WE WON'T REVERT TO N65- FG INSISTS
The Federal Government on Wednesday vowed to press ahead with its controversial deregulation policy, saying it would not revert the pump price of fuel from N141 to N65.
The House of Representatives has, however, repeated its demand for the government to restore subsidy on fuel.
HALLE BERRY IS ENGAGED
Olivier Martinez, Berry's boyfriend of more than a year, has given her a diamond-and-emerald engagement ring.
The Oscar-winning actress, 45, costarred with Martinez, 46, a French actor, in the 2010 film Dark Tide. They soon became an item off-screen.
The couple were most recently spotted last weekend, having a quiet date night at Iris, Cirque du Soleil's film-history-themed show at the Kodak Theatre in L.A.
Berry has been married twice before – to baseball player David Justice in the early 1990s, and to singer Eric Benét in the early 2000s.
She has a daughter, Nahla, who will be 4 in March, with ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry.
A rep for Berry did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the engagement.
The Oscar-winning actress, 45, costarred with Martinez, 46, a French actor, in the 2010 film Dark Tide. They soon became an item off-screen.
The couple were most recently spotted last weekend, having a quiet date night at Iris, Cirque du Soleil's film-history-themed show at the Kodak Theatre in L.A.
Berry has been married twice before – to baseball player David Justice in the early 1990s, and to singer Eric Benét in the early 2000s.
She has a daughter, Nahla, who will be 4 in March, with ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry.
A rep for Berry did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the engagement.
PROTESTERS BURN DOWN INEC OFFICE IN MINNA, POLICE INSPECTOR FEARED DEAD
There are claiims that a police inspector was trapped inside the INEC office that was razed in Minna earlier today.
The state's Police Command PRO, Richard Oguche told Daily Trust that he has not yet gotten official confirmation of the killing.
There are also reports that the house of Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta was also torched by the rioting mob.
Today's anti-fuel subsidy removal protest had degenerated into rioting in the early hour of the day with confirmed reports of the burning down of the INEC office in Minna and the campaign office of the governor, Aliyu Musazu Babangida.
OKONJO IWEALA BUYS N1.2 BILLION ABUJA MANSION
As Nigerians groan over fuel subsidy removal, one of the proponents and architect of the controversial policy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has just purchased a massive home in Maitama, Abuja for a whooping N1.2 Billion, pointblanknews.com investigation has revealed.
The Finance minister allegedly paid for the property located at No 3 Nwaora close, off Gana Street, Abuja in November 2011, according to a source at the Property Management office.
Okonjo-Iweala through a United States based company owned by her brother Chi-Chi Okonjo-GeorgeTown Consultancy, allegedly pocketed about $2 Billion in commission in the last debt buy back deal under the President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
#OCCCUPY NIGERIA NYC PROTEST + DATE FOR ATLANTA PROTEST
The protesters were at the Nigerian embassy in New York City yesterday January 10th 2012. Meanwhile, Nigerians in Atlanta will today Wednesday January 11, protest at the Nigeria Consulate, 8060 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30350.
OKONJO IWEALA DENIES MASTERMINDING FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL
The Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has denied being the brain behind the fuel subsidy removal policy which led to a nationwide strike and protests since Monday.
In an interview with BBC, Okonjo-Iweala laid the idea at the foot of governors, who she said had been pushing for the fuel subsidy removal even before she joined the Jonathan-led administration. She also denied claims that the World Bank and IMF influenced the government’s decision, saying they “have nothing to do with this, absolutely nothing!
ARMY TO CONFRONT BOKO HARAM
AS part of moves to halt the activities of Boko Haram sect, the Nigerian Army have concluded arrangements to intensify training in counter-terrorist and counter-insurgency operations.
Addressing journalists, yesterday, on the current security situation in the country, Director, Army Public Relations, Major-General Ralph Isa, disclosed that troops were now patrolling major highways and towns complimenting the efforts of already existing task forces.
HOS PLEADS WITH CIVIL SERVANTS TO RETURN TO WORK
The Federal Capital Territory Secretariat in Abuja was on Tuesday deserted due to the nationwide strike called by Labour to protest against the removal of fuel subsidy.
When our correspondent visited the secretariat where many federal ministries are most of the offices were shut.
FASHOLA CAUTIONS SECURITY AGENCIES
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola on Tuesday received another set of prominent Nigerians protesting removal of fuel subsidy at Lagos House, Marina and admonished them to be orderly, civil and avoid damage to public properties in the course of venting their disapproval of the Federal Government’s policy.
JOHANNESBURG UNIVERSITY STAMPEDE KILLS ONE
A parent of a prospective student was killed and 20 people were injured in a stampede at the University of Johannesburg on Tuesday morning, emergency services said.
"There were 20 injured patients and the female who died has been confirmed as the mother of one of the students," said Nana Radebe, spokeswoman for Johannesburg Emergency Management Services.
Two of the injured were in a critical condition in hospital, she said. One woman was critically injured with severe head and chest trauma.
JONATHAN ,SECURITY CHIEFS MEET
President Goodluck Jonathan met his security chiefs on Tuesday as he came under mounting pressure on the second day of a nationwide strike over fuel prices and amid violence blamed on Islamists.
The meeting included the chief of defence staff, police chief, defence minister, Vice President Namadi Sambo and convened in Jonathan’s office on Tuesday afternoon. No one commented on their way in.
On Tuesday, gangs set up burning roadblocks, police fired tear gas and businesses shut on the second day of a national strike that has paralysed the country and sparked deadly violence.
Security forces are also already under heavy pressure over spiralling violence blamed on Islamist group Boko Haram.
Recent deadly attacks on Christians have sparked fears of a wider religious conflict in a country whose population is roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominantly Christian south
RIVERS GOVERNOR INTRODUCES FUEL SUBSIDY, SLASHES PRICE FROM N141 to N137
The Rivers State Government on Tuesday introduced a N4 subsidy on fuel sold in the state.
He also announced that the state government would subsidise transport in the state.
In a broadcast to the people of the state monitored on Africa Independent Television, Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, said the state government had reached an agreement with independent marketers to cut the price from N141 to N137.
He said the state government would pay a N4 price differential for every litre of fuel sold in the state. He also said the state government would ensure security for all petrol tankers supplying fuel to filling stations in the state.
He also said the state government had reached an agreement with the National Union of Road Transport Workers to peg fares at between N50 and N100 on major intra-city routes within the state.
He also listed the fare for each route.
Amaechi also said mass transit buses would be procured for the effective reduction of prices of petroleum products.
He also urged Nigerians to bear with the Federal Government in its determination to revamp the petroleum sector and stop the activities of the alleged fuel cabal.
Amaechi had on Monday met with independent marketers in the state on ways of reducing the pump price of fuel and ensuring its availability.-PUNCH
POLICE TRY TO STOP PROTESTERS IN ABUJA
Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS Police in Abuja is doing all it can to stop a mammoth crowd of protesters from continuing in the protest against the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government.
Labour leaders were seen talking to the policemen to allow the masses to continue on their protest as enshrined in the constitution of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, it will be recalled that Labour unions had vow to continue with the mass protests until the federal government revert the price of petrol to N65 per litre.
And to make real its threat, Labour and Civil Society Organisations, LASCO, have converged in Abuja and other cities across the country in continuation of mass protests against the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government.-vanguard
NLC SET TO SUE PRESIDENT JONATHAN,HAFIZ RINGIM
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and civil society organizations say they have started a legal process that would make President Goodluck Jonathan and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Ringim, liable for the death of Nigerians killed by the police during the first day of the nationwide pro-subsidy strike.
“This mindless killing of unarmed Nigerians on a peaceful protest is strongly condemned”, NLC’s head of information unit, Chris Uyot, said in a statement. “The Inspector General of Police and President Jonathan will be held responsible for these senseless deaths. We have started the process with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to bring these culprits to book.”
GIULIANA RANCIC MORE RELIGIOUS SINCE BREAST CANCER
Three and a half weeks since having a double mastectomy, Giuliana Rancic says she's "doing better than I anticipated in recovery."
While that's great news for the E! host, she also says her breast cancer ordeal has changed her life for the better "in so many ways."
BOKO HARAM ATTACK CLAIMS 12 IN ADAMAWA
News of the shooting made residents, mostly non-indigenes, to flee their homes in the night and seek refuge at the General Jalo Army Barracks, Yola, for fear of being killed.
Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, campaigned for the re-election of Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State despite the nationwide strike called by labour over the recent increase in petrol price.
BEYONCE SUFFERED A MISCARRIAGE BEFORE BLUE SAYS JAY Z
Jay-Z yesterday released a song for newborn daughter Blue Ivy — and revealed wife Beyonce previously had a miscarriage.
On the track, called Glory, he raps: "Last time the miscarriage was so tragic, we was afraid you disappeared."
He also talks of "false alarms and false starts" but calls Blue — born on Saturday — as "my greatest creation".
Last night reports in the US said other new mums were unhappy with their treatment as security was upped for Jay-Z, 42, and Beyonce, 30, and may sue New York's Lenox hospital.
MANDELA'S LIFE STORY TO BE TURNED INTO TV SERIES
Entitled “Madiba”, Mandela’s clan name, the series “will take a broad view of the inner passions and outside forces that guided him,” they said in a statement.
With a budget of $30 million (24 million euros), the project will explore Mandela’s relationship with his mother, his political activism, imprisonment, rise as political leader and election as South Africa’s first black president.
GOVERNMENT LIQUIDATES PHCN
The Power Holding Corporation of Nigeria (PHCN) has been liquidated by the Nigerian Government. Employees of the liquidated company will be absorbed into 18 firms.
Nigeria’s Power Minister Prof. Barth Nnaji confirmed the liquidation this weekend in Abuja saying, “PHCN is no longer legally in existence and as a result, the regulatory agency simply in its responsibility had instructed the market operator that the PHCN headquarters is not a market participant and it should no longer get funds in effect from this month and that is just in carrying out the law; implementing what is stated in the law.
“Now, the PHCN workers in order to get paid, they need to be transferred to where they can be useful. You talked about redundancy, what’s the point of people just sitting in their offices doing nothing? Who is benefitting? Nigerians are paying their salaries and they need to be working to continue to advance the power sector.”
HOUSE OF REPS ORDERS GOVERNMENT TO SUSPEND SUBSIDY REMOVAL
House of Representatives held an emergency plenary meeting today, in which they put forth a motion calling for the suspension of the removal of fuel subsidy, a controversial policy that has sparked nationwide protests and outrage.
In the meeting, which was broadcast live, representatives, most of whom spoke in support of the motion, criticised the Federal Government's decision to remove the subsidy, with Hon. Khadija Ibrahim calling it a "harsh and rash decision".
In the meeting, which was broadcast live, representatives, most of whom spoke in support of the motion, criticised the Federal Government's decision to remove the subsidy, with Hon. Khadija Ibrahim calling it a "harsh and rash decision".
WORLD'S OLDEST TWINS CELEBRATE 102ND BIRTHDAY
The world’s oldest twins celebrated their 102nd birthday together on Wednesday. Born on January 4, 1910, Ena Pugh and Lily Millward have spent each of their birthdays together.
They were presented with copies of the Guinness World Records book, which includes their entry. More from the Daily Mail:
ORGANIZED LABOUR INSISTS STRIKE WILL GO ON DESPITE THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has said it will press ahead with its planned indefinite strike adding that President Goodluck Jonathan’s televised address “follows the pattern of other documents (like the SURE Programme) by his administration; long on rhetoric and short on basic issues.”
DENRELE EDUN ACQUIRES NEW RIDE
The controversial TV presenter who was recently employed by South African based cable TV network Channel O as an OAP, was a bundle of excitement when he announced on Twitter, the social network news of his latest acquisition, a brand new car.
he choose of all days, the day Nigerians were busy protesting over the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government. To make his announcement.
The Channel ‘O’ OAP in his usual dramatic manner showed his excitement over his newly acquired baby, saying “whether the Federal Government removes the fuel subsidy or not, I am happy because I just got myself a car.
Subsidy or no Subsidy, I just bought myself a brand new horse! Tear rubber!!!!! Costly New Year to you all!!!! he tweeted.
Denrele one of the finest OAP in the country is considered near eccentric but there is no denying the fact that his style is captivating and capable of keeping anyone glued to the screen. He left Souncity amidst controversies.-VANGUARD
PRESIDENTJONATHAN CUTS SALARIES OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS BY 25 PER CENT
In a move to avert the impending Labour protests across the country on Monday, President Goodluck Jonathan, Saturday night, in a national broadcast. announced new policy measures to ameliorate the hardship on Nigerians occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.
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