FG TO COMPLETE LAGOS-IBADAN EXPRESSWAY WITHIN TWO WEEKS

The Federal Government has promised to complete the ongoing rehabilitation of failed sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway that cause heavy traffic on the ever busy dual carriageway within two weeks. Motorists plying the expressway complain of spending long hours while driving through some sections of the road in recent times.
The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos State, Olutoyin Obikoya who made the promise, yesterday, stated that the Federal Ministry of Works had mobilised Reynolds Construction Company, RCC, to carry out urgent rehabilitation works on the bad sections within two weeks.
Obikoya, who is the engineers’ representative on the reconstruction of Lagos-Ibadan (section I), explained that the work would be done to ensure the road remained in good condition for a long time.

Movement on the road, he said, was also being slowed down by the construction of an additional lane on the Ibadan-bound stretch and the mounting of concrete median at some points.
According to him: “These activities require traffic diversion when necessary and work is carried out on five kilometres at a time.
“The ministry has been carrying out palliative works on the road and it is this construction work that is causing the traffic problem. They are working on the road and once it is done, movement will be better.”
The construction company, he said, would not work during the public holiday, that is today and tomorrow, but that after the holiday work would be intensified to ensure the job is completed within two weeks. [Vanguard]

HAPPY EID FROM R101

From the stable of R101, we are wishing you a Happy Eid -el-Kabir celebration. Especially to our ardent Muslim readers as you celebrate may Allah bless us all , and Bless Nigeria. Have a Blessed Eid.

Please do not forget to invite us to partake in eating the Ram*winks*.

WOMAN STABS MAN OVER 100 NAIRA

A 20-year old woman was Monday charged with stabbing her neighbour in the chest with a pair of scissors over N100 at an Abeokuta Chief Magistrates’ Court.
The accused, Toyin Somorin, whose address is unknown, is being tried for assault.
The prosecutor, ASP Paul Etusi told the court that the accused committed the offence at 18, Oke-Ijeun St., Abeokuta.
He said the woman allegedly stabbed a man, Sikiru Adeniji, in the chest with a pair of scissors during a disagreement over money.
“Adeniji lent the accused N100 and when he asked for the money it led to a fight and in the process, the accused stabbed him in the chest with a pair of scissors.”
Etusi noted that the offence contravened Section 355 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006.
The accused pleaded innocence of the offence.
 The Chief Magistrate, Anthony Araba, granted the woman bail in the sum of N30,000 with one surety in like sum, before fixing further hearing for December 10.
Hmmm, interesting.....

JONATHAN CONGRATULATES EAGLES ON THEIR VICTORY IN ADDIS ABABA

President Goodluck Jonathan has described the victory of the Super Eagles in Ethiopia as very remarkable and an indication that the country is moving on despite the numerous challenges facing the country.

The president who was speaking at the 2013 edition of Sacrifice of Praise holding in the Presidential Villa said that by winning the game they have proved they are the African Champions and that this has put Nigeria in full position to be in Brazil.
Furthermore, the president said  that there is no nation that is not facing challenges and that Nigeria will get out of the woods the same way developed countries overcame their own challenges. He said , we must be in Brazil so that the world we know that with our challenges we are moving forward.

Also, the second leg of the game is scheduled to hold in Calabar on the 16th of November and an International friendly with Italy on the 18th of November.

CULT CLASH IN AKWA-IBOM STATE

At least seven persons were feared dead following the clash between three cult groups, the Vikings, Red Skin, and KKK, otherwise known as Klans men in Uyo, the capital city of Akwa Ibom State.
Trouble was said to have started somewhere around Akpan Essien Street, where some young men who were drinking engaged in an argument which degenerated into a scuffle.
One of the victims, a 27-year-old man, Anieyie Okon Essien of No. 10 Asukwo Akpan Street, Ewet Offot, in Uyo Local Government, and a driver in Government House, was buried in the father’s compound on Saturday.
According to an eyewitness Anieyie was shot twice by some unidentified cultists, while another cultist who was a little far from him shouted, “finish it, confirm,” before the people that shot him brought out their knives and slaughtered him to death. Two others were killed at Akpa Ubeh and Iboko street.

Residents of Udo Ikpe, Urua Udofia, Udoinwang, Anderson, Akpa Edor, Asukwo Akpan streets, in Uyo metropolis complained that they have been living in fear as cultists have been harrassing and terrorising them in the last one month.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Etim Dickson, confirmed that the police have arrested about seven cultists who were in the State Police headquarters, and that they would be prosecuted soon.
“We are aware that for sometime now the cultists have been killing themselves. We have made some arrests through the combined efforts of the Quick Response Squad, and the policemen of the ‘A’ Division. We will make sure we prosecute them no matter who is involved,” Dickson said.[infonigeria].

hmmm, we hope the perpetrators are brought to book.

IRS MAKES AN EMERGENCY LANDING

Another air disaster was averted on Sunday as a plane belonging to IRS Airline made an emergency landing in Kaduna, north-west Nigeria.
It was reported that the aircraft’s hydraulic system developed a problem warning, thereby forcing the pilot to take a precautionary measure by asking ground control to confirm that all gears were down and locked.
“The front tyres didn’t come out on time and the pilot had to land the plane without its tyres out,” an airport source said.
We have also reliably learnt that the plane, 3390 was carrying passengers from Lagos to Kaduna.

“There was no casualty” the source confirmed to us.The aircraft had 89 passengers on board.
Some days ago, a chartered Associated Airlines plane crashed in Lagos seconds after take-off, killing 15 people.
Meanwhile, the last incident in Kaduna airport was on 20 August 2010, when a Chanchangi Airlines Flight 334, operated by Boeing 737-200 5N-BIF struck the localizer antenna and landed short of the runway. Several passengers were slightly injured and the aircraft was substantially damaged. Chanchangi Airlines later suspended operations following the accident.
We are made to understand that AIB are investigating the incident.

IGP ORDERS ROUND- THE-CLOCK POLICING FOR SALLAH CELEBRATION

As the Muslim faithful in Nigeria mark the 2013 Eid-el Kabir, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar,  has ordered all heads of Operational Units at Commands and Formations of the Force nationwide to put in place high visibility policing strategies targeted at achieving a secure, peaceful and incident-free Sallah celebration. 

This directive is contained in a Police signal issued by the IGP addressed to Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in-charge of Zones and State Command Commissioners of Police.

The IGP further directed Commanders in-charge of the Police Special Forces – the Air Wing, the Maritime Command, the Counter Terrorism Unit and the Border Patrol Units to ensure purposeful and strategic deployment of their personnel and logistics to ensure all criminal threats are effectively checkmated.

 Command Commissioners of Police are to adequately protect all essential infrastructure and vulnerable points including highways, motor parks, places of worship, shopping malls and recreation centres.  In addition, Commanders of Police Mobile Force Squadrons are to ensure that their respective Quick Reactionary Units remain on high alert throughout the holiday period.

The IGP reminded Operational Commanders that though the nation is on holiday, Policemen are not on holiday and all Commanders are expected to remain at their beats and posts throughout the Sallah period.

Commanders of Police Mobile Force Squadrons are to ensure that their respective Quick Reactionary Units remain on high alert throughout the holiday period.

The IGP reminded Operational Commanders that though the nation is on holiday, Policemen are not on holiday and all Commanders are expected to remain at their beats and posts throughout the Sallah period.

MILITANTS EXCHANGE GUN FIRES WITH SECURITY OPERATIVES IN KADUNA STATE.

A gun fight between unknown gunmen and security operatives had occurred throughout last night till early this morning in Makarfi area of Kaduna State. 

The resident said they have no exact idea as to cause of the shootings, but a police   source in Zaria said it is an attack on some banks in the area by islamist militants.

Makarfi shares boundaries with Kano state and is the home town of former Kaduna state governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

UPDATE: The gunmen are armed robbers who attacked commercial banks in the makarfi area of Kaduna state. The gunmen are numbered about twenty, eye witness said they were with explosives. There were also sounds of explosions which heightened tension in the area.

OVER 80 PEOPLE KILLED IN INDIA STAMPEDE

With the event of cyclone Phailin still in the air in india, another tragedy has befallen the asian country with the recent stampede at the hindu temple in the Madhya pradesh state.

A stampede on a bridge outside a Hindu temple has killed over 80 people in India and dozens more may have died after they leapt into the water below, police said.

"Sixty people are confirmed killed and the figure could reach 100 and More than 100 others have been injured" in the disaster in the Datia district of central Madhya Pradesh state.

The stampede was triggered by rumours that it might collapse after being hit by a heavy vehicle.

"Many people are feared to have fallen into the river and are unaccounted for."

UPDATE: MORE PEOPLE FEARED DEAD AS  DEATH TOLL RISES TO 111

SUPER EAGLES BEAT THE ANTELOPES 2-1

Nigeria beat the Ethopian Antelopes 2-1,  in the first leg of the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers in a rather controversial match in Addis Ababa, today. Emmanuel Emenike who led the Eagles to victory by scoring the two deserving goals, making him the man of the match.
 We do hope at the second leg it wouldn't be this difficult to win. UP SUPER EAGLES!

C/RIVER STATE: THE 2013 CARNIVAL THEME UNVEILED

 The Cross River State government has unveiled the theme for the 2013 Calabar Festival at the main bowl of the cultural centre  complex in Calabar. The state governor, Liyel Imoke unveiled the theme titled "Ain't No Stopping Us".
To this end, the government said “plans are underway to making this year’s event the best ever experienced since its twelve years of existence in the state”.

The annual carnival is regarded as the second biggest brand in Africa after Nollywood with over 50 million spectators globally.
The Calabar Carnival has grown to be a brand identified internationally, copied locally and even exported to other states and countries following its rich content.
The theme is expected to be interpreted by five participating bands including, The Seagull, Master Blasta, Freedom Band, Passion4 and Bayside. The governor, Liyel Imoke spurred the bands members to reflect on the states culture, history , creativity and above all measures geared towards promoting the tourism industry in their quest for the interpretation of the theme.
The Carnival which is slated for 26^th and 27^th of December Annually, is expected that this year’s live audience will outgrow last years audience.

ALLOW KENYAN LEADERS DISCHARGE THEIR ELECTORAL MANDATE, JONATHAN TELLS ICC

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday expressed Nigeria’s disappointment with the bias shown by the International Criminal Court (ICC) which ignored the request for deferral of prosecution in a number of cases by the African Union.
Jonathan, who spoke at the Extra-Ordinary Summit of Heads of States and Government of African Union to discuss Africa’s relationship with the ICC, especially issues concerning the trial of President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, said if at all the ICC was concerned about the implied allegation of bias, it would have adopted enough proactive steps to redress the allegation and allay the fears of concerned stakeholders, adding that “we think it should”.
President Jonathan, while urging AU member states to demonstrate solidarity with one another on matters arising from their obligations said, “In this regard, it is important that we maintain our unity and speak with one voice on Kenya”.
He also stated that certain Articles of the Rome Statute are of grave concern to Africa, particularly Article 27 which denies immunity to all persons without regard to customary international laws, conventions and established norms, stressing that it must be amended.

In the same vein, Mr. Jonathan said Articles 63 and 98 of the same statute have to be reviewed with a view to bringing them in conformity with the tenets of customary international law, conventions and norms.

Part of his speech read, “In expressing my support for Kenya on its difficulties with the ICC, I will like to acknowledge that five years after the post-election violence of 2007, the people of Kenya have proven to the world that they are capable of expressing their sovereign wishes in a free, fair and credible manner in accordance with democratic norms and values.

“This is a clear demonstration to the world that the people of Kenya are in the best position to determine their own future and deal with their past.

“To further consolidate this, I would like to urge the Kenyan Parliament to hasten its consideration of the Report of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission to facilitate the implementation of its recommendations in order to accelerate the process of national healing. [infonigeria]

“What remains is for the international community, in particular, the ICC, to give the elected leaders of Kenya the space to discharge their mandate in meeting the needs and aspirations of their people”.

CYCLONE PHAILINE HITS EAST INDIA

The indian government issued a red alert two days ago on the approach of the cyclone  Phailin.
Presently, Cyclone Phailin has made landfall on the east coast of India, an official said, with winds of up to 200km an hour forcing almost 450,000 people to flee and threatening to devastate farmland and fishing hamlets.
Phailin, which gathered speed on Saturday, has the potential to be the strongest storm to hit the area in 14 years.
The US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Hawaii forecast maximum sustained winds of 269kph with gusts up to 315kph.
Satellite images showed the cyclone filling nearly the entire Bay of Bengal, an area larger than France.
The government is presently evacuating thousands of people from the lowly areas.


UPDATE: INDIA ASSESS CYCLONE PHAILINE DAMAGE; Few deaths reported so far but wide destruction of crops and infrastructure in two eastern states.


Stay with us for more Updates.....

JONATHAN GETS ULTIMATUM TO RESOLVE PDP CRISIS

President Goodluck Jonathan has been given up to October 30, 2013, by the Peoples Democratic Party Core Supporters Network (PCSN) to resolve the internal crisis rocking the party or lose the group’s support.
The Network’s National Secretary, Mr. Mohammed Al-jameel Hashidu, who made this known while speaking with newsmen in Bauchi yesterday, said that in resolving the party crisis, the president should adhere strictly to the dictates of the PDP Constitution as well as rule of law.
“We resolved to withdraw our support for President Goodluck Jonathan if by 30th October the lingering internal crisis in the PDP is not resolved, he should consider losing our support for him”, the Network said.
Hashidu also advised President Jonathan to consider the entire country as his constituency and stop listening to his aides whose penchant for playing politics of reprisal, intimidation, rascality, rancour and molestation, he said, is dangerous to the survival of the country.

The network demanded for the “Immediate recall of Governor (Rotimi) Amaechi from suspension and his recognition as chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and the immediate removal of Bamanga Tukur, the embattled Chairman of the PDP to give peace a chance.”
The group also kicked against the proposal by the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih that the president and returning governors under the platform of the party should be handed automatic tickets, stressing that it was imperative that free, fair, credible and transparent primary elections hold at all levels.

BOKO HARAM ADOPTS NEW BOMBING STYLE

IEDs BAGS

The Boko Haram sect  have now devised a new means of hiding their explosive devices to unleash terror on hapless citizens during the sallah cerebration, investigations have revealed.


The insurgents, in order to avoid suspicion especially with the public now wary of abandoned polythene bags or sacks, now package their Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in school bags for suicide bombers. This was the observation of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Kano State after a joint operation with operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) led to the discovery and subsequent raid of a bomb making factory in Guduwawa village in Gezawa Local Government Area of the state last Tuesday.

The new approach, the JTF said, was copied from Boston in the United States where two brothers, reportedly dropped their back packs containing explosives in the midst of a crowd at a marathon race, killing three and injuring many last April.

An operative of the JTF told newsmen that the IEDs can be packaged in any type of school bag, adding that the IEDs control switch is stitched to the handle of the bag and only needs to be switched on for the explosive to be triggered.

“They will just carry it on their back and walk into any place or their target without people knowing or suspecting as they will be mistaken for students. This is a dangerous trend,” he said.

In a joint press conference, the Commander of the 3 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Kano, Brigadier General Iliaysu I. Abbah and the state’s Director of DSS, Mr. Bassey Eteng said the packaging of IEDs in school bags was the latest trend to avoid quick detection by the terrorist group.

Explaining further, Mr. Eteng said the plan of the terrorist group was to be using young persons of school-age as suicide bombers during the forthcoming Sallah and that the IEDs recovered from the factory in Guduwawa was capable of killing 1,000 persons.

“People should beware of the latest IEDs the terrorists are producing; it is packaged in a school bag for suicide bomber. They can carry it into the mosque, church and even schools. This is what happened in Boston; this trend is kind of copy-cat thing. People should be on look out,” he explained.

He also disclosed that the security operatives recovered materials the terrorists are using for the manufacturing of the school bag IEDs.
He listed the materials as three primed cylinders of IEDS; one primed explosive suicide back pack, 18 empty IED cylinders, 24 detonators, small bags of fertilizer, IED timers, cortex wires and three remote controls.
 The next time somebody is sitting near you with a bag pack.....just be on alert its not written on the face.

2014 WORLD CUP: FIFA APPROVES THE GOALCONTROL SYSTEM, THE EAGLES HAVE LANDED

 

Yesterday, FIFA confirmed it will be using the GoalControl-4D system technology for the 2014 World Cup which will be solely handled by the German-based GoalControl manufacturer as theofficial provider of goal-line technology.

The GoalControl- 4D system, which confirms whether a goal has been scored using 14 high-speed cameras around the pitch, won a tender in April to provide the technology for the World Cup in Brazil providing it passed evaluation at the Confederations Cup.

The world football governing body, on Wednesday, confirmed it will be used subject to final installation test in each stadium. Prior to each game, match officials will carry out additional tests.

The system works by notifying the referee within one second by a vibration and visual signal on a watch.FIFA revealed that the GoalControl-4D system indicated all 68 goals at the Confederations Cup.

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Also it has been confirmed that the Eagles have landed on the Ethiopian soil this morning at 8:50am in Addis-Ababa for the first leg of the world cup qualifier on Sunday. The super Eagles were also accompanied by  government officials, members of the Nigerian Football  Federation,Nigeria supporters club and the press. The team were welcomed by the local officials at the airport and also photographers who scrambled to get pictures of the super stars. Hmm mm, aren't they cute. Well we hope they play as fine as their cute faces so we can visit Brazil.

It is also amazing to note that the Germans have clinched a ticket to the 2014 world cup by beating Ireland 3-0 on Friday. Other Qualifiers include Switzerland, England, Russia and also the Dutch where Robin Van Persie performed a Hat Trick that earned  the striker the status as the Netherlands' all-time leading scorer

NO MORE POLYMER NOTE: WE ARE BACK TO THE PAPER NOTES

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Friday said that the new smaller denomination notes that will come in paper form would be in circulation before December.

Mr Tunde Lemo, Deputy Governor, Operations, said this while briefing newsmen on the sideline of the ongoing Annual meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.The smaller notes are N5, N10, N20 and N50 notes.
“The smaller denomination notes are being supplied by the printers and before December, you will no longer see tattered notes all over. “As I said, I have apologised to Nigerians that the reason we had old notes that are still in circulation was because of the issues around Project Cure. “We had earlier thought last year that we will transmit to a better note family which we code-named Project Cure.

“But because of the issues around N5,000 notes and the  resentments of changing the N5, N10 and N20 to coins, we had to go back to the drawing board and that was what has  caused the delay.
“According to him, the new smaller denominations will be in paper form with their features.
“They will be on paper since we didn’t succeed in convincing Nigerians that those smaller denominations should be in coins.
“But there will be a time in the future when we will all understand why they have to be coined.
“But now, we are back to status quo ante; that is they will reappear in the old form that they were except that they are going to be in paper not polymer.”

Lemo said that since 2009 the spending on printing of currency had been on the decline.
He attributed that to the efficiency in distribution of the currency and printing of more of the higher denomination notes.
“We used to spend N13 printing N1000 notes, if we had succeeded in printing N5,000 notes, we would
 have spent only N18; that meant that would have also reduced the cost of printing.
“That was the message we were trying to transmit to Nigerians,” he added
On the difference in the cost of printing in polymer and paper, he said that it was cheaper printing in polymer.
“We would have spent less printing polymer because polymer substrate lasts four times longer than paper and it costs only 150 per cent more.
“Unfortunately, whereas the substrate lasts four times longer, the ink fades pretty faster and so what’s the use of the substrate whose ink has faded and that was partly why we disengaged from polymer.”
On the cashless policy, he said that there had been improvement in the use of electronic channels for money transactions in the country.
 

17 DIE IN AUTO CRASH IN ILORIN

At least 17 people have been confirmed dead following an auto crash that occurred along Peke village, new Jebba road in Ilorin, Kwara state.
The state sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC) Mrs. Mary Wakawa, confirmed the accident in Ilorin on Friday, while speaking with journalists.
According to Wakawa, the accident occurred around 3.30 a.m on Friday between three vehicles along 16km New Jebba road, Ilorin.
Eyewitnesses said the cause of the crash was impatience and overspeeding.

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY GOES SPIRITUAL

Following incessant terror attacks and plane crashes in the country, the National Assembly has said a prayer session will hold later this month, to seek God’s intervention. Disclosing this at a news conference in Abuja yesterday, Chairman, Publicity Committee of the National Prayer Breakfast of the National Assembly, Senator Ita Enang, noted that against the backdrop of a myriad of problems confronting the country as an entity, the national assembly is set to seek the face of God for spiritual solutions to the problems.

Enang, who is also Chairman, Senate Committee on Business and Rules, said the prayer session would focus especially on the unending security challenges ravaging the Northeastern part of the country over the last three years and other problems facing the country.
The National Prayer Breakfast is an annual event organised by the National Assembly to bring together Nigerians of all faiths, tribe and creed to seek the face of Almighty God for divine solutions to the myriad of problems confronting the nation.

He noted that the National Prayer Breakfast, with the theme: “God in the lives of national leaders for development,” would feature Pastor John Enelamoh, who would give the key note address to “help in pulling down all walls and vices blocking the growth of the nation in the right direction.”

He said: “The 2013 National Prayer Breakfast, seeks to build bridges of unity, national harmony and progress.
“Through the instrument of our faith, we prayerfully pull down all walls and vices that divide us as a nation and provoke the spirit of patriotism and love among Nigerians necessary to propel Nigeria to her rightful place in the comity of nations.”
He added that the prayer conference, which would have in attendance President Goodluck Jonathan, the leadership, management and members of the National Assembly with their counterpart in the judiciary as well as members of the diplomatic corps, would be spiritual avenue for God to guide the leaders of the nation right.
He said: “We hope that as every well-meaning Nigerian join us at the prayer conference, the prayer to God of all creation, to direct our noble cause, guide our leaders aright, help our youths to know the truth and build a nation where peace and justice reign, shall definitely be answered.”
Lets join the national assembly oooo, we hope they are delivered too during the prayers.

LAGOS PLANE CRASH HAD A FAULTY ENGINE

The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) probing the October third 2013 air crash involving an Associated Airlines plane has revealed that the aircraft took off with a faulty right engine.

The AIB made this known through a preliminary report on the accident which led to the loss of 15 lives.
Addressing a news conference in Abuja, Commissioner in charge of accident investigation, Captain Mukhtar Usman stated that the investigation conducted on the cockpit voice and flight data recorders of the aircraft showed that the faulty engine was noticed shortly before take-off.
He also said that the insistence of the Pilot to fly the aircraft despite an automated warning from the on-board computer voice machine indicating that the take-off flaps were not in a correct position may have contributed to the crash.(channelstv)