Not long after a boat capsized in Niger State leaving no survivors,
the same fate yesterday befell boat passengers in Lagos State.
A boat was said to have capsized yesterday on a Lagoon in the Apapa
area of the state leaving at least eight persons, one of them an
11-year-old girl, dead.
According to reports, many of the drowned victims were believed to be
fish traders, who were on their way to Apapa from villages in the
riverine areas of the state.
The boat mishap was said to have happened after the passenger boat
engine developed fault.
It was gathered that about 19 passengers were on board the boat, with
eight of them feared killed, while the 11 others escaped.
It was further gathered that the passenger boat that originated from
Sagbokoji had hardly left the village when the engine of the boat
developed fault.
Some apprehensive villagers and occupants of the boat, who could swim,
leaped into the water and returned to the village, while others
continued with the journey.
The boat operators managed the faulty boat to Apapa area, where it
reportedly stopped and capsized, plunging many occupants into the
river. Local divers and others succeeded in rescuing nine persons.
The acting image maker in charge of the state police command, Damasus
Ozoani, confirmed the incident.
Ozoani said that information available to him had it that only two
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Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Pastor Shot To Death While Preaching During Service
October 2, 2013
On Friday night, members of a church in Lake Charles, Louisiana were
stunned as their pastor, Ronald J. Harris Sr., was fatally shot as he
preached during a revival service.
The shooting at about 8:20 p.m. was at Tabernacle of Praise Worship
Center in Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office spokeswoman
Kim Myers said Saturday. Sixty-five people were inside at the time,
including the victim's wife, said Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory.
Myers said Pastor Ronald J. Harris Sr. was shot twice by the gunman.
The man went into the church while Harris was preaching and "walked up
to him and shot him at close range," Myers said. The suspect shot him
again when Harris fell to the floor.
Karey, a 53-year-old resident of Lake Charles, has been arrested and
charged with second-degree murder. He was transported to Calcasieu
Correctional Center where his bail was set at $1 million.
Deputies have no information on a motive or on whether the preacher
and suspect knew each other, Myers said.
The pastor was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Friday night, members of a church in Lake Charles, Louisiana were
stunned as their pastor, Ronald J. Harris Sr., was fatally shot as he
preached during a revival service.
The shooting at about 8:20 p.m. was at Tabernacle of Praise Worship
Center in Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office spokeswoman
Kim Myers said Saturday. Sixty-five people were inside at the time,
including the victim's wife, said Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory.
Myers said Pastor Ronald J. Harris Sr. was shot twice by the gunman.
The man went into the church while Harris was preaching and "walked up
to him and shot him at close range," Myers said. The suspect shot him
again when Harris fell to the floor.
Karey, a 53-year-old resident of Lake Charles, has been arrested and
charged with second-degree murder. He was transported to Calcasieu
Correctional Center where his bail was set at $1 million.
Deputies have no information on a motive or on whether the preacher
and suspect knew each other, Myers said.
The pastor was pronounced dead at the scene.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
new music download:Banky W more than a star
Sad news: Nigerian woman dies while on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia
of one Hajiya Safiya Musa in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
The state's Executive Secretary for the board, Alhaji Sani Alhasan,
announced the death of the pilgrim shortly before the departure of the
state's intending pilgrims to Mecca.
Alhaji Alhassan explained late Safiya Musa who was 58 years died in
motor accident on Monday.
Reports from the holy land indicated that the deceased was trying to
cross a road in Medina after prayer.
The executive secretary noted that the deceased died in the hospital
where she was rushed to after the accident.
The state government had already informed her family.
President Jonathan hands over power plants to new core owners
President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday read riot act to Ministries,
Departments and Agencies (MDAs) cautioning the power sector staff to
re-orientate themselves in order to be able to meet up with their new
roles under the on-going reforms in the power sector.
Giving the warning after formally handing over share certificates and
licenses to new core owners of Power Holding Companies of Nigeria
(PHCN) successor companies at the Banquet Hall, Abuja, to 10
Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and four Generating Companies
(GENCOs), he said that it is no longer going to be business as usual.
He said the government is committed to providing the investors with
all enabling environment in order to make them succeed in giving
Nigerians uninterrupted power supply.
According to him, the Federal Government has provided the Nigeria Bulk
Electricity Trading Company (NBET) capitalization fund of over $750
million to carry out its functions without financial constraints.
He said: "However, I must remind you that the work is not over. Your
staff must re-orient themselves to play the needed new roles that have
been assigned to them as a result of the reform.
"They must be prepared to collaborate efficiently with our private
sector partners; business it can no longer be as usual; all the
relevant MDAs must be ready to work in a more determined, proactive
and result-driven manner," he said.
On the government support for the investors, he said: "The
administration is committed to providing all elements that are
necessary for our private sector partners to succeed in providing
Nigerians with uninterrupted power supply."
"To start with, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET),
the off-taker, has been provided with a capitalization of $750 million
positioning it to carry out its mandate without financial constraints.
"Arrangements are also on-going to ensure that the Nigerian
Electricity Liability Company (NELMCO) is adequately funded, to assume
all of the liabilities associated with the privatisation of the PHCN
successor companies, as well as other related liabilities."
He continued: "The new GENCOs owners are inheriting signed gas supply
and transportation agreements, a new phenomenon in the gas-to-power
industry, thereby moving the industry away from the prior status of
best endeavor supply and transportation basis.
"Accordingly, we will maintain the agreed gas pricing policy in order
to encourage new investments in gas supply and infrastructure
development. The implementation of the gas policy will culminate in a
willing buyer-will seller structure to establish a fully market-driven
environment," he added.
Stressing that adequate measures have been taken to resolve all labour
related issues in the sector, he said that contributions of relevant
MDAs in the realisation of the privatisation of the power sector was
critical.
While urging Nigerians to exercise patience with the government,
President Jonathan declared that better days are ahead in the power
sector.
Also speaking at the occasion, Vice President, Namadi Sambo maintained
that it is only the private sector investment in the power sector that
can guarantee satisfying Nigeria's yearning for stable power supply.
He said the new owners of the generating companies are expected to
build up capacity from the present levels of performance to additional
5,000 megawatts within a period of five years.
"It is noteworthy to state that the privatization of the power utility
is unique and different from previous privatization programmes in the
country, that of the power sector is driven by the need for efficiency
and investment rather than optimisation of proceeds to the government.
Moreover, only bidders' technical ability and financial capability
influenced outcomes," he stated.
Departments and Agencies (MDAs) cautioning the power sector staff to
re-orientate themselves in order to be able to meet up with their new
roles under the on-going reforms in the power sector.
Giving the warning after formally handing over share certificates and
licenses to new core owners of Power Holding Companies of Nigeria
(PHCN) successor companies at the Banquet Hall, Abuja, to 10
Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and four Generating Companies
(GENCOs), he said that it is no longer going to be business as usual.
He said the government is committed to providing the investors with
all enabling environment in order to make them succeed in giving
Nigerians uninterrupted power supply.
According to him, the Federal Government has provided the Nigeria Bulk
Electricity Trading Company (NBET) capitalization fund of over $750
million to carry out its functions without financial constraints.
He said: "However, I must remind you that the work is not over. Your
staff must re-orient themselves to play the needed new roles that have
been assigned to them as a result of the reform.
"They must be prepared to collaborate efficiently with our private
sector partners; business it can no longer be as usual; all the
relevant MDAs must be ready to work in a more determined, proactive
and result-driven manner," he said.
On the government support for the investors, he said: "The
administration is committed to providing all elements that are
necessary for our private sector partners to succeed in providing
Nigerians with uninterrupted power supply."
"To start with, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET),
the off-taker, has been provided with a capitalization of $750 million
positioning it to carry out its mandate without financial constraints.
"Arrangements are also on-going to ensure that the Nigerian
Electricity Liability Company (NELMCO) is adequately funded, to assume
all of the liabilities associated with the privatisation of the PHCN
successor companies, as well as other related liabilities."
He continued: "The new GENCOs owners are inheriting signed gas supply
and transportation agreements, a new phenomenon in the gas-to-power
industry, thereby moving the industry away from the prior status of
best endeavor supply and transportation basis.
"Accordingly, we will maintain the agreed gas pricing policy in order
to encourage new investments in gas supply and infrastructure
development. The implementation of the gas policy will culminate in a
willing buyer-will seller structure to establish a fully market-driven
environment," he added.
Stressing that adequate measures have been taken to resolve all labour
related issues in the sector, he said that contributions of relevant
MDAs in the realisation of the privatisation of the power sector was
critical.
While urging Nigerians to exercise patience with the government,
President Jonathan declared that better days are ahead in the power
sector.
Also speaking at the occasion, Vice President, Namadi Sambo maintained
that it is only the private sector investment in the power sector that
can guarantee satisfying Nigeria's yearning for stable power supply.
He said the new owners of the generating companies are expected to
build up capacity from the present levels of performance to additional
5,000 megawatts within a period of five years.
"It is noteworthy to state that the privatization of the power utility
is unique and different from previous privatization programmes in the
country, that of the power sector is driven by the need for efficiency
and investment rather than optimisation of proceeds to the government.
Moreover, only bidders' technical ability and financial capability
influenced outcomes," he stated.
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