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( Nigeria ) Amaka Igwe, one of Nigeria ’s foremost film producers, writer, director and a leading player in the motion picture industry, is dead. This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Lagos by The Nigerian Entertainment, NET. The statement said that Amaka died on Monday night in Enugu after a brief ill health. Confirming the death on Tuesday in Abuja to NAN , Mr Agility Onwurah, Chairman, Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Abuja Chapter, said Amaka’s demise was a big blow to the Nollywood industry. “Amaka had gone to Enugu in company of her husband for a pre-production preparation for a new Igbo soap when the sad incident occurred. She suffered asthmatic attack and was immediately rushed to a hospital, but died before getting there. ``Amaka is survived by her husband of 21 years, Charles Igwe, three children, and an aged mother, ``the statement said. Born Amaka Isaac-Ene, the deceased was an accomplished writer, producer, director, entrepreneur and teacher. She f

(Nigeria) The Nigerian Navy on Monday said it impounded two badges carrying 285 tonnes of crude oil valued N50 million off Bonny island in Rivers State. The Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base, Bonny, Capt. Hassan Dogara, told newsmen in Bonny that 11 suspects were arrested during the raid on April 23. Out of the 285 tonnes 55 of the suspected stolen crude oil were set ablaze. Dogara said that troops were able to save 230 tonnes because the badges were spilling the product into the creeks and polluting the environment. ``Troops under my command on April 23. intercepted and arrested two-wooden badges containing an estimated 230 tonnes of suspected crude oil during a routine patrol of our area of responsibility. While our operatives approached the scene of the crime, the perpetrators’ escaped, but we were able to arrest 11 suspects afterwards, impounded five speed boats and five patrol engines. ``The badges which were filled to the brim, had several leakages, and so, sp

Kiev-appointed Governor of the eastern Donetsk Region Sergei Taruta and Donetsk Mayor Alexander Lukyanchenko have proposed holding a nationwide referendum on broader powers for regions on May 25, reports ITAR-TASS. Taruta also suggested holding a nationwide referendum on the status of the Russian language. Lukyanchenko said a referendum would help to ease the socio-political tensions in the South-East of Ukraine. At an extraordinary congress of the Party of Regions in Donetsk on April 16, its delegates demanded that the Kiev authorities hold a referendum on a broader range of issues. They insisted that Russian be given the status of official language, the powers of the central government and the local authorities be separated, direct general elections to local bodies be held, regional administrations be dissolved, the budget powers of the central government and the local authorities be clearly delimited, and regions be given autonomy in addressing humanitarian issues and

(Nigeria) The National Film and Video Censors Board, NFVCB, has refuted reports in the social media that it had banned the new movie entitled: ``Half of a Yellow Sun’’. This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by Mr Caesar Kagho, the Acting Head, Corporate Affairs of NFVCB. According to the statement, there is no truth in the media reports on the banning of the movie by the NFVCB. It said that the management of the NFVCB was ensuring that some unresolved issues in the movie were sorted out in accordance with the laid down regulations of the board. The statement said that the board reaffirmed its determination to exercising its responsibility of film censorship and classification in the country. ``Half of a Yellow Sun ‘’ is a Nigerian movie directed by Biyi Bandele. The movie is based on the novel of the award winning Nigerian author, Chimamanda Adichie, which focused on a love story of two sisters who were caught up in the outbreak of the Nigerian civil

(Nigeria) Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, the Executive Secretary, National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons, NAPTIP, has urged stakeholders to work together to fight child labour in the country. Jedy- Agba told News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Monday that ensuring a child labour-free society was the collective responsibility of all Nigerians. “I would like Nigerians to realise that the children, not just our own biological children, are our future. It is very worrisome when you see the kind of abuse that children of the less privileged are subjected to simply because they do not have the kind of financial resources that we have. ``For every child that you exploit and abuse, you are actually endangering your child, because if the child is not educated, well-protected, the child would be pre-disposed to a life of crime, and it’s the same society in which you are raising your children. ``So, it’s actually better for the development of our nation, that we ensure that childr

(Nigeria) Prof. John Obanfunwa, the Vice- Chancellor, Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo, on Monday said the mismanagement of students’ database was responsible for non-issuance of certificates to some former part-time students of the institution. Obafunwa said at a media briefing in Lagos that the institution had no database on students in the School of Part-Time Studies before he assumed office. Scores of past part-time graduates of LASU had petitioned the Lagos State House of Assembly over the delay in the issuance of certificates to them on completion of their programmes. The Assembly, however, directed the authorities of the institution to issue the certificates to the affected students. Obafunwa said the students allegations were baseless as they must have had issues to resolve at that time which was ignored due to ``improper documentation '' of their database. The vice-chancellor said most of the students, who lodged the complaints were either not legitimate

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Russia was capable of replacing defence-related import from Ukraine within two and a half years, reports Xinhua. ``Russia and its military industry is capable financially and technologically of substituting import (of defence-related products from Ukraine)’’, Putin told legislators in the northwestern city of Petrozavodsk. The president highlighted the difference between Russian and Ukrainian dependence on that industry, calling Russia's dependence ``decisive’’ and Ukraine's one ``crucial.’’ To replace Ukraine-made products, Russia would need from 1.5 to 2.5 years and ``absolutely affordable’’ money, he noted. Putin ordered the government to work out steps for gradual replacement of Ukrainian import but said he hoped the Russia-Ukraine bilateral cooperation in military industry would continue. The recent delay of supplies from Ukraine has been a forcible decision by Kiev authorities, while Ukrainian enterprises w