Atleast 10 suspected vandals were, Saturday, feared dead in an explosion that rocked the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,NNPC, pipeline at Arepo village, Owode, Ogun State.

Vanguard gathered that the explosion came following a fire which was sparked off by some vandals who stormed the creeks by boat to siphon fuel from the NNPC pipeline.

Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (HDPHC), handler of National Integrated Power Projects(NIPP), has indicated strong commitment to complete all gas turbine projects that will add 4,264megawatts to the national grid this year.

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David West, seems to have given up on the country’s subsidy palaver.

The removal of the subsidy of petrol by President Goodluck Jonathan on January 1, 2012 led to nation-wide protests that lasted several days with support from labour unions and civil society organisations.

Twice in seven days during the past week, the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) was the ‘talking point’ on the editorial commentary of a national newspaper in Nigeria. The newspaper’s editorial of Wednesday, January 2, 2013, under the headline: “The never-ending amnesty programme” noted the positive impact of the PAP on the Niger Delta, the spiral in crude oil production and, by extension, its multiplier effect on the oil-reliant Nigerian economy.

Nigeria is a big economy and there is great potential for growth but the low volume experienced since the second half of 2012 fiscal year may continue into the first quarter of the year. Apart from low volume of container import, container terminal operators may also face challenges of over-capacity and under-utilisation.”

Shiite families refusing to bury their dead after twin bombings in Pakistan’s troubled southwestern city of Quetta vowed to continue their sit-in protest Saturday until the army takes over security.

Mali’s army reclaimed a key town from Islamists Saturday after France sent in its air force, opening a dramatic new phase in the conflict with a battle that left dozens of dead rebels strewn across the area.

Lagos State Taskforce on Environment and Special Offences, yesterday, paraded 84 suspected hoodlums from the popular Oshodi Bus Stop, Oshodi local government, as part of efforts to flush out criminals from the area in particular and the state in general.

Some tourism experts have urged the Federal Government to strengthen the sector to increase its contribution to the economy.

In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday, the experts applauded some of the milestones recorded by the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Mr Olugbenga Adebayo, the Managing Director, Gadeshire Travel and Tours Ltd., Abuja, noted that the Federal Ministry Culture and Tourism had been playing its role effectively. “The sector is blessed enough to take over the economy of the country from other sectors,” Adebayo said.

The federal Government has sent an air force technical team and the commander of a planned African-led force to Mali to assist the country’s military as it battles Islamists, a presidency spokesman said Saturday.

The confirmation of Nigerian military personnel on the ground comes after French air power helped Mali mount an offensive against the Islamists who control the country’s north and who have been seeking to push further south.

Many called it bizarre and unchristian. Others said it was brutal, damnable blue murder of a promising young man. Whichever way it is looked at, the truth is that Kevin Ezekwem has become history. Life was snuffed out of him by armed hoodlums. He was assassinated right in front of his kith and kin.

THE president/founder of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop Francis Wale Oke has urged Christians to stop criticising pastors who own private jets, describing jets as tools needed in evangelism, reports Olayinka Latona.

His love has faded in me, I can’t live with a monster anymore, my body has scars all over as a result of his beatings”.

Hajia Hadiza Mailafia, the Minister of Environment, said on Friday that culprits involved in the intercepted vessel laden with toxic waste would face life imprisonment upon conviction. Mailafia made this known while briefing newsmen in Abuja.

A Federal High Court in Abuja, Friday, held that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, lacks the constitutional powers to withdraw Certificate of Return issued to any person affirmed as the winner of an electoral contest by its returning officer.