Latest news from Nigeria on Nigeriaa2z.com. catch up with A-Z news and information from Africa’s most populous country in West Africa via our teams in Kaduna, Warri, Lagos, Abuja and Kano.

First Lady Opens Up, Says She Underwent 9 Surgical Operations

Nigeria's First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan on Sunday stunned the entire congregation at the Aso Villa Chapel when she shockingly revealed that she actually underwent nine surgeries during her eight weeks medical sojourn in a German hospital last year.

Likening her experience to that of the biblical Lazarus, the first lady disclosed that he tummy was burst open, a situation which led her to undergo nine surgical operations within a period of one month, saying while most humans on earth dread medical operation, in her case, she is started begging for operation after the third one.

Speaking at a thanksgiving service held to mark her survival, Dame Patience hinted that some of her associates whom she trusted and relied heavily on leaked the information that she was dead, adding that, thinking she was dead and would never return to the country alive, some of the traitors even started selling off her belongings. 

She said, "It was not an easy experience for me. I actually died, I passed out for more than a week. My intestine and tummy were opened. I am not Lazarus but my experience was similar to his. My doctors said all hope was lost. A black doctor in London who is with us in this service was flown in when the situation became critical. It was God himself in His infinite mercy  that said I will return to Nigeria. God woke me up after seven days. 

"People are always afraid of operation (surgery) but in my own case, while my travail lasted, I was begging for it (surgery) after the third operation because I was going to the theatre everyday. It was God who saw me through. I did eight or nine operations within one month. It was not an easy one". 

 
Recalling how former first, Mrs Stella Obasanjo died as an occupant of Aso Rock in a similar circumstances such as hers, Patience Jonathan said is not for God, her fate would have been a replay of what befell her predecessor, leading to her death.
 

Read more later.

Continue ReadingFirst Lady Opens Up, Says She Underwent 9 Surgical Operations

Federal Pensioners Plan 3-day Protest Over “Rot In Pension Administration”

Federal pensioners in Plateau are to embark on a three-day peaceful protest over the ``rot in pension administration in the country’’, an official has disclosed. Mr Lucky Oyinbo, Secretary, National Union of Pensioners (NUP), told the News ...

Continue ReadingFederal Pensioners Plan 3-day Protest Over “Rot In Pension Administration”

Government Committed To Remodeling Airports – Maku

The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, on Sunday, directed the contractor handling the remodeling of  the Port Harcourt international airport to deliver on schedule.

The cost of the project is N777 million.

The contractor, Inter Bau Construction Limited, had assured that the terminal building of the airport would be ready for use in April ending.

Maku gave the directive at Omagwa  in Rivers, when the  good governance media tour team visited the airport.

He said that government was worried about the pace of work at the airport.

The minister said President GoodLuck Jonathan believed that the nation's airports deserved the best and directed that 11 airports should be reconstructed in the first phase.

He cited some of the domestic airports already delivered to include Kano, Benin, Owerri and Lagos.

``Port Harcourt is the oil and gas destination for Nigeria and indeed, the gulf of Guinea; what the President wants to achieve is their full completion.

Maku said that international investors who come to the country, especially to the oil and gas zone in Rivers, use the airport to bring in materials and equipment.

He said that government decided to upgrade the airports to support business and growth of the economy.

The minister commended President Jonathan for initiating the transformation agenda in the aviation sector.

He also said that work had commenced in 12 Cargo airports across the country.

``The purpose of cargo airports is to make it easier for people to export, because of the new agricultural policy; we need to have airports that can export goods easily out of Nigeria.

In his remarks, Mr Okechukwu Ndika, technical manager of Inter Bau Construction Limited assured that the company would deliver the project in April.

He said that work had progressed on the construction of the airport. (NAN)

Continue ReadingGovernment Committed To Remodeling Airports – Maku

Man Arrested With Girlfriend Over Kidnapping

The police in Lagos State have arrested a 28-year old man and his girlfriend for allegedly demanding N2 million ransom after  kidnapping a teenager within their neighbourhood in Ikotun.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Umar Manko, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that the suspects were arrested by the Special Anti -Robbery Squad (SARS).

He said SARS operatives rescued the 14-year old victim, Daniel Olumide, who was allegedly kidnapped on Feb. 2 at Ikotun.

NAN learnt that the man allegedly kept the victim for two days in his girlfriend's apartment.

The police said the arrests followed a tip-off by a resident within the neighbourhood, who told the police that he saw the victim walking with the suspect before he was declared missing.

Continue ReadingMan Arrested With Girlfriend Over Kidnapping