Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s finance minister, spoke to Al Jazeera from the capital Abuja about the fuel subsidy removal that has triggered the Occupy Nigeria demonstration among Nigerians home and abroad.
In the interview, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala defends the government’s removal of the fuel subsidy, the unpopular policy that has caused demonstrations across Nigeria and prompted the labour groups to embark on an indefinite mass strike starting Monday, 9 January 2012.
American entertainment power couple, Beyoncé and Jay-Z have welcomed their first child – a baby girl that has been named Ivy Blue Carter. Beyonce was delivered of her baby through a scheduled caesarian section last night the 7th of January 2012 at the Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
It was alleged that the bootylicious singer Beyoncé checked into the Upper East Side hospital under the name Ingrid Jackson. It was also claimed that she booked out the entire fourth floor spending $1.3million.
Hollywood celebrities have been pouring in their congratulatory messages on Twitter and other platforms to the couple.
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Nigerian in the UK and to be specific London, organised a demonstration in front of the Nigerian Embassy in London.This was done in solidarity with the “occupy Nigeria” demonstration that has been ongoing in various cities across Nigeria. The reason for this protest is that, Nigerians disagree with the recent fuel subsidy removal President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Nigerians in London were supported by other Africans in the UK and friends of African in UK. They are not only protesting because they do not welcome the subsidy removal, they are doing so because the government has taken the masses for granted for far too long. They welcome the removal but they demand that the government need to fix some of the problems in the country before taking such a bold step.
They are “occupying Nigeria” abroad because they are saying enoughis enough. Enough to government corruption, enough to government waste, enough to the lack of infrastructures to jump start the economy and allow the people to live in a decent environment. They are saying enough to Nigerians running to foreign lands because their homes no longer feel like home. Enough to injustice and several decadence in the Nigerian society.
They are saying, since there is no electricity in Nigeria, fuel subsidy removal means every thing will rise in price. From providing electricity with generator to daily transportation, the price of food and various other commodities.
They occupy Nigeria demonstration is the first of its kind to happen in the country after over 50 years of independence. Nigerians home and abroad came together. They forgot about their ethic and religious differences to speak in one voice. According to , Nigerians “suffer and smile”. However, it is like Nigerians are no longer suffering and smiling. They are saying enough is enough!
Below is the occupy Nigeria rally that was organised earlier in Lagos.
Friends and neighbours of Niyi Ehindero, a businessman, who was allegedly killed by soldiers attached to the Operation MESA unit in Mushin during a clash between warring parties on Thursday, have urged the police and military authorities to bring the killers to book.
Business man, Niyi was said to be a nephew of the former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero.
Our correspondent, who visited the home of the deceased at 5, Okungade Okunneye Street, Maryland, on Friday, learnt that the wife of the deceased had been taken to her family house following an illness she developed upon hearing the news of the incident.
However, neighbours who spoke to our correspondent described Niyi as an easy-going, responsible man.
A neighbour said, “Niyi was a very nice man. I still spoke with him a few hours before the incident.
“He just got married last year and he and his wife just moved into the area.
“He was very courteous and never fought anyone in the neighbourhood. I don’t know why soldiers would be so callous as to kill him when he wasn’t even armed.”
Another neighbour, Ola, told SATURDAY PUNCH that the deceased had an aged mother, who had also taken ill since the incident.
A young man, Niyi Ehindero, was on Thursday allegedly shot dead by the military men attached to Operation MESA Unit on Bada Street in Mushin area of Lagos.
Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the soldiers shot Ehindero at close range in his car, when they went to the area to disperse hoodlums who were engaged in a fierce battle.
A friend of the deceased, who craved anonymity, said, “Ehindero and I just came to Bada Street to see a friend when we heard some gunshots.
“I ran into a nearby house but Ehindero was not fast enough. Eight soldiers ordered him to come out of his car but he argued with them. Suddenly, one of them shot him in the crotch and he died immediately.”
Hundreds of people gathered to see KUSH’S corpse, which was lying in a grey Toyota Highlander Sports Utility Van with number plate Lagos FF605 KRD.
Our correspondent learnt that another man identified simply as Wasiu was also shot in the leg by the soldiers.
The prolonged violence in the area recurred on Thursday as two factions of area boys engaged in a supremacy battle using guns and all manners of weapons.
It was learnt that many people sustained injuries while properties were vandalised in the violence which lasted for several hours.
The Fadeyi end of Ikorodu Road was littered with broken bottles and expended shells as well as bloodstains. Shops were locked and residents remained in their homes as the hoodlums took over the entire area.
The soldier, who headed the operation, and identified himself simply as Matthew, a Second Lieutenant, however told our correspondent that the victim was killed by the hoodlums.
He said, “We were on patrol when we realised that hoodlums had killed and injured many people. We have however arrested two of the hoodlums.
“The fight is a supremacy battle fuelled by thugs who wanted to control businesses in the area. I cannot say who started the fight but I know that because Lawani and Kadiri streets are economically buoyant, thugs from other areas always come to fight them.
“The sad thing is that innocent people either t sustained injuries or get killed when they start their fight.”
At 6pm, policemen attached to the Alakara Police Station were seen conveying the corpse to a patrol vehicle.
A resident who craved anonymity said, “He was killed by the soldiers. If the military authority is willing to investigate, all the residents are ready to testify. An autopsy will reveal that the bullet that killed him emanated from the guns of military men.”
It was learnt that Ehindero was in his 30s and was a contractor. He had two big trucks, which he used to supply sugar and rice to traders in Mushin.
He was married but had no child yet. He lived at 5, Oguntade Street, Maryland and had just returned from the United Kingdom on a business trip shortly before Christmas.
Ehindero, who was killed by OP MESA 33, was said to be a popular businessman in Mushin area where most of his customers are.
Hundreds of people gathered at the scene of his murder and rained curses on his killer and asked the Lagos State Government to invesigate his murder and brought the killers to book.
A man, who identified himself simply as Olawale, said, “How could they murder such a young and unarmed man like that in a broad day light?Even if they asked him to alight from his vehicle and he refused, is that enough to kill him?
“If they are interested in restoring peace in the area, they should have gone after the hoodlums who have been causing mayhem in the area for a long time. It is unfortunate that such a promising man should be unjustly killed in his prime like that. It is high time government restored law and order in the area.”
When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Mr. Samuel Jinadu, denied any violence in Mushin.
“Don’t go and write what did not happen. There is no violence anywhere,” he said.
In order to create the ultimate celebrity, a poll was conducted to discover the most desirable parts of female celebrities.
To create this image, the most desirable parts of ten female celebrities were put together to create that persona.
The hair belongs to the Duchess of Cambridge, the chocolate brown eyes belong to singer Cheryl Cole, the nose actress Kate Beckinsale and the cheeks to Hollywood star Keira Knightley.
SEE ALSO: How A Cameroonian Lady Succeeded In Turning Herself To A Living Ghost.
Eyebrows belong to actress Megan Fox while the chin was taken from the actress, Gwyneth Paltrow.
Consequently, Angelina Jolie’s popular lips and TV presenter Kelly Brook’s busty décolletage was used to completing the woman.
Unfortunately, no one knows where the giraffe neck came from.
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Grace Nyambura Kamau, the 31 year old Kenyan woman who confessed to killing her two sons, eight-year old Melvin Patrick Kamau and four year old Elias Welman was charged with murder on Wednesday the 5th of January 2012.
The woman killed the children by pushing them into the water where they drowned and died. She confessed to the murder few days later after being arrested and held in detention by the police as the primary suspect.
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Today we are taking a look at style with Annette Boateng. She’s a fashion blogger and socialite who shares her fashion style on her blog: Annette-Hothappenings. the British-born Ghanaian fashionista is on Blogspot and you can check her out there.
SEE ALSO: 101 Latest Short Gown Ankara Styles For African Ladies.
What do you think of this British-Ghanaian fashion blogger’s style? Share your views with us by leaving a comment below. Also, if you are a fashionista with a unique style that you would like to share with us, please send us an email. We can’t wait to feature you here. Until then, have fun and keep on killing it.
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Nigerian students studying in Malaysia were arrested for scamming lonely and divorced women. These Nigerian con mem meet their victims on online dating sites, profess love to them and tell them all the sweet things they want to hear.
Once successful in winning the women’s heart, they demand for large sums of money. These fraudsters usually pose as successful business men by using fake names and photos.
Justice finally served. After almost two decades of calling out for justice on a racist murder carried out on Stephen Lawrence in 1993 two men have been found guilty. Gary Dobson and David Norris were sentenced to 15 years and two months, and 14 years and three months respectively.
The pair was sentenced at the Old Bailey under guidelines in place at the time of the attack, and as juveniles, because both had been under 18. Dobson 36 and Norris 35 were the only ones convicted at the moment of the murder at Eltham. The police report said the crime was carried out in the company a group of white teenagers, and which they say other culprits are still at large.
SEE ALSO: Meet The Most Popular Nigerian Transgender Women.
Stephen Lawrence’s parent, Neville and Doreen, Showed gratitude to the judge and jury on the way they handled the case and thanked the police for consistently following the crime for years. Neville Lawrence also urged Norris and Dobson to give up accomplices to his son’s murder. Doreen (victim’s mother) stated that “It’s the beginning of starting a new life. We have been in limbo for so long.”
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe at a media conference on Wednesday said: “We are still investigating this case and I would just like to take this opportunity, if anybody out there has more information or any evidence, even after all this time, please tell us then we’ll do the rest.” He added that “we are actively reviewing the consequences of what opportunities might be presented”.
Since the 1993 murder, 16 suspects have been arrested, 1,378 witness statements have been taken, and 835 house-to-house inquiries carried out.
Read more about the racist murder case
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