Building collapse: Lagos bans construction on weekends, public holidays

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Following cases collapsed buildings in recent times in Lagos State, the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola said yesterday that it would no longer tolerate building construction on weekends and public holidays.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Olutoyin Ayinde, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the activities of his ministry in the last one year.

This, according to him, is to check unscrupulous developers and building contractors who secretly engage in construction of buildings at night, weekends and public holidays in a bid to dodge building and control agents.

The commissioner also said the government would impose appropriate sanctions on owners of about 407 abandoned buildings across the state.

Achebe, no father of African literature — Soyinka

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As celebrated author, Chinua Achebe’s final burial rites hold this week, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka in this exclusive interview with Sahara Reporters paid tribute to the famous author but says he(Achebe) is not the father of African literature. Soyinka, who won the 1986 Nobel Prize for literature, also spoke on his personal relationship with Achebe and other Nigerian writers; his regrets about Achebe’s last book, There Was A Country: A Personal History of Biafra; and his attempt to talk the late Biafran leader, Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, out of fighting a war

Do you recall where or how you first learned about the death of Professor Chinua Achebe? And what was your first reaction?

Where I heard the news? I was on the road between Abeokuta and Lagos. Who called first – BBC or a Nigerian journalist? Can’t recall now, since other calls followed fast and furious, while I was still trying to digest the news. My first reaction? Well, you know the boa constrictor – when it has just swallowed an abnormal morsel, it goes comatose, takes time off to digest. Today’s global media appears indifferent to such a natural entitlement. You are expected to supply that instant response. So, if – as was the case – my first response was to be stunned, that swiftly changed to anger.

Senate Approves State Of Emergency In Borno, Yobe And Adamawa

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The Nigerian Senate has approved the state of emergency declared last week in three states believed to be the epicentre of Islamist insurgency in the country.

The Senate, after a closed-door session with 100 members (out of the 109 members), approved unanimously by a voice vote the official gazette of the state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, transmitted to it by President Goodluck Jonathan.

“We, therefore, approve Mr. President’s request for a declaration of state of emergency,” said Senate President, David Mark, after the voice vote.

Nasarawa Mass Killing: 25 Missing Policemen Found Buried In Mass Grave

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SUSPECTED OMBATSE MEMBERS PARADED
ALONGSIDE THEIR CHARMS & WEAPONS

The death toll of policemen killed by members of the Ombatse cult in Nasarawa State has risen to 72 following the discovery of the bodies of 25 policemen that had been hitherto declared missing in a mass grave in an unnamed village in the state.Earlier, in a joint briefing, security authorities had confirmed 57 operatives, comprising 47 policemen and 10 agents of the State Security Service (SSS), killed in the ambush that took place on May 7 when they were on a mission to a village in Nasarawa State.

Following the bloody attack, the 25 policemen were declared missing because their bodies could not be found to confirm if they were dead or alive coupled with the fact that their whereabouts was unknown.

Incredible: Man Kills 18ft Snake In Florida (Photos)

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A Miami man briefly wrestled with and ultimately used a knife to kill a Burmese python measuring 18 feet, 8 inches.

That sets a state record for pythons captured or killed in the wild. The previous record measured 17 feet, 7 inches.

Jason Leon was not hunting pythons but, while driving late at night recently in southeast Miami-Dade County, he and a friend spotted about 3 feet of snake protruding from the brush.
Leon applied the brakes, climbed out of the car, grabbed the visible portion of the snake, and began hauling it onto the road.

The giant constrictor responded by trying to wrap its body around one of Leon’s legs, but he was able to dispatch the reptile with a knife.

Burmese pythons are native to grassy marshes of Southeast Asia and can grow to about 23 feet and weigh up to about 200 pounds.
In Florida, where they’ve been released as pets and escaped from wildlife facilities, there are thousands of them, mostly within the Everglades ecosystem.

As such a large and voracious invasive species, they’re a threat to native wildlife. The state would like to eradicate them, if that were possible.

Leon, meanwhile, is being praised.

Human Parts Available For sale: Live human N40,000, Head N8,000, Private Parts 10,000

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Emotions ran high, Tuesday, at Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, following startling revelations by suspected members of three syndicates, who specialised in selling human parts to herbalists and persons suspected to be clerics.

The suspects told a bewildered crowd that human heads were sold for N8,000; hands, N4,000 and private parts N10,000.

One of them, Agboola Kolawole, who blamed his indulgence on poverty and inability to pay his children’s school fees, disclosed that he had so far sold four heads of his deceased siblings to a herbalist, who in turn sold to some persons they identified simply as Alhajis.

Video: Nigeria Has Africa’s Highest Rate Of Investment Returns – Aganga

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The Minister of Trade and Investment Olusegun Aganga has stated that Nigeria is in a unique position with the highest rate of returns on investment in Africa.

This he claims was made possible because the nation’s macro-economic stability is much stronger than most developing countries in Africa and this in 2012 made Nigeria become the highest destination for investment in Africa, attracting investment of about $8.6billion, with an increase of about 46 percent growth and investment.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Business Morning, the Minister explained that according to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) result, the total foreign investments in Nigeria as at 2012 is in excess of $16billion, compared to $7.9billion in 2011.

Obtaining facebook audience plus likes helps you to attain more and more

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Collective networking an approach that has changed the outlook of the world. Not only individuals but even great sellers were also concerned also assisted by it. Collective and networking are two diverse words which are whenever joined closely form an immense twist.

There's no confusion that internet has modified this planet into e-village. Everyone has their own presence against the internet and that too in their private defined ambience also manner. This is not just true for human beings rather it goes the same line for good services too. Now the approval of a firm as well depends on their linked authority. It is like inviting each individuals within the perfect corners of the globe to your virtual business and makes them see your services plus judge their attribute too. In today's earth of technology, everybody needs to create sure that all assets should be used in a direction to appeal to utmost potential customers. For this advantage proper web marketing need to be focused the ultimate.

Grandma Orders Grandson To Kill Grandpa, Goes On Shopping Spree With His Money

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HEARTLESS grandma Janet Strickland allegedly enlisted her teenage grandson in a heinous plot to kill her hus­band – the kid’s 72-year-old grandpa!

William Strickland, 19, agreed to the sick scheme, and then pumped six slugs into his grandfather’s back as he waited to catch a bus for his dialysis treatment, say prosecutors.

Later, the two used the dead man’s money to go on a shopping spree – buying a flashy car, furniture, tattoos, a cell phone and more, the authorities add.

“There’s a special place in hell for people like this,” said a source. “Stone cold hearted isn’t the word for it. This is pure evil.”

Chinua Achebe's body arrives Nigeria - Photos

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The body of late literary icon, Prof. Chinua Achebe arrived Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport Abuja, earlier today May 21, where it was received by government officials. The body was then moved to Enugu, the home town of the late author, aboard a private aircraft, where it was received by Achebe's elder brother, Chief Augustine Achebe, other family members and state government officials.

He will be buried Thursday May 23. See more photos after the Break.

Bash Ali Protests At PDP Secretariat

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A former World Boxing Federation (WBF) title holder, Bashiru Ali, popularly known as Bash Ali, has appealed to the Federal Government to support him in the staging of a world-record boxing fight to be hosted by Nigeria.

Mr. Ali who staged a protest at the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abuja in pursuit of his bid was on Tuesday, locked out of the premises, alongside his supporters.  His efforts to get the Federal Government to support him in staging a Guinness Book of World Record bout have so far proved abortive. This led him to undertake a trip to Libya to seek the help of the late Muammar Gaddafi.

Gunmen Kill Police Inspector In Niger

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Some yet to be identified gunmen on Monday killed a Police inspector in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State, North Central Nigeria.The gunmen who reportedly came on a motor bike opened fire on an advancing police patrol team and in the process killed the Inspector who was leading the team and carted away his rifle. Confirming the incident to Channels Television in Minna, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Richard Oguche admitted that the gunmen took the patrol team by surprise which resulted in the death of the police officer.

Although, Mr. Oguche refused to give the name of the deceased, he revealed that the command has arrested 50 suspects in connection to the attack. He added that investigation was still on-going.

Africa Must Check Illicit Fund Flows – Jonathan

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President Godluck Jonathan has said Africa must check the huge funds being illegally taken out of the continent.

President Jonathan was speaking to a delegation of the United Nations’ High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa, at State House, Abuja.  He said Africa ‘needs robust assistance from the developed world’ to check this outflow, because ‘corruption would be minimized if there are no places to hide the illicit funds’.

He challenged oil refineries worldwide to ask questions about the source of the crude they refine, and said the Administration was taking definite steps to check the theft of crude oil from Nigeria.

Wendall, Karen Igho's BBA Co-Winner Arrested In Zimbabwe Over ₦4 Million Fraud

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The police in Zimbabwe has arrested a former Big Brother Africa winner, Wendall Parson over an alleged $25,000 fraud. Wendall, who co-won the reality TV game show with Nigeria's Karen Igho in 2011, was alleged to have made false car insurance claims after he was involved in an accident with his car in March 2013. 

We gathered from reports that Wendall allegedly insured his Ford Ranger car with Alliance Insurance Company on March 18, 2013, two days after he crash the same car. He then allegedly lodged a false insurance claim of $25,000 for the same car.

'Boyfriend' Rapes 3 Sisters and Their Mum At Gun Point

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Sometimes I wonder the kind of heart some guys have:A gang of boys at the weekend raped three sisters and their mother at Illah town, in Oshimili North local government area of Delta State at gun point.   Unfortunately, while the shameful act lasted, other women who heard their shout and rushed to the scene were given the same treatment by the rapists who after threatening to kill them escaped with the women’s wrappers, leaving them nude in the bush...  Spokesman of the Delta State command, ASP Lucky Uyabeme, said the victims were ambushed on their way to the farm, adding that one of the suspects, identified as Chuks had attempted to woo one of the girls, who is a 16-year-old SSII student of one of the secondary schools in the area. He said he wanted to be her boyfriend but she turned him down.

Congratulations: Women4Africa crowns Abike Dabiri “International African Woman of the Year"

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House of Representatives for Ikorodu Constituency Lagos State, Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa  was crowned with "International African Woman of the Year" at the 2nd annual Women4Africa Award which held in the UK on Saturday May 18th. The award was presented by the anchor of the occasion, Princess ‘Deun. See more photos after the Break

2 Students Reportedly Shot Dead During OOU Students Protest

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 Violence had rocked the Ago Iwoye campus of the Olabisi Onabanjo University on Monday. As early as 7.30 am, students had stormed the gates of the institution which they succeeded in locking. Only to reportedly have two students of the university shot dead with several others wounded following an ongoing protest about against some of the “anti-students policy” of the school’s management.

According to StreetJournal, some of the students revealed that one of the new policies stipulates that any student who does not pay school fees on time would not be allowed into the exam hall, which could mean an extra year for some.

Policemen were however on the scene not long after and arrests were reportedly made. Students claimed policemen opened fire on them and in minutes, the story was trending on Twitter, with the pictures above.

However, the police have denied that they shot students dead.
Mr Muyiwa Adejobi, the spokesman of the Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Police Force. Adejobi said:

They went violent this morning and some of our men were deployed to disperse them. The operation was led by a Deputy Commissioner and no live bullet was used so the issue of killing does not arise at all.”
They are just using the issue of killing to seek public sympathy. We don’t kill. That was the same thing they said when there was a crisis in Tai Solarin University of Education in Omu Ijebu, they said policemen killed four students. No one saw the bodies. That is what they always say to win public sympathy”.

At Least 2,000 flee Borno to Niger Republic

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Culled from More than 2,000 Nigerians living in border villages in Borno State have reportedly fled as a result of the ongoing military operations targeted at routing insurgents from the area under the emergency rule.

The fleeing villagers were said to have headed to the neighbouring Niger Republic.

“Most of the residents of border villages of Borno have fled to Niger. About 2,000 people from Abadan, Malam Fatori and other villages are now refugees in Difa, Niger Republic,” a top security officer told one of our correspondents on Sunday.

The source said that the Joint Military Task Force was on the trail of members of the Boko Haram sect, who were dislodged from the Sambisa Game Reserve and other camps on Thursday in Borno State.

It was learnt that residents of Maiduguri and other communities far from the border, who did not want to be caught in the cross-fire had also fled to some neighbouring states, including Kano and Bauchi

Punch Nigeria

Man Loses Manhood After Giving Beggar ₦50 In Akure

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Wonders,” they say, “will never cease”. This was the scenario at the weekend at the Old Garage, Akure when a middle-aged woman was alleged to have used charm to take a boy’s joystick.

It was gathered that the victim, Adewale Akande, a graduate of College of Education, Oro, Kwara State gave the woman who begged him for alms, N50 but five minutes later, he discovered that he was having a feeling that his manhood had disappeared.

Apparently uncomfortable with the situation, the victim, in his mid-twenties, called a traffic officer around to help him arrest the woman whom he said begged him for alms.

Professor Ango Abdullahi...We Are Ready For War

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Mr. President, We Received The Message You Sent Asari Dokubo!
The North Is Prepared, Ready & Waiting! - Northern Elders Forum.

**I am putting it to Jonathan on notice that he Must leave office come 2015. - Ango Abdullahi.

A member of the Northern Elders Forum. Professor Ango Abdullahi has sent out a message to Asari informing him that the North are prepared and ready for war.
Professor Ango Abdullahi blame President Goodluck Jonathan for the remark made by Alhaji Dokubo, and stressed that reaction is that, if not for the fact that I am aware that Dokubo is a spokesperson of President Jonathan, I will have ignored him.