Petrol Fire: How it happened – Survivors

Some victims of the Thursday dawn deadly fuel tanker blaze at Okogbe community in Ahoada West local government area of Rivers State on the border flank with Bayelsa State who were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa yesterday relived their harrowing experiences and miraculous escape from the jaws of death.

Over 100 persons, including pregnant women, youths and children were sent to their untimely death when a petrol tanker from which they were scooping fuel exploded.

Sadly, twelve out of the twenty victims that were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa with first degree burns could not survive the trauma and gave up the ghost few hours after they were brought in due to what a source described the inability of the centre to cope with such situation.

This development, is causing some of the families of the survivors concern because of their delicate condition.

According to a staff, eight of the survivors rushed to the Federal Medical Centre had been referred to the Already eight of the victims at the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa, had been referred to the University Teaching Hospital in Benin City, Edo State and in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The source said, “The victims suffered first degree burns which can not be handled by the hospital due to the unavailability of a machine used in the treatment of such high degree burns. ”When they were brought in, we tried and administer first aid and treatment to stabilise their conditions and referred them to UPTH or the UBTH in Port Harcourt Rivers State and Edo State respectively.”

One of the victims at the Federal Medical Centre, Collins Efejiro, in his mid thirties at the FMC, relieved his close shave with death on the fateful day saying it was providence that spared his life.
Efejiro who hails from Delta State said he was looking forward to his traditional marriage ceremony to his heartthrob on July 21, 2012 at Ughelli.

The Delta born Efejiro, whose skin was badly burnt said he earned his daily bread as a commercial motorcyclist otherwise known as Okada rider in the area.

According to him, he was called by a friend to come and get free fuel from the ill-fated tanker that was spilling petrol after skidding off the East West road in an attempt to avoid ramming into a bus on the ailing narrow route.

Recalling his near kiss with death, he said, ”When I got to the scene, I met a rowdy situation and struggled to get closer but no way. At the end, one of my friends that had a 50 litre jerry can filled with scooped product offered to fill my empty 10 litres for me.

“As he was pouring the fuel, we hear a very loud explosion. As we looked up to the direction of the fallen tanker, we saw some bodies of people we know being flung all around us.”

Meanwhile, most of the casualties of the Okogbe petrol fire disaster have discharged themselves against medical advice at the Ahoada General hospital.

Some medical personnel who spoke with newsmen at the hospital under condition of strict anonymity said they could not understand why patients acted the way they did in spite of a subsisting state government directive that they should be given adequate medicare.
.
Report says that four of the casualties died in the early hours of yesterday at the hospital while several others died at other hospitals they were rushed to. According to some of the hospital sources virtually all the patients were rushed in with one hundred percent degree burns, adding that they were losing water.

The sources further explained that most of the patients were on drip because it was necessary to replace the water they were losing.

Some doctors and nurses were redeployed from other government hospitals around to assist in managing the patients at the hospital.

Some of the patients were transferred to Port Harcourt when it became clear to the hospital management that their condition were too critical to be handled at the hospital.

A community source who also spoke to us said he was aware that some families pulled their patients from the hospital to give them traditional medical attention, adding that most of the patients were disappointed when the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker visited and did not distribute money among them.

“Relatives of most of the patients were disappointed that the Commissioner of Health came and just left like that. He did not share money to the patients. Another thing is that we in this environment believe in traditional medical treatment much. So relatives withdraw their patients from the hospital”, the source said.

It would be recalled that the state Commissioner of Health, Dr Parker was at the scene where he assisted in supervising movement of casualties to the General Hospital. The Commissioner who was visibly shaken by the sight of the painful incident at the hospital that Thursday ensured that the patients got speedy medical attention.


A sympathiser, Segun Oluwatoyin who works at the lubrication section of Mobil filling station in Ahoada East local government area lamented the painful incident. He said he was among those who rushed to the scene when the tanker exploded.

It would be recalled that a petrol tanker spilled its content at about 7am at Okogbe, Ahoada West, Rivers state end of the East West road.

Mr Oluwatoyin said that the driver of the tanker reportedly appealed to locals not to go close to the tanker after he had managed to escape from it. But they ignored his advice. Most of the locals rushed to the tanker with jerrycans, buckets and other household utensils to scoop fuel. Motorcycle riders were also seen at the spot trying to fill their tank.

Nobody could say what triggered of the fire but the tanker suddenly burst into flames consuming over a hundred persons.

At the General Hospital, some officials of NEMA were seen collating information on the incident. One of them who volunteered comments said it was a presidential directive that they should go to assemble data on the incident.

A youth Secretary of Ekpeye Youth, Oketu Oliver who spoke with newsmen linked the accident to a robbery incident on the road. He said robbers blocked the road so there was no room for the trailer when it swerved avoiding a Toyota corolla car that also lost control on the road due to a commercial bus that hit it from the rear.

Meanwhile, governor Chibuike Amaechi has ordered full investigation into the cause of the sad incident.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate

Man stones girl friend to death according to the landlady

THE relationship between Miss Roseline Ijeoma Christopher, who was 23 years old and her boy friend, one Lawrence Ufan Ette ended in a tragic mood as the boy friend allegedly stoned the pretty Rose to death.

According to the landlady of the deceased Miss Dorothy Bassey who resides at 13 Academy Street, Calabar, Roseline met her untimely death as a result of a brawl with her boy friend who is now on the run.

Bassey said that Roseline and her siblings along with their aged mother had been living together and she had been in a relationship for sometime with Lawrence but his attitude towards her never showed that he loved the deceased.

The attitude, she explained prompted her mother to stop him from coming to the house to see the girl. “But even with the instruction from the old woman, Lawrence kept sneaking in to see the girl particularly at night.”

The Arochukwu-born fair girl never knew that last Sunday was her last day on earth when Lawrence sneaked in as usual to see her. It was gathered that there was a misunderstanding between them which led her to tell Lawrence to leave her room.

“Unknown to her, when he left, he took along her phone and after some time, Nne, Ijeoma’s younger sister wanted to chat on ‘to go’ and asked the elder sister for the phone but the phone was nowhere to be found.

“That was when she discovered that the boy had picked the phone and she told Nne that the phone had been taken away by Lawrence who just left the room.”

Nne, the landlady said, was angry over what Lawrence did and decided to go after him “but while Nne took the main exit and headed towards Target Street , the boy sneaked back to the house through the short cut from Webber Street and they missed each other on the way”.

It was gathered when the boy friend came back to the house, he exchanged words with Roseline and she asked him to give her the phone but he would not and a fight ensued.

“She did not scream while they were struggling because she wanted to send him away quietly without arousing the mother but that was her mistake as Lawrence stepped out of the room and got a stone and went inside and hit her”. The young landlady said.

When he realized that Roseline was dead, Lawrence allegedly attempted to dispose of the body by throwing it over the fence.

“He carried her on his shoulder towards the backyard and was trying to throw the body over the fence when her mother who was wondering what the commotion was called Nne if thrives had invaded the house so early because the time was just past nine pm”.

It was when Nne went towards the backyard to find out what was wrong that Lawrence allegedly abandoned the effort to throw the girl over the fence and fled.

“Since it was dark, a neighbour who had torchlight came with it that was when the body was found inside the gutter”. She said.

The body of the deceased had been taken to the mortuary of the General Hospital Calabar while the suspected assailant had disappeared to the thin air.

A source at his 10 Anating Street in Calabar South where he resides after the alleged killing said he “hurriedly came here and packed some clothes into a bag and left and has since not been seen. His mother died some two months ago and the father is hypertensive now he has gone to kill his girl friend, his life has come to a close,”

The Police Public Relations Officer, of the state command, DS P John Umoh said the matter which was reported at Atakpa Poilce Station was being handled by the homicide unit of the police adding that, “it will not be long before we get him, the advisable thing for him to do is to come out of hiding now.”
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate

No foreign trained doctor will practise in Nigeria from October

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has declared that no foreign trained doctor will be allowed to practise in Nigeria from October, 2012 except showing evidence that he or she could have practised in the country of study.

The Acting Registrar of MDCN, Dr. Udugbai Ilevbare disclosed this in Abuja  during the induction ceremony of 103 foreign trained medical and dental graduates.

According to him, they must show evidence from the health regulatory bodies in their countries of training that they are registerable and could have worked there.

He also said that such graduates from October 2012 must sit for and pass the MDCN Assessment Examination to be eligible to practise in Nigeria.

He said: “May I at this point inform you all that beginning from October 2012 Assessment Examination, foreign medical graduates must show evidence from the heath regulatory bodies of the countries where they were trained that they are registrable and could have practised in those countries if they had wanted to do so.

”What it means is that if those who trained you as doctors permit or allow you to treat them as patients, we can also allow you to treat us without fear.”
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate

News in pictures: Dana Air Crash, Entire Family Buried In Anambra

Culled:247nigerianewsupdate