Lampard Brace Sends Chelsea To Third Spot As Liverpool Thrash QPR

Frank Lampard underlined his value to Chelsea with a well-taken double to secure a 2-1 comeback win at Everton on Sunday and Liverpool heaped more misery on Premier League strugglers Queens Park Rangers.
The subject of intense speculation about his future at Stamford Bridge, midfielder Lampard reminded Chelsea’s power-brokers of his class by scoring either side of halftime to cancel out Steven Pienaar’s powerful strike after 63 seconds.
Chelsea’s fourth successive league win under interim manager Rafal Benitez lifted the Londoners back up to third in the Premier League, four points behind second-placed Manchester City with a game in hand.
Manchester United are seven points clear at the top and QPR’s 3-0 home loss to Liverpool left them three points adrift at the bottom.
Lampard has made more than 500 appearances for Chelsea in 11 years but has been linked with a move away from the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.
“We haven’t been talking (about a new contract) in the last couple of weeks and I’m just concentrating on playing,” Lampard told Sky Sports.
“Playing games gives me enough satisfaction, then what will be will be.”
Benitez praised his side for the way they responded to conceding early on but he would not be drawn on Lampard’s future.
“My job is to keep Lampard fit,” he said. “He is under contract, fully committed and working hard and that is it. My job is to coach the players, and keep winning games and keep my opinion.”
Lampard’s performance at Goodison Park was an example of just how influential he can be.
He rose in the box to meet a well-directed, left-footed cross from Ramires, planting the ball in the corner of Tim Howard’s net to draw Chelsea level, before slamming home the winner after a goalmouth scramble with 18 minutes left.
Lampard has made popping up in the right place at the right time an art form in his time at Chelsea.
The goals against Everton were his 191st and 192nd for Chelsea, which took him to within one of Kerry Dixon, second on the club’s all-time goalscoring list with 193.
Bobby Tambling, with 202, remains out in front.
While Lampard was the hero for Chelsea, Everton will lament their inability to finish off a number of opportunities.
Pienaar’s goal gave the hosts a flying start and for the first 20 minutes, the Toffees bossed Chelsea and should have doubled their advantage.
A stirring Nikica Jelavic free kick struck the woodwork and Chelsea keeper Petr Cech kept out an effort by Leon Osman.
But the European champions warmed to the task and Lampard showed off all his class.
“It was very hard,” he said.
“This is always one of the most difficult games of the season. We got a tanking here last year and we had to stand up for ourselves… It was always going to be very close and we did ride our luck at times.
“We have to keep believing this season – there is a long way to go. We can only win our games then rely on other things.”
HAPLESS QPR
Liverpool are not involved in the title race but they showed in 30 minutes at Loftus Road how good they can be despite their mid-table position.
They raced into a 3-0 lead primarily thanks to the brilliance of striker Luis Suarez, who weaved through some feeble defence for his opening goal before adding a second after 16 minutes.
Defender Daniel Agger’s powerful header from a Steven Gerrard cross effectively ended the contest before halftime, leading to some sections of the crowd booing the QPR players as they left the pitch.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was unable to take his place on the sidelines due to illness and his opposite Harry Redknapp was unable to inspire a dramatic comeback like the one QPR produced in the corresponding fixture last season when late goals carried them to victory.
Liverpool’s level dropped off as the game wore on and they were unable to add to their dominance but the hosts offered little in attack and the result was never in doubt as Liverpool climbed to ninth in the table.

Compel Jonathan To Remove Fuel Subsidy, Man Asks Court

A former Governorship candidate in the 2007 elections in Anambra State, Stanley Okeke has sued President Goodluck Jonathan before an Abuja Federal High Court asking it to compel the President to remove forthwith the subsidy being paid on fuel in the country.

Protesters displaying placards during the January 2012 subsidy removal protest in Lagos

In the suit filed through his lawyers, M.A Ebute and U.B. Eyo and dated December 21, Mr Okeke is also seeking an order compelling President Jonathan to refund to the Federation Account such sum earlier appropriated and or approved under the sub-head of fuel subsidy funds or money as according to him “cannot be justified in the face of the pervasive corruption, perennial fuel shortage and long queues being witnessed in the country.”
The Minister of Petroleum, Diezeni Alison-Madueke and her counterpart in the Finance ministry, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala were Cited as second and third defendants in the suit.
The plaintiff is also asking the court for an order directing the 3rd defendant (Mrs Okonjo-Iweala) to stop further payment of fuel subsidy money predicated on the corrupt, illegal and unlawful fuel subsidy regime.
Mr Okeke is asking the court to declare that the fuel subsidy currently being funded by the Federal Government is a waste of public funds and therefore unlawful and illegal to sustain.
The plaintiff further asked the court for:
“A declaration that the pervasive corruption inherent in the fuel subsidy scheme has caused untold hardship to the masses of the country and therefore is an abuse of the rights of Nigerians as guaranteed by the provision of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“A declaration that the fuel subsidy scheme having failed to achieve the purpose for which it was meant should be out rightly abolished as same has violated the Nigerian people’s rights as guaranteed by the provision of the 1999 Constitution.
“A declaration that the failure of the 2nd and 3rd defendants in their Ministerial duties to ensure a corrupt free subsidy regime is a breach of public trust and a violation of their oaths of office as contained in the seventh schedule to the 1999 Constitution.”
Mr Okeke also asked the court to determine:
“Whether in view of the official corruption and abuse of office inherent in the fuel subsidy regime as evidenced by the in-going trial of certain individuals in the Federal High Court Lagos, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is validly competent to order the removal and or abolish the fuel subsidy scheme.
“Whether consequent upon the perennial fuel shortages ad the attendant long queues on our roads, it would be proper and lawful for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to completely remove and abolish the fuel subsidy regime.
“Whether having regards to the near infrastructural collapse in our country, it would be proper to re-channel funds meant fuel subsidy scheme into the building of infrastructural facilities.
“Whether the 2nd and 3rd defendants being appointees of the President by not ensuring a corrupt free subsidy regime have not failed in their principal duty to Nigerians.”
The plaintiff in a 27 paragraphed affidavit he deposed in support of the originating summons averred that Nigeria now under the leadership of President Jonathan now imports fuel from various oil producing nations for local consumption by Nigerians and that said importation is highly subsidized by the Federal Government running into billions of Naira.
He further declared that “recently in December 2012 the President 1st defendant submitted a supplementary budget of over N161,000,000,000 to the National Assembly for the payment of additional fuel subsidy money to the fuel importers and marketers.”
The plaintiff suggested that the only way to stop the high level of abuse of the fuel subsidy scheme is the removal of the policy by the Federal Government.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.

CAC Members Fight Over Church Leadership

As Christians the world over celebrate Christmas and thank God for bringing them to the end of the 2012, worshippers at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) busied themselves fighting over supremacy and allegiance.
The crisis in the church, which has lasted for more than 20 years, deepened when the two factions of the church clashed during a Sunday morning service.
During the service, the Lagos-based faction was engaged with the church activities when the Ibadan-based faction arrived and chased them away.
According to Channels Television’s reporter present during the clashed, the aggrieved faction disconnected the electricity supply to the church after they were chased out leaving the Ibadan faction to conduct their service in the dark.
Watch the video below for more:

Jonathan’s Government Is A “Government Of Tokenism”

Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Nation Newspapers, Mr Sam Omatseye, on Thursday described the government of President Goodluck Jonathan as a “government of tokenism”.
Omatseye made this claim on Channels Television’s morning flagship programme, Sunrise Daily, while x-raying the performance of the president in the year 2012.
He also said the year, so far, has been one of suffering for Nigerians and no positive result has been achieved by the present administration.
“This is Nigeria; the country has been suffering tremendously from day one. We hope it doesn’t happen in 2013, we were given January 1 surprise”.
Omatseye questioned the move by the government to remove subsidy on fuel without putting the monies to proper use “You (Government) said you are going to do this, you are going to do that, you are going to get transport, you are going to get us refineries, you are going to set at least refineries in progress. You are going to do infrastructure, you are going to ease transportation across the country, this is the end of December 2012”.
“What have we seen, travel between and Ibadan, travel between Ibadan and Benin, travel between Benin and Onitsha and we still have the same perennial problems. What happened to half of that money?” He quipped.
He went further to ask Nigerians to make a mathematical calculation of the money the government saved from the removal of subsidy on fuel and make a comparison with the effect of deliverables to find out how commensurate it is.

Channels TV Is Nigeria’s Best Television Station For The Seventh Time

Channels Television has emerged the ‘best television station of the year’ for 2012 in Nigeria.

At the 12th edition of the Nigeria Media Merit Awards (NMMA) held at the Eko Hotels in Lagos, Channels Television beat all comers to clinch the laurel for an unprecedented seven times.
Within the last decade, Channels Television won the NMMA an amazing six times between 2000 and 2010 culminating in the distinction of “Station of the decade.”
Channels Television’s bias for news has placed it well above other competitors in the Nigerian Television industry.

Fuel Price Will Remain The Same In January 2013-NNPC

The Acting Group General Manager, Public Affairs of the NNPC, Mr Fidel Pepple, has assured Nigerians that the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol will not be increased in January.
Pepple said this on Sunday in Abuja while speaking with newsmen where he also restated that the Federal Government had earmarked some money for fuel subsidy in the 2013 budget.
He also announced that the vandalised Ije-Ododo and Arepo pipelines in Lagos and Ogun had been restored.
“I can affirm to you that our engineers from the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company Ltd. (PPMC) have finally fixed the Ije-Ododo pipeline that was ruptured last Monday by pipeline vandals.
“Going forward, the good news for Nigerians is that we have resumed pumping petroleum products through the pipeline and system 2B is equally working after the restoration of the pipeline,” he said.
Pepple assured motorists that with the restoration of the Ije-Ododo pipeline and the NNPC system 2B pipeline, normalcy had been restored in the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country.
He stated further that pumping of the PMS had resumed in earnest to depots and tank farms in system 2B, spanning from Atlas-Cove in Lagos to Ilorin in Kwara. He described media reports that fuel scarcity and queues in some parts of the country might last beyond the New Year as “mischievous and misleading”.
Pepple said that that the NNPC was working hard to check fuel scarcity and eliminate queues at filling stations across the country. He attributed the long queues at filling stations to the activities of vandals and the closure of some filling stations, due to the Christmas holidays.
The spokesman said that the company had product sufficiency that could sustain the country for more than a month. He said the NNPC was working hard to supply PMS so as to ease the hardship of motorists before and after the New Year.
Pepple appealed to independent marketers to stop diverting petroleum products to the black market, saying that sanctions would be meted out to culprits.
The general manager stressed the need for marketers to team up with the NNPC in ensuring steady supply and distribution of petroleum products.
He also called on motorists to desist from panic buying and hoarding as the NNPC was doing its utmost to restore normalcy in the supply and distribution chain.

Amosun Frees 20 Prisoners

The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun has ordered the release of 20 prisoners serving various terms, while three others on death roll have their sentence commuted to life imprisonment.

The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun

According to a statement by the Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Yusuph Olaniyonu, “the action was in exercise of his powers of Prerogative of Mercy under Section 212 subsection (1) of the 1999 constitution and based on the recommendations of the Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy.”
Mr Olaniyonu said the 20 Prisoners whose freedom has been ordered by the governor were among those serving sentences of three years imprisonment and above with 12 months left and are adjudged to have good records and good conduct.
Accoding to the press statement the released prisoners included Opeoluwa Bankole, Kehinde Onifade, Saliu Raji, Gabriel Michael Paul, Lateef Opeoluwa, Abubakar Muhammed, Popoola Yekini, Waheed Ogunwale, Lukman Osikoya and Afolabi Odunaike.
Others are Sunday Nnao, Sylvester Oboki, Monday Nbom, Nurudeen Adeleke, Abubakar Abah, Sunday Isaac, Kehinde Rafiu, Sunkanmi Badejo, Abiodun Adetayo and Idris Adewuyi.
The three others whose death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment are Sunday Olatunji convicted for murder, Segun Ogunsanya and Michael Ebedinwe, both of whom were convicted for armed robbery.

Amaechi Names Street In Port Harcourt After Azazi

The Rivers State governor and Chairman of Governors Forum, Rotimi Amaechi on Saturday described former National Security Adviser (NSA), General Andrew Iwoye Azazi as his elder brother whom he looked up to for advice whenever he was troubled.
Speaking at the funeral service of the late General, who died in a Helicopter crash penultimate weeks ago, Mr Amaechi announced the naming of a street in Port Harcourt in honour of the former NSA and thanked the Bayelsa State government for giving him a state burial.
The late Azazi, a four star general retired from the Nigerian Army on 20 August 2008 and was appointed the National Security Adviser on October 2010 by President Goodluck Jonathan. He was the Chairman of Bayelsa State post flood disaster management committee before his death.
The late Azazi was on Saturday buried at the Ijaw National Heroes Square in Yenegoa, the capital of Bayelsa state.

Human Rights Commission Blasts SSS For Detaining Journalists Without Charges

The Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has criticized the State Secret Service (SSS) for detaining two journalists for several days without charges.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Chairman of the Commission, Chidi Odinkalu said the detention of Musa Mohammed Awwal and Aliyu Saleh, journalists with the weekly Hausa language newspaper Al-Mizan, did “not pass constitutional muster.”
Mr Odinkalu called on the SSS to allow commission staff to have access to the journalists, as they’ve been denied opportunities to meet with their lawyer or receive medical attention.
The two journalists were arrested on Monday morning at their homes in Kaduna. Their newspaper had published a series of stories about alleged military abuses and the radical Islamist sect Boko Haram.
Below is the full text of the statement issued by Mr Odinkalu:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, ABUJA, 29 DECEMBER 2012 Contact (sms only): 0803 41 90 668
PUBLIC STATEMENT BY CHIDI ANSELM ODINKALU, CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA, ON THE CONTINUED DETENTION OF MUSA MOHAMMED AWWAL AND ALIYU SALEH, JOURNALISTS WITH AL-MIZAN, KADUNA, BY THE STATE SECURITY SERVICE (SSS)
The State Security Service (SSS) and other security agencies in Nigeria are obligated to comply with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in carrying out their important duties. As a result, they should ensure the arraignment of the Al-Mizan journalists presently in their custody, if investigations have disclosed their complicity in any crimes or release them promptly. In the interim the SSS should allow the detained journalists access to their families, medical attention or other legal representatives.
This statement also transmits a request and an offer to the SSS to allow the National Human Rights Commission access to the detained journalists to independently verify their state of health and conditions of detention.
On Friday, 21 December, Al-Mizan, a Hausa language newspaper published in Kaduna, Nigeria, ran a story alleging that operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF) had rounded up 86 youths in Potiskum, Yobe State. The story was also posted up on Al-Mizan’s website www.almizan.info.
Around 04:00 hours on Monday, 24 December, two Al-Mizan workers, Musa Mohamed Awwal and Aliyu Saleh, were respectively picked up and taken away by heavily armed security operatives from their residences in Kaduna to undisclosed destinations. During the operation to take them away, both men allegedly assaulted by the security operatives.
At the residence of Musa Mohamed Awwal, his wife was also allegedly assaulted as she sought to find out the identities and authority of those who came to take away her husband. An adult son, who suffers from Sickle Cell and was also in the house at the time, was allegedly also assaulted before Musa Mohammed Awwal was taken away.
From the residence of Musa Mohammed Awwal, the security operatives allegedly took with them a lap-top computer and eight cellular telephone hand-sets belonging to different members of his family. From the residence of Aliyu Saleh, they also allegedly took away cellular hand-sets.
The security operatives reportedly did not identify themselves and did not directly accuse the two workers of any crimes during the course of this operation to take them away.
On the same day, also in Kaduna, another set of security operatives visited the residence of the Editor of Al-Mizan, Ibrahim Musa, which was subsequently ransacked. Following the visit by the security operatives, a lap-top computer and modem were allegedly found missing, presumed to have been taken away by the security operatives. There was no search warrant shown to anyone on the premises before or during this visit. Ibrahim Musa remains in hiding.
Following these security operations, the workers at Al-Mizan went around the various police stations in Kaduna to look for their colleagues. The Police denied holding them and sent around signals seeking confirmation as to their whereabouts. The SSS in Kaduna State subsequently confirmed that the operation had been undertaken by the SSS and that the two workers had been transferred to the SSS headquarters in Abuja. They have, however, not been granted access to anyone – family or other representatives.
Sections 35(4)-(5) of the 1999 Constitution require all persons arrested by the security agencies to be arraigned not later than 48 hours or within “such longer period as in the circumstances may be considered by the court to be reasonable.” Under the Constitution, any detention beyond 48 hours must be authorized by a court. The constitution also requires humane treatment of detainees and suspects.
The continued detention of these two journalists without information as to their whereabouts, crimes for which they are suspected (if any), or conditions of their detention, does not pass constitutional muster.

JTF Recovers Arms And Ammunitions In Yobe State, Kills One

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Yobe state said one suspected member of the dreaded Boko Haram sect has been killed in a gun battle in the state.
In a statement made available to news men in Damaturu; the state capital, its Spokesman Lieutenant Eli Lazarus reveals that the killing followed an encounter between the JTF who were on patrol around the Gujba Area of the state and members of the Boko Haram.
Other members of the Islamic group according to the statement, escaped with various gunshot wounds during the encounter after abandoning their vehicle.
Items recovered from the suspects include five AK 47 rifles, two hundred and eleven rounds of ammunition and ten Magazines.
Other items include one Mitsubishi Canter truck, two motorcycles and Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) materials, medical supplies as well as Police Uniforms.
The statement adds that JTF will continue to work assiduously towards the restoration of permanent peace in the state.

Army Denies Religious Or Ethnic Claims On Officer’s Retirements

The Nigerian Army has denied reports and insinuations that it forcefully retired 51 of its officers including Major-General Mohammed Isah, the former commandant of the Armed Force and Command Training School, Jaji.
The military training school was recently attacked by the fundamentalist sect,  Boko Haram.
Addressing journalists in Abuja the Director, Army Public Relations, Major-General Bolaji Koleoso noted that, contrary to speculations that the findings of the board of inquiry on the Jaji bomb blast led to the retirement of major general Mohammed Isah.
He added that the report is yet to be considered by the Army Board even though it has been completed.
He also explained that like other officers who were retired, the Major-General had attained the mandatory 56 years mark for the post of a Major –General who has not been promoted.
While the Brigadier-Generals have attained the age of 54 on their ranks, the Colonels on the other hand have attained the age of 52 years, making them eligible for retirement.
He added that some of the retiring officers retired voluntarily knowing the age limit on their ranks.
The 51 retired officers include 12 Major-Generals, 25 Brigadier-General and 12 Colonels.

Police Summon Community Elders In Plateau Over Christmas Killings

The Plateau state Police Command has summoned elders of Riyom local government area in the state over some killings within the area which has claimed about five lives in the last one week.
The Commissioner of Police, Chris Olakpe, while commenting on the peaceful Christmas celebration in the state, noted that some attacks occurred in some villages during the celebrations.
He confirmed that one person was reported killed in Shonong village.
The Police boss in order to forestall the escalation of such killing, revealed that he quickly summoned elders from the community with a warning to them that they must ensure that such acts of lawlessness is taken care off.
Three villages of Bachit, Shonong and Rim, all in Riyom local government area of Plateau state, also witnessed some security challenges during the Christmas celebrations as unknown gun men ambushed villagers and shot them in the process in which about five people were reported dead by the villagers.
The police command has also invited the Fulani Ardos and Berom elders in the community with the aim of finding lasting solution to the incessant attack in the area.
Reflecting on the peaceful Christmas celebrations in the state, the police commissioner commend the efforts of security operatives for their vigilance and cooperation during the period as it look forward to another peaceful New Year celebrations.
Having celebrated a peaceful Christmas, residents on the Plateau are looking forward to another hitch free and rewarding celebrations that will usher in the New Year as the security agents continue to monitor the situation.

Police Foil Attempt To Bomb Enugu Airport

The Enugu state Police Command has claimed that it foiled an attempt by four persons to blow up the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu with explosives and the four suspects arrested.
The state’s police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the arrest said when the suspect’s vehicle was searched by the operatives of the Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD) of the state police command, some items believed to be dangerous fireworks contained in two cartons were discovered.
He added that the suspects, whose identities had been kept secret for security reasons, were apprehended while driving to the airport at about 8.30AM, Thursday morning.
They (the suspects) are helping the police with their investigation, he added.

Obasanjo’s House On Fire

The country home of Nigeria’s former President, Olusegun Obasanjo at Olusegun Osoba Hilltop in Abeokuta, Ogun state has been damaged by a fire outbreak, which consumed the office building in the complex.

The fire started just about 20minutes after the former president left his Abeokuta Hilltop Mansion residence on Thursday. Photo by Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji

The fire which lasted for about 30 minutes was allegedly caused by a power surge.
One of the attendants in the house, who does not want to be identified, said that as soon as the blaze was noticed, men of the Ogun state fire service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were contacted.
The inferno was reportedly brought under control.
The former president returned home after the inferno started.
Addressing journalists that were present at the house, the former President in Yoruba language, jokingly used a native adage that the King’s house that burns will only be beautified.
“Go, go and sing to the whole world that ‘the King’s house that is gutted by fire only beautifies the house,” the former president cheerfully said.
He then dismissed the reporters as he continued to jest with members of family and  guests that had rushed there to sympathise with him.

Lagos Explosion: Crowd Frustrate Fire Fighters

Fire fighters had a tough time putting out the fire and carrying out rescue work at the scene of the fire disaster on Lagos Island, as a result of the huge crowd that turned up at the explosion scene.
This made access to the area nearly impossible for fire service men and other rescue workers.

Lagos Fire Cracker Explosion: About 20 Buildings To Be Demolished

About 20 buildings have been pencilled down for integrity test and possible demolition after Wednesday’s fire cracker explosion and inferno at Jankara market area of Lagos Island.
A number of buildings affected by the explosion were pulled down hours after the explosion and more are lined up for a similar feature.
Five buildings were totally destroyed in the explosion and another three were partially touched.
Some shop owners in the famous Jankara market have already begun moving their goods to another location as they are unsure of what will become of their buildings after the test.
An official of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, had earlier confirmed to Channels TV that “The use of residential buildings for both residential and commercial use, which is against the Building Code of Nigeria, complicates the rescue operations of the fire fighters.”
Jankara market is located in the heart of the densely populated Lagos Island market where massive structures of three to four storey buildings are built inches away from each other.
Fire crackers popularly known as banger are major features of celebrations during Christmas and New Year across Nigeria.
Meanwhile, NEMA has declared that the Lagos State Authorities would take over the control of the site while the state’s Commissioner for Home Affairs has called for residents in the state to assist government in curbing the spate of disasters.
Some form of order has been restored in Jankara market, as the crowd are now controlled and put behind the barricades to allow relevant agencies perform their duties without any hindrance.
Our correspondent who was at the scene on the second day, observed that some fire crackers are still going off.

Boxing Day Tragedy: Fuel Tanker Explosion Kills One In Edo

One person has been confirmed dead in the fire incident that occurred on Murtala Muhammed way in Benin City, the Edo state capital when a petrol tanker fell into a ditch and spilled its content.
Eyewitnesses said they heard a loud noise before the tanker exploded and the resulting inferno razed 13 vehicles and three motor-cycles.
The raging fire burned through the road along the path where the fuel flowed, causing residents to flee their homes and others attempted to clear their property to prevent them from being burnt.
It was in the process of moving his bus from the fire that Mr Kingsley Ohangbon met his death as he was consumed by the inferno.
Officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were at the scene of the explosion to maintain free flow of traffic while fire fighters from the state’s Fire Service averted greater loss by promptly putting out the fire.

Fashola Vows To Deal With Owner Of Stored Fire Crackers

The governor of Lagos state, Mr Babatunde Fashola has vowed to punish the owner of the store where fire crackers that exploded on Wednesday were stored.
Fireworks stored in the warehouse triggered the explosion in a commercial area of Jankara market and an 11 year old boy was confirmed dead at the site of fire cracker explosion which occurred at 9AM  at Oroyiyin\Jankara axis on Lagos Island.
The explosion and inferno set ablaze 15 other adjoining buildings and injured about 40 people. The explosion gutted buildings, cars and property at the Oroyiyin – Jankara axis on Lagos Island.
The Governor who visited the explosion site described the incident as “unfortunate” while he heaped blames on owners of the store for being reckless business owners.
“In order to make quick business, we have lost a life, we lost property and all of us are in danger” the governor said.
Mr Fashola noted that there must be a lot of soul searching and reflection and choices to be made for people to go on and he called on people to make the choice on safety in all they do while government invests in infrastructure.
Lagos state is one of the states that has banned the use of fire crackers , popularly called bangers during festivities and the governor lamented that “we make rules, we break them.”
“All of these items are under one form of prohibition or the other and we have men and women at our various entry and exit points”.

 “How did they get in?, how did they enter?, who shipped them?, who imported them and who cleared them?. Who approved them to come in. Those are very serious issues. We must also ask ourselves, must we do every business?”, he asked rhetorically.

Governor Fashola opined that all citizens must now lead by showing some commitment to their own safety, by giving a commitment that: “I will keep petrol away from my house, I will keep explosives away from my house. I will not make any illegal electrical connection. I will switch off all my electrical appliances before I leave home”.

He warned that if care is not taken, it may get to a situation where if the present trend continues, the strength of the state fire service would be overwhelmed.

He also appealed to residents in Lagos on safety practices especially during the dry season.

Lagos explosion was due to fire crackers and not bomb – Fashola

The Lagos State Government has assured all residents of the state of their safety during the festive season, stating that the explosion which occurred on Lagos Island early Wednesday morning was not caused by a bomb.
The state government in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the state governor on media, Mr Hakeem Bello, said “there was a need to correct the impression created this morning by speculations that an explosion heard was as a result of a bomb planted in the Lagos Island neighbourhood.”
He explained that “the incident occurred in a warehouse used to store fireworks meant for sale this season at the Jankara Market and which due to the nature of the materials resulted in a blaze which affected nearby buildings.”
This is coming as the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) blamed the fire outbreak at Jankara market in Lagos state on fire crackers.
The general manager of LASEMA, Dr Femi Osanyintolu, said the state government has banned the use of fire crackers and he added that the storage is criminal.
According to Mr Bello, the explosion did not record any casualty saying, “the incident which took place on Ojo Giwa Street in front of King Ado High School, Lagos Island did not record any casualty due to the prompt response by the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) team led by Dr Oke Osanyintolu and men of the Lagos State Fire Service as all the occupants were rescued.”

Gunmen attack local government boss in Kano

Unknown gunmen on Tuesday attacked the interim management officer of Dawakin Tofa local government area of Kano state, Alhaji Musa Kambai Sumaila, killing his driver.
The council boss who is the supposed target sustained injuries from the attack alongside his friend who was with him in the car.
Eyewitness accounts claimed that the chairman, Alhaji Musa Kambai Sumaila, was attacked in Sallare area of Kumbotso local government area alongside his driver and one other person suspected to be his friend.
Confirming the attack, the police spokesperson in Kano Magaji Musa Majiya, said “the driver was later confirmed dead by a medical doctor while the interim management officer and his friend are responding to treatment in hospital within the city.”
Majiya further stated that investigation is on-going on the matter.
Also, another person identified to be a plumber has been shot dead in Kawo quarters of Nassarawa local government area.
Although there was no confirmation from the police but resident says “the attackers came on motorcycle and tracked their victim on the street and then shot him dead”
Meanwhile, gun shots are being reported in Ja’in, Sharada Phase 3.
Residents said they cannot identify whether it is officers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) or gunmen that are responsible for the shooting, as the gun shots rages on.

Pope urges end to Boko Haram killings

Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday prayed for “concord in Nigeria”,as he lamented the “savage acts of terrorism” that frequently target Christian churches in Nigeria, during his traditional Christmas message.
The Islamist extremist group Boko Haram has often targeted churches in its bloody insurgency against the Nigerian government killing about 3,000 people since 2009 when the insurgency started.
The violence is now worsened with the emergence of another terror group, the Ansaru that claimed to have kidnapped French engineer, Frances Colump, in Rimi Katsina, Katsina State last week.
Pope Benedict also called for an “end to the bloodshed” and “a political solution” in conflict-wracked Syria in a traditional Christmas message that touched on several other of the world’s conflict zones.
“There is hope in the world … even at the most difficult times and in the most difficult situations,” he said, praying that “peace spring up for the people of Syria, deeply wounded and divided by a conflict which does not spare even the defenceless and reaps innocent victims.”
More than 44,000 people have been killed in Syria since the outbreak in March 2011 of an anti-regime revolt that became a bloody insurgency after a brutal crackdown, a rights group said last week.
The Pope’s annual “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and the World) message, heard by some 40,000 pilgrims in St Peter’s Square, also pointed to hotspots across Africa and urged religious freedom in China, and as usual called for peace in the Middle East.
The Pope prayed for “help and comfort to the refugees from the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” where a rebel campaign caused tens of thousands to flee their homes, and peace in Kenya, “where brutal attacks have struck the civilian population and places of worship”.
He also urged peace in Mali, where Islamist insurgents have occupied large swathes of the desert north since a March coup.
He also prayed for “Israelis and Palestinians (to be granted the) courage to end long years of conflict and division, and to embark resolutely on the path of negotiation.”
Turning to China, the German Pope called on the new leadership to “esteem the contributions of the religions.”
Speaking of “the high task that awaits them,” the Pontiff said he hoped the new leaders unveiled in November would “help build a fraternal society for that noble people and of the whole world.”
China and the Vatican severed diplomatic ties in 1951 after the latter recognised the Nationalist Chinese government in Taipei, a rival to the communist regime in Beijing.
Although Beijing and the Vatican have improved relations in recent years as China’s Catholic population has grown, they remain at odds over which side has the authority to ordain priests.
About 5.7 million Chinese belong to the state-run Catholic Church, according to official figures. Independent estimates say 12 million Chinese Catholics worship in unauthorised churches and are loyal to the pope.

Madalla Christmas bombing, one year after

Kneeling over a dusty grave on the outskirts of Nigeria’s capital, 16-year old Hope Ehiawaguan says a prayer, lays down flowers and tearfully tells her brother she loves him.

People pray near the graves of victims of a suicide bomb attack during a memorial service at St. Theresa's Church in Madalla. REUTERS

He was one of 44 killed on Christmas Day last year when a member of Islamist sect Boko Haram rammed a car packed with explosives into the gates of St Theresa’s Church in Madalla, Niger state, a satellite town 25 miles from the center of Abuja.
Boko Haram has killed hundreds in its campaign to impose sharia law in northern Nigeria and is the biggest threat to stability in Africa’s top oil exporter.
Two other churches were bombed that day and on Christmas Eve 2010 over 40 people were killed in similar attacks.
This Christmas, the police and military are expecting more trouble in the north. They’ve ordered security to be tightened, people’s movement restricted and churches to be guarded.
But such is the commitment to religion in a country with Africa’s largest Christian population that millions of people will pack out thousands of churches in the coming days. It is impossible to protect everyone, security experts say.
“I feel safe,” Ehiawaguan says with uncertainty, when asked if she will come to church on December 25 this year.
“Not because of security here … because we have a greater security in heaven,” she says, wiping away her tears.
The blast in Madalla killed several people on the street and pulled down the church roof, condemning many of those trapped inside the burning building, including a 7-month old boy.
A plaque listing the names of the members of the church who were killed has been placed above their graves. The twisted metal of the cars destroyed in the blast is still there.
“I only pray to God to give them a heart,” Ehiawaguan says, when asked about her brother’s killers.
Security experts believe Boko Haram is targeting worshippers to spark a religious conflict in a country of 160 million people split roughly equally between Christians and Muslims.
Meanwhile, soldiers and plain clothes security men were today deployed to all roads leading to St Theresa Catholic Church,  where suicide bombers killed scores of worshippers at the church exactly a year ago.
At a Christmas and commemorative service, the parish priest, Reverend Father Isaac Achi appealed to Christians to learn to forgive all those who deliberately hurt them.
Father Achi said those who perpetrate evil against the state and innocent citizens require prayers from Christian faithful’s.
He called on Christians to remain prayerful saying the power of prayer and love can overcome all situations.
SECTARIAN THREAT
The sect has also targeted Mosques in the past and assassinated Imams who have questioned its insurgency. In the group’s stronghold in the northeast, where most of its attacks occur, Muslims are equally at threat as Christians.
The fear for many is that more Christmas Day attacks could spark the sort of tit-for-tat sectarian violence between the mostly Muslim north and largely Christian south, which has claimed thousands of lives in the past decade.
“We have always insisted that Christians should not retaliate,” said Sam Kraakevik Kujiyat, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna State, one of the areas worst hit by inter-religious violence in recent years.
“But there is fear … we know not everyone who says he is a Christian acts like one.”
Churches were emptier than usual on Sunday in northern cities of Kano and Kaduna, local residents said.
Despite bolstered security in cities across the north, dual suicide bombers attacked the offices of mobile phone operators India’s Airtel and South Africa’s MTN in Nigeria’s second-largest city Kano on Saturday.
The bombers died but no civilians were killed.
No one took responsibility for the attacks but Boko Haram has targeted phone firms before because they say the companies help the security forces catch their members.
At least 2,800 people have died in fighting in the largely Muslim north since Boko Haram launched an uprising against the government in 2009, watchdog Human Rights Watch says.
Boko Haram has showed since its insurgency intensified more than two years ago that it can find weaknesses in defenses.
“One faction of Boko Haram has made several attempts to provoke violence between Christians and Muslims,” said Peter Sharwood Smith, Nigeria head of security firm Drum Cussac.
“Unfortunately, I think it is very possible we may see attacks of this type (Church bombings) again.”
Boko Haram is not the only threat in northern Nigeria.
Islamist Group called Ansaru, known to have ties with Boko Haram, has risen in prominence in recent weeks. It claimed an attack on a major police barracks in Abuja last month, where it said hundreds of prisoners were released.
The group said on Saturday that it was behind the kidnapping of a French national last week and it has been labeled a “terrorist group” by Britain.

Uniport Killings - Three More Suspects Appear in Court

Port Harcourt — THREE more suspects were arraigned, yesterday, before a Port Harcourt Magistrate Court, Rivers State, for the October 5, killing of four students of University of Port Harcourt, in Omuokiri-Aluu community.
Their arraignment brought to 16, persons charged to court for the killing of the students, Ugonna Obuzor, Toku Lloyd, Chiadika Biringa, and Tekenah Elkanah.
The three suspects were brought under a five-count charge of conspiracy to kill the four students. Those arraigned were Finebone Jeffrey, 23; Joshua Ekpe, 27 and Abang Cyril, 27. Their pleas were not taken.
Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Woke, in a short ruling, said his court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case and adjourned the matter till February 28, 2013.
The other 13 suspects were brought to the court premises but did enter the court room.
Meantime, the Human Rights Council of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Port Harcourt branch, has applied for the case file of the suspects. Chairman of the branch, Mr. Austin Ojeukeudo, told newsmen at the court, that the association wants to ensure that there was no miscarriage of justice in the trial, adding that the body would monitor the trial to the end.
The charges preferred against the suspects, read "you and others at large on October 5, 2012, at Omuokiri, Aluu community in the Port Harcourt Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: murder and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 laws of Rivers State, 1999."

Rivers Govt, NGO Bicker Over Death of HIV/Aids Patient

Port Harcourt — The death of a HIV/AIDS patient, Mrs. Chidinma Maureen Lucky, who was allegedly evicted from a flood relief camp, is generating ripples in Rivers State as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in the state has accused the state government of being responsible for her death.
The NGO, Social Action, alleged that Lucky was sent out of Okwuzu Flood Relief Camp set up for those displaced by floods in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area by the Rivers State Flood Management Committee because of her health status on the orders of the state Deputy Governor, Mr. Tele Ikuru.
Briefing journalists Thursday in Port Harcourt, Head of Communications of Social Action, Vivian Bellonwu, said the late Lucky was ejected from the camp with her three children who are between the age of three and nine.
She said the lady had to take up shelter at an uncompleted building in the community, where she lived with her children until her death on November 24.
While calling on the state Governor, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, to order an investigation into the incident, Bellonwu said the state should take responsibility for the death of Lucky. "The eviction was largely responsible for the death of Mrs. Chidinma Maureen Lucky. After her eviction, she became dejected and abandoned by the same government that should have protected her," she said.
The NGO also demanded redress for the children of the deceased, stressing that her eviction from the camp violated the rights of the children and their late mother to shelter, human dignity, and protection against discrimination.
Although the NGO played back video recordings of the interaction it had with the lady on the issue before her demise, it did not establish a link between her death and the alleged eviction. It also did not say it offered any help or suggestion on how the patient could get some treatment or relief.
The basic questions are whether it is true or not that Ikuru actually ordered the eviction of the woman and her children. If he did, how did he know that the woman was HIV/AIDS patient? And could a government determined to rescue its people from the inclement element send them back to the same elements unprotected? And why would a government send an HIV patient out, given that it is not a contagious disease?
In a swift reaction, the state government denied any knowledge of the eviction of the late Lucky or anybody from the relief camp.

Gunmen Kidnap French National, Kill Two in Katsina

Mr. Frances Colump

Katsina — Gunmen Thursday kidnapped a French national and killed two persons after they attacked a divisional police station in Rimi Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The gunmen, who were in large number, kidnapped the Franch national who is an engineer and identified as Francis.
The kidnappers also injured a riot policeman attached to the kidnapped French national who was working in an ongoing Federal Government project in the area.
The watchman at the French national's residence was killed, while his neighbour was also gunned down after they injured the riot policeman who was at the residence.
The state Commissioner of Police, Abdullahi Magaji, confirmed the kidnap and attack on the divisional police station.
Abdullahi explained that the gunmen threw an explosive device into the police station on their way out of the town to divert the attention of the police.
The police commissioner stated that policemen had been deployed in all the nooks and crannies of the state to track down the kidnappers.
Some of the residents who spoke under anonymity with THISDAY on the phone explained that they heard heavy sound of explosion on Wednesday night which caused pandemonium in the sleepy town.
"We saw large deployment of security in the wee hours of Thursday, and believed that the situation is under control as people went out for their normal activities in the town," a resident of the town said.
THISDAY learnt that the corpses of the casualties in the attack had been deposited at the General Hospital in the city, while the injured persons were also receiving treatment.

Gunmen Kidnap French National, Kill Two in Katsina

Mr. Frances Colump

Katsina — Gunmen Thursday kidnapped a French national and killed two persons after they attacked a divisional police station in Rimi Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The gunmen, who were in large number, kidnapped the Franch national who is an engineer and identified as Francis.
The kidnappers also injured a riot policeman attached to the kidnapped French national who was working in an ongoing Federal Government project in the area.
The watchman at the French national's residence was killed, while his neighbour was also gunned down after they injured the riot policeman who was at the residence.
The state Commissioner of Police, Abdullahi Magaji, confirmed the kidnap and attack on the divisional police station.
Abdullahi explained that the gunmen threw an explosive device into the police station on their way out of the town to divert the attention of the police.
The police commissioner stated that policemen had been deployed in all the nooks and crannies of the state to track down the kidnappers.
Some of the residents who spoke under anonymity with THISDAY on the phone explained that they heard heavy sound of explosion on Wednesday night which caused pandemonium in the sleepy town.
"We saw large deployment of security in the wee hours of Thursday, and believed that the situation is under control as people went out for their normal activities in the town," a resident of the town said.
THISDAY learnt that the corpses of the casualties in the attack had been deposited at the General Hospital in the city, while the injured persons were also receiving treatment.

Gunmen Kidnap French National, Kill Two in Katsina

Mr. Frances Colump

Katsina — Gunmen Thursday kidnapped a French national and killed two persons after they attacked a divisional police station in Rimi Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The gunmen, who were in large number, kidnapped the Franch national who is an engineer and identified as Francis.
The kidnappers also injured a riot policeman attached to the kidnapped French national who was working in an ongoing Federal Government project in the area.
The watchman at the French national's residence was killed, while his neighbour was also gunned down after they injured the riot policeman who was at the residence.
The state Commissioner of Police, Abdullahi Magaji, confirmed the kidnap and attack on the divisional police station.
Abdullahi explained that the gunmen threw an explosive device into the police station on their way out of the town to divert the attention of the police.
The police commissioner stated that policemen had been deployed in all the nooks and crannies of the state to track down the kidnappers.
Some of the residents who spoke under anonymity with THISDAY on the phone explained that they heard heavy sound of explosion on Wednesday night which caused pandemonium in the sleepy town.
"We saw large deployment of security in the wee hours of Thursday, and believed that the situation is under control as people went out for their normal activities in the town," a resident of the town said.
THISDAY learnt that the corpses of the casualties in the attack had been deposited at the General Hospital in the city, while the injured persons were also receiving treatment.

NASS Passes N4.987 Trillion 2013 Budget

Budget 2013

Abuja — THE National Assembly, yesterday, suppressed agitation against executive non-implementation of the 2012 budget and passed the 2013 budget of the Federal Government, albeit with a N63 billion increase to the N4.924 trillion proposal submitted by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The passage nonetheless, the battle line with the executive remained with the zero allocation accorded the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, upon reservations of the administration's failure to adopt its resolution demanding the dismissal of SEC's Director-General, Ms. Arunma Oteh.
In passing the budget, the National Assembly adopted $79 as the benchmark for crude oil price, though it adopted the executive proposal of crude oil production of 2.53 million barrels per day and an exchange rate of N160 to a US dollar. President Jonathan in his proposal had requested crude oil price to be fixed at $75 per barrel.
The passage of the budget by the two Houses, Vanguard learnt last night, was upon serious lobbying by the executive and the last minute moderation by some legislators especially in the House of Representatives who had mobilized to truncate the earlier promise of delivering the budget before year's end.

Senate Passes N4.99 Trillion Budget of 2013 Budget

Budget 2013

The Senate on Thursday passed the 2013 Appropriation bill of N4.99 trillion into law. The Senate Deputy President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary session, commended the National Assembly for passing the 2013 budget before the end of the year.
Ekweremadu noted that the National Assembly deserved to be commended because this was the first time since 1999 that both chambers passed the budget without going into conference.
He also used the opportunity to challenge the executive to ensure effective implementation of the 2013 budget following its early passage.
He described the early passage of the 2013 budget as a vote for the maturity of the National Assembly and the progress of the nation's democracy.
"I will like to congratulate you on this achievement. I recall that in 2009 this senate passed the Appropriation Act before going for Christmas.
"But this is the first time since 1999 that the two chambers are passing the Appropriation Act before the end of the year without any need for any conferencing.
"I believe that this will challenge the executive to ensure that there is proper implementation of the budget starting from the first day of January 2013.

N9 Billion - Senate Summons Julius Berger Over VP's Residence

The Senate yesterday said the Julius Berger construction company would be summoned to explain the additional N9bn demanded for the construction of the vice president's new official residence.
Addressing newsmen on the issue, the chairman of the committee, Senator Smart Adeyemi, who said it decided to invite Julius Berger for public hearing in January, added that it was up to the executive to state whether the additional amount for the Vice president's house should be stopped.
He said: "Our own job as legislators, especially when we go out for oversight functions, is to expose all inadequacies. It is for the media, the civil society and the executive to take it from where we have stopped.
"We do not have the power to compel anybody to be arrested or prosecuted. If we expose something, it stops there. We've invited Julius Berger construction company handling the project to come and justify it and we are still on this. We are bringing them to a round table.
If we had not wanted it to be exposed, we would not have gone there at all or we wouldn't have gone there with journalists. We want Nigerians to see the sincerity of what we are doing. We have made it open to Nigerians, and it is for Nigerians or the executive to decide whether the project should be stopped.

Alleged N4 Billion Fraud - EFCC Declares Ex-Gov Audu Wanted

Former Governor of Kogi State Abubakar Audu

Former Governor of Kogi State Abubakar Audu has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with alleged misappropriation of the sum of N4 billion public funds.
In a statement signed by Wilson Uwajuren, EFCC Acting Head of Media and Publicity yesterday, the action was as a result of the inability of the embattled ex-governor to respond to invitations sent to him.
The statement further explains that previous attempts to arrest Audu at his 32 Sulaiman Barau Street residence in the highbrow Asokoro District of Abuja failed as "he allegedly evaded arrest".
The EFCC had further implored anybody "having useful information about the whereabouts of the suspect to notify its offices in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Kano and Enugu or report at the nearest police station".
The EFCC had alleged that Audu mismanaged the funds during his tenure as governor between 1999 and 2003.
But the ex governor, who was to be charged with conspiracy, stealing and misappropriation of public funds, appealed the allegations. The Supreme Court in November dismissed the appeal paving way for the commencement of trial.
Audu had earlier denied evading arrest, saying he had been abroad receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment. His lawyer Mike Ozhekome (SAN) was reported to have indicated the readiness of his client to face trial.

Nkiru Slvanus Released!

Fair skinned Nollywood actress Nkiru Slvanus who was kidnapped, Monday, in Owerri has been released by her captors.
The Nollywood actress, who was kidnapped at 2.30pm, was only recently re-deployed from the state Liaison Office in Lagos.
She was reportedly abducted close to the famous Concord Hotel, Owerri, in the company of some of her friends.
Though details of the incident were still sketchy at press time, it was learnt that the abductors have established contact with her family and have demanded a ransom of N100 million.
The incident could not be confirmed as repeated calls made to the mobile phone of State Commisioner of Information, Chinedu Offor, proved futile.
State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Vitalis Onugu, could also not be reached for comments as his mobile phone could not be reached.

Revealed: The Fergie blueprint - Man United boss reveals secrets of his success to Harvard academics

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed for the first time the secrets of how he became the most successful manager in British football history.
The Manchester United manager opened up and provided a fascinating insight into his 26-year career at Old Trafford.
Ferguson, who will be 71 on New Year’s Eve, collaborated with academics at the prestigious Harvard Business School in Boston studying his management style.

Team talk: Sir Alex Ferguson at the Harvard Business School

Famous fury - but there's a softer side: Sir Alex Ferguson says he is much calmer these days

He wanted to pass on his blueprint for managing one of the biggest sport clubs in the world and a global brand.
The ultimate decision maker, chief executive David Gill summed it up when he said: 'Steve Jobs was Apple. Sir Alex Ferguson is Manchester United.'

The in-depth study by Professor Anita Elberse and Tom Dye - titled Sir Alex Ferguson: Managing Manchester United - reveals his blueprint for planning the season, match-day rituals, the players he targets, keeping control of the dressing room and the mistakes he made.
The study also shows how he prepares his team, the way he conducts his team-talks and how he changes a game's direction at half-time.
Ferguson said: ‘I like to tell different stories, and use my imagination. But generally, it is about our expectations, their belief in themselves, and their trust in each other.
'I remember going to see Andrea Bocelli, the opera singer. I had never been to a classical concert in my life. But I am watching this and thinking about the coordination and the teamwork, one starts and one stops, just fantastic.'
Ferguson also spoke about his ruthless streak in dealing with players.
He said: ‘We fine them, but we keep it indoors. You can’t ever lose control — not when you are dealing with thirty top professionals who are all millionaires. And if anyone steps out of my control, that’s them dead.’

Driven: Sir Alex's will to win is legendary, above, but he also has a softer side, below

But the Scot admitted he had been forced to change his approach during his time at Old Trafford,
‘Players these days have lived more sheltered lives, so they are much more fragile now than 25 years ago,' he said.
‘I was very aggressive all those years ago. I am passionate and want to win all the time. But today I’m more mellow.
'And I can better handle those more fragile players now. There’s all this hype about hairdryers and anger and so on.
'You can't always come in shouting and screaming. That doesn't work.

'But there’s another side to it, which is more in terms of how I have fostered relations with people and developed the team over the years.

Video: How Bocelli inspired Fergie

'For a player - and for any human being - there's nothing better than hearing 'well done'. Those are the two best words ever invented in sports.'
Ferguson admitted he was on a mission after losing the Premier League title to Manchester City last season
He said: ‘Another day in the history of Manchester United, that’s all it was. It created the drama that only United can produce. Who would have thought that Blackburn, being bottom of the league, would beat us 3-2 at Old Trafford? Or that Everton would draw with us when we were up 4-2 with seven minutes to go?'
He knew the dynamic of the ‘Manchester derby’ had intensified, however, and that this latest challenge could not have hit any closer to home.
He added: 'I’ve still got a wee bit of anger in me, thinking of how we threw the league away last season. My motivation to the players will be that we can’t let City beat us twice in a row.'

Ferguson also visited Harvard to take a class on management.
He told the official college newspaper Harvard Gazette: 'When you're approached by an institution like Harvard, you know you are dealing with top quality.
'I had to consider that I was opening myself up to something I've never done before.
'But at this stage of my life, I felt that I'm helping young people progress through their own routes to management, then ultimately that was an important and compelling factor for me.
'The part of the discussion from which I learned the most about myself was when they were discussing the balance between 'fear' and 'love' in my approach to managing people.

Challenge: Sir Alex Ferguson has had to change his approach over the years

'If you look at my history, there's all this hype about hair-dryers and anger and so on.
'But the students acknowledged another side to it, which is more apt in terms of how I've fostered relations with people and developed the team over the years.'
Ferguson also gave an impromptu pep talk to the college's American football team.
Head coach Carl Junot said: 'They were expecting me to come in and given them the practice plan and in walks Alex Ferguson. They were blown away.'

Want to sign Messi? You'll have to wait until 2018 as superstar signs £12.5m-a-year Barca deal

Lionel Messi has agreed a new contract to keep him at Barcelona until 2018.
The Catalan giants confirmed on their official website the Argentinian would pen the deal 'in the coming weeks'.
Barca also revealed Xavi and Carles Puyol had agreed extensions until 2016.

Six more years: Messi is poised to sign a new contract with Barcelona

Messi's current deal runs until June 2016 and the new agreement will keep him at the Nou Camp beyond his 31st birthday.
The deal is expected to be structured so that it increases yearly, rising to £12.5million a year net before bonuses.
Messi, 25, signed his last big contract in the 2009-10 season with then sporting director Txiki Begiristain and his vice-president Marc Ingla.

Incredible year: The Argentinian has already scored 90 goals in 2012

The top 10 richest players

1 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) £27.5m
2 David Beckham (Free agent) £26.2m
3 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) £24.3m
4 Samuel Eto'o (Anzhi Makhachkala) £19.4m
5 Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) £17.2m
6 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris St Germain) £16m
7 Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) £15.7m
8 Yaya Toure (Manchester City) £14.7m
9 Fernando Torres (Chelsea) £13.9m
10 Kaka (Real Madrid) £12.9m

That contract is heavily incentivised with his pay, after bonuses, in any given season automatically becoming his basic pay for the following season.
The forward has enjoyed an extraordinary year, even by his own remarkable standards, netting his 89th and 90th goals of 2012 at the weekend.
The 25-year-old had already surpassed Gerd Muller's 40-year-old record of 85 goals in a calendar year.
He is also in contention to claim a fourth successive FIFA Ballon d'Or crown, being named on a three-man shortlist alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and team-mate Andres Iniesta.

New contract: Xavi and Puyol have agreed extensions until 2016

Defender Puyol's contract was due to expire at the end of the season, while midfielder Xavi's ran out the following summer.
Their new deals are set to keep them at Barca for the rest of their careers and underline their commitment to the runaway Primera Division leaders under new coach Tito Vilanova.
They also reduce the chances of former boss Pep Guardiola being able to tempt them away if he returns to club management next season.
A statement on the Barcelona website read: 'This news means that FC Barcelona has secured its ties with three of its most important players. Over the course of the next few weeks, Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernandez and Leo Messi will all be signing their respective new contracts.'

Vilanova set to step down as Barcelona coach after tumor relapse

Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova is set to step down from his post after suffering a relapse of a tumor he had removed last year.
The 44-year-old had a tumor on his parotid gland removed in emergency surgery last November when he was the club's assistant manager.
The parotid gland is the largest of the human salivary glands.
He took over the top job after Pep Guardiola stepped down in April this year, signing a two-year contract.
Barcelona are currently nine points clear at the top of La Liga.
They cancelled a scheduled press conference on Wednesday as the news broke, as well as the staff Christmas party.
Barcelona have announced that no decision will be made on a potential replacement until Vilanova has spoken to the players this afternoon.

Stepping down: Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova has suffered a relapse of a tumor he had removed last November

UK Court Sentences Nigerian Teenagers To Jail Over “Gangsterism”

Two Nigerian teenagers Nelson, Idiabeta and Nathaniel Okusanya, today bagged long time jail terms for killing Kwame Ofosu – Asare, a 17 year old student while mistaking him for a rival gang member.

Late Kwame Ofosu-Asare

The pair were members of the TN1 gang – Trust No One – out to avenge one of their member who was stabbed by a rival gang member from the GAS gang – Guns and Shanks – just hours earlier.
They had toured housing estates in Brixton to find rival gang members and came upon 17-year-old Kwame and his friend, who had nothing to do with any gangs.
He was reportedly coming from the studio with his friend were he went to record a track for his mum before he was attacked.
The duo stabbed the trapped Ghanaian 14 times penetrating his lungs and liver while his friend managed to jump the wall.
A court in the early hours of Wednesday sentenced Idiabeta and Okusanya to jail for 19 and 20 years respectively.
After an Old Bailey jury found the pair guilty Nelson Idiabeta, now 18 was jailed for a minimum of 19 years while Nathaniel Okusanya, 19, was jailed for 20 years.
Sentencing Judge Richard Marks QC said: ‘I am entirely satisfied having heard the evidence the background to this terrible offence is to be found in revenge between two gangs.
The attack took place in the Moorlands Estate in Brixton on the March 2 2012.
He was a sixth-form student of Forest Hill School and excelled in sport, music and acting. He moved to London from Ghana in 2002.

Senator Queries Use Of Military Training Aircraft By Politicians

A Senator, Olubunmi Adetumbi (ACN Ekiti) on Tuesday condemned the use of a military training helicopter by civilians during the burial of the father of a presidential adviser, Oronto Douglas.
Speaking during a debate on the urgent need to investigate the recent helicopter crash in Bayelsa, Senator Adetumbi said the death of the former Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa, former National Security Adviser Andrew Azazi and others was as a result of the failure of the system to address the issue of corruption.
According to him, the crashed helicopter is called a military training helicopter, but it is obviously not being used for military training on that day.
He said that pertinent questions, such as who authorised the use of the helicopter for civilian purposes must be asked and answers given.
“Who gave the order for the chopper to be used? What is the purpose of private charter helicopter? Why was a private chopper not hired? Is it what the Navy appropriation is being used for?” Senator Adetumbi asked.
He called on the National Assembly to do more than paying tribute to the deceased and observing one minute silence in their honour, but to take action to forestall future occurrences.
Other lawmakers who contributed to the debate condemned what they described as the resurgence of air mishaps in the country calling on the government to publish all previous reports of investigative panels into air crashes in the Nigeria.
Chris Anyanwu (APGA – Imo) said that in 2007 and 2011, there had been two crashes of similar Augusta helicopters owned by the navy. She expressed concerns over the seeming recurrence of air mishaps not just in civil aviation, but also in the Nigerian Military in spite of public outcry.
“Between March and October 2011, there were three reported cases of air mishaps by the Air force at different locations in the country and the causes of these crashes remain unknown. On March 21, 2011, one F7-NI fighter jet belonging to the Nigerian Air Force that was on a routine training programme crashed in Kano, killing the flight instructor.
“The fighter jet, which was reported to have come from Makurdi for a two week training exercise was delivered to the Air force by the manufacturers in China only a few days before the incident,” she said.
According to her, it is worrisome that the resurgence of air mishaps in the country is suggestive of a deep seated systems problem which must be unearthed and resolved.
Contributing to the debate, Heineken Lokpobiri (PDP-Bayelsa) urged the committee to ensure that its investigation was devoid of bias and should not be politicised.
“We should use this crash to stop others from occurring because this has become embarrassing, so the committee’s investigation must be total,’’ he said.
Danjuma Goje (PDP-Gombe) also advised the committee to make the investigation open and transparent. Goje said he was in support of the position of the Governors Forum that foreign experts should be involved in the investigation.
Ganiyu Solomon (ACN Lagos) also said that there had been several crashes and investigations followed, but the reports had never seen the light of the day.
He was of the view that the Senate committees on Navy, Air force and Aviation mandated to investigate the frequency of these mishaps should go as far as visiting the manufacturers of these planes to ascertain their air worthiness.
He expressed concerns that if military planes were crashing frequently, it was an indication that the military was not prepared for military action should the need arise.
The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary said that more than 50,000 Nigerians had died in the last two years since the ugly trend of terrorism reared its head.
He however, called on the regulatory agencies in the aviation sector to ensure the airworthiness of every plane that took off and landed in the country.
The deputy senate president also noted the need for the Senate to buckle up and tackle the problem once and for all.
The Senate set up two committees to pay condolence visits to all the victims of the air crash and observed a minute silence in their honour.

IG Announces Plan To Restructure Mobile Police Unit

The Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar has announced plans to embark on restructuring of the Mobile Police Unit of the nation’s police force.
Mr Abubakar who announced the plan at a meeting with commanders of Mobile Police Squadrons across the country said the mobile police unit is a critical arm of the Nigeria Police therefore the exercise has become imperative to return the unit to its place of pride in the fight against crime and criminality.
He observed that the police have recorded successes in some parts of the country but tackling insurgency in some parts of the country remain a challenge hence the need to prepare the squads to improve their response to the various crisis ridden areas in the country.
The police boss also denied that the police have not done enough to stem the tide of rising kidnap cases in the country.
The police urged Nigerians to continue to be security conscious and promised to continue to ensure the security of lives and properties, especially during the festive seasons.

Boko Haram Has Killed Night Life In The North Says Former Head Of State

Former military Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar (Rtd) has berated the activities of the dreaded Islamist sect Boko Haram.
The former head of state said “the activities of the Boko Haram sect are destroying the economy of the north’’.
Abubukar was speaking at the inauguration of members of the Ibrahim Babangida University Lapai Endowment Fund at the Government House in Minna, the Niger state capital.
He lamented that the bombings in some parts of the north has destroyed the night business activities which used to be the big part of the region economy.
He further maintained that the carnage and senseless loss of lives is also having a negative effect on the national economy, a situation that should not be allowed to continue in the New Year.
He however appealed to the sect and any other group who have grievances against the government to come out and negotiate.