Belgian ship, 15 crew members arrested for illegal bunkering

Yenagoa – The Nigerian Navy has confirmed the arrest of a Belgian ship, MT St Vanessa and her crew for alleged involvement in illegal oil bunkering in Bayelsa.

The navy said the ship was arrested off the Brass/Akassa coast in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

Nigeria loses 5bn dollars to oil theft annually – Shell

Abuja -  Mr Mutiu Sumonu, the Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Plc., said on Tuesday, in Abuja, that Nigeria was losing 5 billion dollars annually to oil theft.

Sumonu spoke at the public hearing on the upsurge of illegal oil bunkering activities in Nigeria’s coastal region.

Air Nigeria to cooperate with NCAA

Lagos- Air Nigeria will cooperate with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure that issues relating to the suspension of  its domestic and regional flight operations are resolved, a statement said.

Solar powered telecom network set to debut in Nigeria

By Prince Osuagwu

Nigeria will soon experience a solar powered telecommunications network tagged WorldGSM through a company under the Shyam Group, VNL. Shyan Group is a West African and Middle East based Operator.

According to VNL, WorldGSM will be the first solar powered broadband network in Nigeria and has been designed to serve rural populations in developing economies. It will also help to bring mobile infrastructure to billions of people yearning for it in the rural and remote areas.

Boko Haram invades Damaturu Prison, frees 40 prisoners

BY NDAHI  MARAMA
Damaturu— Suspected members of the Jam’atul Ahlis Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad otherwise known as Boko Haram, yesterday, staged a daring attack on the Damaturu prison on Gashua Road, and set free 40 of their members who were being detained.

FG, Lagos govt on collision course over closure of Third Mainland Bridge

BY LEKE ADESERI, South West Regional Editor, OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO
BARELY five days to the commencement of repair works on the Third Mainland Bridge, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Monday, said the closure of the bridge would not be total afterall.

However, the Federal and Lagos State governments may be on collision course over which agency will spearhead traffic management that will result from the diversion during the four months period.

Four prison guards killed as gunmen raid prison

KANO (AFP) – Attackers with guns and explosives raided a jail in a restive northeastern city on Sunday, leaving four prison guards dead and freeing 40 inmates, authorities said.

The raid occurred in the northeastern city of Damaturu, previously hit by heavy violence blamed on Islamist group Boko Haram and which last week saw gun battles between security forces and extremists that killed at least 40 people.

Nigerian musician shines in Australia

These are not the best of times for Nigeria’s image abroad but in far away country of Australia and out of the gloom and doom comes a rising shining star.

Daniel Okoduwa a.k.a Scrim  as he is more fondly called by his peers and fans in Australia, was honoured with the prestigious award of Entrepreneur of the year in Sydney, Australia.

Dealers in counterfeit drugs to get life imprisonment – DG, NAFDAC

By PETER DURU, Makurdi
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC,  has finalised plans to present a bill to the National Assembly, prescribing life imprisonment for dealers in counterfeit drugs.

Akpabio approves N250m grant to medical students

UYO – Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, has approved N250 million grant to students of the state origin studying Medicine and Surgery in universities across the country.

Banks refund N5.06bn in response to customers’ petition

By Babajide Komolafe

…As CIBN  addresses customers complaints in banks
Banks have refunded N5.03 billion to customers in response to petitions against their services sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Meanwhile the CBN has begun to examine banks to monitor their compliance with the directive to establish Customer Complaints desk and e-mail addresses.

Food crisis looms as dealers threaten to stop distribution

BY TONY EDIKE

…Over  illegal levies, harassment  by miscreants
ENUGU—FOOD crisis looms in the country as members of the Federated Foodstuff Dealers Association of Nigeria, FFDAN, yesterday, threatened to stop its distribution across the country if the Federal and state governments fail to intervene and stop imposition of incessant illegal levies and harassment by persons acting as members of task forces on federal highways.

End of the road for notorious cable thieves in Abuja

By Emma Nnadozie, Crime Editor

…As Immigration record heavy catch, arrest 10 suspects
TEN men suspected to be members of a notorious gang that specializes in stealing cables belonging to Power Holding of Nigeria, PHCN; Nigeria Telecommunications Company, NITEL, and CCTV cameras in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have been rounded up by vigilant Immigration guard duty operatives.

2015 presidency linked to calls for emergency declaration in Kaduna

BY Henry Umoru

ABUJA—THERE were strong indications yesterday that the fight for the presidency in 2015 is responsible for calls for the declaration of state of emergency in Kaduna state following bombings of Churches and the reprisal attacks that followed during which scores of people were killed.

Killer salt sells in Sapele market

BY GODWIN OGHRE, Sapele
A killer salt is now in circulation in Sapele market, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State and unless an urgent intervention is put in place the lives of buyers and consumers of the product may be jeopardy.

Third Mainland Bridge to be shut from July 1

By LEKE ADESERI, South West Regional Editor & BOSE ADELAJA

THE  third mainland bridge in Lagos will be closed to traffic for repairs in four months starting from July 1, 2012. The first signals for the proposed closure came through several banners hung in strategic places that show that maintenance works would be carried out on the all-important bridge from July 1 to Nov 6, 2012.