Lagos-Badagry Expressway: Construction Slows Down

Millions of residents of Lagos, particularly those on the outskirts of the metropolis towards the West- Badagry, Okokomaiko, Iyana Iba, Ajangbadi, Alaba International, Agboju, Amuwo Odofin, Satellite and Festac Towns among other adjourning settlements, are beginning to raise concern over the delay and slow pace of construction works on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway project.
The job was initially estimated to be completed within five years at the cost of N220billion.
Almost four years after the take-off of the reconstruction and expansion of this all-important road from its present four lanes to ten which elicited jubilations, the excitement has waned.
Of course, more than any other project embarked upon by Lagos State in the last 13 years of Nigeria’s democratic path, and perhaps any to be undertaken before the exit of the current administration in 2015, the Lagos-Badagry project is the most ambitious.
This is arguably so because factored into this huge project are light rail (referred to as Blue Line) and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) with combined capacities to move millions of passengers much safer, faster and cheaper compared to what currently obtains on the road where the operators of the unregulated yellow commercial buses have enthroned the culture of impunity.
However, works on the project has since slowed down and the initial hope raised among motorists, commuters, residents, artisans, and businesses seems to be fading away. Of particular concern to these stakeholders is the absence of contractors on site from Orile towards Mile 2 (which falls under Lot 1 of the project).
Julius Berger, which handles this section of the road, is no longer seen on site unlike in the past when the construction giant drew the commendation of every passer-by for the speed and dexterity with which job was approached.
CityFile observes that apart from the rail project which is still ongoing, nothing practical in terms of road construction is happening at the Orile-Iganmu end of the road, where grasses are fast sprouting on some sections of the road.

On Lot 2 of the multi-billion naira road project- starting from Mile near Maza-Maza towards Agbara, which was awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), works have remained slow. Aside from clearing of sites, laying of concrete bricks for gutters and heaps of sand, not much progress is has been made.

The African Billionaires 2012

This year, a record 1,226 billionaires made it to FORBES’ annual ranking of the World’s richest people. (Carlos Slim Helu is still No.1). African billionaires occupied a little over 1% of the positions on the list. Here are the 16 Africans who made the cut:

Aliko Dangote, $11.2 billion 
Nigeria, Sugar, Cement, Flour

 
Nicky Oppenheimer & family, $6.8 billion

South Africa, Diamonds

Nassef Sawiris, $5.1 billion
Egypt, Construction

Johann Rupert & family, $5.1 billion
South Africa, Luxury Goods

Mike Adenuga, $4.3 billion
Nigeria, telecom, banking, oil

Naguib Sawiris, $3.1 billion
Egypt, Telecom


Christoffel Wiese, $3.1 billion
South Africa, Retailing

Onsi Sawiris, $2.9 billion
Egypt, construction, telecom

Miloud Chaabi, $2.9 billion
Morocco, Real estate
.
Patrice Motsepe, $2.7 billion 
South Africa, Mining

Othman Benjelloun, $2.3 billion
Morocco, banking, insurance

Mohamed Mansour, $1.7 billion
Egypt, Diversified

Anas Sefrioui, $1.6 billion
Morocco, Real estate

Yasseen Mansour, $1.6 billion
Egypt, Diversified

Youssef Mansour, $1.5 billion
Egypt, Diversified

Mohamed Al Fayed, $1.3 billion
Egypt, retailing

Source 

Boobs Affair At Big Brother Audition Boobs Affair At Big Brother Audition !

It was a battle of boobs among the hundreds of ladies, who thronged the Lagos, Nigeria open casting/auditions of contestants for the season seven of the M-Net Africa’s hit television reality show, Big Brother Africa, tagged ‘Double Up’ March 6th.

At the early morning auditions held at Protea Leadway Hotel, Maryland, the excitement was infectious as many of the applicants, especially the female folks, dressed in revealing attires with their cleavages pouting as if intended to create a ‘boob factor’ during the casting.

However, the audition was a thrilling experience, full of excitement and abundance of display of talents, according to an executive of M-Net Africa, who witnessed the open casting and audition.

The producers had announced that entrants would have to double up to compete. According to a statement, “Whether you enter with your best friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, mom, dad, brother, sister, boss, husband, wife, neighbour, hairdresser, whomever…you must just make sure that you enter as a pair. So who will take the journey of a lifetime with you? Remember you may have to spend a long time with them in the house so choose carefully!”

And so, while many came with their partners, others came with their aunts and some with friends. Some who were auditioned kept to the instructions not to discuss their experience with the media, others shared their optimism of making it to the BBA House when the show commences.

Dr. May Blossom Brown, a grandmother, who came to the audition with her nephew, Munachinso Ejiofor, as partner for the show, said she had a wonderful time with the other younger contestants who came for the auditioning and very positive that they will make it to the finals of the series.

Another contestant who simply called herself Gabriella was at the auditions with her friend, Tope. They are looking forward to be selected and be part of the show main show itself.

M-Net has announced that it will be another 91 days full of drama, action and unimaginable entertainment when BBA 7 hits screens in May. Also, the bounty for this year’s edition has been increased to a staggering $300,000.

Biola Alabi, Managing Director, M-Net Africa, said the show is definitely a high demand property that draws and holds audiences from start to finish.

She adds that viewers should expect something different from past editions as the show tries to always re-invent with each new edition.

“We’ve had positive feedback from BBA fans who love the challenge of entering in pairs. It’s great to see them embrace the change so enthusiastically,” said Alabi.

Nigerian Karen Igho emerged winner of the last edition of Big Brother Africa in 2011 alongside Zimbabwean Wendall Parson.

—Funsho Arogundade

Culled from PM News Nigeria

Alaba market goes online.

Online is the way to go these days, and the people at Alaba International Market have finally recognised that fact. If you live in Nigeria and shop a lot at Alaba Market, then this must be good news to you. You don't have to got through traffic and all the hassle to buy stuff at the market, it's now online.

Alaba International Market is unarguably the largest electronics market in Nigeria, maybe even West Africa, and buyers can now shop for goods online and have their products delivered to their doorstep via courier.

S/Africa unveils new immigration procedures as Nigeria accepts apology

PRETORIA (AFP) – South Africa on Thursday apologised for barring 125 Nigerians from the country and unveiled new immigration procedures aimed at ending a diplomatic row between the continent’s two powerhouses.
The dispute blew up after immigration officials at Johannesburg’s main airport last week refused entry to Nigerians, saying their yellow fever vaccination cards might be fake.

Travellers at the arrival wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport II Ikeja in Lagos.

Since then, Nigeria has turned away 131 South Africans in retaliation, Foreign Minister Olugbenga Ashiru told reporters in Abuja.
Nigeria says the cards were unnecessary as the country is yellow fever free.
“We apologise for this unfortunate incident and we hope this matter will not in any way affect our bilateral relations,” deputy foreign minister Ebrahim Ebrahim told reporters in Pretoria.
“We’ve put into place certain mechanisms to ensure this doesn’t happen again, and we believe that this matter is closed,” he added.
Ashiru said he had accepted the apology, saying a South African envoy was expected soon to formally apologies for the row.
“Thereafter we will move quickly to ensure that we put machinery in place so that it will be a lasting solution, because we don’t want this to happen again because of our bilateral relations,” he said.
“We felt it was un-African to have deported well over 125 Nigerians in a space of two days,” he added.
Ebrahim said South African officials had agreed to reopen an airport clinic that would allow travellers to receive yellow fever vaccines on arrival. Immigration officials will also need a foreign ministry official’s consent before turning away large groups of travellers.
South Africa, the richest country on the continent, is struggling with its reputation for xenophobia — a perception that was reinforced after nationwide attacks on immigrants left 62 dead in 2008.
The government has moved quickly to mend this latest row.
“Cabinet expressed shock and regret at the reports regarding how African foreign nationals, particularly Nigerians, and other nationals from other parts of the world have been treated” at Johannesburg’s main airport, minister in the presidency Collins Chabane told reporters in Cape Town earlier Thursday.
Ashiru on Tuesday had accused the South African authorities of targeting Nigerians.
“What you see playing out is what we call xenophobia by South Africans against all Africans — not just Nigerians — including even those from their neighbouring countries,” Ashiru said.
Nigeria had been certified as free of yellow fever by the World Health Organization, the minister said.
“That is why countries in Europe and the US do not demand yellow fever cards from Nigerian travellers,” he added.
Friday’s incident prompted Nigeria’s Arik Air to suspend its flights to Johannesburg, though it has since resumed its service.
Arik, one of two airlines affected, said health officials had given the reason as incorrect or unrecognised batch numbers on the documentation. Proof of vaccination is mandatory before one can enter the country.

: Ten Years Old Girl Delivers a Baby

Ten years old girl, Gladys Chelagat on Saturday became the youngest mother as she delivered a bouncing baby boy at the Kericho district hospital through a caesarian section. Doctors confirmed the weight of the baby to be 2.8kg.

 Among all the looming questions, is that of: who is the man responsible for her pregnancy to start with? (the father of the new born child). The child, who now has the new responsibility of raising a child, looked great as she wrapped her arms around her newly born son while sitting on the hospital bed. 

We are yet to confirm all the circumstances behind this story and what might be the way forward in helping the poor child who is now faced with the challenges of being a single parent. However, we will follow up on the news for more information. 

Man Collapses after Realising the Prostitute he Hired is his Daughter

Man passed out the moment he opened his hotel room door to discover the prostitute he was expecting was his own 20-year-old daughter.Ncube is said to have collapsed while the 20-year-old daughter bolted after seeing her father.

According to Sunday Mail, Ncube pleaded with the newspaper not to publish the story.
“I am sorry for what I did. I spoke to my wife and my daughter. I apologised for my actions because I just wanted my family back,” he said.

The father of three revealed he forgave his daughter for being a commercial sex worker and hired a therapist to counsel her.

“I don’t blame my daughter for what happened and what she was doing. I feel it was her way of expressing her feelings about the problems in my family,” he said.

“She has stopped that and is going back to school next year. My marital problems are not over, but we have a marriage counsellor who is helping us to get over this most difficult period in our marriage.”

His wife, Rosemary, said: “If it were not for my children, I could have divorced him a long time ago.
“But because I know the trauma that divorce has on children, I made a decision to stay.”

...

Arabic teacher rapes JSS3 girl.

The news of the alleged rape of a Junior Secondary School 3(JSS3) student in Ibadan, Oyo State is spreading like wild fire. It’s especially so, since the allegation was against a 43-year- old Imam cum teacher, Isiaka Salimonu, who teaches Arabic at Educational Legacy College, Ibadan.

Salimonu allegedly raped Yetunde, 15, in Ikumapayi, Olodo area of the city. He was said to have played a fast one on the student, when he promised to give her “holy oil” for prayers which ostensibly would improve her academic performance . The unsuspecting student followed him to his friend’s house as he requested, and when they got there , he allegedly stripped her naked without her consent, and raped her. The suspect was alleged to have given the victim N2,000 and the oil after the incident which she rejected.

Yetunde later reported the incident to her elder brother. Shocked members of her family reported the incident at Iyana Ofa Police Station. The suspect, who is being quizzed at the State Criminal Investigation Department(SCID) Iyaganku Ibadan, was said to have owned up to the alleged crime.

The victim told Crimewatch that the suspect was an Imam, who usually conducted Jumat prayers for them every Friday. “On December 15, 2011, when I collected my report card, he was in the mosque, and he called me and asked for my report card and I gave him. He said my performance was poor and that he was going to help me, by giving me some charms which would help me perform better academically. He asked me to wait for him at Ikumapayi Junction bus -stop but I refused to go there,” she said .

The teacher did not give up. When school resumed on January 5, 2012 and he sent somebody to call her.
She continued: “He asked me why I didn’t go to the place he told me last time to wait for him or at the mosque, to collect the charm he promised me. He told me to wait for him at a bus-stop at about 4.00p.m. and I waited as directed. He came and told me the charm was in his friend’s house. I followed him and when we got to the house, we didn’t see his friend . He knocked on the door but nobody responded.”

“ Later, he told me to follow him to collect the charm , and he took me to a small hut and asked me to remove my clothes. I refused , but he forcibly stripped me naked and thereafter, raped me. I started shouting for help , that was about 5.00p.m. I was angry and left . He gave me N2,000 but I rejected it . I also rejected the “holy oil” . When I got home, I reported the matter to my elder brother and it was later reported at the Olodo police station,” she said.

It was gathered that the suspect’s daughter is Yetunde’s classmate. The suspect , who spoke to the reporter admitted knowing the victim. He said “In December 2011, I saw Yetunde’s report card and I discovered that she didn’t perform well. I promised to assist her, by giving her “prayer oil” when they resumed on January 5, 2012. I told her to wait for me at Ikumapayi bus-stop and from there, I picked her and took her to my friend’s house to give her the charm.”

“I took her to my friend’s house but he was not at home. I took her to a small house in the compound. There, I stripped her naked and had fun with her. I gave her N2,000 and the “prayer oil” and she rejected them,” he said.
The suspect, who hails from Egbeda Local Government Area of the state, said he had been wooing the girl since September last year. “I always noticed her whenever I was conducting Jumat for them every Friday. I was arrested by men of the Olodo Police Station. I have confessed to the police that I raped her . It was the devil that pushed me into this, ” he said.

The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Femi Okanlawon, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) described it as an ugly incident, confirming that the suspect had been arrested, while he confessed to have raped the girl. The father of the victim, Mr. Adegbola Ramoni said he was shocked that the Imam could rape his daughter . “It all happened outside the school premises. I took my daughter to Adeoye General Hospital for treatment. The hospital confirmed that she was actually raped. The suspect also confirmed that he raped her,” the angry father told Crimewatch.

Meanwhile, Adegbola has appealed to the government to bring the suspect to book, but ironically, he doesn’t want the matter to go to court. The Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State CID, Mrs. Funmilayo Egbemi, said investigation was still going on in the matter. She advised parents to be careful the way they train their children and to always monitor their movement adding that the suspect would appear in court soon.

LOL - Policeman Seizes KAI Officer’s Phone For Taking Bribe

It was a dramatic scene in Lagos on Wednesday when a "born-again" police officer, Mr. A. Abdulahi seized  the mobile phone of a Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) officer for intimidating petty traders and taking bribe from them with impunity.

According to eyewitnesses, the KAI man had stormed a...

Motorway Building at Oregun, Ikeja, to arrest food vendors without any regard for the security men in the area. Confusion ensued when the Policeman stopped his illegal activity.

As soon as he discovered that the guy was collecting money from the traders, Mr. Abdulahi intervened, seized his cell phone and insisted he produce receipt for the money he had collected. 

In fact, the area was thrown into confusion as the KAI and his colleague had to flee the scene to save themselves from being mobbed.

Nigeria Police don dey better o!

SSANU gives another strike notice

Ibadan – The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) on Wednesday said it would embark on an indefinite strike over the non- implementation of its 2009 agreement with the Federal Government.

Mr Alfred Jimoh, the National Vice President, West Zone, told news men in Ibadan that the main reason for the strike was to press home SSANU’s demand for the 65 years retirement age.

He said the national executive of the association at the end of its 40th quarterly meeting in Ado-Ekiti resolved to commence the strike.

“ SSANU was to embark on an indefinite strike on about two occasions; but due to the appeal made by the Federal Government, we decided to sheath our sword.

“ As at today, only the salary aspect of the agreement has been partially implemented.

“ The government, however, promised to implement all agreements, including the retirement age by the 29th of February.

“ Nothing has been done and it will interest you that today is 29th and no agreement has been signed by the government.

“ SSANU is not happy about this; we have shown enough understanding with government and it is really affecting our members negatively.

“ So any moment from 12 mid-night, we will give directives to our members to embark on strike,’’ he said. (NAN)

JEALOUSY! New Wife Machetes Stepson To Death

It was gathered that the suspect, whose husband,...
Lukman Alalade, married after he separated from his first wife, had always haboured ill-feelings for her two stepchildren.

According to sources, the dastardly act was committed on Valentine's Day after the boy, identified as Qudus, returned from an errand on which his stepmother sent him.

Angry that the boy was late in coming from where she sent him to buy kerosene, the suspect reportedly descended on him with a macheted him. She reportedly cut him on the head and hand until he gave up the ghost.

After accomplishing her mission, Mrs. Alalade dragged the remains of the little boy to the backyard of the family’s building and hid the cutlass under the bed.

Her wicked deed was, however, blown open when the husband came back and could not see his son. Though she initially denied knowledge of the deceased’s whereabouts, a trail of his blood was followed to where his body was eventually discovered at the backyard.

It was then that bloodstains were noticed on the woman’s cloth, while the cutlass was found under the bed in the couple’s room.

The suspect has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigations and prosecution

Ants found in condom after sexual intercourse with Alhaji in Igbenedion.

Tongues are wagging in Edo State especially Benin-City,over how a 300 level female student of the College of Social Sciences of the Igbinedion University,Okada,narrowly escaped death after a steamy sex session with her super rich Sugar daddy,who is an Alhaji.

The female student who hails from Asaba,the Delta State Capital was a regular bed mate of the super rich Alhaji,who constantly and regularly takes care of her needs and spoilt her silly with money and other material things.

It was learnt that on the fateful day,the Alhaji,who is said to shuttle between Abuja,Lagos and Benin called her up to book an hotel around her campus,pretending that he wanted her to be closer to school.

She did as the Alhaji instructed and subsequently packed her bag ready for the weekend for the arrival of the Alhaji.

At the hotel, the fun started as usual and everything was going on well.

It was learnt that usually,the Alhaji use condom any time he wants to sleep with her,but on this day,he insisted that they should be comfortable in each other’s company since they are no more strangers to each other.

She refused initially,but when she realized the Alhaji was getting angry,she remembered that she had a female condom in her bag,so she went to the toilet and inserted the female condom after which she agreed to have sex with him.Immediately after the show Alhaji’s phone beeped.

His mood changed and he got dressed and started hurrying to leave her saying that he got an urgent call to be in Abuja.

She went into the toilet to remove the condom and was shocked to find tiny black ants attempting to crawl out.

The territory sight made the lady scream aloud from the hotel room when she had lodged with the Alhaji thereby attracting the attention of the hotel workers and management,who subsequently killed the crawling black ants.
NF.com

Pirates kidnap two in attack off Nigeria

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – Armed pirates opened fire on a cargo ship in an attack off the Nigerian coast, kidnapping the captain and chief engineer and robbing the crew before escaping, a maritime watchdog said Wednesday.

Tuesday’s attack also left one crew member missing and another injured, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said, and was the latest in a series of incidents indicating heightened piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

The assault at about 1500 GMT Tuesday targeted a Dutch-owned, Curacao-flagged refrigerated cargo ship that was anchored near the coast, said Noel Choong, head of the IMB’s Kuala Lumpur-based piracy reporting centre.

A group of about eight pirates armed with guns carried out the attack on the ship, which had a crew of 14, he said, adding that Nigerian authorities had been alerted.

Choong said he had received no word yet on the fate of those reported missing or whether any ransom was being demanded.

“The attacks off the Nigerian coast are very violent and they are increasing,” Choong said.

“So far we have seen seven attacks off Nigeria this year and one off of Benin. So that makes eight since the beginning of the year and we believe many more attacks may have gone unreported.”

Two weeks ago, pirates fired on a cargo vessel off Nigeria, killing the ship’s captain, according to the IMB.

Choong said that vessel’s chief engineer died from a fall during the attack, correcting earlier reports that he also had been shot dead.

That ship was Panamanian-flagged but its owners were Taiwanese, he said.

The IMB has said other recent attacks in the area included a tanker that was hijacked south of Nigeria earlier in February. Nigerian vessels intercepted that ship and rescued its crew.

The IMB, which is funded by shipowners, warned in September that the seas off Benin, Nigeria’s neighbour, were emerging as a new piracy “hotspot” due to the weak enforcement capabilities of governments in the region.

Police arraign woman for pouring faeces on banker

AKURE – The Police in Akure, Tuesday, arraigned a 28-year-old woman, Folashade Babatunde before an Akure Senior Magistrate’s Court for allegedly pouring faeces on a female banker.

The accused, a trader and Higher National Diploma student at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo in Ondo State was docked before Mrs Rabi Abdulahi on a two-count charge of act likely to cause breach of the peace and assault.

Babatunde was accused of pouring faeces on one Agnes Olasehinde, a 27-year-old banker with the First Bank Plc, Alagbaka branch, Akure.

The offence, according to the Police Prosecutor, ASP Ayodele Atandeyi, was allegedly committed on February 24, about 12.30 p.m. at the First Bank Plc, Alagbaka branch, Akure.

She was accused of conducting herself in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace by bringing into the banking hall a can containing faeces.

This, the police said constituted an offence contrary to and punishable under section 249 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. I laws of Ondo State 2006.

Babatunde was also accused of assaulting Olasehinde by pouring faeces on her body, contrary to and punishable under Section 351 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. I laws of Ondo State 2006.

The accused person who elected summary trial at the court pleaded not guilty to the two charges when they were read to her in English language.

But in her statement to the police, the accused, who gave her address as No. 47, Ekusi Street, Owo, admitted that she poured the faces on Olasehinde because she was going out with her husband.

Atandeyi informed the court that he had two witnesses to call to prove the case against the accused person and asked for an adjournment to enable him study the case file.

The Counsel to the accused person, Mr Christopher Titiloye, did not object to the adjournment sought by the prosecutor, but urged the court to admit his client to bail pending the final determination of the matter.

In her ruling, the magistrate granted bail to the accused person in the sum of N100,000 and two sureties in like sum, who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

The sureties, the court ruled must swear to affidavit of means and must be property owners in the jurisdiction of the court.

28yrs Old Nigerian Dies During Alcohol Drinking Contest

Nigerians who patronize drinking joints and beer parlours have been warned by the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force against engaging in life-threatening contests.

This warning followed the death of Azeez Muideen, a...
28-year-old commercial motorcyclist (Okada rider), last Wednesday after taking too much alcohol in a bid to win a drinking competition.

It was learnt that on the day of the incident, Azeez and some friends had a drinking contest. He took excess alcohol after which he suddenly slumped.

According to residents of Aso Rock Villa, Ebute Road, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where the incident occurred, Azeez alone consumed two bottles of brandy before the unfortunate incident. Immediately his friends realised that he had slumped, they dumped his corpse near a gutter and took to their heels.

His remains were later recovered and taken to the Ibafo Police Division. Policemen at the station took the body to a nearby hospital, where Azeez was confirmed dead.

FG okays Monday as public holiday

The Federal Government has declared Monday, February 6, 2012 as a public holiday, to mark the Id-el-Maoulud celebration.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, and signed by an Assistant Director/Press Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Ben Bem Boong, on Thursday.