In the 21st century when most of the world’s typewriter manufacturing companies have long closed shops, the National Theatre is spending a whopping sum of N22.8 million to purchase the few remaining ones.

Demand for the machines has sunk in the last 10 years as consumers switch to computers.

Our checks showed that typewriters are at the end of their line as most of the world’s typewriter manufacturers have closed down their plants or converted to other lines of productions.

The last standing typewriter factory in the world, Godrej and Boyce, is closing its plant in Mumbai, India. What remains are just several hundred typewriters, most of which are Arabic language models.

Although typewriters became obsolete years ago in the west, they were still common in India - until recently, reported the Daily Mail.

Typewriter sales have plummeted in the past several years: the company sold fewer than 800 machines in 2010, down from the 50,000 it produced every year in the 1990s.

“From the early 2000s onwards, computers started dominating. All the manufacturers of office typewriters stopped production, except us,” general manager Millind Dukle told the Business Standard. “We are not getting many orders now. But this might be the last chance for typewriter lovers. Now, our primary market is among the defence agencies, courts and government offices.”

Another one of Godrej and Boyce’s typewriter plants in Shirwal was shut down recently and is now used as a refrigerator manufacturing unit.

In the face of this development, the National Theatre provided for N22.8 million in its 2012 budget for the purchase of typewriters.

The item, which comes under the heading “Purchase of fixed assets – general” has other items as purchase of office furniture and fittings, purchase of photocopying machines, purchase of fire-fighting equipment as well as purchase of recreational facilities.

Kabir Yusuf, general manager, National Theatre, when asked about the item exclaimed, “Who uses typewriters these days?” He however said the money was for writing equipment.

When asked to shed more light on what he meant, he said the sub-head typewriter is the budget template under which there are other items, which he would not mention.

Read more: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2590-national-theatre-to-spend-n22m-on-typewriters

If you are travelling from the East to Abuja and vice-versa, your best route is Makurdi-Oturkpo-Lafia road. The road is in a bad shape, but if you are using an SUV you may not feel it. But if you are using a salon car, pray tell. . . it is better than floating on water

The Walk Against Rape in Lagos which encouraged rape victims to speak out; and the Peace Prayer Outreach in Kwara State which enriched the lives of those in need and advocated for understanding between religions. These efforts all served to promote peace, non-violence and solidarity within Nigeria and more importantly advanced the vision of Peace One Day.

Obiang who was once married to the 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' host, Frank Edoho said, "Just to dare to argue with your husband is like a challenge in your home. The woman is challenging the man and tempers flay and then you snap, then there is a slap. He says 'I am sorry it is a mistake' then says 'sorry I won't do it again,' then he does it again, again and again.

Narrating a particular incident, Hadiza, estranged wife of musician Zaki Adzay, said, "he slapped me on the face so (and said) 'get up you must abort this pregnancy today. Now that I am married to you, you want to hook me with pregnancy because I am a celebrity.' Then there was a wardrobe in our room so I put my tummy in there and then he continued beating me. He had some folic acid in his hand and said I should swallow it and abort the pregnancy. When he gave me I said he should allow me take water, thank God the door was open so I ran away."


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFqv8Azlsjc

Accountant indeed! JTF should also be on trail of their 'Auditor'. #Welldone

The onslaught of the security services against Boko Haram seems to be paying off with the arrest of a top operative of the Islamist group described as the accountant.

`The accountant’ was said to be in transit between Kano and Zaria, last week, with N4.5 million cash belonging to the Islamist group when men of the JTF intercepted and arrested him.

Sources said he was travelling in a commuter bus as a cover.

The arrest came barely two days after security agents tracked and killed Boko Haram spokesman, Abu Qaqa, in an operation in Kano.

The Islamist group’s `accountant’, it was learnt, embarked on the journey which originated from Maiduguri, Borno State, to make cash transfers.

The sources said his cover blew after he and another associate made some money transfers in Kano, an action that aroused the curiosity of bank officials who alerted security agents.

The associate was arrested but, by then, the `accountant’ was already on his way to Zaria.

Subsequent manhunt yielded fruit as the `Boko Haram accountant’ was arrested in transit.

The Islamist group’s kingpin, according to the sources, is under intense interrogation by security agents in Kano.

We understood that the security services believe the arrest of the `accountant’ is a major breakthrough in the efforts to contain terrorism in the country.

Boko Haram is believed to be behind deadly attacks in the northern part of the country.

Read more: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2564-boko-haram-accountant-arrested-with-n45m-cash

Deann Igho married Sylvester barely a year ago and hoped to have a good marriage. Their affair had started when she was a student at the University of Port Harcourt. Their love affair blossomed, and they agreed to get married. Deann’s parents, siblings and relatives refused to let her marry Sylvester. Along the line, she got pregnant for Sylvester and her family didn’t have any choice but to grant her wish. She moved in to live with Sylvester. Last year, she gave birth to a baby boy. Deann is Sylvester’s third wife.

The fight

Sylvester returned home after being away for two weeks. A quarrel had ensued between him and the wife in the evening. To Deann, the matter was settled, but her husband did not want to let go. At night, Sylvester woke his wife from sleep and demanded that they talked. His wife told him that whatever discussion there was had to wait till the morning, to avoid waking the baby, who had cough and catarrh. In a fit of anger, Sylvester stabbed her twice in the eye, locked the door and escaped.

Since their home on Ada George Road, a developing part of Port Harcourt, is isolated, neighbours could not hear Deann’s cries. Writhing in pains and on the verge of bleeding to death, she managed to call her siblings in Lagos, on phone. She also called her parents and Sylvester’s parents, who also live in Lagos. Also, in pains, she captured her bleeding face with her Blackberry phone camera and sent them to those she called.
Her family contacted their friends in Port Harcourt, Mr & Mrs. Castro, who broke the door and took her out. She was then taken to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) for medical attention.

Nero Igho, Deann’s brother, who was in Lagos when he got this distress call, says he called Sylvester several times, but the latter refused to pick his call.
After initial treatment, Nero took his sister to police area command, where the matter was reported. She was, thereafter, transferred to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, where by a team of three doctors confirmed that the eye was dead, after surgery. On her experience, Deann said: “Sylvester used a knife to remove one of my eyes and locked the door against me so that I will bleed to death.”

How Sylvester was arrested

After the attack, Sylvester moved over to Lagos and was lodging in a hotel. While in Lagos, he told those who called him on phone that he was in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The bubble burst when someone sported him and told Deann’s family. Nero traced him to the hotel and fooled him into believing that there was no problem, as they saw the matter as his trying time with his wife. He followed them home, where the police picked him up. The police said he would be transferred to Port Harcourt, where the crime was committed.

Sylvester’s plot to flee Nigeria

It was learnt that Sylvester actually planned to flee Nigeria, which was why he came to Lagos. He had made arrangements for an International passport, which he was waiting for before he was nabbed. While cooling off at Lagos Police Command cell, Sylvester blamed Satan for his action. He denied stabbing his wife. According to him, the ceiling fan cut his wife’s face.

Read More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2560-man-remove-wifes-eye-with-knife-blames-it-on-satan

dasparrow: @Post

Na dem sabi. I think america should mind her business because america is never to be trusted.

Conspiracy theory?

It is now official that the core of all these Boko Haram hullabaloo is politics, politics and politics.
Unseat GEJ at all cost!

The United States has not designated Boko Haram a terrorist organisation because its insurgency is principally aimed at portraying the Nigeria government as ineffective, Ambassador Jonnie Carson said yesterday.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs spoke in a continent-wide telephone conference monitored at the US Embassy in Lagos.

Mr. Carson said Boko Haram is not a homogenous organisation and, therefore, not qualified to be labelled a terrorist group.

“Boko Haram is an organisation trying to discredit the Nigerian government and trying to show the government as ineffective in protecting its citizens,” he said.

He, however, conceded that the US “constantly keeps it (Boko Haram) under review” and that is why it has declared three Boko Haram leaders as terrorists.

Last June, the US Government placed Abubakar Shekau, Abubakar Adam Kambar and Khalid al-Barnawi on its global terror watch list.

“These three leaders were declared as terrorists because we believe they have established contacts and broader network with foreign terrorist organisations. They have sought funding and materials,” Carson said.

In the build-up to the November 6 US presidential election, Carson spoke extensively on US affairs in Africa.

According to him, the US’s predominant activities are targetted at helping “Africa deal with its ongoing security challenges” because crises take away resources meant for development. But, he said the country’s larger aim is to help Africa grow its economy, especially agriculture.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2547-why-we-wont-tag-boko-haram-terrorist-body-us

A recently uncovered fragment of ancient papyrus makes the explosive suggestion that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were man and wife, researchers say. The 8cm by 4cm fragment supports an undercurrent in Christian thought that undermines centuries of Church dogma by suggesting the Christian Messiah was not celibate. The centre of the fragment contains the bombshell phrase where Jesus, speaking to his disciples, says 'my wife', which researchers believe refers to Magdalene.

In the text, Jesus appears to be defending her against some criticism, saying 'she will be my disciple'. Two lines later he then tells the disciples: 'I dwell with her.'

If genuine, the document casts doubt on a centuries old official representation of Magdalene as a repentant wh*re and overturns the Christian ideal of sexual abstinence.

It elaborates an ancient and persistent undercurrent in Christian thought that Jesus and Magdalene were in fact a couple, as picked up by Dan Brown in the plot of his best-selling thriller The Da Vinci Code.

The incomplete manuscript, written in the ancient Egyptian Coptic language, has been studied by Karen King, Hollis professor of divinity at Harvard University, the oldest endowed academic seat in the US.

Professor King was to present a paper on the discovery today at an international conference on Coptic studies in Rome after conducting extensive tests and research to establish the document's authenticity.
She told Smithsonian Magazine that the fragment casts doubt 'on the whole Catholic claim of a celibate priesthood based on Jesus’ celibacy.'

She added: 'What this shows is that there were early Christians for whom ... sexual union in marriage could be an imitation of God’s creativity and generativity and it could be spiritually proper and appropriate.'

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2541-photo-evidence-indicating-jesus-christ-was-married-found-on-ancient-papyrus

The cost of governance is too high. I also support a single parliament that we will be made of 2 representatives from each State of the federation.

Senegalese lawmakers, who are divided between a 150-seat national assembly and a 100-seat senate, voted to do away with the senate, passing a law which dissolves the institution in order to save an estimated $15 million.

Minister of Justice Aminata Toure explained that the suppression Tuesday of the senate is intended to curb government spending, and will provide the cash needed to help the victims of the yearly rains which have left thousands homeless.

Unlike the national assembly, the senate is a relatively recent institution, and has become a symbol of government waste. It's been frequently pilloried and described as an instrument of cronyism, a way to reward loyal party workers who did not get elected to the larger national assembly. Around half the senators are directly appointed by the president.

An Abuja Federal High Court today refused to stop the House of Representatives from commencing impeachment proceedings against President Jonathan

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2509-go-ahead-with-impeachment-proceedings-against-jonathan-court-to-reps

Abagworo:

Most people I've met from the Southern part of Ebonyi( Afikpo, Ishiagu, Ohaozara area) prefer being merged back with Abia. They produced the 1st Governor of Abia State and fared better under Abia. Their merger with those from Abakaliki they believe led to retrogression.

I don't understand, how does Afikpo, Ishiagu, Ohaozara area belonging to Ebonyi made them not to be who/what they originally were?

....I also learn that the Governor of Ebonyi State Martin Elechi is among those in 2012 National disHonours Award list. He is to be disHonoured for his exemplary leadership

I really do not know how Ebonyi State got to this silly sorry state. 75% is an understatement, I know for sure that almost all the street hawkers I have met on Abuja traffic are from Ebonyi

Acidosis: Less than 0.1% have perfect understanding of economics.

What understanding of economics is more than the experiences of Nigerians each and every time this kind policy has been introduced in the past

For long, Ebonyi has been infamous for several reasons. It has been described as a factory where house helps, kids, hawking on major streets of urban cities, children that labour at rice mills and quarries, and others are produced in large quantities. But right now, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other related matters (NAPTIP) is getting worried about the state where 75 per cent of the entire victims from the South-East comes from.

The agency, fully committed to the prevention of all forms of human degradation and exploitation, in an effort to stamp out human trafficking, liberate the vulnerable, especially women and children from dehumanisation, exploitative employment and ensure their rehabilitation and effective reintegration into society, recently embarked on a sensitization drive to the womenfolk to campaign against child abuse. The Enugu Zonal Head, Mrs. Nkiru Emmanuel, went round the communities in Ebonyi State, talking to the women and men alike against the ills of child abuse and exploitation and engaging the under-aged, working at rice mills and quarries.

She frowned at such an abuse and warned that the agency would not spare anyone found to have abused the under-aged, engaged them in an exploitative labour, slavery and sexual exploitation, forced labour and other related matters. She reminded them that such an offender risks being sanctioned according to the law as stipulated in the statute book.

According to the Zonal Head of the Agency, the agency came into existence as a response to the scourge of human trafficking, child abuse and child labour in the country. She told the reporter in an exclusive interview that the agency was in Ebonyi State, which falls under the Enugu Zone made up of Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia and Imo States, because the state was plagued with different types of trafficking and child labour.

Her words: “In Ebonyi particularly, child abuse is noticed. Most of them are not sending their children to school. Instead, they send them out to beg, hawk, work in the quarries and also in the rice mills. That is why we are particular about Ebonyi. And also, this issue of house help syndrome is endemic in this state; even child labour. When I talk about child labour, it involves both sexes. And when I talk about house help, it involves both sexes.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2507-75-of-kid-street-hawkers-child-slaves-from-ebonyi-state-naptip

A survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that 75.1 per cent of Nigerians are opposed to the currency restructuring by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which will lead to the introduction of the N5’000 note and the conversion of lesser bills to coins.

According to the poll conducted by the NBS, only 16.1 per cent of the Nigerian populace are in strong support of the CBN policy while 4.04 and 4.62 per cent were partially in support and against the currency restructuring policy respectively.

The proposal to introduce the larger bill and convert the N20, N10 and N5 bills into coins has generated a lot of controversy with many groups issuing statements against the CBN initiative.

However, the CBN says it will introduce the new note and coins come 2013 despite the opposition the policy is receiving.

The unyielding stand of the CBN may not be unconnected to the full support given to the policy by both the federal and state governments. The policy has also received the approval and backing of the presidency.

Nigeria’s Economic Management Team also believes that the move will help drive the country’s economy and discourage the high demand for the US dollar, saying the N5,000 bill will only be for banks and a few “heavy cash users”.

But many are of the view that the new policy will engender corruption, fuel inflation and negate the “cashless” policy of the CBN, which was designed to promote the use of non-cash transaction instruments.

FBN Capital Limited, in its bulletin just released, had noted that “some opposition can be attributed to a generalised lack of trust in any official measure with economic or financial implications”.

On the cost of managing cash, FBN Capital said, “We note the high, but falling, cost of currency management. Over N125 billion was spent in the past three years printing and minting currency. If this move goes through, we expect to see significant savings made, as the new currency note becomes easier to carry and manage.

“We are also of the view that there is no proven evidence of a correlation between inflation and higher currency denominations. Inflation as we know it is fuelled by too much money chasing fewer goods.

http://leadership.ng/nga/articles/34835/2012/09/14/75_nigerians_oppose_n5000_note_nbs.html

The Enugu state police command has arrested suspected abductors of the Vice-Chancellor, Enugu state university of science and technology (ESUT), Prof Cyprian Onyeji.

A statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Ebere Amarizu says that members of the syndicate were arrested after a gun battle with security operatives.

The suspects, nine in all, allegedly confessed to having carried out series of kidnappings in the Southeast region, including the recent kidnap of Prof Onyeji, who regained freedom 20 days ago.

The Enugu police spokesman said that the police had been on the trail of the suspects since the kidnap of the VC last month, and arrested three of the suspects at about 4pm yesterday.

The three men, Osinachi Iheanacho, Ejike Aba and Obinna Okoro, subsequently led the police to the arrest of others.

Professor Onyeji was abducted on the 15th of August this year by some gunmen who had waylaid his convoy at the gate of the university at Agbani.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2497-9-suspected-kidnappers-of-esut-vc-arrested

Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig.Gen. Nnamdi Okore-Affia, has alleged that some of the inspectors of the scheme extort money from corps members.

Okore-Affia blamed the development for acts of indiscipline among corps members.

The NYSC chief stated this at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Inspectors Development Programme organised for inspectors in the South at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Sagamu, Ogun State on Wednesday.

Okore-Affia, who was represented at the event by the Director, Corps Welfare and Inspection, Mr. Emmanuel Obi, also said many of the inspectors had performed poorly.

He said, “As field officers who constitute the engine room of the operations of the scheme in the states, you are expected to be above board and act as role models and dependable mentors to the corps members. It is however regrettable that the attitude of many of you leave so much to be desired.

“Reports from the recent nationwide inspection and corps members’ forum indicated that some of you engage in acts capable of bringing the scheme into disrepute.

“Unwholesome practices such as delegating your responsibilities to corps members, non-residence in the communities where your workplaces are located, thereby leading to irregular attendance and poor supervision of corps members not only detract from the noble objectives of the scheme but negatively affect her corporate image.”

The army chief added, “The NYSC inspectors are today confronted with a plethora of national, state, community and corps members-related challenges, hence, they need to be adequately trained to competently handle issues and solve problems within the expected time frame.

“The scheme is being confronted with a lot of challenges ranging from astronomical increase in corps population, insecurity, corps rejection, inadequate camp facilities and dwindling welfare provision for corps members due to inadequate funding. With these enormous challenges the scheme needs to review its operations and evolve strategies that will reposition it for efficient and effective execution of its mandate.

“Therefore, managing the scheme at this particular time requires staff with dynamism, competence, requisite skills and ability to cope with the identified challenges and other demands of youth management for national development. It is in view of this that management has resolved to give adequate attention to staff training and development.”

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2488-nysc-inspectors-extort-money-from-corps-members--nysc-dg

Now the die is cast. Who is telling the truth?
SSS your job is cut out for you now

Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, has denied reports linking him to gunrunning and arms smuggling.

Moro also urged security operatives to investigate the allegation of gunrunning against him and also those behind it.

He said only such a move would serve as a deterrent to those whose motive was to pull down those holding political offices.

The minister said this in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. George Udoh.

Moro said those who made the allegation contradicted themselves in the report published by an online portal.

According to him, his accusers said the arms involved were imported by the Federal Government for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, insisting that he (the minister) did the importation of the said arms.

He also denied the report that he was arrested and prosecuted for being in possession of a pistol in Abuja, adding that the same court found him innocent and the allegation and acquitted him.

He explained that it was his driver, who doubles as his security aide, that was found with a pistol and not himself.

The minister argued that if arms and ammunition procured for the NSCDC were missing, the para- military organisation would have publicised it.

The statement added, “On the grave allegation of illegal arms importation and gunrunning, the minister said this is pure fiction. One, the political hacks behind this campaign have exposed their ignorance to the public.

“One day, they said that the arms were imported by the Federal government for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, then, in the same statement they said the minister illegally imported the arms. So which one should we believe?

“Furthermore, the NSCDC is a public office in a public domain whose comment could be sought to find out if there are missing arms rather than crying wolves when none exists.”

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2479-i-am-not-a-gunrunner--minister-of-interior-abba-moro-

This is a serious allegation that needs to be thoroughly investigated.

A civil society group, National Anti-Terrorism and Peace Network (NATPW), has accused the minister of interior and supervising head of Nigeria’s internal security, of alleged involvement in weapons deals.

The group claims it has received intelligence from an unnamed source in the secret services that the country’s interior minister had been secretly smuggling arms into the country.

We gathered that the move to expose alleged gun running business of the supervising minister of the Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS), Nigeria Security and civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) , Federal Fire Service (FFS) and the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) was borne out of the curiosity of the NATPW to unravel, through the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the minister’s confiscation of a large cache of arms and ammunition on behalf the federal government, meant for the Civil Defence Corps, in their genuine bid to save the country from insurgents.

Our checks further revealed that the decision to unravel Moro’s alleged gun dealings was not unconnected with outcry against incessant attacks on ordinary citizens and properties worth millions of naira by members of the Islamic sect as well as political thugs, aided by top government officials.

The coalition, in a letter written to the US and other international agencies and made available to elombah.co, berated President Goodluck Jonathan for ignoring intelligence report from the former NSA, recommending the immediate resignation of Moro for coming to top government office with a huge moral burden of ongoing trial for gun running before an Abuja Magistrate Court.

Expressing shock that one with dubious morality and questionable character like Comrade Moro was allowed access into sensitive positions in the country, the group further alleged that the minister, while serving as Chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Area between 1999 and 2007, was caught at Abuja with a short service pistol without any permission or presidential directive to bear arms and was subsequently arraigned before a court of law.

However, denying the allegations of his alleged involvement in an gun-running and arms smuggling, the minister who spoke through his senior Assistant, Media, Mr. Taiwo Akinyemi , described the allegation as the handiwork of power-drunk persons, aimed at scoring cheap political point.

He said, “It is impossible that Comrade Moro is involved in gun running and arms smuggling business. This is local politics and has nothing to do with reality.”

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2464-interior-minister-accused-of-gun-running-arms-smuggling

Prince Harry has become one of the Taliban’s number one targets after arriving in Afghanistan to pilot attack helicopters in Her Majesty’s service, Taliban officials have confirmed to Reuters.

They even dubbed the plots to assassinate or kidnap the 27-year-old royal the “Harry operations.” Harry previously served in Afghanistan in 2008, but had his tour cut short after news of his location leaked out.

“We are using all our strength to get rid of him, either by killing or kidnapping,” Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, told Reuters. “We have informed our commanders in Helmand to do whatever they can to eliminate him.”

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2460-taliban-well-kidnap-prince-harry-in-afghanistan

ABUJA—THE Federal Government has disclosed that construction work on the Lagos-Ibadan road will commence within the next four to six weeks, just as it said Nigerians would begin to experience uninterrupted light by December, 2012 with plans to generate 5,400 mega watts from the current 4,400 mega watts.

Speaking with newsmen weekend, the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe who noted that the president was gradually delivering on the promises which he made to Nigerians before the election, said the electoral reform, which was part of his promises was gradually becoming a part of the nation against the backdrop that the presidential election of 2011 was adjudged the best globally as well as that of Edo governorship election which was conducted recently under the watch of Jonathan’s administration. He added that he never interfered with it and government ensured neutrality.

Okupe explained that the 5,400 mega watts target will be achieved following the arrangement by the National Integrated Power Project, NIPP, where by December, 1,000MW would be added to the current 4,400 currently available in the country, as against the little above 1,900MW before Jonathan took over.

According to him, President Jonathan inherited grounded and moribund NIPP with 10 of the projects abandoned and with the rehabilitation process and efforts made, some of the grids are adding about 600MW.

Okupe debunked insinuations by some critics that power increased because of increase in the water level. He said: “When the President assumed office, the energy capacity of the country at that time ranged between 1,900 megawatts to some 2,200 megawatts. The Independent Power Projects, 10 of them were grounded and nearly moribund, but today Nigeria is generating in excess of 4,400 megawatts of electricity.

“Some cynics have said this is due to high level of water in the hydro generating plants in Shiroro and Kanji. This isn’t true.

“I can tell you authoritatively that why it is true that every year there is a marginal increase in power supply, because of the increased contribution in the hydro plants, that cannot account for the 15 hours or so that is being currently enjoyed in many parts of the country.

The reason for this additional increase is coming from the NIPP that are now adding between 600 and 800 megawatts to the national grid. That’s what is responsible for this new improvement and between now and December, we are expecting nearly an additional 1,000 megawatts, because of increase and an arrangement that have been made for purchase and supply of gas to some of these NIPP projects. More areas will enjoy longer hours of electricity supply by December.”

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2455-we-ll-generate-5400mw-by-dec--presidency

A telephone operator in the house of the late Head of State General Sani Abacha, who is standing trial before a Kano Chief Magistrate’s Court over alleged theft of jewelries belonging to former First Lady Hajiya Maryam Abacha, has told the court that son of the late miliary head of state sent him to sell the gold and buy cocaine with the proceeds.

Abdullahi Ali, who was charged to court along three others for the offence committed in 2007, denied the allegation of theft and house breaking in his defence yesterday. While being led by his counsel, Barrister Abubakar Muhammad, the accused said Abdullahi Sani Abacha gave him the jewelries about five years ago, when his mother was away in Abuja.

“He directed me to sell it and take the money to one Tony in Sabon Gari [quarters] to collect cocaine for him,” he said. He also said Abdullahi almost killed him when he refused to comply with a similar directive, earlier on.

The accused person, who has been in prison custody for five years, said he was given N110,000 as part payment for the gold which he sold N220, 000. “I took the money to Tony and collected the cocaine,” he added.

Ali, however, said when Maryam Abacha returned from the journey and discovered that she had been robbed, other house servants who were not in good terms with him roped him in. He said the chief security officer to the former First Lady, Captain Hassan, along with Mohammed Ali, Musa Ya’u and Murtala Ali, told Maryam that they were suspecting him.

“When I told the police about Tony, Captain Hassan quickly called him on the phone and asked him to run away and since then I have not heard from him again,” he said.

Chief Magistrate Khadi-jah Mustapha adjourned the case to September 19, 2012.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2415-i-sold-maryam-abachas-jewels-to-buy-cocaine-for-her-son

This our Navy no be like our police force
Well done

Nigeria's navy says it has rescued a Singapore-owned oil tanker hijacked by pirates on Tuesday night.

Navy spokesman Kabir Aliyu told the BBC the crew was safe, the hijackers had fled and the vessel, the Abu Dhabi Star, was being escorted into the port of Lagos.

Earlier, the navy denied reports that the tanker was seized in the port.

There has been a significant increase in the number of pirate attacks in parts of West Africa.

The BBC's Will Ross in Lagos says instead of seeking a hefty ransom the armed gangs tend to steal the cargo before releasing the crew.

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) told the AFP news agency that 23 crew members were on board when the tanker was captured and they had locked themselves in a safe room.

Noel Choong, head of the IMB's Malaysia-based piracy reporting centre, said those behind the attack may be the same criminal syndicate that seized two tankers off Togo last month, siphoned off the oil and later released the crew and ships.

Last year, Nigeria and neighbouring Benin began joint naval patrols in an effort to combat the threat of pirates.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2409-nigerian-navy-rescues-hijacked-singapore-owned-oil-tanker