₦airaland Forum

Mobile police officers engaged soldiers in a gun duel in Dongoyaro area of Bauchi on Thursday morning.
A witness said the police officers were at a checkpoint in Dogonyaro when some soldiers in a military pickup van approached and asked the police officers to make way for them to pass. To read more click this link...http:///HzysX

For the second time in 48 hours, the presidency in Abuja again on Wednesday attempted to hedge off scathing criticism from internal party opposition that President Goodluck Jonathan is acquiring an integrity deficit by failing to keep faith to honour agreements he reached with political associates. Read more by clicking this link...http:///6eWdO

Reports in French media indicate that the seven French hostages believed to be held by the Boko Haram have been released.
France 24 quotes the French minister for veterans as saying the hostages were released in Nigeria.
They were reportedly released in a village called Lamida Dikwa. Click the link to read details...http:///EZuCZ

Instead of gallivanting to European and other foreign countries to seek for help on tackling crude oil theft, the Goodluck Jonathan administration should move against “principalities and powers in high places,” who are the sponsors of crude oil theft, the Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, Mutiu Sunmonu, said in Abuja on Wednesday. Click the link to read details...http:///IoxFX

Instead of gallivanting to European and other foreign countries to seek for help on tackling crude oil theft, the Goodluck Jonathan administration should move against “principalities and powers in high places,” who are the sponsors of crude oil theft, the Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, Mutiu Sunmonu, said in Abuja on Wednesday. Click the link to read details...http:///IoxFX

The world football governing body, FIFA, has announced that it has approved goal line technology for both the 2014 World Cup and the 2013 Confederations Cup, both coming up in Brazil. Click the link to read more...http:///PNYbj

The ECOWAS Commission has appointed Mr Subair Kamar, a Deputy Police Commissioner, to take charge of the African-led International Assistance Mission to Mali (AFISMA).

This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by CSP Frank Mba, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer.

The statement said the appointment followed the recommendation of the Inspector-General of Police, and that until his appointment, Kamar was in the Department of Training at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

It said that Kamar had served in various strategic positions in Nigeria and in the United Nations.

The statement said the Commissioner distinguished himself in the UN Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) in the Republic of Macedonia and the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC).

It said that Kamar would assume duty at the end of February.

http://leadership.ng/nga/articles/48036/2013/02/18/ecowas_appoints_nigeria_police_officer_lead_african_mission_mali.html

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, on Monday confirmed the arrest of two persons, including a pastor, for allegedly being in possession of fresh human parts, which they concealed in two bags.

The commissioner said the pastor and his accomplices were arrested on Saturday and were currently being detained at the State Criminal Investigations Department for further investigation.

According to him, fingers, heart, liver, kidney and intestines were all concealed in two bags, which were discovered during a stop-and-search operation by policemen from Ikotun Police Divisional Office.

Mr. Manko disclosed further that two bottles, filled with what was suspected to be human blood, were also recovered from the suspects.

The commissioner also said the police have commenced investigation into the killing of an Assistant Superintendent. of Customs, who was allegedly shot dead by his colleague on duty post.

The Police chief, who confirmed the incidents to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the suspect, a Deputy Superintendent. of Customs, was being detained at the state Criminal Investigation Department.

However, NAN investigation at the department revealed that about eight persons, all customs personnel, who were on duty with the deceased on Saturday when the incident occurred along the Lagos-Badagry highway, had been invited by the police.

NAN gathered that the police had also requested for the release of the vehicle containing the contraband the deceased and his colleagues wanted to impound during the shooting.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/120961-pastor-arrested-with-human-parts-concealed-in-bags.html

Mohammed Abubakar says N8.5 million worth of insurance was paid to 17 dependents of police officers who died while serving.

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, said on Monday that the police paid N8.5 million insurance cover to 17 dependents of police officers who died in service in zone six.

The police boss, who was represented by the out-going Commissioner of Police in Rivers, Mohammed Indabawa, said this in Port Harcourt while distributing the cheques to beneficiaries.

He said each beneficiary received N.5 million under the police insurance scheme.

Mr. Abubakar said out of the officers that died, four were from Rivers Command, saying that the state government also released N1 million each to the four families.

The I-G said six served in Akwa Ibom Command, one in Cross Rivers while six served in Bayelsa Command.

He said the ceremony was expected to take place in Abuja but police decided to decentralise the exercise.

The inspector general urged the beneficiaries to spend the money judiciously.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/120854-nigeria-police-pay-n500000-to-families-of-17-police-officers-killed-on-duty.html

The police have confirmed the death of one person in an explosion that occurred under the Festac link bridge, linking Festac Town to Amuwo Odofin Housing Estate. Click the link to read more...http:///PajQH

The police have said that they would arrest Abdulrasheed Maina, the Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Force Team, based on the Warrant of Arrest issued by the Senate. Click the link to read more...http:///9R97S

After auditing 153,019 workers on the Federal Government’s payroll, the government has already discovered 45, 000 ghost workers. Click the link to read more...http:///EuY8b

The authorities of Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, have relieved the Registrar of the Institution, Isah Mohammed-Abbas, of his appointment. Click the link to read more...http:///MDSJP

The Federal Government on Tuesday night opened the cash tap and doled out money in torrents to the victorious Super Eagles team to the just concluded African Cup of Nations championship in South Africa. Click the link to see details...http:///Lc1QP

While the Federal Government has concluded plans to spend N75 billion ($500 million) to procure 30 aircraft for airlines, none of those indicted, by a government White Paper ten years ago, for the fraud and misappropriations that led to the collapse of the Nigeria Airways has been prosecuted or made to return the money they stole. Click the link to read more...http:///81942

The Kano State Police Command has arrested seven suspects and declared eight others wanted over the recent assassination attempt on the Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero. Click the link to read more...http:///lPMYp

A retired banker, Felix Bassey, 65, died on Sunday while watching the final match of the just-concluded Africa Cup of Nation (AFCON) between Nigeria and Burkina Faso. Click the link to read more...http:///2TPG8

The unexpected resignation of Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, was a deliberate plot to draw the attention of the presidency to the shoddy manner the Nigerian Football Federation is managing the affairs of the team and the lack of faith in Mr Keshi’s ability, Premium Times can report today. Click the link to read more...http:///AUPqU

An Upper Area Court in Mararaba, Nassarawa State, on Friday heard how a clergyman, Peter Ododa, allegedly eloped with the wife of a member of his church. Click the link to read more...http:///xJast

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Monday arraigned a former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, on money laundering charges. Click the link to read more...http:///SLdyk

The head of the world’s Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, has announced that he’ll resign from office on February 28. Click the link to read more...http:///k1FJS

A major federal government power plant will be launched in less than two months, a top official said.

The Niger Delta Power Holding Company said the National Integrated Power Project, NIPP, in Ikot Nyong, near Calabar, will commence power generating operations, in 2013.

The facility, the biggest of all the NIPP projects in the country, has the capacity to add extra 563 megawatt of electricity the Nigeria’s fledgling power generation. The station has five gas turbines with about 112.5 megawatts rating each.

The Site Manager of the Calabar NIPP, Paul Akinola, said efforts were being made for the facility to be inaugurated before the end of March, 2013. Work began at the plant in 2006.

Initial completion timeline of four years was delayed by technical and financial troubles. The completion effort is now being fast-tracked, Mr. Akinola.

Mr. Akinola said to be able to inaugurate the facility within the first quarter of the year gas would have to be sourced from United Cement Company, UNICEM, in Calabar.

“The challenges impaired progress of work but we are working on an alternative arrangement to fast-track the project now,” he said. “We need gas to do that and we will probably tap from the gas pipe that leads to UNICEM.”

If the first quarter projection fails, the plant will be unveiled early second quarter of the year, he said.

He expressed optimism that the project would be fully operational this year, noting that all the other NIPP projects in the country, including the one at Sapele, had begun operation.

“As a matter of fact, this Calabar NIPP is supposed to be the first one to work. It is the biggest of all the NIPP projects nationwide,’’ Mr. Akinola said.

He explained that the gas component of the project was more than 50 per cent completed “but we cannot wait for it to inaugurate the project and that is the reason we are trying to source gas from UNICEM pipe”.

He also said that water was another challenge to the project, saying that the terrain where the NIPP was located was difficult to sink boreholes.

“In the contact, there are supposed to be three or four boreholes. When we started digging, we saw that it is a very rocky area; the rocks here cannot retain water because it is igneous and swampy, too,” the manager said.

Water is another challenge affecting the plant. Mr. Akinola said that is sourced from the Water Board. “We need about 100 cubic metres per day, and we have an arrangement for them to pipe to us from their facility at Odukpani Junction.”

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/119622-nigerias-largest-nipp-power-plant-to-be-launched-in-march.html

The Lagos State Government, Friday, blamed the deplorable state of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road on politics. Click the link to read more...http:///tb69n

Three foreign doctors, believed to be South Koreans, have been killed in Potiskum, Yobe State. Click the link to read more...http:///kr8j3

The Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, said his lifelong ambition is to be the President of Nigeria and he has been preparing himself for the task. Click the link to read more...http:///U5c07

Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has congratulated four opposition parties for successfully merging into a new party, All Progressive Congress, APC. Click the link to read more...http:///uWSrs

The deployment of Nigerian soldiers as part of the Africa-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) is turning out to be a complete charade as army authorities and the Ministry of Defence are having a hard time coping with basic logistics such as provision of the right uniforms, food, and proper transportation for troops, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt. Click the link to read more...http:///Rn0O4

Alani Bankole, the father of the immediate past Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, got married to two new wives who both gave birth within a space of two days. Click the link to read more...http:///s1JZr

The Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has said that he could pack his bags and resign from office if his team wins the ongoing African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Keshi said this at a press conference in South Africa while reacting to a question on whether he would still be with the team after the competition.

‘The most important thing is what I’m doing. If back home they don’t like what I’m doing well you can’t force someone to love you.

“If I win the cup I may pack and leave, I’m a professional coach, Nigeria is where my heart is and if there’s any more offer out there….,” Keshi said.

The coach, who won the Nations Cup as the captain of the Nigerian team at Tunisia 94, also said he has no problem working under a good foreign coach.

“I’m never against a white coach in Africa, but do not bring a mediocre coach from Europe.

“If you bring a good coach, I can learn from him. We have good African players but we didn’t give them opportunities because they’re black dude,” he said.

Keshi has led the Super Eagles to the semi-finals of the ongoing African Cup of Nations against expectations of a lot of Nigerians; and defeated tournament favourites and star—studded Cote d’ Ivoire in the quarter-finals.

He said Nigeria is not intimidated by players like Seidou Keita and Mamadou Diarra in Mali as the match would be decided on the field of play.

The coach said he enjoyed his time at Mali and wouldn’t mind returning there.

“It’s a place that I love, they’re wonderful people and if there’s a chance I will go back there,” he said.


http://premiumtimesng.com/news/118729-if-nigeria-wins-nations-cup-i-may-resign-keshi.html

The tension soaked quarter-final match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Elephants of Cote d’ Ivoire on Sunday claimed the life a football fan in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital. Click the link to read more...http:///nC1Rh