8 out of 10 Nigerian men don't use condoms - SFH survey

According to statistics, 8 out of 10 Nigerian men do not use condoms. This was revealed by Bright Ekweremadu, the Managing Director of Society for Family Health, SFH. He said over 1.8billion sexual activities occur in Nigeria yearly, and 80% of them are unprotected.

Mr Ekweremadu said if Nigerian men were to use condoms, no supplier in the world would be able to afford the quantity of condoms Nigerian men would need. He said their research showed that young Nigerians between 18 and 34 years in the cities of Lagos & Abuja make the highest use of condoms.

He said many sexually active Nigerian men have several excuses for not wanting to use condoms. Excuses like "I am healthy, I dont have infections, flesh to flesh is sweeter" etc...

He said there are so many cases of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies reported yearly because of people's refusal to use condoms. He also said their research shows that the women don't insist on condoms.

N255m car scandal: Presidential panel indicts Stella Oduah

According to a report by Punch, the committee set up by President Jonathan to probe the N255m bulletproof car scandal in the aviation ministry has indicted Aviation Minister, Ms. Stella Oduah.

It was gathered  in Abuja on Sunday  that the report of the presidential committee tallied  with some findings of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation on the scandal. On  December 19, 2013, the House endorsed the report of its committee and agreed that the minister breached the 2013 Appropriation Act.

It was learnt on Sunday that the  panel, like that of  the House, also discovered that the minister’s approval for the cars exceeded the N100m limit.

A top government source, who disclosed this to Punch on Sunday, said although the committee indicted Oduah , it did not say whether she should be sacked or not.

 But sources told Punch  that there was every likelihood of the President using the cabinet shake -up that would follow the presentation of his ministerial list to the National Assembly to relieve himself of Oduah’s continued presence in his government.

'I have a $1million watch' - Oba Obateru Akinruntan

Billionaire Oba Obateru Akinruntan, the Olugbo of Ugboland in Ondo and chairman of Obat Oil spoke recently of his love for the good things of life and how he loves to be the first in acquiring these things. In a recent interview with City People, the Oba described himself as a stylish king

"First and foremost I am very creative and secondly, I emulate the style of our forefathers, wearing royal beads as an old style. You know these days, if you want to become a popular and flamboyant king, you have to use diamonds. Diamond chains, diamond wrist watches, diamond shoes, diamond ring and my muffler is also made of diamond or gold. And that will make you unique among other Obas and that doesn't make you proud. I like to be the first in everything. I have the largest oil tank in West Arica today. Again my chain of cars, I use the same type of automobile with the Queen of England, Queen Elizerbeth, we use the same Rolls Royce and Bentley. Asides that, I have 7 door limousine Mercedes, I want to be the first in everything.

The Oba who has an aquarium wristwatch that is worth $500,00 spoke of his wristwatch collections

"I also have a wrist watch that cost $1 million. Aside that I am a car freak and what I wear with the way I dress, my shoe, my royal diamond cap, wrist watches, diamond ring, and my diamond Mofila is the new thing I have added to it now. I do my shopping in London Jeweller, a special store for top ranking personalities of the world. I wear expensive wrist watches, shoes and chains all made of diamond". he told City People

100 Nigerians languish in Moroccan prisons, says Ambassador

From TUNDE OMOLEHIN, Sokoto

No fewer than one hundred Nigerians are languishing in Moroccan Prisons. The Nigerian Ambassador to Morocco, Senator Abdallah Wali, who disclosed this, told journalists in Sokoto yesterday that most of them were involved in illegal migration, drug offences and related petty crimes.

He also said that there were currently about 100 legal residents in the North African country.
“But, we have a couple of thousands of illegal residents inside Morocco,” the envoy disclosed. Wali further said that the Mission was partnering with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja to stem the tide of illegal migration of Nigerians to Morocco.
He said that the mission had conducted series of workshops to sensitise Nigerians in this direction.
“Especially, Nigerians who come from areas that are prone to visiting Morocco illegally. The whole idea of visiting Morocco illegally is because of its promixity to Europe. It takes only 15 kilometers to cross the Mediterranean sea into Spain,” he explained.
Wali noted that there was no existing protocol between Nigeria and Morocco regarding repatriation of Nigerian prisoners or Moroccan prisoners to their respective countries.
“What we do is that, the Embassy frequently visits Nigerian prisoners in various prisons spread across the country,” he stated.

The envoy also said that during such visits, the Embassy officials listened to prisoners and collate their requests for onward transmission to the authorities.
“Thereafter, they get attention, whether it is medical, sometimes even the food they eat. Sometimes, they also need access to some things that are not provided in the prisons,” Wali, added.

According to the Ambassador, the King of Morocco pardons prisoners, including Nigerians in some cases.

He lamented that many Nigerians were often stranded in Morocco and in most cases, become illegal migrants. He stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja had tried to sensitise Nigerians against illegal migration through the Moroccan route.This is because of the risk involved in travelling, the risk involved in staying as illegal residents in Morocco and the risk involved in crossing over to Europe.

… 8 die in fresh Boko Haram attack

From TIMOTHY OLANREWAJU, Maiduguri


No fewer than eight people have been killed in a fresh attack on villages in the southern part of Borno State by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.


The attackers were also said to have burnt many churches
Residents said some suspected Boko Haram member attacked Sabon Gari village in Hambagtha and Jaji wards of  Gwoza Local Government Area on Thursday, killing eight villagers while the attackers set ablaze about 100 churches in the area. The churches destroyed, according to witnesses are located in communities around the Nigerian-Cameroon border. These include Arbako, Barawa, Chikide, Ngoshe, Pulka, Kirawa, Kwatara, Hirdembeh, Chinene and Kundeh in Gwoza Local Government Area. Gwoza, a border town is about135 kilometres South-East of Maiduguri.


A member of the House of Representatives, Peter Biye Gumtha, representing Gwoza/Chibok/Damboa confirmed the incident, adding that the village attacks were launched by eight insurgents. He said eight people were killed while 16 others were injured.
“What is happening in my constituency is very unfortunate and frightening. People are being killed by terrorists on a daily basis, Churches are being burnt, and if people like me who is also a member of the House Committee on Army, alerted military authorities based on intelligence reports that my village would be under attack by terrorists, and nothing was done to secure the area, then it is unfortunate, because the ordinary people that live in volatile areas are no longer safe and protected by our security outfits.
“As I am talking to you now, I have spent over two years without going to see my people and the electorate because I am no longer safe. All my projects which were aimed at alleviating the economic hardship of my people have been destroyed. There was a time I sent my contractors to construct a health centre in Gwoza town, a day after, they commenced constructing the foundation, some Boko Haram elements went to the project site, destroyed and buried everything,” he stated.


He said apart from churches torched by the insurgents, many primary schools and other public buildings in his constituency, were also burnt.
“Even my countryhome, located on the Bama-Gwoza Road was torched in the early hours of last Thursday. The gunmen also took away over 70 sheep and goats, after destroying 90, 000 packets of chalk, pens and exercise books procured at N38 million for distribution to schools in my constituency,” he further said.


The lawmaker lamented that since he was elected there had been series of attacks targeted at Christian communities in Gwoza, Chibok and Damboa council areas, a situation that forced him to stop visiting the area.

Rivers crisis: Senator shot at APC rally

• Amaechi’s Chief of Staff, others teargased
• Attack disheartening – Fani-Kayode

FROM CHRIS ANUCHA& TONY JOHN,  PORT HARCOURT

The Rivers State political crisis worsened yesterday when Senator Magnus Abe representing Rivers South-East was hit by rubber bullets. Police denied culpability. Also, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Tony Okocha, was among those allegedly teargased at a rally organised by the state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC). Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and four other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors defected to the opposition APC late last year.

The APC rally was held at the state’s College of Arts and Science, Rumuola Road in Obio/Akpor area.
The event, organised under the aegis of Save Rivers Movement, a mobilisation arm of the APC, was billed to start at 12 noon.

As soon as Senator Abe and Chief Okorocha arrived, over 25 Toyota Hilux vehicles carrying policemen stormed the venue at about 8.20am and allegedly started firing teargas and rubber bullets. Canopies, platform, chairs, tables, public address system and other electronic gadgets were allegedly destroyed.

Police allegedly sealed off Rumuola Road and those attending church services did so trekking there. Reporters were said to have been attacked. A claim that two children died in the melee couldn’t be verified by Daily Sun at press time.
When the “Save Rivers Movement” relocated the venue of the rally to Rumuigbo, the participants were not allowed. There is now palpable tension in Obio/Akpor and its environs. For instance, people  living in the affected area  and passers-by have expressed fears about  their health condition, because of the inhaled teargas
When  Daily  Sun  visited  Kelsey Harrison Hospital,  D-Line, where Senator Abe was rushed to, the Medical Director, Dr. Mckay Anyanwu, said the patient came in a state of shock.
He told journalists that  the senator  could neither drink nor eat.  Anyanwu said  the senator was restless  because of the shock and internal bleeding he suffered after  he was  hit by  the  rubber bullets.

Anyanwu said:  “He was unable to talk or eat and he was feeling restless as a result of a traumatic shock. The implication is that there is haemorrhage; this is a blood trauma, it is not a sharp one.
“So, we don’t know the layers that are affected. This can only be detected through the use of MRI. We have given the necessary resuscitative medication. He was bleeding internally (haemorrhage).
“If you check the two sides of his chest, the affected side is so enlarged, as compared to the unaffected area. My immediate concern was to revive the patient. It was later that I was being told that he was hit by a rubber bullet,” Anyanwu noted.
Senator Abe, who was  said  to be in critical condition, was later moved from Kelsey Harrison Hospital in Port Harcourt to the airport enroute London for further medical treatment..
Meanwhile,  Chief Okocha, has condemned  the attack.   He accused the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, of mobilizing policemen to the venue of the Save Rivers Movement/APC rally, to disrupt it and torture Amaechi’s supporters.

He said:  “The state police commissioner ordered operatives from all formations to the venue of our rally. We have written the police to inform them that we will hold a rally today. But they still came here to destroy all we have put in place for our rally,” he said.
Reacting, the police command blamed yesterday’s crisis on the state government.  The command’s spokesman, Ahmad Muhammad,  said  the Save Rivers Movement did not apply  for permit to hold the Sunday rally. He said that was the reason for dispersing the group. He also told Daily Sun it was Amaechi’s opponents that were responsible for  the destruction of platforms, canopies, public address system, adding that policemen were  there to protect lives and property.

He said:  ‘’They have not applied for police permit to hold a rally, so, the police had to disperse them. They were telling lies about the application they said they made.”
Muhammad  also denied knowledge of the attack on Senator Abe. He said:  “I am not aware that Abe was injured or any casualty. No ammunition was fired. The police had to disperse them. They (organisers are telling lies about the situation.”
But the Chairman of the Save Rivers Movement, Aholu Okechukwu, made available to journalists,  copies of the application for permit, to hold the rally,  written to the state police command on January 7, 2014 .
The letter, which was received  by an officer on behalf of the command on same day, was signed  by one Charles  Aholu. The  letter was entitled: “Request for Police Safety.’’
A look at the letter  showed that it gave details of the  date and time of the rally and the nature of the event.

The concluding part of the letter reads “I make these requests for security in order to maintain law and order during the programme. I shall subsequently furnish you with detailed schedules for all the other local government areas of the state.’’
In  his reaction, a chieftain of APC, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode said: “The attack on Senator Magnus Abe and other members of the APC by agents of security forces are disheartening and exceptionally dangerous. Just a couple of days ago, Governor Kwankwaso’s father was attacked and some of his people killed in Kano by unknown gunmen.
“Such wickedness, intolerance and evil is rarely seen. Let those that believe that they can silence the voices of the opposition with threats of violence and death be rest assured of one thing- we cannot be intimidated and neither can we be silenced. First we heard about snipers being trained and lists of opposition figures being drawn up for assasination. Now policemen are openly attacking the same innocent Nigerians and opposition figures that they are being paid to protect.

‘This government has lost its mind and  its bearing. The madnesss, the attacks, the killings, the insults, the persecution, the wickedness, the impugnity and the intimidation have to stop forthwith or else the consequences will be grave for the continued unity of our country.
“Once again, I ask where was Major Hamza Al-Mustapha on the day that Obasanjo released his letter to the press? Once again, I wish to know whether there is any truth in the allegation that he was in North Korea on that day and if he was what was he doing there?, he queried.