Texas Plant Explosion: 12 Bodies Recovered

                                                         Texas Plant Explosion: 12 Bodies Recovered





A law enforcement official says 12 bodies have been recovered following a massive explosion that levelled a fertiliser plant and destroyed dozens of homes.

Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt Jason Reyes said it was "with a heavy heart" that he confirmed the bodies had been pulled from the area of the plant explosion.

Even before investigators released a confirmed number of fatalities, the names of the dead were becoming known in the town of 2,800.

A small group of firefighters and others who may have rushed toward the factory to battle a pre-explosion blaze are believed to be among the dead. Sgt Reyes said he could not confirm how many of those killed were first responders.

Search and rescue crews continue to sift through the still-smouldering remains for survivors.

Authorities say there is no indication that the blast

Kidnappers may release Bamigbetan, Lagos council boss today

LAGOS — Strong indications emerged, yesterday, of the possibility of the abducted Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan re-gaining his freedom, as the kidnappers promised to let go their captive this morning at an unnamed location.

According to a source, who preferred anonymity, the kidnappers got in touch with the family negotiator and assured them to be prepared to receive Bamigbetan at an undisclosed location this morning.

“As we talk, the kidnappers are getting in touch with the family which has kept hope alive for the family and well wishers of Bamigbetan but we pray and sincerely hope that

40% of deaths on highways caused by tanker, trailer drivers – FRSC

…Plans clampdown on defaulting transport companies …
ABUJA—THE Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has reiterated its commitment to shut down all transport companies operating in the country which failed to comply with the minimum safety standards as set out in the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme, RTSSS, strategy.

Besides, the Corps has concluded arrangements to send 40 of its staff to France for a training programme.

The Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of FRSC, Mr. Osita Chidoka, who made the vow while receiving a delegation of top management staff of Total Africa, led by its

Fake Ghanaian medical doctor arrested in Lagos

LAGOS — The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and the Health Facility Monitoring Agent, HEFAMA, Lagos State, has arrested a 28-year-old Ghanaian, Michael Akorful, for parading himself as a medical practitioner when he is not.

The suspect has been practising as a medical practitioner in a private hospital in Festac Town, Lagos until nemesis caught up with him last Wednesday after he gave wrong prescription to a patient.

According to Akorful, “I was in school in Ukraine but could not graduate and I ran away from the school because I was to be arrested for being a witness to a crime.

“One day, I went out to a joint with my friends where a fight broke out and somebody died in the process. The Police arrested the guy and was looking for me, so I ran away.”

On how he started practising, he said:

Controversy: Posing semi-nude for a New York based magazine: Adokiye opens up

Until early this year when she posed semi-nude for a New York based magazine, Adokiye Kyrian Yvonne a.k.a Adokiye is relatively unknown in the nation’s music scene. But immediately after that controversial posture, the sexy singer has become one of the hottest rising female singers in the country. Our reporter caught up with her recently in Lagos, where she speaks on the raunchy photo spread among other issues.

How did you delve into music ?
During my university days, I was a member of a minor musical group called the “MASE” comprising of four young talents. We used the first alphabet of their names to coin out the name, “MASE”. My exploits with the group helped to expose me as well as sharpen my musical skills to a great extent.

Music for me is something I’ve always wanted to do. I just wanted the right time to get into it and I believe this is the right time.

Early this year, you posed semi-nude in a New York based magazine. What was the attraction?
It actually got leaked. I did some modelling jobs while I was in New York and at that point in time, some pictures leaked while the process was still

Most Nigerian roads’ll be motorable by 2015 – Jonathan

                                              Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that most Nigerian roads will be in good conditions in the next two years.

Speaking during the inauguration of the WEMPCO cold steel plant in Magboro, Ogun State on Thursday, the President acknowledged that most Nigerian roads had been abandoned for a long time.

He, however, gave an assurance that most of the roads would be in good shape by 2015.

He said, “We assure Nigerians that we are

ACN holds last convention, adopts APC as new party

LAGOS – APPROXIMATELY 4671 delegates of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Thursday in Lagos unanimously adopted the All Progressive Congress, APC, as its new political party.

Also, the party ratified the expulsion of some members approval of merger with other political parties and groups, approval of new name All Progressive Congress with acronym APC and approvals of new Constitution, manifesto, flag, logo and slogan.

There’s urgent need for change – Akande

In his opening address,

NAFDAC raids outlets, seizes expired drugs in Benue

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it seized some substandard drugs during a raid at some drug outlets at Gboko in Benue.

It said the exercise was in response to report of Adverse Drug Reactions and irrational use of medicines that caused deaths in the area.

A statement issued by Mr Abubakar Jimoh, NAFDC’s Acting Director, Special Duties, said on Friday that the operation was carried out to take the substandard and expired drugs out of circulation.

The statement said that the exercise which lasted

Obtaining tinted glass permit is free, says IG

Abuja – The Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr Mohammed Abubakar, says that obtaining police permit for the use of vehicles with tinted glasses “is free of charge and does not attract any charge”.

Abubakar made the clarification on Friday while speaking at a meeting with Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in charge of the 12 zonal commands in Nigeria.

He said that the meeting was to review security challenges, including terrorism, kidnapping, cultism and communal clashes in parts of the country in order to strategise on how to address the challenges.

The IG said: “obtaining tinted glass permit is

Lagos sentences 1,154 offenders to community service

No fewer than 1,154 offenders have been sentenced to various terms of community service across the 12 magisterial districts of Lagos State, in the last seven years.

Mr Ade Ipaye, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, disclosed this on Friday in Ikeja at a news conference to mark Gov. Babatunde Fashola`s sixth year in office.

According to him, the offenders, aged between 20 and 40, were mostly male, adding that they would have been otherwise incarcerated in prisons with the

Teachers threaten strike in 18 states

Nigeria Union of Teachers has directed teachers in 18 states that have defaulted in the implementation of the 27.5 per cent salary increment to begin a stay-at-home strike from June 1.

The union also urged the Federal Government to embrace peace and dialogue with Boko Haram in order to address the security problems in the country.

This was contained in a communique signed by its President, Michael Olukoya; the Secretary-General, Obong I. J. Obong and National Publicity

Why APC must take over – Party leaders

LAGOS—AMIDST a wave of enthusiasm, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, yesterday, resolved to collapse into the proposed mega opposition political party – All Progressive Congress, APC.

The resolution adopted at the national convention of the country’s leading opposition party in Lagos came as major opposition politicians from within and outside the outgoing party, denounced activities of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The convention in which 4,671 delegates were accredited was witnessed by thousands of other party members and prominent figures in the three other parties forming the APC- ACN, ANPP and CPC. The Onikan Stadium venue of the convention in central Lagos, was packed to capacity with a strong contingent of security men manning all entrances to the stadium and the nearby State House annex that normally houses President Goodluck Jonathan and his family while in Lagos.

The convention was witnessed by the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande; three of the six governors belonging to the party, Babatunde Fashola of Lagos;

Tonto Dikeh Will Represent Nigeria At The Next Big Brother

Nollywood actress and musician, Tonto Dikeh aka Poko, will be representing Nigeria in the on coming Big Brother show.

Since the early hours of Saturday when the good news got to Dikeh, the controversial actress has been receiving congratulatory messages from her friends.

Among those who have congratulated Dikeh are Denrele Edun and Julius Agwu.

This 8th edition of the star game show will kick

Man arraigned for raping nursing mother

A 28-year-old man, Morufu Rasheed, was on Wednesday arraigned before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court for conspiracy, rape and theft.

Rasheed and two others at large were accused of raping a 27-year-old nursing mother (name withheld) at Palm grove end of Ikorodu Road, Lagos, while she was waiting to board a bus.

The charge read in part, “That you Morufu Rasheed and others at large on the April 13 about 10pm at Palm grove Bus Stop, Lagos in the Somolu Magisterial District

Mertesacker admits Anichebe fear

                                                  Victor Anichebe

Per Mertesacker has hailed Arsenal’s defensive resilience after they subdued Everton’s in-form striker Victor Anichebe.

In the build-up to Tuesday night’s 0-0 draw at Emirates Stadium, David Moyes had challenged Anichebe to continue his improvement after a series of powerful displays.

Anichebe, 24, bullied Tottenham’s rearguard as Everton earned a hard-fought point at White Hart Lane before scoring his sixth goal in 13 Premier League starts with a fine hooked volley in last weekend’s 2-0 win over Queens Park