The National Emergency Management Agency and the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (ASEMA) are to distribute relief materials worth about N6 million to displaced persons in Onitsha. Justin Ijezie, executive secretary, ASEMA, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Onitsha that both agencies were collaborating to bring succour to some 2,000 residents taking refuge in a camp in the military barracks sequel to the post-election violence in some parts of the country. He said the displaced persons, who were in dire need of sleeping materials such as mats, mattresses, pillows and blankets, took shelter in the barracks for fear of reprisal attacks.

Cybercafé patronage in the country is declining in favour of individual subscription as telecommunications operators (Telcos) continue to roll out cheaper and innovative broadband internet services, industry analysts told BusinessDay at the weekend. Confirming the development, Ross Bateson, spokesperson for the Global System for Mobile Communication Association (GSMA) told BusinessDay that only 66 percent of users accessed the internet from a cybercafé in 2009 down from 82 percent in 2008, as workplace, home and mobile usage increased. “Cyber usage is declining in favour of individual subscription”, he said. An analyst told BusinessDay this has also translated into revenue loss for operators of Cybercafes and job loss for those who work in those places.

Some juju priests in Imo State have taken up the gauntlet to ensure that the remaining governorship and House of Assembly polls in the state are free, fair and credible. The Chief Priest of the dreaded Amadioha deity in Mbaise, Mazi Otagburuagu Okorie, has warned that the gods will visit election riggers with deadly and unimaginable health consequences if they flout any of the provisions of the Electoral Law. Okorie, who gave the warning in a press statement, specifically warned the gubernatorial candidates, and officials of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to shun electoral malpractices or risk the wrath of the deity.

Bauchi,  – The Police Command in Bauchi State says that the number of NYSC members who were killed in the post-election violence in the state, has risen from four to seven. Vice-President Namadi Sambo has condoled with the families of those who died during the post-election violence that erupted in some parts of the country after the presidential election. The Commissioner of Police, Mr John Abakasanya, who disclosed this to journalists in Bauchi in Bauchi, said that a female corps member was raped, while some corps members were still missing. He said that a pastor’s daughter was slain by the rioters, who also killed a policewoman.

Peretimi Apeli a youth corps member and a victim of the post election violence that swept across some states northern Nigeria lost everything he had during the crisis but for the faded shirt, a pair of shorts and bathroom slippers that he was wearing. Frustrated and depressed, Mr Apeli is taking refuge at the orientation camp of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Katsina State. Mr Apeli vividly remembers the events of Monday, April 18, 2011, when he narrowly escaped death in the hands of irate youth in Daura Local Government who had gone on rampage protesting the yet-to-be announced results of the presidential elections. "It was around 10:30. I was in front of the house trying to cook, selecting beans when a car came that they are coming to our lodge that we should run," said Mr Apeli, a graduate from the Niger Delta University in Bayelsa.

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a prophetess and her husband for allegedly defrauding a member of their congregation. The suspects, Ngozi and Emmanuel Okoli, were arrested on April 18 by officers of the Ejigbo Police Station following allegations by a widow, Theresa Onuoha, that the prophetess and her husband allegedly hypnotized her and collected her family inheritance. The suspects are the founder of God Covenant Ministry, alias City of Deliverance, located at 3 Brethren Avenue, Iyana-Ejigbo, a suburb of Lagos. Mrs Onuoha said the couple hypnotized her with a concoction that made her lose her senses in 2009.

Depositors of the 103 failed Micro Finance Banks (MFBs) whose licences were revoked by the Federal Government are to be paid about N9.8 billion by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC). Beneficiaries numbering 731,000 in 91 out of total affected MFBs nationwide are to receive their monies following the completion of the verification and authentication of their documents by the corporation, which took over the banks for liquidation in the wake of the revocation of the operational licences of 224 “terminally distressed and technically insolvent” MFBs last year by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

NO fewer than 1,000 civil servants in the employ of the Ekiti State government have allegedly been suspended for their various roles during the presidential election, held last Saturday. A group in the state, Ekiti Positive Forum (EPF), had alleged in a statement made available to journalists in Ado-Ekiti, on Wednesday, that the civil servants were “being victimised for voting for President Goodluck Jonathan in the election.”

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has estimated that Nigeria lost the sum of N210 billion Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a figure which was arrived at, based on the first day of the (National Assembly) election which was later cancelled and the other two days when the rescheduled National Assembly election and the presidential election were held. Speaking on Wednesday in Lagos at the quarterly press briefing of the chamber, the president of LCCI, Chief Femi Deru, pointed out that for each day of the election, the economy shutdown and losses were recorded in terms of output and income.

Despite outbreak of violence that trailed the presidential election in some parts of the northern states, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it is going ahead with plans for conduct of governorship elections next Tuesday. Speaking on the issue yesterday, Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Kayode Idowu, said the commission is going ahead with plans for the governorship elections as scheduled. Also in a statement yesterday, INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega said the commission is working with the security agencies to ensure that the remainder of the elections are not derailed by the violence.