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FREE BROWSING CODE FOR GOOGLE SEARCH ON MTN, GLO, ETISALAT AND ZAIN

2009-11-18T17:04:00.000+01:00

Are you that fond of using Google search?This google code is definitely for you.
Create a new browser account on your phone browser

IP: google.com
PORT: 80
ACCESSPOINT: your network access point e.g internet.ng.zain.com
HOMEPAGE: your network home page e.g wap.ng.zain.com
it works for mtn, glo, zain and etisalat networks.
More to come your way soon...

NECO DIRECTOR CAUGHT IN 5 BILLION NAIRA SCANDAL

2009-11-06T17:44:00.001+01:00

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched a fresh probe into the alleged N5 billion scam rocking the National Examinations Council (NECO), while its Director of Finance, Mr. Ishola Isaac, has been arrested.

Registrar, NECO, Professor Promise Okpala, is also said to be on the radar of the anti-corruption agency. A source informed that the chairman of the anti-graft commission, Mrs. Farida Waziri, had instructed operatives handling the case to speed-up their investigation.
The operatives were said to have swooped on the Minna headquarters of the examinations body on Tuesday and arrested Isaac, who had been accused of colluding with Okpala to allegedly loot the examinations body.
After he was arrested, the operatives reportedly took him to Tundun Wada Police Station in Minna, before he was later driven to Alovera Hotel, also in the city.
The investigators were said to have conducted a search on the hotel, which is allegedly owned by Ishola. The EFCC operatives reportedly arrested Ishola, after they could not locate Professor Okpala, who was said to have been playing hide and seek with the commission's operatives.

The investigators, it was further learnt, also arrested and quizzed for several hours, one Mr. Sina Adetona, who is an assistant director in the registrar's office. The EFCC had, in June, quizzed five top officials of the examinations body over the scam.
They were Mr. Phillip Duru (Director of Exams Administration); Dr. Nasir Dantiye (Director of Corporate Support Services); Mr. Ishola Isaac (Director, Accounts/Finance); Gladys Iyabo Akinkuole (Director, Exams Development) and Adolph Nweke (Director, Quality Assurance).

JOB VACANCIES AT STANDARD ORGANISATION OF NIGERIA (SON)

2009-11-01T19:35:00.001+01:00

The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is the sole statutory body that is vested with the responsibility of standardising and regulating the quality of all products in Nigeria.

When it was established by the General Yakubu Gowon military regime through Act 56 in 1971, it was called the Nigerian Standards Organisation (NSO).
The Act establishing the body was amended in 1976by the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo, in 1984 by the short-lived regime of Major General Muhammadu Buhari and in 1990 by the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.
The original Act provided the body with the authority to specify and elaborate standards, as well as provide a quality assurance system for commodities, including manufactured, industrial and imported products and services. But the 1976 amendment to the Act conferred on the Minister of Industry the power to declare Mandatory Industrial Standards in respect of products or processes recommended by the Nigerian Standards Council.

The 1984 amendment to the original Act changed the name of the body from the Nigerian Standards Organisation (NSO) to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) because the acronym, NSO, created confusion with a newly established security body known as the Nigerian Security Organisation. In 1990, the amendment of the Act conferred partial autonomy on the SON from the Ministry of Industry.

Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is recruiting Graduates, Corpers, Interships
Application Procedure
-Visit SON Website by clicking here
-Fill the required form on the page
-Upload Your CV and Passport
-Upload Your Certificate
-Submit

SWINE FLU VIRUS DETECTED IN NIGERIA

2009-10-29T09:31:00.003+01:00

A medical laboratory in Lagos State has reported that the swine flu virus was detected in a Nigerian patient in July this year.

Pamela Ajayi, the managing director of Pathcare Laboratory, reported that the girl, whose name she withheld for ethical reasons, resides in America but came to spend her holidays in Nigeria. It was when she arrived in the country that she became critically ill with severe flu.
Dr. Ajayi said that was the only case that tested positive out of the 30 suspected cases sent to her laboratory since the pandemic but noted that there could have been a risk of infection to other people.
"There is Swine Flu in Nigeria. The reason the Federal Government is still saying there is none in Nigeria is because people are not testing." "If you do not test for it you wouldn't know whether there are or not," she said.
She reasoned that Nigerians are regular travellers and that it was likely that many had been in contact with the virus.
"With Lagos and Abuja being such international hubs, people travelling everywhere, it is not possible for us not to have Swine flu in Nigeria, because this disease can be easily imported."
Swine flu, also known as 2009 H1N1 influenza, is a human disease. People get the disease from other people, not from pigs. It was first reported in Mexico on April 16 2009 and has been confirmed to have claimed over hundreds lives, already.
Dr. Ajayi said when the incident happened in July, they had informed the World Health Organization and the Lagos State Ministry of Health.
"We informed them. But that is all we can do. The point we are trying to make is that in a country of 150 million people, we should not relax and say that there is no swine flu. People should test and test at a lab that can identify it," she added.
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Health has repeatedly assured Nigerians that there is no Swine Flu reported in the country.
Symptoms
Symptoms of H1N1 swine flu are like regular flu symptoms and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Many people with swine flu have had diarrhoea and vomiting. Nearly everyone with flu has at least two of these symptoms. But these symptoms can also be caused by many other conditions.
The Federal Government of Nigeria had made protective bags available at various hospitals and ports should the need arise for people to wear protective masks.

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:KANO PILLARS VS EL - MERREIKH

2009-08-22T06:53:00.001+01:00

Kano Pillars vs El -Merreikh:
One of Nigeria's representatives in the group phase of the CAF Champions League, Kano Pillars Football Club, would play host to Sudan's El-Merreikh today at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.
The 2007/2008 Nigeria Premier League (NPL) champions started its first ever appearance in the group stage of Africa's elite club competition on a good note with a 1-1 draw away to Zesco United of Zambia about a fortnight ago.

In spite of a visa problem that threatened to end its working relationship with Slovenian coach, Ivan Sajh, during the week, the continental committee chairman of the club, Ibrahim Galadima, assured that the side would pick its first win of this year's championship.

However, players of Kano Pillars would be playing at their home ground for the first time after almost a year of relocating to Kaduna for Premier League matches due to renovation at the Sani Abacha Stadium for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup scheduled to hold between October and November this year in Nigeria.
Ghanaian coach of the club, Malik Jabir, said the long absence of the players from home would have no effect on their performance when they face their counterparts from Sudan today.
"It has been long since we left Kano to play our matches in Kaduna but that would not affect us at all. Instead, it will be to our advantage," said the former Ashante Kotoko head coach.

NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS THREATEN TO DISRUPT U-17 WORLD CUP

2009-08-21T08:33:00.000+01:00

University students in Nigeria have threatened to disrupt the FIFA Under-17 World Cup competition that will hold in Nigeria in October and November if the government would by then still remain adamant to resolve the strike embarked upon by University teachers.

The West African Students Association (WASA) and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) saidall students at home and abroad support the lecturers because they are demanding a total restructuring of the education sector and not only their improved welfare.

In the meantime, the two unions have suspended their proposed strike planned for next week after they met the National Association of Parent Teachers' Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) in Kaduna on Thursday.

Both WASA National President, Daniel Onjeh, and NANS President, Bashir Babanlle, said: "The government's unwillingness to honour the agreements reached with ASUU since 2001 shows how (it) is treating the challenge of educational development with levity and without recourse to the fact that education is the bedrock of national development," they said.

The unions gave the government an ultimatum of one week to resolve the dispute and restore normal academic activities in the universities, failing which they would mobilise their members for a world record protest in Nigeria.

In line with the strike, the University of Benin chapter of the ASUU on Thursday backed out of the post-UME test of prospective students scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

The boycott was contained in a statement issued by the chapter Chairman, Kashetu Ilevbarhe, who described as appalling the decision of the UNIBEN administration to conduct the test in defiance of the industrial action.

ASUU President, Ukachukwu Awuzie, stressed at the University of Ibadan (UI) that the government is not helping the situation.

His words: "This struggle is not for us. It is for posterity. So, we should not fail in this struggle. What is the essence of having a university system when the academics cannot conduct good research, when the companies can no longer come to the universities for innovations because they have more equipment than the universities?"

Awuzie said a situation where no Nigerian university is rated among the best 5,000 in the world is not good for the country.

2009-08-21T08:20:00.000+01:00

The National Association of Nigerian Female Students (NANFS) has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government of Nigeria to resolve their differences to enable them return to class, lamenting the stalemate is already turning some female students into prostitution.
President of NANFS, Miss Ifeoma Ofo who made the appeal in Abuja, said the protracted FG/ASUU face off has created many social vices amongst the university undergraduates in the country.

She said the almost three months industrial action embarked upon by ASUU has affected students serious and that both parties should see reasons to sheath their sword and resume talks with a view to reopening the schools.

“We appeal to ASUU and FG to reach agreement so that we can return to class and continue with our normal academic activities because further delay could be dangerous”, she said.

Blaming the Federal Government position on the current disruption of academic activities in the nation’s universities, the President, said the country is blessed with abundant resources to meet the demands of the striking ASUU.

According to her, “the association has observed with alarm the non-challant posture put up by the Federal Government over this strike”, wondering why the government should at this point in time refused to sign the agreement reached with ASUU in 2007.

KHORSID NOW ACTING CEO OF ZAIN NIGERIA

2009-08-21T08:12:00.000+01:00

The former Chief Operating Officer,KHALED KHORSID has been appointed as the acting chief executive officer of Zain Nigeria. The announcement was made by Gamaliel Onosode, the company's chairman.

Mr. Onosode who confirmed this in a telephone interview with journalists, said, "Mr. Khaled Khorshid, was appointed as the acting chief executive officer because Mr. Bayo Ligali, the incumbent chief executive officer had been indisposed for a period of two weeks."
Mr. Khorshid brings to Zain Nigeria, 18 years experience in the Information Technology and Telecommunications fields.

He spent the first 10 years of his career in North America with leading consulting firms EDS and Accenture in systems integration and management consulting leading large consulting projects for Fortune 100 companies including giant telecom operators like AT&T, Cable & Wireless, and SBC Communications.

He joined Zain Nigeria in January 2009 as the Head of Operation with direct responsibilities for Network, Information Technology, Transformation, Customer Service and Project Management Office.

This year has been an eventful year for the Zain Group. In April, the telecom company announced a major restructuring of its Nigerian operations. It entered a managed service agreement with Ericsson, the world's leading provider of technology and services to telecom operators, to run its network in Nigeria.

USAIN BOLT SETS NEW 200M WORLD RECORD IN BERLIN

2009-08-20T22:09:00.001+01:00

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt set another world record as he recorded a stunning victory in the 200m final at the World Championships.
Bolt set a time of 19.19seconds to eclipse the previous record of 19.30seconds he set in winning Olympic gold last summer in Beijing.

The 22-year-old finished well clear of the field, with silver medallist Alonso Edward finishing in 19.81.
Wallace Spearmon of the United States took bronze.
Bolt, who also smashed the 100m record in Berlin on Sunday, is now the first man to hold the 100 and 200m world and Olympic titles at the same time.
Earlier in the week Bolt had said he did not think a 200m record was on after missing a month of training earlier this year following a car crash in Jamaica.

Bolt, who completed his 200m win a day before his 23rd birthday, set three world records when winning his Olympic golds in Beijing last summer and his breathtaking performances in Berlin have enhanced his reputation as the best sprinter of all time.

SERVICE PROVIDERS PAID N5.8 BILLION TO BROADCAST ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

2009-08-20T10:00:00.001+01:00

Service Providers In Nigeria paid more than N5.8 billion to bring last season's English Premier League (EPL) matches to Nigerians through the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
The Commission's Director-General, Mr Yomi Bolarinwa, stated this in Makurdi, while advising the service providers to be more reasonable in their bidding next season.

He however said the local league could be developed to be a crowd-puller and revenue-earner like the EPL, urging service providers to look inwards for the benefit of the economy.
In his words, `` we have invited the service providers to please bid reasonably this time. Considering the amount of money the service providers put into a foreign football league, if a quarter of that amount is put into the local league, we will develop the league.''

SEC ISSUES NDI OKEREKE ONYUIKE ULTIMATUM OVER NON-PERFORMING LOANS

2009-08-20T08:17:00.001+01:00

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Director-General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Ndi Okereke-Onyuike, to clear herself of any involvement in the non-performing loan scandal.

Mrs. Onyuike, who is also the chairperson of Transnational Corporation (Transcorp Plc), was named as one of the debtors with non-performing loans. According to the CBN advertorial on Tuesday, the NSE boss was named along with the former managing director of Transcorp, in connection with a ₦6,553,985,525.18loan from Intercontinental Bank Plc to the Transcorp.
In a statement on Wednesday in Abuja signed by the Head of Media, SEC, Lanre Oloyi, the Board of the SEC at the end of its 43rd meeting, decided to issue the ultimatum considering the sensitive position she occupies as the chief executive officer of the NSE where the five banks are also listed.

ASUU READY TO RESUME NEGOTIATIONS WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

2009-08-19T17:47:00.003+01:00

The striking lecturers have made a call to the Federal Government to resume negotiation with them on the stalled deal that triggered their strike on June 22, and has since paralysed academic activities in all public universities.
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) President, Ukachukwu Awuzie, made the plea on Tuesday when he addressed a press conference at Labour House in Yaba, Lagos.
Those at the briefing also included ASUU Ibadan Zonal Co-ordinator, Emma Agisegiri; ASUU Secretary, Mike Odumorayo, ASUU Chairman at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Adesola Nassir; and University of Lagos chapter Chairman, Ayo Olowe.

Students chanted songs and displayed placards, some of which read: 'Save our education in Nigeria,''What we want is quality, public education,''Brain drain has stolen our best heads away,''killing education means killing the future,' and 'Government officials can afford to destroy public education because their children school abroad.'

Awuzie said although the government team pulled out of the negotiation, the ASUU is ready to return to the talks and would wish this to happen soonest, for the good of the students, their parents, the university education system, and the good people of Nigeria.
He asked the government team to get a clear mandate from its principals to abide by the principle of collective bargaining by completing the process started in 2006 and by signing the agreement.
He urged government officials to bring along the list of all contentious issues to be negotiated and agreed upon, as directed by Vice President, Goddluck Jonathan, on July 29.

N110.5billion WITHDRAWN FROM CIRCULATION BY THE CENTRAL BANK of NIGERIA

2009-08-19T08:15:00.001+01:00

It was reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the CBN raked in N35.39 billion from the OMO and N75.11 billion on bills at the Primary Market Auction (PMA) respectively.The CBN, in its weekly report made available to NAN, said that investors needs were met as the apex bank sold to them what they wanted.
At the OMO segment, last week Tuesday and Wednesday, the CBN sold 30-day tenor bills worth N20 billion and 30-day tenor bills worth N6.21billion respectively.The following day, the apex bank sold 30-day tenor bill worth N5.67 billion and 7-day tenor worth N3.51 billion respectively. .
The report said that for all the four bills, bidders got all that they bidded for and that the bills would mature on Sept. 10, 11, 12 and 20, 2009 respectively.The bid rates and issue rates on the bills stood at 9.00 per cent respectively but it, however, made a deficit of N35.39 billion at the OMO segment At the PMA, long term bill continued to delight investors as all categories of bills on displayed were sold to the bidders.
At PMA window last Thursday, the CBN issued 91-day tenor bills, 182-day tenor bills and 364-day tenor bills and all were oversubscribed by investors, but the CBN only gave out N15.11 billion, N15billion and N30 billion respectively. According to the report, the range of bids and the issue rate on the 91-day tenor bills which would mature on Nov.12, 2009 were between 3.49and 4.70 per cent.
The 182-day tenor bill had it bid rate and issue rate hovered between 3.50 and 5.80 per cent with maturity date of Feb.11, 2009 which had a true yield of 5.54 per cent. The CBN made a repayment of N15 billion on the 182-day tenor bills, making its net withdrawal to remain at a balance of N15 billion.The 364-day tenor bills, which are to mature on Aug.12, 2009 had its bid rates between 4.99 and 7.45per cent. The report said that the issue rates hovered between 4.99 and 5.63 per cent while the true yield stood at 5.93 per cent

PRESIDENT YAR'ADUA OFF TO SAUDI ARABIA

2009-08-19T07:40:00.000+01:00

President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua is in Saudi Arabia to meet with his doctors today, to assess the true state of his ailment. Mr. Yar'Adua is suffering from severe kidney problems.
Since the president left for Saudi Arabia last week Friday for medical check-up and to perform the lesser Hadj, tongues have been wagging over the state of his health.
It was gathered however that Mr. Yar'Adua who was officially received as a guest of the Saudi royalty is currently residing in one of the palatial guest houses of King Fahd Ibn Abdulazeez of Saudi Arabia as the king's special guest.
Mr. Yar'Adua gets special treatment from the Saudi royalty as the leader of the most populous Muslim country in Africa.
The president's guest house is located within the proximity of the Kaabah. Sources say the one Mr. Yar'Adua is staying in was renovated with about $135million in 2007.
President Yar'Adua placed a call to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Adamu Aliero between 2pm and 3pm on Monday and spoke with the minister for almost half-an-hour. Sources close to Mr. Aliero told newsmen that the "conversation sounded like the president was in unusually high spirits."
The president's medical check-up has been slated to take place today, according to a source.
Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto State is expected to meet with the president in Saudi Arabia. Mr. Wamakko left Sokoto for Saudi Arabia via Kano yesterday.

EFCC GIVES 19 BANK EXECUTIVES ULTIMATUM FOR INTERROGATION

2009-08-19T07:33:00.001+01:00

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has threatened to declare some 19 bank executives wanted if they fail to report themselves at its offices by the end of today. The executives are mostly from the five banks whose leadership was sacked last week by the Central Bank of Nigeria. They include the sacked Managing Directors of Oceanic Bank, Intercontinental Bank, Afribank, Finbank and Union Bank.
Some of the names on the list are Ben Nwoji of Afribank Trustees Ltd; Henry Onyemem of Union Trustees Ltd; Felicia Shonobi of Oceanic trustees; Ayodele Thomas of Intercontinental Capital Market Ltd and Alex Duruike of Finbank Securities Ltd.A source said the officials are wanted in connection with investigations into the activities of the management of some banks in country.
The EFCC spokesman, Femi Babafemi said the accused persons were invited yesterday for quizzing but failed to show up. "The chairman has been briefed that they have fled their homes," he said. "But one good step already taken by the commission is that they have been listed, so it is difficult for them to escape out of the country."

SINOPEC PURCHASES ADDAX PETROLEUM COPORATION FOR $9billion

2009-08-19T07:13:00.001+01:00

Chinese oil company, Sinopec has announced conclusion of the buy-out of Canadian oil independent, Addax Petroleum Corporation.
In a joint statement by both companies, Sinopec and Addax Petroleum revealed that they are "pleased to announce that 153,734,120common shares of Addax Petroleum Corporation, which represent approximately 92.67percent of the Addax Petroleum common shares on a diluted basis, have been tendered to the offer dated July 9, 2009 made by Mirror Lake Oil and Gas Company Limited."
Mirror Lake is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Sinopec.
The statement added that "since all of the conditions to the Offer have been satisfied, Mirror Lake has taken up all of the Addax Petroleum common shares tendered to the Offer as of this date".
Sinopec International also said that it has extended the expiration date of its offer, which was scheduled for Friday, by 13 days.
The deal, worth $9 billion, including all Addax Petroleum debts, is the biggest takeover of a foreign company by a Chinese company according . The board of directors of Addax Petroleum will be replaced by nominees of Sinopec International, but Addax's chief executive, Jean Claude Gandur, would remain as a director in Addax.
Implications for Nigeria
Speaking on the implications for Nigeria, Mr. Akinoso said: "Things still remain unclear how the Chinese are going to go about it. But one thing is certain: they're going to rely heavily on the guys that have been running the company. It's the first time a Chinese company is taking over a Western oil company anywhere in the world that I know of."

MEND THREATENS AMNESTY DEAL

2009-08-19T06:50:00.001+01:00

A release by the Movement for the Emancipation of the niger-Delta (MEND), the group alleges the military joint task force (JTF) executed an unarmed civilian in Rivers state.
"On the morning of Monday, August 17, 2009, the JTF in Sama, Asari Toru Local Government Area of Rivers state executed an unarmed man and dumped his body into the river" alleged the group.
In a reprisal move MEND stated that "the youths from the area mobilized and carried out a reprisal attack on the army unit responsible for the extrajudicial killing and killed a soldier and went away with his rifle."
MEND decried such incidence and alludes to jeopardizing the ongoing ceasefire. "Such irresponsible actions by the military even if it is targeted at civilians are not acceptable and can jeopardize the current ceasefire if repeated" the group warned.
MEND claims it stands behind communities who take actions to defend themselves and retaliate extrajudicial killings by the military.

JAMB SET TO BEGIN UTME IN 2010

2009-08-18T07:39:00.002+01:00

Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has concluded preparations for the take-off on the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) with effect from 2010.
The Registrar and Chief Executive of the Board, Professor 'Dibu Ojerinde made this known on Tuesday, in Benin City, Nigeria.
Professor Ojerinde said that the Board's examination syllabus and brochure had been harmonised to accommodate the new development, just as he appealed to all institutions to cooperate with the Board to make the new initiative a success.
The JAMB boss also appealed to all institutions with shortfalls in admission spaces to come forward and request for high-scoring candidates listed by the Board for possible placement, saying""The Board considers all candidates suitable for admission to any Monotechnics, Polytechnics, specialised institutions and Colleges of Education in the country.

SUSPECTED BOKO HARAM MEMBERS ARRESTED IN OGUN

2009-08-18T07:13:00.001+01:00

Four suspected members of the Boko Haram sect were paraded by the Ogun State Police Command with documents purportedly meant for circulation among the Hausa community in the state.
The state Commissioner for Police Hasimu Argungun told newsmen that the four, Muhammad Nuru, Waliu Muah, Ahamadu Musa and Siaku Adamu, were arrested at Ibafo area of the state after his men received intelligence reports. Argungun who restated the commitment of his command to stem any attempt by religious fundamentalists to disrupt peace, disclosed that his men also discovered that the suspects received the inciting documents from another member who was said to have moved to Lagos for further distribution. The commissioner hinted that upon completion of investigation, the command would alert the Force Headquarters in Abuja for possible transfer of the suspects and further investigation. But the arrested suspects claimed ignorance of the documents which bore gory pictures of the killing of the Boko Haram leader, MuhammedYusuff and other members in Borno States. The trio claimed that they were working at a trailer pack when police picked them up. Argungun assured residents in the state to go about their normal businesses, stressing that there was no cause for alarm.

LAGOS ASSEMBLY IMPEACHES DEPUTY SPEAKER

2009-08-18T02:02:00.000+01:00

The Lagos State House of Assembly has impeached its Deputy Speaker, Funmilayo Tejuosho (AC-Mushin 1), for gross misconduct, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

PETE EDOCHIE SET FREE BY CAPTORS

2009-08-18T01:56:00.000+01:00

Seasoned Nollywood actor, Peter Edochie has been set free by his captors after an undisclosed amount was paid as ransom, his son Uche Edochie has said.
The veteran actor was held by the kidnappers for about 24 hours; from yesterday, Sunday August 16 when he was kidnapped till Monday, 17 August 2009.
He was kidnapped while he was being driven from his country home in Enugu in the company of his family members. Armed men stopped the car he was travelling in and Pete Edochie was the only one kidnapped.

FIRE OUTBREAK IN UNILAG

2009-08-18T01:50:00.000+01:00

A fire outbreak affected about three offices at the Faculty of Arts building, University of Lagos, Akoka on Monday
The fire started at an office in the Department of Geography office, spreading to other adjoining offices on the sixth floor of the building around noon.
It took hours of efforts from an unofficial rescue team, carrying bowls and containers of all sizes to put out the fire.The source of the fire is still unknown

NIGERIAN BANKS SHARES SUSPENDED

2009-08-18T00:50:00.001+01:00

Afribank, Intercontinental Bank, Fin Bank, Oceanic Bank and Union Bank which were recently bailed out by the Federal Government of Nigeria have had their shares suspended.
A sum of 400billion naira (£1.6bn; $2.6bn) was injected in all five banks together. The market value of shares in the banks fell drastically after the bailout and the sacking of their Chief Executive Officers. This prompted trading in the affected shares to stop.
The bailout is the first of its kind in Nigeria. The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi has said the banks would be run as normal until new investors were found. Investors however, have asked for trading in the shares to be halted.
The five institutions which account for 40% of bank credit in Nigeria, had run up bad loans worth a total of 1.4trillion Naira ($7.6bn)

RAY OF HOPE FOR POWER SECTOR

2009-08-17T23:54:00.001+01:00

The Federal Government of Nigeria has assured that the 6000MW power generation target by the end of the year will be achieved.
Speaking at ALAOJI power plant, ABIA State being constructed by Rockson Engineering, the minister of Power Mr Rilwan Babalola said before the year 2009 runs out, Nigeria will generate 6000MW of electricity.
ALAOJI is part of the NIPP programme which is expected to add 5000MW to the national grid.
He further stated that every effort geared towards achieving the goal was on course.

NIGERIAN ATHLETES CAUGHT IN DRUG MESS

2009-08-17T20:54:00.000+01:00

Nigerian female athletes, shot putter, Vivian Chukwuemeka and sprinter Gloria Kemasuode have tested positive for illegal substances and have subsequently been withdrawn from participating in the on-going 12th IAAF World Championships in Berlin.
It was gathered from reliable sources in Berlin that while Chukwuemeka, who has dominated the national shot put scene since the early 1990s, tested positive for the steroid, Oxymetholone during the 20th Mobil Track and Field Championship held last month in Abuja, sprinter, Kemasuode failed a cocktail of drugs as she tested positive to both Oxymetholone and a stimulant, Epherdrine also at the Abuja championships.
As first time offenders, both athletes will get a two-year ban each with Chukwuemeka also losing the 50,000 dollars prize money she won at the Nigerian trials for winning the shot put gold.
Both athletes have also been ordered by the IAAF to vacate the team's Berlin hotel latest latest today.