Family Of Nine Killed In Lagos Gas Explosion Buried In Anambra

The sleepy community of Azia in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State was in mournful mood yesterday as the nine bodies of the family of Charles Obidigwe, who died of burns sustained from cooking gas explosion in Lagos last month, were buried.

Mrs. Obidigwe, wife of Charles, was said to be preparing lunch for the family when the gas cylinder exploded and caught fire that engulfed the entire flat.

When men of Lagos State Fire Service arrived, the harm had been done.

The head of the family, Charles Obidigwe, 51, died instantly. But the other eight members of his family, including his sister-in-law and her son, who were staying with them, died later in a Lagos hospital.

Until his death, late Obidigwe operated a medicine store in Lagos.

When news of their death reached Azia, their home town, the community was thrown into mournful mood and it remained so until their bodies were brought a fortnight ago and buried, while funeral rites were accorded them yesterday.

OAUTHC Set To Host NISONMC

About 500 sports men and women are expected to fight for different laurels as the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex OAUTHC, Ile-Ife host the 5th edition of Nigeria Schools Of Nursing and Midwifery Games [NISONMG]

The four day events which is expected to kick off on 4th August will be declared closed on 7th August at the sports Complex of   OAU.

Briefing newsmen ahead of the competition, the Chief Medical Director CMD   of the hosting college Professor Victor Adebayo said this was the second time the competition will be hosted in the South-West zone.

He disclosed that the various schools contingents will participate in seven sporting events such as athletics (track and field), football, table tennis, volleyball, and badminton among others.

He said the event would be an opportunity to   bring to the lime-light hidden talents from the grassroot levels that can be developed to national and international standards.

New York’s Largest Legionnaires Outbreak Kills Seven

New York’s largest recorded outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease has killed seven people and infected 86 others, as the city moved Tuesday to draw up new legislation to halt future outbreaks.

Sixty-four people are still being treated for the illness, a form of pneumonia, in hospital since the outbreak began on July 10 in the Bronx, the poorest county in the state.

The disease is spread by a bacteria, which has recently been discovered in the cooling towers of five buildings in the area.

Officials say those who died were older patients and had pre-existing medical conditions. Legionnaires’ disease is not contagious and can be treated with antibiotics.

Those with chronic lung diseases, as well as AIDS and HIV patients are among those most at risk.

“Our hearts go out to everyone who is inflicted and particularly the families of those we have lost,” New York Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference on Tuesday.

“In the context of New York City… we have not had this problem in any appreciable level and now we’re seeing a pattern it’s obviously something we’re going to act on very aggressively.”

Locust Swarms Plague Southern Russia

Millions of locusts have descended on farmlands in southern Russia, devouring entire fields of crops and causing officials to declare a state of emergency in the region.

A vast area of at least 800 hectares is currently being affected as the swarms of insects, each measuring about 8 centimeters long, annihilate fields of corn and other crops.

It’s been more than 30 years since this part of southern Russia suffered such a dense plague of locusts, according to local officials.

Ogun Sex Workers Protest Colleague’s Death, Hold Procession

Scores of commercial sex workers in Abeokuta on Monday night held a candlelight procession in honour of their colleague, who was allegedly killed by suspected ritualists last Sunday.

Persons, suspected to be ritualists, had killed and dumped the corpse of one 23-year-old Sitira at a refuse site at Oloomore junction, Abeokuta, in the early hours of the fateful day.

A chunk of flesh was severed from her  right arm by her assailants.

The ‎late Sitira was said to have been thrown off from a moving Sport Utility Vehicle along the Abeokuta-Lagos Expressway.

The sex workers, ‎who wore black dresses, stormed the state secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta‎, on Monday night, wailing.

However, on Monday, ‎about 50 commercial sex workers, plying their trade in Abeokuta, converged on the NUJ secretariat and also at the frontage of the nearby residence of former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan.

They identified their slain colleague wi‎th different names such as Titi and Folake.

Contractor Sues FG Over Jonathan’s N9.2bn Stoves

The contractor handling the N9.2billion worth of clean cook stoves and wonder bags awarded by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan has dragged the Federal Government to court.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Fatima Mede, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Tuesday shortly after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari of the ministry’s activities inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Mede said the contractor approached the court to order the government not to terminate the contract following the emergence of the present administration.

The Jonathan-led Federal Executive Council had on November 26, 2014 approved N9.2billion inclusive of Value Added Tax for the procurement of 750,000 units of clean cook stoves and 18,000 wonder bags.

The contract was awarded in favour of Messrs Integra Renewable Energy Services Limited.

There have been calls on the present administration to terminate the contract.

Confirming the legal action, Mede said the ministry had briefed the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation on the development.

UK-Based NGO Recognises Down Syndrome’s Crusader

Down’s Syndrome awareness crusader, Sandra Nwugo, has been hard at it for some time now and, recently, her efforts to get sufferers the support and welfare they need, was finally recognised by a United Kingdom-based non-profit body, PaceworkingInternational.

The event, which held in the evening of July 11, 2015 at the Kensington Close Hotel London, United Kingdom, saw the Nwugo, who is also the chief executive officer of FEMAZ Micro-finance Bank, honoured alongside United Nations’ ambassador John Fashanu and television presenter Rachel Bakam.

The entrepreneur and humanitarian’s award was part of events to mark the NGO’s 10th year anniversary.

Also, the NGO decided to provide the needs of Methodist High School, Lagos and contribute to the welfare of Down’s syndrome sufferers.

Today's Newspaper Headlines : Wednesday, August 05, 2015

Good morning everyone and welcome to the news headlines. The blog had a technical issue from the domain hosting company, that was the reason for inconsistency. The issue has been fixed for you to keep enjoying latest news at your finger tips. Do have a nice day as you read and enjoy the news headlines from national newspapers for today. Stay blessed.

PUNCH

• APC begs monarchs to evade justice PDP
• Igbo should play opposition for 10 years Igbokwe
• Metuh not on Ondo govt payroll, says PDP
• Akpabio unhappy with AIbom gov over US trip
• Its cold being in the opposition Metuh
• Akiodes Hope 4 Girls camp begins Aug. 6
• New betting platform to provide employment
• While awaiting Buharis cabinet
• Ezekwesili and Nigerias heroes and heroines
• Towards safety on Nigerian roads
• Amaechi, el-Rufai and fixation on Jonathan
• Buharis American photo op
• Contractor sues FG over Jonathans N9.2bn stoves
• Senate confirms CDS, service chiefs
• Major oil firm, MRS, owes FCMB N6.2bn
• Locust swarms plague southern Russia
• Mimiko sacks aides
• Dont underrate Swaziland, Djibouti, Adepoju warn Eagles
• Ekweremadu leads Lawan, others to Adawawa on Thursday
• Mimiko sacks aides
• Key Taliban official quits over naming of new leader
• Italian police smash drug ring after disco shutdown
• Ogun sex workers protest colleagues death, hold procession
• Yakasai flays South-East exclusion from NASS leadership

Nwankwo Kanu’s Hotel Will Not Be Reopened Until – Lagos Govt

Lagos state government has said that it would not re-open Hardley Apartments, owned by ex-Super Eagles Player, Kanu Nwankwo which was shut, Monday for contravening the state’s environmental laws.

General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, Engr. Ademola Shabi, made the revelation during an enforcement exercise to Amuwo Odofin, said the hotel will not be opened until the management complies with agency’s standards as well as sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the state government.

He said Kanu’s hotel, Hardley Apartments, located on Victoria Island, ran foul of the state laws on pollution.

“We discovered that the emission from their generator was causing serious air pollution in the area. The outfit would have to pay fines to the state government.

Shabi also noted that 30 religious outfits,10 industries, night clubs and other business outfits were sealed by the agency to return sanity to the state environment.

Police Discover Another Kidnappers’ Den In Oyo

The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mr Muhammad Katsina, on Tuesday said that his command had discovered another kidnappers’ den at Oyagbe area in Oyo town.

Katsina said this at a news briefing in Ibadan where some suspects linked with the crime were paraded.

The hideout was said to have been a deserted hotel whose owner was now in police custody.

Katsina said that men of the state command had arrested five suspects in connection with the crime.

The commissioner also told newsmen that a victim, Husseni Sani, was rescued from the den of the kidnappers.

He said that the kidnappers came from Benin Republic and moved to Kwara before finally settling in Atiba Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Who Did This To Korede Bello?

Mavin artiste, Korede Bello has asked his fans to find the person that did this meme of him. Check out the meme below;

Sketch Newspaper Set To Return, Says Oyewole

Mr Bode Oyewole, the Chairman, Spark Communications Limited, the firm engaged to revive the moribund Sketch Newspaper, says the publication will soon return to the newsstands.

Oyewole, in a statement made available  in Ibadan on Tuesday, said much progress had been made in the move to revive the newspaper.

“The project is in progress and would hit the newsstands soonest. People should remain hopeful and expectant that the idea would not be an abandoned project,’’ he said.

Sketch, which published daily, weekend and Sunday editions as well as a Yoruba edition, Gbohungbohun, was owned by Odu’a Investment Company Limited before it became moribund.

The Odu’a Investment Company Limited is a conglomerate co-owned by Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states.

NNPC New Boss, Kachikwu Assumes Office

The newly-appointed Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, has assumed duty as the Chief Executive of the corporation.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Ohi Aligbe, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, on Tuesday in Abuja.

It said that a brief handover ceremony was held at the NNPC Towers to mark the assumption of office.

It added that until his appointment, Kachikwu was the Executive Vice Chairman and General Counsel of Exxon Mobil (Africa).

Kachikwu, in the statement, expressed gratitude to his predecessor, Dr. Joseph Dawha, for his hard work in holding the corporation.

He pledged to work assiduously in achieving the president’s growth aspiration for the oil and gas industry.

Day I Drove Car In Only Pant And Bra – Empress Sosanya

Budding Yoruba actress and marketing graduate of Lagos State University, Empress Anu Sosanya is beautiful, talented and daring. Ask her to describe herself, she would tell you she’s a very simple person, who can be very blunt.

“I make and stay happy always because I know that no matter the situation, it will always pass. I don’t force things, I live my life. I don’t want to know what you are going through, I like being myself” she describes her kind of person.

She may be new in the industry but she’s definitely not a cheerleader as she has produced three movies of her own and have featured in so many she could not count off her fingers. 

In a recent chat with Potpourri the vivacious and voluptuously crafted mother of one opened up on the weirdest thing she has ever done.

Groom Re-Arrested After Ditching New Wife

A man who was granted bail to get married was re-arrested by Australian police on Tuesday, a week after he jilted his new wife and went on the run.

Prosecutors said Murat Shomshe, 33, who was facing possible firearms charges, was given a weekend furlough to get married, as long as he returned to jail on the Monday after the wedding.

They said Shomshe had convinced a Melbourne Magistrate’s, that the wedding had to go ahead or he would lose the 5,000 dollars he had already paid for the ceremony.

It said his bride-to-be posted 7,300 dollars for his bail and the Muslim wedding went ahead on 25 July, attended by no fewer than 450 guests.

10 Facts To Know About The New Nnpc Gmd Appointed By Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has just appointed Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu to take over from Dr. Joseph Dawha as the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Notice of the appointment was contained in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina. 

Here is a compilation of 10 facts you need to know about Dr. Kachikwu.

1. Kachikwu hails from Onicha-Ugbo, a town in Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria.They are Igbo-speaking people. The town lies on the Benin-Asaba Express way connecting the west to the East of Nigeria.

2. Kachikwu is a First Class Graduate of Law from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the Nigerian Law School.

3. He holds a Masters and Doctorate Degrees in Law from Harvard Law School.

4. Kachikwu started his working career with the Nigerian/American Merchant Bank Limited (NAMBL), under the Chairmanship of Alhaji Ibrahim Damcida.

5. Having worked with NAMBL for about seven months, Kachikwu proceeded to work with TEXACO Nigeria Limited where he served as the General Manager, Legal, Upstream and Downstream

Singer Omawumi’s Hubby Shares Photo Of Himself And Their Kids

Tosin Yusuf who is the husband of Nigerian singer, Omawumi has shared a photo of himself and their two kids on his Instagram page. He tagged the kids, "Prince" and the other a "Princess".

Nigerian Entrepreneur, Sujimoto Meets The King Of Dubai (Photos)

Sujibomi Ogundele aka Sujimoto, the CEO of Sujimoto construction was recently pictured in Dubai with the king of Dubai, his Royal Highness Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The details of the meeting are currently undisclosed but it all centres around business as Sujibomi has reportedly been channeling strong efforts growing his business endeavours in the arab country.

I Will Remain Blunt Till I Die - Ex President, Obasanjo Slams Bad Journalists

Ex president Obasanjo has declared that he would remain blunt at all times and that he will not shirk from criticizing the media when necessary. 

While hosting the former Zonal Secretary of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, to a dinner to celebrate the journalist’s 53rd birthday, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Sunday,  has declared that he would remain blunt at all times and that he will not shirk from criticising the media when necessary.

He said he had nothing against the media, but that his concerns were about irresponsible journalism.

"I remain myself and I will continue to remain myself in being blunt. I don’t hate the media, but there are some bad eggs in the profession, and this must not be allowed, the truth must be told. However, not all journalists are bad, hence, the need to celebrate the good ones, as we are all witnessing today."

Alicia Keys' Husband & Rapper, Swizz Beatz Endorses Wizkid's Album

Singer, Alicia Keys' husband endorses Wizkid's album, weeks after Drake jumped on one of the hits off the Starboy's sophomore album, 'Joy'. 

The American hip hop artist and music producer, Kasseem Dean, better known by his stage name Swizz Beatz, has taken to his Instagram page to acknowledged the masterpiece of Wizkid's "Ayo" album.

This endorsement comes just weeks after Drake jumped on one of the hits off the sophomore album, which sent the social media abuzz for days.