ABUJA – The Federal government Tuesday denied shutting down Blackberry services for two weeks, over the messages that are being exchanged on the recent deregulation of the downstream sector of the economy.

A new dimension was added to the protest against the removal of fuel subsidy on Tuesday, when some officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos staged a peaceful demonstration to register their disapproval over the sudden removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

Niger-Delta activist and security expert, Comrade Omolubi Newuwumi said, Tuesday that the ill-advised removal of fuel subsidy by President Goodluck Jonathan and his economic advisers have ignited a revolution in the country.

Authorities of Federal Polytechnic, Bida in Niger, has expelled 11 students for various examination malpractices during its 2010/2011 academic session.

David Beckham will not join Paris Saint-Germain for “family reasons”, the big-spending Qatar-backed French club’s sporting director Leonardo said on Tuesday.

Many intending passengers from Gusau have postponed their trips because of increased transport fares, arising from the high cost of fuel.

Protesters took to the streets in Kano, Tuesday, over the removal of petroleum subsidy.

The protesters defied heavy security presence that took position in strategic locations in the ancient city and marched through the city.

The Taliban announced on Tuesday that they had come to an “initial agreement” to open their first political overseas office, possibly in Qatar, in the first public gesture towards peace talks with the US.

Four shops were burnt and another destroyed by some hoodlums at Angwan Shamaki ward in Tudun Wada area of Gombe metropolis on Monday.

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Lagos, yesterday, over the removal of the fuel subsidy. From Ikorodu to Onipanu, Fadeyi to Ojuelegba, Idioro, Ojota and Mushin, protesters were in action.

The removal of the much debated fuel subsidy by the Federal Government has attracted wide condemnation by residents of Awka and environs.

Nigerian police fired tear gas to disperse a small crowd burning tyres in Lagos and arrested demonstrators in the northern city of Kano on Tuesday as protests continued over soaring fuel prices.

The Peoples` Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the present challenges confronting the country will result to a greater, more united and prosperous nation.

Ten inmates of the Ado-Ekiti Prison have been granted amnesty by Gov. Kayode Fayemi as part of the new year celebrations. They include eight males and two heavily pregnant female inmates of the prison.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have rejected the removal of subsidy on petrol.