Air A330

Mrs Evelyn Oikhena, who confirmed her invitation to newsmen, said she was shocked when her sister-in-law in Germany called her to say that she read the incident on the internet.

She said she was shocked that her son could embark on such a life-threatening journey to where he had never been before.

 Speaking in Benin City, yesterday, Mrs Oikhena said her son was at home with his elder sister, Tonia, his two younger brothers and his grand mother while the mother was away to visit her elder sister who had put to bed.

She said: "So I was shocked when I came back Saturday morning, and they told me that Daniel has disappeared and when I asked my daughter she said she had a quarrel with him because the boy was watching movies late into the night.

"I had even gone to report the matter at Evbuotubu police station before my sister-in-law from Germany called me to say that the story of my son was in the internet.

"One of Daniel's younger brothers said he saw him remove his school books from his bag. So I asked my neighbhours whether any of them saw him and they told me that around 5 to 6 am, they heard sounds that somebody was opening the gate but never thought it was my son. He doesn't go out. What I know is that he is always watching movies in the house but he doesn't have friends.

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Posted in GBENGA AKINBOBOLA , Gbenga Daniel , Gbenga Islander , Nigeria , NIGERIA CELEBRITIES , Nigeria forces , Nigeria Railway , Nigeria's Health Minister , Nigerian Military , Nigerian news

Nigeria Railway

The Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, on Friday said that the Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, would receive additional 200 wagons by December to boost transportation in the country.
Mr. Umar said this while flagging-off and inaugurating four new locomotives and two telescopic cranes at the Apapa Port, Lagos.

 

The Minister, who was represented by Kawu Baraje, the corporation's Board Chairman, said that the NRC was set to reclaim its lost glory as a catalyst for development in Nigeria.
He said that the corporation would collaborate with the customs and other security agents in order to ensure efficient business activities at the port.

Mr. Baraje, in his remarks, said that the completion of the rehabilitation of the Western line had made it possible for the corporation to introduce freight and passenger trains' service.
"About one month ago, weekly Lagos-Kano intercity passenger train service was introduced to increase the number of services already provided. Today the corporation is flagging-off a container train service from Lagos to Kaduna and Kano. It is also inaugurating two newly acquired telescopic cranes and four 1800HP locomotive engines," Mr. Baraje said.

The Managing Director of the corporation, Adeseyi Sijuwade, recalled that container train services in Nigeria were suspended 17 years ago due to poor infrastructure.
Mr. Sijuwade said that the acquisition of the facilities was part of Federal Government's efforts to sustain the drive to transform the nation's socio-economic development.

He said that the four locomotives were known as class 23 locomotives in the fleet of locomotives.
"The four new locomotives to be inaugurated are self loaded with on-board computer, double drivers' panel, and fully air-conditioned cabins. The engine in each of the locomotives is Caterpillar's 1800 model 3512B engine with capability of a design speed of 100kmph," Mr. Sijuwade said.

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Posted in GBENGA AKINBOBOLA , Gbenga Islander , Nigeria , NIGERIA CELEBRITIES , Nigeria Railway , Nigeria's Health Minister , Nigerian Military , Nigerian news

IAAF World Championships

Athletics Federation of Nigeria president, Chief Solomon Ogba on Thursday in Moscow, received a medal of commendation from the IAAF president, Lamine Diack for his outstanding contributions to athletics in Nigeria.

One of Chief Ogba's major achievement was his tireless effort in transforming Blessing Okagbare from an average athlete in 2007 to a world class act. Okagbare is one of the Nigerian athletes expected to shine at the World Championships, which begins today in Moscow, Russia. But the big question is; can she live up to expectation and end Nigeria's 12-year wait for a medal at the world athletics showpiece event?

The last time Nigeria won a medal was in Seville, Spain in 1999, where France Obikwelu and Gloria Alozie won silver in the men 200m and women 100m hurdles events. Obikwelu and Alozie have since taken up Portuguese and Spanish nationalities respectively due to the unfortunate neglect of the sport by successive sports administrators, a condition that is unchanging and it has dragged athletics in Nigeria to the doldrums, but not for a lucky few like Okagbare whose career has been well oiled, there would be nothing for Nigeria's athletics enthusiasts to look forward to.

 

And beginning from this morning, Okagbare will be in the field digging for gold, starting with the long jump billed for this afternoon. She is in the same qualification pool with the very women who are standing between her and a medal in the event. They include Olympic 2012 champion, Britney Recce of the USA, with a season best of 7.25m and home girl, Olga Kucherenko with a season's best of 7. 00m and a personal best of 7.13m. Okagbare, in July broke the seven meter barrier and from the look of things, she must have to do more than the wind added 7.14m she did recently to stand a decent chance of winning a medal in the event, it is crowded.

On Sunday, she will run in the heats of the women's 100m and then in the afternoon session she will do battle in the final of the women long jump hopefully. Once the dust settles on the long jump on Sunday, Okagbare will focus on the women's 100m and it promises to be another explosive encounter and for Nigerians who are practically living on a prayer, it is time to say a word or two to the mighty Man in heaven to give Okagbare some measure of luck and stability, because this is what it will boil down to in the women's 100m where all the top contenders, Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, Camelita Jeter, Kelly-Ann Baptise, and Gardner English appear to have equal chances to the medals at stake. However, Okagbare and Fraser Pryce are the women all eyes are on.

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Posted in GBENGA AKINBOBOLA , Gbenga Daniel , Gbenga Islander , Nigeria , NIGERIA CELEBRITIES , Nigeria forces , Nigeria's Health Minister , Nigerian Military , Nigerian news

Share Nigeria's Health Minister Voluntarily Resigns

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday in Abuja accepted the voluntary resignation of Dr Ali Pate as Minister of State for Health.Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, who disclosed this to State House correspondents said the resignation takes immediate effect.

In a letter of resignation dated July 22, made available to newsmen, Pate stated that he was leaving the cabinet to take up the position of Professor in Duke University's Global Health Institute, USA.

He said in his new capacity, he would participate in a university-wide Africa initiative and would also serve as Senior Adviser to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation based in Washington DC.

Pate, however, offered to continue to serve the Jonathan's administration as honorary advisor on the polio eradication initiative and Save one million lives of Women and Children initiative which he was in charge of.

"As we have discussed, I wish to offer the continuation of my service on part time basis as Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Polio Eradication and Public Private Coalition on Saving one million live initiative.

"If you agree, in fulfilment of my previous commitment to see to the conclusion of these important national priorities, this may entail an honorary advisory role reporting directly to you progress at least on quarterly basis," he said.

Abati, said that in accepting the minister's resignation, the President was "highly elated that his star-studded cabinet was attracting required global attention".

He said that the President saw the appointment as a plus for the administration and the country.

Abati said Jonathan commended Pate for the integrity and competence he brought on board while carrying out his duties first as the Chief Executive of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and later as a minister.

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Posted in GBENGA AKINBOBOLA , Gbenga Islander , Nigeria's Health Minister