Health scare for Pope Francis but he’s back on his busy schedule again

Pope Francis was back to work this morning after canceling a planned visit to a hospital to say Mass due to an ‘unexpected disposition’.

The 77-year-old Pontiff received the president of Madagascar during a ten-minute audience in the Vatican.

Witnesses said the Holy Father looked tired but smiled frequently during the meeting.

He later delivered a speech to a visiting delegation from the Orthodox church without any problems, before two further meetings with Vatican cardinals.

The pontiff was due to visit one of Rome’s major hospitals yesterday but was forced to cancel the engagement at the last moment.

The Vatican issued a statement almost an hour after he was due to arrive at the Gemelli Hospital to celebrate Mass that he was unable to attend.

However, Vatican spokesman Rev Federico Lombardi said the 77-year-old Argentinian was able to continue with his diary for the weekend and that there were ‘no concerns for his health’.

The Pope said Mass as normal on Friday morning but felt tired after a grueling couple of weeks and was unable to complete his planned visit.

People had already gathered at the hospital to await the pope when the Vatican issued a statement saying Angelo Scola, Cardinal of Milan, would read the homily in his place.

The crowd applauded when Scola sent his best wishes to the pope, leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics.

‘I am sure I act for the hearts and minds of us all when I send a warm embrace to Pope Francis. May he overcome this indisposition quickly.’

Pope Francis only has one full lung and also has a back problem which makes walking painful.

Earlier this month, he was forced to cancel two full days of audiences due to a stomach bug and last week he decided against participating in a mile-long procession in Southern Italy.

However, he was able to complete his weekly audience in St Peter’s Square on Wednesday, however these have been suspended for the summer period.

During a 12-hour trip to Calabria in Southern Italy, Pope Francis disembarked his car to bless a sick young man who was carried up to his motorcade on a stretcher.

Pope Francis is expected to say a major Mass tomorrow in St Peter’s Square.

In August, he is due to travel to South Korea.

Fr Lombardi said: ‘The engagements on the Holy Father’s agenda for Saturday June 28 and Sunday June 29 are confirmed,”

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Federal Government speaks out on Aero’s use of ladder in Bauchi

The Minister of State for  Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika yesterday gave a direction to an immediate investigation into the use of ladder by Aero Contractors Airlines on its chartered flight at the Bauchi Airport which went viral on Saturday.

He said: “Several reports received by the Minister have indicated the airline used a ladder to disembark passengers from a Boeing 737 aircraft at the Bauchi airport on Saturday December 19th 2015.

“The act is inconsistent with Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, NCAR and International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, Standards and Recommended Practices, SARPS.

“The investigation will determine the immediate and remote causes of the incident with a view to developing and implementing measures that will prevent a re-occurrence of the unsafe and unacceptable procedure that exposed  passengers to high risk of serious injury.

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Wande Coal goes on dreads changing his looks

Looks like a new look for Wande Coal for 2016. What do you think?

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Beyonce looks like a Christmas tree in New outfit

The 34-year-old singer attended her company’s Christmas party, clad in head to toe festive ornaments including a string of glowing lights, that made her look just like a Christmas tree.

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Buhari sacks NDDC Chairman, appoints former Rivers Information commissioner as acting chair

President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the Chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Bassey Dan Abia. Abia has been replaced with Ibim Seminitari, who served as Commissioner of Information in the administration of Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers state, as the acting head of the commission. Dan Abia, who hails from Akwa Ibom state.

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TV journalist Adaure Achumba marries

Award winning TV Journalist, Adaure Achumba had her introduction and traditional wedding with her beau Wes Ballance on Saturday Dec. 19th in Lagos. Big congrats to them. Keep reading for more pictures.

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See pictures from the former Borno Governor Amodu Sherrif’s son’s wedding

Son of Borno state former Governor, Alh Amodu Sherrif, Mustapha Sheriff got married over the weekend to Ummi Abubakar. See more pictures after the cut…

Abdullah, Maigaskiya Photography

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Gov. Ambode moves to transform Ebute-Meta to tourist haven

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday unveiled plans to transform Ebute-Meta into a tourist haven by establishing a recreation park on the stretch of land overlooking the lagoon, adjacent to the Adekunle axis of the Third Mainland Bridge.

The Governor, who said this during the commissioning of Ipaja-Ayobo and Ikotun-Ejigbo Roads as well as an inspection tour of on-going projects across the State, lamented the state of the piece of land which he described as an eye sore from the bridge.

He, therefore, gave the auto mechanics under the bridge seven days ultimatum to vacate the site and remove all abandoned vehicles for the development project to commence in earnest.

He said all things being equal, the project would be completed before the end of May in 2017 when Lagos State would be 50 years-old.

Governor Ambode, who expressed dissatisfaction about the refusal of the mechanics to vacate the site despite repeated notice, said it was important for them to appreciate that the land was needed for overall public interest of the State.

He also ordered traders in the area to move to the special site prepared for them in Agbowa by January 2016.

While at Ipaja where he inspected the just-completed Ipaja-Ayobo Road, Governor Ambode promised to commence construction works on Ishefun-Ayetoro Road, just as he assured residents that Alimosho would soon become the new Victoria Island.

He said: “Three months ago, you will all recall that we came to this particular road and we promised the people of Mosan-Okunola that we will deliver the Ipaja -Ayobo Road before Christmas, and it is on the strength of that promise that we are here today. Thank God, we have seen to the completion of this road; it has street lights beginning from Ipaja Round About to the end.”

“As much as we have kept our promise and delivered even before the projected day, the residents should also maintain good use of this road and cooperate with the government as we extend development to this neighbourhood. I just want to assure the people of Alimosho axis that this government is right behind you and we would do everything possible to turn Alimosho to Victoria Island,” Governor Ambode said.

The Governor also formally commissioned the Ikotun-Ejigbo Road and assured residents that street lights would be installed on the road from Ikotun Roundabout to the Isolo Campus of Lagos Polytechnic within three months.

The Governor also inspected the on-going construction work in the popular Brown Street in Oshodi where he was briefed by Mr Baha, the project Manager for Lobrics Construction Company.

The Governor said that the project which commenced about six weeks ago, is now over 40 percent completed, just as he expressed optimism that the residents in the area would enjoy the benefits of the new road when completed.

After being briefed by the Executive Secretary of Oshodi Local Government Area, Adeola Olajobi Dawood on the challenges of the adjourning Igbehinadun and Inasa Streets, the Governor ordered the Public Works Corporation to rehabilitate both streets within the next seven days.

While charging the contractor to ensure the completion of Brown Street by the end of February 2016, the Governor also urged the residents to continue to cooperate with the contractor so as to deliver the projects within the stipulated time frame.

At the Oshodi Resettlement Market, Governor Ambode also ordered the Public Works Corporation to resurface the car park in the market in preparation for the reopening of the market.

Governor Ambode also advised the developer of the market to consider a rent-to-own modality for acquisition of the shops, saying that a monthly payment plan would prevent the shops from being hijacked by businessmen.

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Electricity Tariff: Nigerians will now pay for “only what they consume” – NERC

Nigerians will henceforth pay for only the power they consume as the new electricity tariff released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has removed fixed electricity charges that has constantly caused discrepancies in the billing system of meters in most Nigerian homes.

This recent development is contained in a statement released by Sam Amadi, chairman of NERC today December 21st.

“Although, the new tariff regimes comes with an increase in energy charges, all electricity consumers (residential as well as commercial) will no longer pay fixed charges, so their total bills will depend on the electricity they actually consume and may be reduced when they conserve electricity. This is in line with NERC’s mandate to be fair in all its regulatory interventions. Consumers will no longer be spending money every month to pay for fixed charges even when they do not receive electricity in their homes and business. The objective of the new tariff is to enable prudent consumers to save money on electricity bill as they can now control their consumption and not pay monthly fixed charges. For instance, residential customer classification (R2) in Abuja Electricity Distribution Company will no longer pay N702.00 fixed charge every month. Their energy charge will increase by N9.60. Also, residential customers (R2 customers) in Eko and Ikeja electricity distribution areas will no longer pay N750. 00 fixed charges. They will be getting N10 and N8 increase respectively in their energy charges.

Similarly, the burden of N800.00 and N750.00 fixed charges would be lifted off the shoulders of Kaduna and Benin electricity consumers. These consumers will see an increase of N11.05 and N9.26 respectively in their energy charges. The new tariff is also good news for commercial consumers For example, commercial customers’ classification C2 in Ibadan and Enugu will no longer pay fixed charges of N17, 010. 00 and N22, 141. 00. Their energy charge will increase by N12.08 and N13.35 respectively. In line with the transparent disposition to its operations full details of the new tariff regime would be advertised in major national dailies and commission website within the next 24 hours.”the statement read

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Crime – “We received N12m ransom from kidnap of Okonjo-Iweala’s mother”

One of the suspects of the gang that abducted the mother of former Finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Prof. Kamene Okonjo, has confessed that his gang collected N12 million as ransom for the release of Prof Okonjo in 2013. A statement from the Enugu state police command say the suspect identified as Peter Nweke who hails from Umumba Ndiagu in Ezeagu LGA of Enugu State made the revelation while he was being interrogated over the weekend. (photo of the gang below )

Peter said that he was contacted by one Ifeanyi Chukwuemeka from Iselle Uku in Delta who linked him to one of the Okonjo’s family members that helped them to perfect the kidnap. He said that Chukwuemeka disguised as an NYSC member seeking for assistance and entered the compound and abducted Professor Okonjo.

“I needed money to acquire AK-47 and pump action gun from one Musa from Adamawa at Sabon Kashua, Asaba through one of his cohorts, Ali Sali to make the business easier,” Nweke said. The suspect, however, pleaded for forgiveness while advising the youth to shun crime as it was an ill wind that blew nobody good.

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