Fuel price hike protest:Reps declare support for FG, beg NLC

The House of Representatives on Wednesday made a formal declaration of support for the decision of the Federal Government to remove the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, better known as petrol. 

A litre of petrol now sells for N145 instead of  N86.50k.
However, the government claimed that what it did was price increase and not the removal of subsidy or deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.
On Wednesday, the House, which was presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, backed the price hike.
The price hike had pitted the government against  organised labour, as a faction of the Nigerian Labour Congress led by Mr. Ayuba Wabba, vehemently opposed it.

Protests in major cities as NLC strike begins

Workers  in most states of the federation on Wednesday shunned a directive of a faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress to embark on an indefinite strike due to the increase in the pump price of petrol from N86.50 to N145 by the Federal Government.

Despite this, however, labour and civil society organisations held rallies in most states to press home their demand that the Federal Government should reverse the price hike.

How we uncovered Saraki’s N375m London property – Witness

The first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Mr. Michael Wetkas, continued his testimony on Wednesday, giving details of how his investigative team uncovered a property in London owned by Saraki.

Wetkas, who said he led a team which investigated intelligence reports leading to the charges preferred against Saraki, is a detective with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
He said under cross-examination by defence lawyer, Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN), on Wednesday, that the London property was acquired by Saraki  in 2010 but was not declared in his asset declaration form which he submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau after completing his second term as the governor of Kwara State in 2011.

Six of my colleagues dead, says rescued Chibok girl

One of the missing schoolgirls abducted by the fighters of the Boko Haram Islamic sect from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, on April 14, 2014,  Amina Ali Nkeki, has been found, the Nigerian Army has said.

Activists also told the BBC that Amina was found by a vigilante group on Tuesday in Sambisa Forest, close to the border with Cameroon.
Amina was reportedly recognised by a civilian fighter. She told her rescuers that six of her abducted colleagues had died while others were being held in Sambisa Forest by their abductors.

Breaking: EgyptAir flight from Paris to Cairo disappears from radar

An EgyptAir plane headed to Cairo from Paris with 69 people on board disappeared from radar at dawn Thursday, the airline said.

Flight MS804 operating an Airbus A320 took off from Charles de Gaulle airport at 11:09 p.m. with 59 passengers and 10 crew members, the carrier said in a statement. The aircraft lost communications with radar around 2:45 a.m. Cairo time, it said in a separate statement. All communication has been lost with the missing plane and search and rescue operations are underway, a spokeswoman said.

Anambra Labour Commences Strike Action Today

The Anambra state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress and civil society of Nigeria have condemned in strong term the removal of subsidy  on the premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the federal government and described it as described it as insensitive o the plight of common man.

Addressing journalists  at the end of their meeting in Awka, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Jerry Nnubia lamented that the APC led administration has disappointed Nigerians with their programme of governance,  he called on workers, non civil service work force to join them in the struggle to liberate Nigerians from the stronghold of the present administration.

He maintained that the strike action, which will commence tomorrow (Today) will be indefinite in line with the national body of the NLC request, in making sure that government is forced to revert the pump price of petroleum from the present price of 145 naira to its previous price of 86 naira respectively.

FANS CAME IN THOUSANDS TO SUPPORT AFRICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE IN ABIDJAN

The City of Abidjan was thrown into fun and excitement over the weekend as the African Basketball League hosted basketball lovers to the Abidjan Basketball Challenge at Palais des sports de Treichville, Abidjan.

The two days in Abidjan showcased more than basketball as African music stars and dancers spiced up the nights with electrifying performances. The Nigerian artistes were led by Sound Sultan, Chidinma , Korra and May D. D J Arafat and others were also on ground to entertain fans.
The arena with a capacity of over five thousand was packed full to capacity and tickets were already sold out before the tip off time.

Arthur Eze, NAUTH To Facilitate National Sickle Cell Centre at Ukpo

                                                           By Okechukwu Christopher
All is now set to build a befitting national sickle cell anemia centre at Ukpo.
According to Dr. Ifeoma Modebe, an Associate Professor and Consultant in public health and physician in the Department of Community Medicine Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Ukpo, the centre would be furnished with modern medical equipment geared towards providing quality health to the sicklers in the country and Anambra State in particular.

Fuel price: Murray-Bruce demands effective mass transit system

The Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator  Ben Murray-Bruce, has called for an effective mass transit system to regulate the cost of transport and cushion the effect of the recent fuel price hike.
He said this on Tuesday while briefing journalists after plenary.

Anambra Professionals Charge Governor Obiano To Beef Up Security Against Possible Fulani Herdsmen Invasion

Sequel to the renewed calls by stakeholders in the south east, challenging  their state governors to beef up security to avert a re-occurrence of Fulani herdsmen attacks on villages in the zone, Anambra League of Professionals have charged the state house of assembly to cooperate with the state governor to ensure safety of lives and properties of the people in the state is maintained.

They solicited for an improved convivial working relationship within the three arms of government to enable them discharge their  constitutional  responsibilities creditably in the area of providing adequate security of lives and properties of the people living in the state.