The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has rescued crash victims involved in a lone accident on the Lagos /Ibadan Expressway and returned over N2million recovered from the scene to the mother of the owner.

Mr Clement Oladele, the FRSC Sector Commander in Ogun, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta on Saturday.

Oladele said that the accident happened around 10:15am and it involved 11 people, comprising of three men, six female adult and two female children.

The sector commander noted that though, there were no deaths recorded, nine of the passengers who included three male and six female adults sustained serious injuries.

The lone crash involved a Yellow Toyota LiteAce bus with registration number WWD 558 XA travelling from Ibadan to Lagos.

The suspected cause of the crash was tyre burst by the speeding bus, which lost control.

The injured victims were taken to Ifeoluwa Hospital, Ogunmakin for medical treatment and the road obstruction cleared, he said.

The FRSC boss said the victims belongings inside the ill-fated bus were conveyed to FRSC Command at Ogunmakin, where on routine documentation the sum of N2. 096million was recovered.

Upon diligent investigation, a female passenger of the crashed bus, Mrs Asabi Adenike of Kuola Street, Apata, Ibadan, who sustained injuries and undergoing medical attention was identified as the owner of the bag containing the recovered money.

After contacting her relatives, she authorised that the FRSC hands over the recovered money to her Mother, Mrs Bisola Adedeji, he said.

Source: NAN

Ahead of Easter celebrations, patronage of local rice has shot up in Enugu as dealers make brisk business,

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that local rice business had been booming since the beginning of the Holy Week.

Mr Edward Nneji, a local rice seller at Garki Market told NAN that many residents now prefer local rice to foreign rice due to the difference in their prices.

According to Nneji, a 25 kg bag of local rice goes for N7, 500 in the market while the 50kg goes for between N15.000 and N16, 500.

A 25 kg bag of foreign rice goes for N9, 500 and the 50kg for between N18, 500 and N19, 500. A cup of local rice sells for N70 and a cup of foreign for N100.

Mrs Juliana Ubochi, a rice seller at Mayor Market confirmed that many consumers now buy local rice for the price difference.

I am sure that it is because of price difference that has been making people to buy more of local rice, since a cup of local rice is N70, many prefer buying in cups than in bags.

Due to the high cost of foreign rice, many people are now going for the local, especially people with large family, she said.

Mr Reuben Obi, who sells rice at the Kenyatta Market, said he had made a lot of profit since the beginning of the Holy Week from selling local rice.

Obi said that he was sure that the patronage would continue even after the Easter Celebration because the price of the foreign rice would continue to rice due to the ban on importation on the foreign rice.

At Ogbette Market, Mr David Ngwoke, another rice seller said with the high patronage experienced in local rice, there was need for rice farming to increase so as to have enough in future.

Meanwhile, in Benin, traders are worried over low patronage despite stable price of food items at Benin Market.

A NAN check at Ikpoba Hill Market, a major food market in Benin, shows that the price of food items remain the same unlike Christmas and New Year celebrations.

A 50 kg bag of rice on Saturday at the market sold for between N16,800 and N17,500 while a four litre keg of vegetable oil and red oil sold for N2,000 and N1,700 respectively.

A cartoon of frozen fish, turkey and Chicken went for N13,000, N15,000 and N13,500 respectively while a live chicken sold for between N2,000 and N8,000.

NAN also reports that a basket of tomatoes sells for between N10,000 and N15,000, small bag of fresh pepper goes for N8,000 while big bag sells for N18,000.
(NAN)

Source: NAN

Ballot counting has begun in Sierra Leone after official close of voting at 5 pm (GMT) in the rescheduled presidential run-off election.

A statement issued by a member of the ECOWAS Observation Mission, Mr Paul Ejime, said that Prof Amos Sawyer, Head of the Mission and his team watched the counting process at Freetowns Aberdeen polling Centre.

Sawyer according to the statement had, earlier witnessed the commencement of voting at 7 am.

It noted that agents of the two rival political parties and security personnel also witnessed the process.

Counting and tallying in the 16 Administrative Districts with 3,300 polling centres and 11,122 polling stations nationwide.

This will be followed with tallying at the Regional Centres and then moved to the National Office for the announcement of the final results.

The ruling APC has Dr Samura Kamara as its candidate, running against the main opposition SLPPs Julius Maada Bio, a former head of state, in this second election.

Both emerged front runners from the inconclusive March 7 first round that had 16 candidates.

The run-off was originally scheduled for March 27, but had to be postponed due to a petition filed by a private lawyer. A lower court gave an interim injunction halting the poll.

The vacation of the court order by the Supreme Court and the preventive diplomacy initiate by heads of international observation missions helped to douse the political tension and paved the way for Saturdays run-off, which was generally peaceful.

Source: NAN

Controversial Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh says her much anticipated reality TV show KingTonto will hit screens across the country and beyond soon.

The 33 year-old singer and mother of one revealed this on Thursday via her instagram handle, @tontolet with a 30 seconds sneak preview video of herself in different outfits with a crown on her head.

THE MOST ANTICIPATED REALITY TV SHOWI promise you DRAMA, Love, Motherhood in its purest adorable form, work and everything I am made up of and moreTell your friends to tell their friends the wait is almost Over..

Mr Olakunle Churchill, the estranged husband of the actress had in January filed a suit at the family court of the Lagos Magistrate court against his son, King Andrea appearing in the reality TV show.

Churchill said he filed the suit to save his son from any form of embarrassment in future.

He pointed out that the production was entirely an adult content that would expose the life and times of the boy at a period when he cannot make a decision for himself.

In her swift reaction, the philanthropist from the family of seven with 2.9 million followers on her instagram said she was unstoppable.

She had informed her fans that her reality show produced by Linda Ikeji Media would be air soon.

With this current post on her instagram, she had clear the air on her intention to broadcast the show which she underwent cosmetic surgery before shooting commenced.

Source: NAN

Britains heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua says he aims to be more calculating when he takes on Joseph Parker for the New Zealanders WBO title in Cardiff, Wales on Saturday.

The proud owner of the WBA, IBF and IBO heavyweight title belts is unbeaten in 20 contests with a perfect knockout record, and he wants Parker to be the next man on his hit list to maintain his destructive streak.

Someone asked me, if I get Parker hurt, will I go in and execute? Im trying to be a sniper. Thats my mindset now, said Joshua.

Im dealing with a guy who has his country on his back, that obviously gives him a little bit of fuel as well. Hes a man of pride.

But, no matter about all these positive things I say about him, my job is to knock one off the list as each round goes on and just break him down.

When he goes back to his corner in round one, I just want him to realise his trainer lied to him.

Hell soon realize hes in with a real fighter and I know 100 per cent I will break his spirit and mentality.

Parker is two years younger than 28-year-old Joshua and is undefeated in 24 contests with 18 knockouts.

The Auckland fighter of Samoan descent became his countrys first ever heavyweight champion after winning the WBO belt against Andy Ruiz in December 2016, and he hopes to be boarding a flight back to his homeland with extra luggage.

Im taking all those belts back to New Zealand, Parker said at Tuesdays final press conference in London.

Im young, Im fresh, Im strong and Im determined to win. We respect Anthony Joshua, we think hes a great champion and on the night, therell be no excuses. Im at my best, hes at his best and were here to be part of history and take those belts back.

He added: I havent decided how Im going to beat him but whether its a knockout or on points, those belts are mine.

Joshua and Parker will meet in the middle of Cardiffs Principality Stadium in front of an 80,000 sell-out crowd. Its a sight Joshua has become familiar with in his last two fights against Carlos Takam and Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium in London.

The atmosphere can swallow you up, said Joshua.

Its crazy. A certain amount of noise can smash glass, based on the frequency. And that sort of noise, booming, it gets you in a fight.

Its an experience Parker hasnt faced yet. It is daunting, it is overwhelming.

The fight is won or lost in training camp but the last bolt is screwed on during the spell from your changing room to the first bell.

He added: Its going to be electric. You know when you come here to fight myself, you know theres going to be blood, a fighter hurt and 20 times out of 20 Ive been victorious, so expect the same routine.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN

Stanley Okumbi, the stand-in coach for the Kenyan soccer team, the Harambee Stars, has been demoted to the youth ranks to take charge of the Kenyan Under-20 team.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa on Wednesday confirmed the changes, which pave the way for the country to name a new foreign coach to lead the Harambee Stars after the resignation of Belgian Paul Put last month.

FKF is expected to announce a foreign tactician soon with Dutchman Ruud Krool tipped to take over as coach.

Okumbis demotion was catalyzed by Kenyas failure to win in their last two international friendly matches against lowly-ranked opponents in Marrakech, Morocco.

The Harambee Stars lost 3-2 on Tuesday to the Central African Republic, just three days after forcing a 2-2 draw with the tiny island state of Comoros. The result will have a negative impact on Kenyas ranking by FIFA.

Okumbi has been redeployed to handle the Under 20 side. Coach Frank Ouna will now focus on the Kenyan Premier League side Wazito FC while goalkeeper coach Haggai Azande goes back to Tusker FC. Both Ouna and Azande will be redeployed soon for other national team roles, Mwendwa said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

Okumbi was first named Harambee Stars coach in Feb. 2016 but failed in his core mandate to guide the team to win qualification to the 2017 African Nations Cup.

Mwendwa said Kenya was still on course to qualify for the 2019 Africa Nations Cup, which will be the main goal of the new foreign coach once named.

Kenya lost in the first leg match against Sierra Leone and must up their game against giantsGhanaand Ethiopia if they are to make it to the finals in Cameroon in 2019.

In addition to hosts Cameroon, the 12 group winners will qualify alongside the three best runners-up. Enditem

Source: NAN

US Open champion, Sloane Stephens has rallied her way to her first Miami Open tennis final, beating Victoria Azarenka in three sets.

It was the second time in three weeks that the American would halt Victoria Azarenkas comeback from maternity leave. She did it in the second round of Indian Wells.

On Thursday, the No.13 seed did it again but via a tougher route, overcoming the wildcard 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 and ending an 11-match Floridian winning streak that stretched back to 2015 for Azarenka.

This time last year, Stephens foot was in a cast as she recovered from surgery and Azarenka was nursing a three-month old. Both returned to competition during the grass season last year; but while the past nine months have seen the American make a phenomenal Slam-winning comeback, the former World No.1 has been confined to just four events in the same time-frame due to personal issues.

Stephens was excited about her feat: This is so cool! Ive been playing tennis in Key Biscayne since I was 11 years old. For me this is so incredible to have friends and family here. Just have to take advantage of the last year here!

I just knew I had to keep fighting. In the first set I was down but I battled back so I knew if I did that in the second, Id be right in there, the 25-year-old American said in an on-court interview.

I ended up winning a lot of games in a row and I just tried to keep the momentum going.

Wednesday night, qualifier Danielle Collins overpowered her childhood idol Venus Williams 6-2 6-3 in a stunning quarter-final upset.

Collins, belying her 93rd ranking, pounded winner after winner to beat fellow American Williams at her own game and set up a semi-final against French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.

Latvian Ostapenko overpowered Ukrainian fourth seed Elina Svitolina in two tiebreaks to win 7-6(3) 7-6(5) in an afternoon match to reach the Miami semis for the first time.

The two players will meet at 2am Friday Nigerian time to decide the second finalist.

Source: NAN

Fourth seed Alexander Zverev overcame a slow start on Thursday to wear down Borna Coric 6-4 6-4 and set up a Miami Open semi-final against Pablo Carreno Busta, who earlier defeated Kevin Anderson.

After a power failure delayed the start of the match by more than an hour, Zverev faced two break points in the second game but then settled down and took command.

One break in each set was enough for the German to clinch his first win in three career attempts against the Croat.

Zverev advances to a Friday semi-final against Spanish 16th seed Carreno Busta, who survived a match point to upset South African sixth seed Anderson 6-4 5-7 7-6(6).

The other semi-final pits Argentine fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro against American 14th seed John Isner.

Zverev did not use the power failure as an excuse for his slow start.

I didnt particularly care, he said, adding that he spent the time watching an NBA game on a locker room television.

I think I lost the first six points of the match. It wasnt the best start. Im just happy to get through.

For Carreno Busta, who arrived on court in fine form having dropped only 12 games over his previous tee matches, the win was his first in five meetings against Anderson and avenged his fourth-round Indian Wells loss to the world number eight.

It was an amazing match, no? Carreno Busta said.

He played some unbelievable points, passing shots.

I lost to him, 7-6 in the third set (at Indian Wells). And today, well, at the beginning of the match I started playing really good, returning good, serving good, being very aggressive.

Anderson saved a pair of match points in the second set and shifted momentum in his favor but Carreno Busta, seeded 16th at Crandon Park, regrouped in the decider where the two players stayed on serve until the tiebreak.

Carreno Busta was staring at defeat when 6-5 down in the tiebreak but was let off the hook when Anderson missed with a forehand.

From there the South African pushed a backhand volley wide and then mishit a second serve that handed the win to Carreno Busta after two hours, 42 minutes.

Anderson, whose year already includes an ATP Tour title at the New York Open and runner-up finishes in Acapulco and Pune, has now lost all 10 of his quarter-final matches at the Masters 1000 level the highest-tiered tournaments after the four grand slams.

Source: NAN

French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko will meet US Open champion Sloane Stephens in the Miami Open final after putting a decisive end to American qualifier Danielle Collins dream run.

The match will be played at 18.00 Nigerian time on Saturday.

The 20 year-old Latvian needed just two sets and just under two hours to defeat Collins 7-6(1), 6-3, and become the youngest player to reach the Miami final since 2009, when 19-year-old Victoria Azarenka claimed the title.

Her opponent Collins came into the matchup having already played almost 12 hours of tennis in Miami alone, battling through two rounds of qualifying to bring her total of matches to seven. Along the way shes knocked out the likes of childhood hero and No.8 seed Venus Williams as well as CoCo Vandeweghe and Monica Puig, putting together a fairytale run into the semifinals.

But she finally met her match in Latvian powerhouse Ostapenko, who notched wins over No.9 seed Petra Kvitova and No.4 Elina Svitolina in to register multiple Top 10 wins in the same tournament for the first time in her career.

Ostapenko found herself under pressure from the get-go against Collins gutsy tennis. The American was crushing the returns and brought up five break opportunities in Ostapenkos first two service games alone, pushing her to deuce seven times.

But despite the pressure it was the Latvian who broke first, getting ahead with a break to love at 3-1 on a sloppy Collins service game. Collins was undaunted, and kept apace with Ostapenkos heavy hitting the gambit worked and she broke straight back to level the score.

The pair stayed toe-to-toe as they marched into the first set tiebreak. Here it was Ostapenko who has yet to lose a tiebreak here in Miami that rose to the occasion, extending that record against Collins. She played almost perfect tennis to snap up four points in a row and allow her opponent just one point, closing it out 7-1.

Ostapenko carried the momentum into the second set, starting off with a break right away. Although Collins was able to create seven break chances in the first set converting two she wasnt able to make a dent at all on the Ostapenko serve in the second set. Instead the big-hitting Latvian bracketed the set with another break of serve to finish, closing out the match after an hour and 41 minute battle.

Through to the final without dropping a set, the win guarantees Ostapenko will reach a new career-high ranking come Monday, jumping up one spot to World No.4. I think now Im playing more consistent and Im just really happy to be here,she said.

Reported by

Source: NAN

The three senators from Kaduna state, led by Shehu Sani on Thursday blocked the approval for a $350million loan request by Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

It was like a vengeance of sort as all the senators spoke against the loan.

El-Rufai has had a very poor relationship with the trio, even demolishing the home of one of them Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, used as an office for a faction of the All Progressives Congress in the state.

The position of the senators was clearly demonstrated during the debate at the Senate on Thursday before the rejection of the loan request.

Too bad for the governor. His most trenchant political opponent, Senator Shehu Sani heads the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Loans and Debts.

In the report presented as the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Shehu Sani, said the committee rejected the request.

Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi and Danjuma Lai, also spoke against the approval of the loan.

The committee said if approved, the loan will make the state the second most indebted in the country.

Sani said the loan obtained by the state from 1960 till now was $232 million, adding that if approved, the additional $350 million will bring the states indebtedness to $582 million.

Source: NAN