Suicide Bomber Hits Airtel Offices In Kano

By SaharaReporters, New York

A suicide bomber drove a rigged car into the Airtel offices in  Mallam Kato Square in Kano before exploding early morning today in Kano.
A second explosion believed to be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) also exploded at an MTN phone switch center in Mai Mailari area of Kano metropolis a few kilometers apart. SaharaReporters could not confirm any casualty as at the time of publishing this report.
 UPDATE: The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed  the attacks on telecom masts belonging to Airtel and MTN in Kano but says there are no immediate records of human casualty.

'Watch out for bombs in xmas packages', Police boss warn residents

21 December 2012

The Police in Gombe State on Thursday urged residents of the state to be on the look out for explosive devices that could be packaged in Christmas hampers as gifts for people. The warning was contained

in a statement issued in Gombe by DSP.

Fwaje Atajiri, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state's Police Command.

He said that such bomb-laden parcels could then be dispatched to unsuspecting members of the public as goodwill gifts.
"Members of the public should be wary of hamper gifts and parcels as they could contain Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)," he said.
Atajiri said that citizens should also take other precautionary measures to ensure hitch-free Christmas and New Year celebrations.
He also told religious and community leaders to assist the police with useful information to protect lives and property.
The PPRO said that religious leaders should "educate their followers to avoid being poisoned.
"Motorists are also advised to obey traffic lights and all regulations as unnecessary disobedience may be fatal.
"Motorists should endeavour to put security gadgets in their vehicles to forestall theft," he said, assuring that the command would ensure a peaceful Christmas and New Year celebrations.
iPaidaBribeNaija

WAEC Records 62.03% Failure As Blind Students Top Performance List

The West African Examinations Council, yesterday in Yaba, Lagos, said that about 62.03 percent of students who wrote the November/December 2012 West Africa Seniour School Certificate Examination failed the test as only 37.97 percent or 150,615 obtained five credits including English Language and Mathematics.

Blind students performed better than those without sight problems as 46.93 percent of 49 students that registered for the examination obtained five credits including English Language. Blind candidates do not sit for Mathematics and Science practicals in WASSCE examinations.
According to the Head, National Office of the Council, Mr Charles Eguridu, out of 396,614 candidates who sat for the examination, about 47,289 candidates’ result, representing 11.04 percent were being withheld in connection with various cases of examination malpractices.
This even as a comparative analysis of candidates’ performance in the November/December 2010 – 2012 WASSCE, showed that there is an improvement in candidates’ performance.
He explained that in 2010, only 24.16 per cent passed just as 36.07 percent passed in 2011.
Eguridu disclosed that cases of examination malpractices were being investigated, pointing out that the reports of the investigation would will be presented to the Nigeria Examination Committee, NEC, for consideration and final decision would be communicated to the affected candidates through WAEC zonal and branch offices across the country.
His words, “A total number of 49 blind candidates registered for the examination. Out of this figure, 23 candidates, representing 46.93 per cent obtained credits in five subjects including English Language.
A total of 413,266 candidates registered for the examination, out of which 396,614 candidates consisting of 216,600 male and 180,014 female candidates sat for the examination. Out of the total number of candidates that registered, 406,108 candidates representing 98.27 percent have their results fully processed, while 7,158 candidates representing 1.73 per cent have a few of their subjects still being processed as various errors and omissions mostly traceable to candidates are being sorted out by the Council.’’ He said these errors were committed during registration and the actual conduct of the examination.
He added, “Out of 161,706 candidates that sat for the examination, 40.77 per cent obtained six credits and above. While, 268,688 candidates representing 67.74 per sent obtained credits and above in four subjects as 309,706 candidates representing 78.10 per cent obtained credits and above in three subjects. A total of 343,352 candidates, representing 86.57 per cent obtained credit and above in two subjects.
Candidates are expected to visit the council’s website for their results, even as Eguridu lamented the dearth of qualified teachers, inadequate and dilapidated classrooms and appealed to the federal, state government as well as other school proprietors to address these challenges. He also urged the Ministry of Education to ensure that only schools with the necessary facilities to function as schools will be duly registered.
InformationNigeria

PFN begins search for Pastor Oritsejafor’s successor

Search has begun for a new president of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) for possible replacement of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor whose tenure will expire in February 2013.
It would be recalled that few months after Oritsejafor took over the mantle of leadership of Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN), he indicated his intention to resign his appointment as PFN president due to increased activities involving a lot of travelling, meetings and other commitments.
This stirred controversy among leaders of the body as some top members were against Oritsejafor’s deputy Dr. Mercy Ezekiel of taking over as president as they were mostly gender biased.
DailyPost gathered that Pastor Wale Adefarasin, Pastor Wale Oke, Rev Felix Omobude were among the persons gunning for the position.
Reliable insiders said that Pastor Taiwo Odukoya of Fountian of Life Church who was said to be a preferred choice for the position, has rescinded his decision.
The source said, “However, now that the race for the PFN presidency is gathering steam, candidates have continued to signify their interest in the office.
“The candidate who has always been on the move wooing people to support his candidature is Oke. He’s said to enjoy a close relationship with Oritsejafor, being the National Vice-President (South-West).
“Meanwhile, Wale’s choice was applauded by all because of his unassuming, suave and gentlemanly disposition to issues. And indeed, Adefarasin’s tenure as Lagos PFN chairman did restore unity, direction and integrity to the body. That feat might have been a factor that earned him the office of the National Secretary when Oritsejafor succeeded Okonkwo.
“Pastor Paul Adefarasin is also said to have been working assiduously behind the scene to succeed Oritsejafor but he noticed that the national leaders would prefer him to wait for his turn.
“A group of influential pastors in the Pentecostal fold is backing (Wale) Adefarasin for the race. With this development, Paul’s ambition may have to wait or never materialise if Wale should win.
“As at the last count, nobody can really say which direction the national leaders are going because they determine who the next PFN president would be. But it is obvious that the major contenders are: Oke, Adefarasin and Felix Omobude.”
Election into the position has been slated for February 2013.
DailyPost

General’s Abducted Wife Freed

Titilayo, abducted wife of former Military Governor of the old Western region, Brig.-Gen. Oluwole Rotimi (retd), has been released after two weeks.

BRIGADIER GENERAL OLUWOLE ROTIMI (Retd)

She was said to have been found on the Lagos-Ijebu Ode Road, near Ikorodu, Lagos State. Her release was confirmed Friday night by her friend, Mrs. Dupe Lawale.
Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, Mr. Ayodele Lanade, said, “We learnt that she became conscious shortly after being released by her captors. She regained consciousness and was crying. We gathered that she walked up to a woman who told her where she was and called her relatives.”
InformationNigeria

Kidnap Saga: Film Maker Decries Entertainers Frequent Romance With Politicians

Felix Ducker

Following the kidnap of Nkiru Sylvanus, a Special Assistant to Governor Rochas Okorocha on Public Matters and former Mr. Nigeria, Kenneth Okolie in Owerri Last Sunday, and their subsequent release Thursday evening, a renowned film maker and founder of the Abuja International Film Festival, Mr. Fidelis Duker, has advised Nollywood stars especially, to stop frolicking with politicians.

He stated that too much closeness to politicians by entertainment stars draws the attention of kidnappers and other people with criminal intents as they erroneously believe that huge sums of money will be doled out as ransom by their politician friends if they are abducted.
In his words: “I am not saying that anyone who has an opportunity to serve the people or participate in government should not do so.
“But there is a general perception that many of us are close to politicians and that they will readily bail us out if we get into trouble. Apart from those holding one political office or the other, many of us are close to politicians and openly relate with them.
“The fact is that you don’t know who and who are watching you. You don’t know kidnappers. They live among us” he warned. 
Naijaurban

Bayelsa helicopter crash: Families of victims will not be paid compensation

As Nigerians mourn the death of former Kaduna State governor Patrick Yakowa and former national security adviser (NSA) Andrew Azazi, an aviation expert and retired Air Force officer, Group Capt. John Ojikutu (retd) has said they will not be paid any form of compensation.
This was unlike the $100,000 paid families of air crash victims in civil aviation. In a telephone interview, Ojikutu said: “Anyone who boards a military aircraft knows it’s just another good ride.
“The aircraft is strictly for military operations/training and not for commercial purposes. It does not carry insurance for non-military functions. Who do you expect to pay compensation? The Defence Ministry or the Navy? It’s an unfortunate accident, but they are not entitled to any compensation.
“It’s not offering commercial service which the civil aviation aircraft are insured for,” he said.
Ojikutu further said the issue of compensation had been a major problem in civil aviation as most airlines were yet to pay families of victims the full compensation. “You are talking about compensation, has Dana, Sosoliso, ADC and others paid the full $100,000 as stipulated by ICAO?” he said.
 DailyPost