2011 assessment: Oyo Fire Service rescues 17, recovers 14 bodies

The Oyo State Fire Service saved 17 lives and recovered 14 bodies during various fires in the state between January and December.
The Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr Yunus Akintunde, said this in Ibadan on Monday at the commemncement  of  the state’s Fire Safety Week.
The commissioner, whose ministry supervises the fire service, also said  319 distress calls were received during the same period.
Akintunde said the service had been adequately equipped to prevent and promptly respond to distress calls across the state.
He said government had procured modern fire fighting machines which could reach  high rise  buildings while officers and men of the service had  been trained to meet  new challenges in the industry.
The commissioner said government had stopped the inter-ministrial transfer of certain categories of fire officers,  adding that such practice was robbing the service of adequate manpower.
The commissioner said the firemen would be insured while a recruitment would be carried out in 2012.
Akintunde, however,  called on farmers to desist from engaging in illegal bush burning with the onset of the dry season.
He also appealed to petroleum marketers and owners of high rise buildings to cooperate with the fire service to tackle fire outbreaks.
Earlier in his address Mr Olakunle Kareem, the state’s  Director of  Fire Service, said  the Week was organised to sensitise residents on how to respond to  fire incidents.
The programme,  which began on Monday, would feature public enlightenment campaigns across the state. (NAN)
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Suspected gay members protest Nigeria’s anti-gay bill in New York

A group of suspected members of the gay community in New York on Monday protested against the recently passed bill that prohibited same-sex marriage in Nigeria.
The placard-carrying protesters, numbering some 15, made up of blacks and whites, claimed to be Nigerians as they arrived at the vicinity of the Nigeria House.
Some of the cards read: “We are not illegal; we are full citizens of Nigeria, “Stop the bill: Consensual adult love is not a crime: We are not illegal,” Some Christians are gay, get over it. Homophobia is unAfrican.”
Ifeanyi Orazulike, the Spokesperson for the group, said they had sent a protest letter to President Goodluck Jonathan on the issue.
He said that if the anti-gay bill was approved, Nigeria would place itself outside the commity of democratic nations.
Orazulike explained that the implications of the bill with its modification, would affect the long years of work in the protection and promotion of human rights.
He claimed to be the Director, International Center for Advocacy on Right to Health (ICARH).
The Consul-General of Nigeria, Mr Habib Habu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he learnt the group came around and left after a while without demanding to present their grievances to anyone.
“I learnt it’s like people making a brief stop-over for a while. If they had requested for me, I would have received them.” (NAN)

Baba Suwe In Hot Romance After NDLEA Wahala!

Wildly celebrated actor Babatunde Omidina -Baba Suwe - is in a fresh romance.And he is said to be very serious with his intentions in the guarded affair.

The Nollywood comic actor just acquitted of a drug trafficking charge with a 25 million extra in his account from the compensation NDLEA will cough out, is said to be in a very serious relationship with Actress Sherifat Ilerika.

Sources tagged the wrapped romance as 'age long'
Investigations conducted by Societynowng.com traced the beginning of their romance to prior to the death of Omdina's late wife, Monsurat ( more popular with the stage name Moladun)

Insiders revealed the lovers had kept a very tight lid on the affair in days before the controversy that trailed Moladun's death and immediately after.


Sources divulged that 'they appear to be letting down their guards now'
Insiders revealed before his arrest, Sherifat was a regular caller at Omidina's office- where he maintained an a room.

They were several spotted at SP Hotel, Ebutte Metta- where the popular actor usually lodged.
But they still retained a bit of secrecy at that point in time.
The public manifestation of what is on, came to the fore on the heels of Baba Suwe's acquittal for drug trafficking.

On November 04 2011, when Baba Suwe was granted bail- Sherifat was with him all through the day and left the court with him.Sources claim she cares for him like a 'dutiful wife' ever since.
She is tagged a constant and very familiar caller at his Ikorodu base.

Sherifat is said to maintain an apartment in that part of town too.
The duo broke the norms and were guest at SP Hotel overnight two weeks back.
Insiders claimed Sherifat is married- but her marriage is troubled and considered in some quarters 'over'

Those in the know of the way the lovers carry on confirmed, except an unexpected factor comes into the equation- Sherifat is all set to replace the late Moladun as the actor's second half.

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