Jonathan: Achebe Lives On

Prof. Chinua Achebe

President Goodluck Jonathan Friday condoled the family of Prof. Chinua Achebe who died at the age of 82 in a US hospital. According to the president who said he received with immense sadness, news of the passing away of Achebe, Nigeria’s globally acclaimed writer,was a "scholar, tutor, cultural icon, nationalist and artist of the very first rank.

"President Jonathan joins Prof. Achebe’s family, his friends, colleagues, past and present students, admirers and all who have learnt indelible lessons of human existence from his award winning works of literature in mourning the legendary author," a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity said.

NTA Bunmi Oke kidnapped in Akure

Olubunmi Oje, a journalist with NTA Akure, was kidnapped yesterday 
Thursday March 21 by four unknown persons at her Oba-Ile 
residence Akure, Ondo state. Bunmi was surrounded and 
whisked away by the gunmen as she drove into her residence 
after closing from work around 5pm yesterday. Her whereabouts
 is unknown as her abductors are yet to contact her family. This is 
coming months after another NTA staff and cleric, Alhaji Gawat 
was kidnapped. He's not been found till now. 

Adieu Prof Achebe: There was once a literary warrior

Novelist, poet, professor, critic and the author of the most widely read 
book in African literature (Things Fall Apart) professor Chinua Achebe, 
has passed on. Professor Achebe died last night March 21 in a hospital 
in Boston, Massachusetts. He had been ill for a while. He was 82 years old.

Nigeria Set to Establish Air Disaster Assistance Scheme

Stella Oduah

With the adoption of Accident Victims Policy by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Nigeria is now poised to establish the long talked Air Disaster Assistance scheme which will be backed by an Act from the National Assembly.

Shortly before he was removed as the director general of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren, disclosed that the regulatory body was working with the Central Bank of Nigeria to establish a scheme which would provide financial support to the relatives of those who may lose their lives in air accidents.

House Removes Lawan as Education Chair

Hon. Farouk Lawan

The House of Representatives thursday removed Hon. Farouk Lawan as the Chairman, House Committee on Education. This came as the National Universities Commission (NUC)  announced plans to sponsor  a  bill  that would expand the scope of  its supervisory  powers  over  universities in the country.

However, in a minor cabinet  reshuffle, Lawan lost his seat to Hon. Aminu Suleiman, another lawmaker from Kano State. About six other committees witnessed minor  changes. Lawan had been suspended from the  chairmanship of the committee since his alleged involvement in the $620,000  fuel subsidy bribery scandal.

NFF Dismisses Kenyan Delegation’s Fairy Tales

NFF President Alhaji Aminu Maigari

The Nigeria Football Federation has dismissed complaints of the delegation of Kenyan National Football Team, Harambee Stars, that it was not received on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Wednesday, as pure fiction.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, NFF’s Assistant Director (Media), Ademola Olajire said: “We really didn’t want to be seen to exchange words with the Kenyans on non-existent issues. Nigeria is known to be good hosts at any time and we have not done less for the Kenyan

delegation.

20 Massacred in Fresh Attack on the Plateau

Governor Jonah Jang

There seems to be no end to the killings on the Plateau as another 20 persons have been confirmed dead in an overnight attack on Attakar and Dajak villages both in Ganawuri district of Riyom Local Government Council of the state.

This is even as the state government has expressed sadness over the Wednesday attack on Mavo community of Wase Local Government Area of the state, adding that “the tragic incident in Mavo, Wase LGA is saddening, all the more as the feud is between neighbours who had lived together for many years.”

OLUSEGUN ADENIYI: A Most Controversial Pardon

The Verdict according to Olusegun Adeniyi. Email, olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

As the presidency seemed to be playing games with the agenda for last week Tuesday’s Council of State meeting with regards to the names of those to be granted state pardon (before finally sending out the last copy on the eve of the session), many members conveniently chose to stay away. Incidentally, the memo contained a list of 57 prison inmates and ex-convicts granted presidential amnesty in commemoration of the 52nd independence anniversary last October. For this category of offenders, 71 names were initially recommended by the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM) said to have been reconstituted on November 15, 2011. But ultimately, 57 were approved with 14 rejected based on their involvement in armed robbery, according to the memo.

‘We’ve Buried Over 100 Victims of Attacks in One Year’

Governor Jonah Jang

Chairman of Riyom Local Government Council of Plateau State, Engr. Sam Gyang Audu has lamented that his council has buried over 100 victims of serial attacks on the people since about one year in office, adding that the council has spent over N5 million in treating over 60 persons that have sustained gunshot injuries from these attacks.

He stated this Thursday at a press conference in Jos while narrating the circumstances that led to the recent face-off between women of his council and the men of the STF.

EXCLUSIVE: OP Mesa, SSS Raids, Arrests Chadian Other Suspected Boko Haram Members in Lagos

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

Operatives of the Operation Mesa (OP Mesa), a joint security apparatus comprising of the armed forces, alongside the Department of State Security Service (DSSS), today raided the Ijora-7UP area of Lagos state, and arrested some suspected Boko Haram members.

Although the number of persons arrested could not be ascertained, sources alleged that the raid also uncovered devices suspected to be explosives.

However, sources said the SSS arrested two persons, an Northerner and a Chadian who at the instance off the DSS were allegedly whisked off to Abuja immediately based on the delicate nature of the case.