Fire Guts INEC’s Alternative Dispute Office

There was a minor fire incident at about mid-day on Monday at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.

According to a statement released by Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to the chairman of the INEC, Attahiru Jega, the fire occurred in the office of former Director in charge of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), located in the ICT Building, and was restricted to that office when it was put out.

Men of the Fire Service attached to the Commission swiftly responded to put the fire out. According to the statement, there was no damage whatsoever to any vital facility of the Commission.Mr Idowu said a formal investigation of the cause of the fire has commenced. Initial assessment, however, suggests that it might have resulted from an electrical fault.

Incredible: Killing Of Twin Daughters In Abuja’s Rural Town

Despite being in the jet age with globalization taking centre stage, some communities in Nigeria are still caught up in their traditional ways of life with fervent practice of their cultural beliefs.

In this Channels TV Community Report; their correspondent Doris Okenwa, continues investigation into the alleged killing of twins and infants in some communities in the Federal Capital Territory and examines how lack of development might be contributing to this bizarre way of life.

The journey goes into some of Abuja’s most remote areas where bizarre practices such as killing of twins and infants for cultural beliefs have been going on for years.According to the missionaries, the killings in Kutara village, in Abaji area council are age-long traditions.

More at channels tv.com

NLC suspends planned strike, as FG meets demands

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Tuesday, suspended the planned strike and protest march scheduled for today in Abuja and Lagos, as well as other state capitals across the federation, over the plights of Nigerian pensioners.

The suspension followed the decision of the Federal Government to meet the demands of the congress and the National Union of Pensioners (NUP), after a crucial meeting held with the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Abuja, on Monday night.The Federal Government has also set up a joint committee of labour and government( as usual), headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, to harmonise the payments and “resolve sundry matters connected with pension payment and administration of pension funds.

”Addresing a press conference after its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting at the Labour House, Abuja, on Tuesday, NLC president, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, said the CWC “has suspend forthwith the work stoppage/protest march billed to take place on Wednesday, April 10.”But he warned that the strike/protest march would resume without warning, if, “by the end of April or thereabouts, the Federal Government fails to implement all it has promised to do.

LOL! Nigeria, the land of committees and bellicosity- I hail o!

NLC proposes April 10 for solidarity strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its civil society allies have announced plans to hold nationwide rallies to force government to bring all those culpable in the mismanagement of pension funds. 

Acting President of the NLC, Promise Adewusi, who revealed this in Abuja said the action which is slated for next week Wednesday, April 10, was informed by government apathy on bringing those that have been indicted in the mismanagement of pension funds in recent time.“For the purposes of clarity and removing all doubts, all our members are expected to stay off work in Abuja and Lagos on April 10 and mass to designated areas which they have already been informed of.

“All workers, all members of organised labour in those two cities, Abuja and Lagos, are to stay off work in solidarity and in support.“And mass in this rally at least to show our disappointment at the whole issue of pension mismanagement and the underlining corruptive tendencies surrounding it.’’

Cocaine sewn unto hair of a grandmother

A 53-year-old grandmother, Sikirat Giwa, has been arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja while trying to smuggle out cocaine under her hair weave.
Giwa was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Saturday with 1kg of white powdery, which later tested positive to cocaine.The suspect was apprehended while trying to board an Ethiopian airline Flight ET 910 to Pakistan enroute Addis Ababa and Dubai.

NDLEA Abuja Airport commander, Mr. Hamisu Lawan said that the suspect was arrested during routine check.He said, "There was no prior information on Sikirat as the drug was detected when a female officer carried out a body frisk on her during outward screening of passengers."We also arrested one 59-year-old suspected accomplice, Joseph Umunna, who brought Sikirat to the airport."It was learnt that the cocaine was sewn to Giwa's hair before an artificial hair weave was then sewn on as a covering.It was also learnt that Umunna was assigned to take Giwa to the airport and ensure that she successfully boarded her flight.During interrogation, Giwa claimed she was forced into drug trafficking as a result of her status as a single mother.She said, "I used to buy goods from Dubai and Pakistan but since my shop at Lagos Island was demolished, it has been difficult meeting up with my house rent and my children's school fees."My husband abandoned me and the children which made life even more difficult. So when I was approached to take the drug, I had no option. They promised to pay me 4,000 dollars."Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, however, said, "It is sad for a 53-year-old mother to smuggle drugs. This shows that she is morally bankrupt and would not be able to instil discipline in her children."

Fire razes Abuja Furniture market

The market

A massive has engulfed  Kubo market, the largest furniture market in Abuja.

The cause of the fire is yet to be  determined at the time of writing this report.

However, emergency services are said to be moblising to contain the fire at the time of this report