China jails Christian pastor for 14 years: official

China jails Christian pastor for 14 years: official
By AFP on February 29, 2016 10:30 am

GavelA Chinese court has sentenced a Christian pastor to 14 years in jail for embezzlement and other charges, a court official confirmed Monday, after the preacher opposed the forced removal of crosses from churches.
A court in the eastern province of Zhejiang sentenced Bao Guohua for embezzlement, disturbing public order, illegal business operations and concealing information about business accounts, local media have reported.
His wife Xing Wenxiang was jailed for 12 years, they said. The two were also fined and their assets seized for appropriating cash and a house which belonged to the church, reports added.
An official at a court in Jinhua city, where the sentencing took place on Thursday, confirmed the sentences to AFP but declined further comment.
The court jailed 10 other people in connection with the case, the Zhejiang Daily newspaper and local television said, but did not give the lengths of their sentences.
Bao and Xing were detained in July last year after they spoke out against forced cross removals in Zhejiang.
Earlier, the province announced rules requiring crosses for Catholic and Protestant churches to be attached to the front of the building, rather than on the roof, and be no more than a tenth of the building’s height.
China’s officially atheist Communist authorities are wary of any organised movements outside their control, including religious ones, and analysts say controls over such groups have tightened under President Xi Jinping.
In 2014, Wenzhou city in Zhejiang demolished the large Sanjiang Church, following government declarations it was an illegal structure.
The state-linked China Christian Council estimates the country has around 20 million Christians — excluding Catholics — in official churches supervised by the authorities.
But the true number of worshippers could be higher, at least 40 million to 60 million, according to some estimates, as some pray at “underground” or “house” churches which seek to exist outside government control.
US-based religious rights group China Aid said authorities forced Bao and Xing to dismiss their lawyers before the trial.

Buhari makes U-turn, says he won’t pay N5000 stipend promised to unemployed

Buhari makes U-turn, says he won’t pay N5000 stipend promised to unemployed
  
 On February 28, 201611:17 am/In News
By Levinus Nwabughiogu
ABUJA – In what appears to be a major U-turn from what his campaign promises before the 2015 presidential election, president Mohammadu Buhari has said he would not pay the N5000 stipend he promised to unemployed youth in the country.
The president made the remarks at the weekend while on the visit in Middle East.
He said it was wise to use a collation of the funds to put up infrastructures and empower them through agriculture for than to give out monies.
He said: “This largesse N5,000 for the unemployed, I have got a slightly different priority. I would rather do the infrastructure, the school and correct them and empower agriculture, mining so that every able bodied person can go and get work instead of giving 5,000, N5,000 to those who don’t work.”
It will be recalled that All Progressives Congress, APC had during its campaign supported the promise of paying N5,000 as monthly stipend to the most vulnerable in the country

N330m vehicles: Senate under fire for buying exotic cars

N330m vehicles: Senate under fire for buying exotic cars

February 28, 2016
 
Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki

Sunday Aborisade, Eniola Akinkuotu and Okechuwu Nnodim
The Senate came under harsh criticisms by eminent Nigerians on Saturday for defying Nigerians, including President Muhammadu Buhari on the purchase of exotic vehicles.
Eminent Nigerians including the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN),   Senator Femi Okurounmu and Dr. Junaid Mohammed, condemned the Senate for purchasing the vehicles.
The contractor in charge of delivering the vehicles, Lanre Shittu Motors, on Saturday confirmed to SUNDAY PUNCH that it had delivered “a lot of vehicles to the Senate.
SUNDAY PUNCH gathered that the Senate had taken delivery of the exotic vehicles and that the deliveries were done from Lagos and Abuja.
The Group Executive Director, Lanre Shittu Motors, Mr. Taiwo Shittu, in an interview with one of our correspondents, stated that a lot of deliveries had been made to the Senate.
We have delivered a lot of vehicles to Senate — Lanre Shittu Motors
When asked to confirm if the Senate had taken delivery of the vehicles from his company, Shittu replied, “Yes, they’ve taken a lot of deliveries but the deliveries are handled from the head office. I’m in charge of commercials like trucks, equipment and buses for the company, but not deliveries that have to do with the cars.
“They are not taking delivery of commercial vehicles but they are taking passenger vehicles, although Toyota Hilux can be seen as a commercial vehicle. I can confirm to you that the Senate has taken delivery of some vehicles but I can’t give you the accurate number presently.”
Many Nigerians, including Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo had a few months ago urged the National Assembly to shelve the plan to buy N330m exotic vehicles.
While advising the Senate, Buhari in his first media chat had said, “I turned down a N400 million bill for cars for the presidency, because the vehicles I am using are good enough for the next 10 years.”
Anger over purchase
In his reaction, prominent Yoruba leader, Okurounmu, on Saturday described the purchase of the vehicles as disgraceful.
Okurounmu, who represented Ogun-Central senatorial district between 1999 and 2003, said the purchase of vehicles at a time when over 20 states could not pay salaries was callous.
He said, “If this is true, the action of the Senate is completely unpatriotic, callous and shows that they don’t care about the welfare of the Nigerians that they are supposed to be representing and they are only there to look after their own interests. They are selfish.
Also speaking, Sagay described the senators as a group of “shameless people” who are unfit to occupy public office.
Sagay said their profligate lifestyle was capable of causing poor Nigerians to revolt against the government.
He said, “It shows that we are dealing with a group of people that are totally incorrigible in their love for material things at the expense of Nigerians. They have no limit and have no sense of shame or restraint. They will go all out and continue to live in luxury and obscenity until they can ground Nigeria
“These people are unfit to hold public office. They are a disgrace to this country and somehow, if it was possible, I would want them to be shamed out of the National Assembly. They are unfit for that position and a disgrace to any civilised community.”
Lending his voice to the controversial acquisition of vehicles, a former Governor of Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, wondered where the Senate got the funds to purchase the vehicles since the 2016 budget had not yet been passed.
Describing the incident as ‘mindlessness’, the former governor said the matter must be investigated by the relevant authorities.
He said, “Who authorised the purchase of the vehicles? The budget has not yet been approved so where did they get the money to buy the vehicles? Are they using the law which authorises the President to spend the equivalent of what was spent last year to buy the vehicles?
“Besides the mindlessness of such an act in the face of the economic crisis, why should lawmakers use their position to enrich themselves? Has the National Assembly allowed itself to be involved in illegality?”
Saraki’s convoy changed only one vehicle – Aide
But the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, to the Senate President, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said in a statement on Saturday that only one new vehicle had been changed in the convoy of his principal, Bukola Saraki.
Olaniyonu, explained that the new vehicle, a Mercedes Benz, was meant to replace the old spare car in the convoy that he inherited and had been using since he assumed office in June 2015.
He said, “It is an obvious fact that the official and spare cars that the Senate President inherited and has been using are old and have been malfunctioning.
“There are instances like the day Saraki visited Keffi for the marriage of the daughter of Senator Abdullahi Adamu and another day at the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport that the spare vehicle broke down.
“In both instances, the spare vehicle did not return home with the convoy. The same vehicle had malfunctioned at the Presidential Villa and National Mosque on different occasions.
“It is for this reason that the Senate President approved that instead of providing two vehicles for him as he is entitled, only one should be bought to replace the official vehicle while the old official car should be converted to spare car.
“Also, if the National Assembly Management chose to provide operational vehicles for security agencies, should that be presented as if they are personal or official vehicles meant for the use of Dr. Saraki?
“These are vehicles that cannot be used for other purposes and by other people. The Senate President also has no control over the security vehicles.”
Repeated calls made to the Senate spokesperson, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, were not responded to and a comprehensive text message sent to him had not been responded to as of the time of sending this report.
Also, the Chairman, Senate Committee on House Service, Ibrahim Gobir, and the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, could not be reached on phone as their lines were switched off.
However, a member of the Senate Committee on House Services, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, said he was not aware of the procurement and distribution of the exotic cars.
He said, “As a member of the Senate Committee on House Services which is in charge of the process of taking delivery and distribution of such vehicles, I can confirm that there is nothing like that.”
from PUNCH.




















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External Reserves Recover Marginally as Crude Oil Prices Rise, CBN Targets N200/$ Parallel Market Rate

External Reserves Recover Marginally as Crude Oil Prices Rise, CBN Targets N200/$ Parallel Market Rate

27 Feb 2016

By Obinna Chima
Nigeria’s external reserves which had been on a steady decline, rose marginally week-on-week to $27.808 billion as at Wednesday, compared with the $27.790 billion it attained the previous Wednesday, according to the latest figures from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
This followed an increase in international crude oil prices which yesterday hit highs not seen in four weeks, as a positive economic report offset continuing concerns about a global supply glut.
 The price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil, the US benchmark, rose to $34.13, while the price of Brent crude, the global benchmark, rose to $36.62.
However, oil analysts argued that the global glut of oil was more than enough to absorb increased demand, likely leading to a prolonged period of low prices.
 But commenting on Nigeria’s external reserves position, CSL Stockbrokers Limited, in a report noted that what was more interesting is that the level of reserves in terms of goods import cover had been steady if not rising gradually over recent months.
This, the firm attributed to the fact that imports had been contracting, revealing that the 12-month moving average of goods imports in the country is presently at 5-year low.
“The steadiness of import cover is not a positive sign as the decline in imports is reflective of the economic slowdown. From a balance of payments perspective however, the fact that the reserves/import ratio is not falling perhaps provides some indication of why a genuine balance of payments crisis has not forced the Central Bank of Nigeria to abandon its commitment to keeping the currency at N200/$1 on the interbank market,” they added.
Meanwhile, the CBN has assured Nigerians that it would continue to implement policies that would lead to the convergence of the official and parallel markets exchange rates.
 This is just as the naira appreciated to N310 to a dollar on the parallel market yesterday; up from the N330 to a dollar it had closed on Thursday.
 According to a top source in the central bank, “The aim of CBN is to ensure that the divergence between the official and parallel rate does not exceed N3, so we are looking at a parallel market rate of N200/$ because the downward trend in the pressure on the naira will be sustained.”
The CBN recently put the value of its development finance interventions, aimed at boosting domestic production across the country at about N1.36 trillion.
CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele had emphasised that the central bank's determination to improve lending to the real sector of the economy would stimulate employment generation and boost accretion to foreign reserves through non-oil exports. A breakdown of  these disbursements had shown that N300 billion had been set aside for Real Sector Support Facility (RSSF); N220 billion had also been disbursed for the Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF); the  Nigeria Incentive Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) got N75 billion; and the Nigeria Electricity Market Stabilization Fund received N213 billion.
 Similarly, the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) support at N50 billion for the Export Refinancing and Restructuring Facility; and the Non-oil Export Stimulation Facility that received N500 billion.

Siasia to recall Enyeama, Emenike to Super Eagles

Siasia to recall Enyeama, Emenike to Super Eagles

 On February 27, 20162:13 pm/In News, Sports
Super Eagles’ Interim Head Coach Samson Siasia on Friday assured that the consortium of coaches put together for the team would secure a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) ticket.
Siasia gave the assurance in an interview with newsmen in Abuja shortly after the Technical and Development Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), announced his appointment.
He said the experience of the coaches, who include 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup winner Emmanuel Amuneke, as well as Salisu Yusuf and Alloy Agu, would see the team through.
Yusuf, as Assistant Coach 2, and Alloy Agu, as Goalkeepers Trainer, had served under Sunday Oliseh who quit earlier on Friday.
“It is an emergency assignment. If they (the NFF) say we should do the rescue job, we have to do it for the sake of Nigeria.
“We will go for the best legs. I mean players with commitment, to ensure that we qualify ahead of Egypt.
“We will look at the players we believe can help the team, including Vincent Enyeama and Emmanuel Emenike who retired from the team last year.
“The coaching crew will sit down and make up the list, and the Egyptians must fall as far as we are now in charge,’’ Siasia said.
A consortium of coaches, led by Siasia, was appointed on Friday by the NFF on interim basis following the resignation of Sunday Oliseh earlier in the day.
Siasia will work with Yusuf, Amuneke and Agu for the upcoming 2017 AFCON qualifiers against Egypt next month.
Siasia steered the Nigerian under-20 team to the African title in 2005 and led the team to the runner-up spot at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in The Netherlands the same year.
He also led the under-23 team to the silver medal in the men’s football event of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.
Two months ago, he had led Nigeria to win the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal which ensured the country’s qualification for this year’s Olympics in Rio, Brazil.
As Super Eagles players, Siasia and Amuneke both scored as Nigeria achieved an impressive debut at the FIFA World Cup in the U.S. in 1994.
Amuneke scored against Bulgaria and Italy, while Siasia scored against Argentina.
Amuneke also scored the two goals as Nigeria edged Zambia to win the AFCON for the first time on away soil in Tunisia in 1994.
He also scored the winner as Nigeria defeated Argentina to win Africa’s first Olympics football gold in the U.S. two years later

Russia halts all Syria bombing sorties to avoid ‘mistakes’

Russia halts all Syria bombing sorties to avoid ‘mistakes’
By AFP on February 27, 2016 2:50 pm
640px-Russian_Air_Force_Tupolev_Tu-22M3The Russian military said its warplanes suspended all sorties over Syria on Saturday in line with a ceasefire deal brokered by Russia and the United States, to avoid any “bombing mistakes”.
The Russian and American militaries also exchanged maps of Syria, while fighting stopped in 34 Syrian settlements, the military said.
“Russia’s air force fully halted bombing in the green zone,” a senior representative of the General Staff, Sergei Rudskoi, told reporters, referring to the areas and armed groups that expressed interest in observing the ceasefire deal.
He added that “on February 27, sorties of the Russian aviation in Syria including long-range aviation, are not being carried out”.
He said this was being done to rule out “any possible bombing mistakes” and in accordance with a UN Security Council resolution.
A ceasefire agreement brokered by Moscow and Washington called for the cessation of hostilities from 2200 GMT Friday between Russian-backed Bashar al-Assad’s forces and opposition groups.
The deal does not however include the Islamic State and Al-Nusra Front jihadists.
Rudskoi said 17 armed groups — those who fight alongside regime forces or independently — contacted Russia’s ceasefire coordination centre at the Hmeimim airbase and pledged to honour the ceasefire deal.
He also said that within the framework of the ceasefire deal the Russian and US militaries exchanged maps of Syria.
– ‘In full control’ –
Rudskoi said more than 6,000 fighters had joined the truce deal, saying the Russians handed their lists to the US counterparts.
He added that the Americans also received a list of 74 settlements and areas which should not be bombed.
“During consultations we received a similar map prepared by the American side,” Rudskoi said.
“We’ve made the first step on the path to halting fighting on Syrian soil,” he added.
“We are honouring an obligation to observe the ceasefire in full. However it does not mean that ISIL and Jabhat al-Nusra jihadists can breathe a sigh of relief,” he said, referring to the Islamic State and Al-Nusra Front by other names.
“We are in full control of the situation across the whole of Syria,” he said, adding that Russian forces were using at least 70 drones and space surveillance for monitoring purposes.
Speaking by video link from the Hmeimim airbase, Sergei Kuralenko, head of Russia’s coordination centre in Syria, said fighting had stopped in 34 Syrian settlements.
“Work to rebuild Syria is being carried out round the clock,” he said, adding that humanitarian aid was being sent to the areas where the ceasefires have taken hold.
Over the past two days, 2.5 tonnes of food supplies have been sent to two settlements in the provinces of Homs and Latakia, Kuralenko added.
Moscow launched a bombing campaign in Syria in September, saying it needed to target jihadists before they cross into Russia, but the West has accused it of targeting moderate rebels

US providing $71m support to counter Boko Haram

US providing $71m support to counter Boko Haram
On February 12, 20162:09 pm/In News
Washington – The U.S. says it supports the establishment of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and is actively partnering with the MNJTF signatory countries in their counter Boko Haram efforts by providing advisers, intelligence, training, logistical support and equipment.
A statement on U.S. support to counter Boko Haram obtained on Friday, said the Department of State, through its Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) account, was providing approximately 71 million dollars, worth of equipment, logistics support, and training to the MNJTF signatory countries, to enable them to participate effectively in the MNJTF.
It said in September 2015, the Administration directed the use of up to 45 million dollars in Presidential Drawdown authority in defence services and articles of the Department of Defence and military education and training to support counter Boko Haram efforts.
It said the joint Department of State and Department of Defence has provided 40 million dollars Global Security Contingency Fund (GSCF) Counter Boko Haram programme specifically assisted the governments of Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria to develop institutional and tactical capabilities to enhance their joint efforts to address security on their shared borders.
It also said that it has laid groundwork for increased cross-border cooperation to counter Boko Haram in the troubled areas.
The Department of State also funds multiple counter-terrorisms, countering violent extremism, law enforcement and justice sector improvement programmes to support Counter Boko Haram efforts through International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INCLE).
Also through Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining, and Related Programmes (NADR), and Economic Support Fund (ESF) funding, as well as through the Trans-Sahara Counter-terrorism Partnership (TSCTP).
It said in financial years 2015 and 2016, the U.S. was providing more than US$195 million in humanitarian assistance for Boko Haram-affected populations throughout the region, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees.
Boko Haram is an Islamic extremist group based in northeastern Nigeria that has wreaked havoc on several countries including Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
It has killed thousands of people and kidnapped hundreds more. Its activities have also led to the displacement of millions of people in the countries where it operates

Nigerians’ll starve to death by 2050, if… —Presidency

Nigerians’ll starve to death by 2050, if… —Presidency
On February 5, 20165:53 am/In News
By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke
ABUJA— THE Presidency,  yesterday, raised alarm that Nigerians would starve to death by 2050 if nothing was done to ensure an all year round farming.
It also said with the rate the country was going, the population would by 2050 rise to 509 million.
Audu-OgbehAccording to the Federal Government, the present mode of farming will not sustain the increasing population in the country.
It noted that there was the urgent need for all major stakeholders to work towards improving mechanized farming and irrigation, to ensure an all year farming to avert the problem.
Speaking, yesterday, during the budget defence of 2016, Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said the country had the capacity to grow the grass required by the cattle to consume.
He said: “We have written to state governments to encourage them to develop dams and canals so that agriculture becomes an all year round activity and it is not confined to the rainy season alone.
“Besides, by 2050, Nigeria population will be very close to 500 million at the current rate of growth. This is just 34 years from now. If we carry on at the current rate of one crop per year, with very low mechanization, Nigerians run the risk of starving to death.
He said: “We intend to intensify and consolidate on the local staples, the yams, the cassava,  the beans, especially rice and wheat. Both of which consume $11 million per day in import. The figure is going down a bit. We can’t afford that in the long run because we don’t even have the resources.
“The ministry has put necessary machinery in motion to stop the constant bloody clashes between herdsmen and farmers. We have decided we are going to develop massive paddocks across the country.
“What the cows are looking for is grass and water. We have the capacity to grow the grass we want not just any kind of grass but highly nutritive grass for the cows to eat. If it can be done in Kenya, Saudi Arabia, there is no reason why we can’t do it here.
‘’There is sizable provision for grassing at hinterland, by developing water, drilling of boreholes and small dams to irrigate those areas already mapped out. In the process we hope that the cattle herdsmen would have a more stable life.”

Boko Haram: Switzerland denies funding MNJTF

Boko Haram: Switzerland denies funding MNJTF
On February 5, 20161:45 am/In News
By Ndahi Marama, with agency report
Maiduguri — The government of Switzerland has denied granting financial support to the Multi-National Joint Task Force, MNJTF, in the fight against Boko Haram.
File Photo: JTF officers File Photo: JTF officers
This came as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir David Lawal, said the war against Boko Haram had assumed a dangerous trend that required collective efforts and vigilance.
Switzerland was listed among the countries that pledged about $250 million to fund the 8,700-strong regional task force.
A statement by Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, FDFA, said the country maintained neutrality in conflicts.
The Swiss government stated “as a neutral actor in conflict situations, Switzerland has never given financial support to military interventions and will abstain from doing so in the future.”
Empasising its commitment in brokering peace, the country said it had spent about $12 million in assisting those affected by Boko Haram crisis.
It said: “Switzerland’s historic commitment to humanitarian aid, the protection of individuals and the promotion of peace is known throughout the world.
“To date, Switzerland allocated close to $12 million to mitigate the affected population’s suffering from the Boko Haram crisis in the region. Most resources have been granted to protection and food security/nutrition-related programmes in neighbouring countries (Niger, Cameroon) to multilateral partners (WFP, UNHCR, ICRC) and NGOs (International Rescue Committee, COOPI, Croix-Rouge française).”

War against insurgency assumes dangerous trend—-FG
Meanwhile, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir David Lawal, said yesterday that the war against Boko Haram had taken a dangerous trend that required collective efforts and vigilance.
Lawal, who led a Federal Government delegation of three ministers to Maiduguri, Borno State capital, yesterday, to sympathize with the government and residents of Dalori over last weekend’s Boko Haram attacks, said the insurgents had graduated from capturing of communities and holding of territories to use of suicide bombers on the people, targeting higher casualties.
“When Boko Haram started, they were in the habit of capturing and holding on to territories because the past government allowed it. Now they have moved to use of explosive devices on soft targets because of the heat on them by our military troops.
“This is a dangerous trend. In this place of battle with the insurgents, we may need to change our tactics,” he said during a courtesy visit to Governor Kashim Shettima in Maiduguri.
The SGF said he was directed by the President to visit Borno with the Minister of State for Works, Power and Housing, Mustapha Shehuri, his Foreign Affairs (State) counterpart,  Khadija Abba Ibrahim and Dr Osagie Ehanire, Minister of State for Health to sympathize with the government and affected people.
He said the visit would also afford them the opportunity of assessing the extent of destruction and humanitarian challenges for the Federal Government to take appropriate action.
While sympathizing with residents of Dalori, a sprawling community on the outskirts of Maiduguri that lost over 100 people in the weekend attack, the SGF said it was time to be more vigilant.
Borno State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Usman Durkwa, who received the  delegation on behalf of the governor, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his concern for Borno and northeast states affected by insurgency

Lagos-bound Helicopter Crashes into Atlantic, All 11 Passengers Rescued

Lagos-bound Helicopter Crashes into Atlantic, All 11 Passengers Rescued
 0
By Our Reporter  on February 3, 2016   Breaking News

A Helicopter allegedly belonging to Bristow  Helicopters has crashed. The helicopter was said to be travelling from Port Harcourt to Lagos when it disappeared from radar. Daily Sun gathered that there were 9 passengers and two crew members
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in an sms said rescue operations is ongoing. While NEMA spokesperson, Ibrahim Farinloye said no live was lost, Aviationgist in a tweet said all 11 passengers onboard were discovered afloat at sea.
It said that Bristow Helicopter and Shell Agip assisted in rescuing the 11 passengers
The helicopter, an S76 C++ marked 5N-BQJ belonging to Bristow Helicopters, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean with all 11 passengers on board.
All 11 eleven passenger were rescued alive.
Spokesman for the Accident and Investigation Bureau (AIB), Tunji Oketunbi in a statement said the Helicopter which departed ERHA Platform in Port Harcourt  enroute Lagos was ditched into the Atlantic Ocean 95 nautical miles into destination at about 10:20am local time.
“All the eleven souls on board including two crew members were rescued alive,” Oketunbi said.
“The Accident Investigation Bureau AIB has commenced investigation into the occurrence. Details will be communicated later,” he added.
Daily Sun gathered that the helicopter crashed site had been located and efforts are on to retrieve the wreck.
 Earlier the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in an sms said rescue operations is ongoing.
While NEMA spokesperson, Ibrahim Farinloye said no live was lost, Aviationgist in a tweet said all 11 passengers onboard were discovered afloat at sea.
It said that Bristow Helicopter and Shell Agip assisted in rescuing the 11 passengers.
Last year, on August 13, a Bristow Sikosky S76 C+ helicopter had similarly crashed into the lagoon in Oworonshoki area of Lagos shortly before landing at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos killing six passengers. The helicopter marked 5N-BGD and operated by Bristow Helicopters crew departed SEDCO oil platform offshore en-route Lagos airport before it crashed at about 3pm.
There have been wide spread allegations within the aviation industry that the Sikosky 76 Helicopter that killed six of its 12 passengers including two crew members had actually been built with a configuration to carry eight and not up to 12 passengers, a trend many feared could have compromised its safety recently in the crash.
In recent years, the safety processes deployed by the management of Bristow Helicopters, a US based firm which carries out chartered flight operations for oil and gas firms in Nigeria have been a subject of concern to many.
Prior to this morning crash at the Atlantic Ocean, and last year’s crash in Lagos lagoon. Bristow Helicopters had recorded two other crashed in Eket and Port Harcourt which claimed the lives of passengers on board.

How ex-NIMASA boss paid me for job undone – Witness

How ex-NIMASA boss paid me for job undone – Witness
On February 3, 20169:22 am/In News
By Innocent Anaba
lagos—A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of a former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi and six others, Uche Obilor, yesterday, told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos how his three companies were paid N905.8million, by  NIMASA under Akpobolokemi , for a contract he did not execute.
Obilor, Managing Director of Ace Prosthesis Limited, Seabulk Offshore Limited and Southern Offshore Limited told the court that the money was paid into the companies’ two bank accounts though he did not bid for any contract for NIMASA nor executed any.
Akpobolokemi is standing trial before Justice Ibrahim Buba alongside three others,  Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan  and three companies, namely Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited.
In the charge against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, they were alleged to have converted the sum of N2.658billion between December 23, 2013 and May 28, 2015.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the counts of the charge.
In his evidence-in-chief, Obilor, led by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, said that the sum of N437million was paid to Ace Prosthesis Limited, while N402 million was paid to Seabulk Offshore Limited and N66.8 million was paid to Southern Offshore Limited respectively.
On how his companies got the contract, Obilor said that he was approached by Captain Ezekiel Agaba (2nd defendants) that his companies had been awarded a contract to assist NIMASA meet the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code for 2014

Iheanacho: Why I don’t over celebrate after scoring

Iheanacho: Why I don’t over celebrate after scoring
On February 3, 20169:51 am/In Sports
Manchester City man of the moment Kelechi Iheanacho has disclosed why he doesn’t celebrate to much when he scores goals.
He said he thinks that will derail him from being focused on the job on the pitch.
IheanachoIheanacho
“I don’t celebrate too much because I think I have to focus on the game to concentrate and work hard so you can get more goals in the game,” Iheanacho said.
The FIFA U-17 World Cup winner at UAE 2013 has scored eight goals in all competitions this season for Manchester City.

Obasanjo tolerated me for three-and-half years — Buhari

Obasanjo tolerated me for three-and-half years — Buhari
On February 3, 20169:27 am/In News
Abeokuta— President Muhammadu Buhari went down memory lane in Abeokuta, yesterday, recalling the role of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his successful political career.
ogun6Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Preseident Muhammadu Buhari and Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun.
Speaking in  the Ogun State capital, Buhari, who was the special guest at the 40th anniversary of the state, said Obasanjo appointed him Minister of Petroleum and tolerated him for three and half years.
He said:  “I express my thanks to General Obasanjo, who, as Head of State, made me Minister of Petroleum and tolerated me for three-and-half-years.
He tolerated me because God knows and he knows that I am not used to working as hard as he used to, but he allowed me to last that long and allowed me to work.
“If you go into records, that government made so much investment and infrastructural development in the petroleum industry.
“Two refineries were built, Warri and Kaduna. More than 20 depots were built; more than 3,500 pipelines were laid; and we were exporting refined products of 100,000 barrels per day. But what do we have today?”

Lauds Amosun
Buhari said Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State had people-oriented programmes and prayed that the people of the state would continue “being lucky to have a governor that would look after them.”
The President said the transformation in the state capital was so obvious that although he was posted to Abeokuta when he was newly-commissioned in the army, he would not be able to trace his way around the town again.
He said: “I have previously, on commissioning of some projects, expressed my gratitude to the governor of Ogun State for inviting me and identifying me with his success.
“On my commissioning in January 1963, my first posting was to Abeokuta, where 2nd Infantry Battalion, Nigerian Army used to be. We were living in wooden flats, which were built in the last war and I was here for some time before I was posted to Lagos.
“But today if you drive me around Abeokuta and you ask me where the barracks is, I assure you that I will get missing. I won’t be able to remember Lisabi Club where we used to sit, those of us who used to drink Fanta and listen to music.
“Your programmes are certainly people-oriented. We have commissioned roads, schools and legal complex headquarters, where I met justices and I made an observation to the governor that women were more than men. I am just wondering that gentlemen, the ladies are taking over in very important profession.”

Boko Haram fear spreads as explosion rocks Benin

Boko Haram fear spreads as explosion rocks Benin
On February 3, 20167:40 am/In News
BENIN—There was pandemonium in Benin, yesterday, as an explosion destroyed about five houses in Sakponba area of Edo State capital city.
Benin CityBenin City
Residents of Zomi Zomi Street in Upper Sakpoba Road ran for safety when they heard the loud noise that came with the explosion at about 3p.m., as many claimed that Boko Haram insurgents had invaded the city.
A police source at the scene informed Vanguard: “We learned that the bungalow where the bomb detonated was being used as a hide out for kidnappers some months ago. But a combined unit of soldiers and police invaded the place and arrested the suspects.
“So recently, somebody hired the building and just this afternoon, decided to burn refuse in the compound. He set the refuse on fire and went out to buy something.
“Immediately he left, the bomb exploded. He was not aware that the kidnappers, who once used the house, had left some bombs behind.”
At press time, bomb disposal experts from the Edo State Police Command have cordoned off the building, trying to ascertain if more bombs were still inside.
The tenant, who resides in the building, was taken away while one woman, said to have sustained deep cuts, was rushed to the hospital.