Guinea 'facing new dictatorship'

Guinea is in danger of slipping into dictatorship, the leader of West Africa's economic group, Ecowas, says.
Mohamed Ibn Chambas said the junta, who seized power late last year, was repressing the people with "arbitrary and irresponsible" use of state power.
Ecowas ministers are meeting in Nigeria to try to resolve the crisis in Guinea, sparked when soldiers opened fire on an opposition rally two weeks ago.
Guineans are holding a two-day strike to remember dozens who were killed.
Activists say 157 people were killed by troops, and rights groups have reported that soldiers raped women in the streets.
The government put the number of dead at 57 and said most had died in a stampede.
The AP news agency reports that Agriculture Minister Abdulrahmane Sano has resigned in protest over the killings.

Strident languageThe country's military rulers were widely criticised over the shootings - with the US denouncing "vile abuses" perpetrated against their own people.Critics of the military are hoping that the strike, combined with the Ecowas talks, will increase pressure on junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara to resign. Ecowas is hosting talks in Abuja where opposition leaders, members of Guinea's military and Ecowas foreign ministers met to try to resolve the crisis. Opening the meeting, Mr Chambas told delegates Guinea was "characterised by arbitrary and irresponsible use of state power by the military to repress the population". "The signs are there now that if the military junta has its way it will impose yet another dictatorship on them," the AFP news agency quoted him as saying. Analysts say it is unusual for Ecowas to use such strident language. The bloc suspended Guinea after last December's coup, when the military took power shortly after the death of long-term leader Lansana Conte. The protests two weeks ago were sparked by persistent rumours that Capt Camara intends to stand for president in an election scheduled for next January - something he had previously ruled out.

Three American scientists win 2009 Nobel Prize for Medicine

Three American scientists win 2009 Nobel Prize for Medicine An undated photo shows Elizabeth Blackburn from the University of California in San Francisco. Australian-American researcher Blackburn and Carol Greider and Jack Szostak of the United States have won the Nobel Medicine Prize on Monday for identifying a key molecular switch in cellular ageing. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Carol W. Greider and Jack W. Szostak, all from the United States, won the Nobel Prize for Medicine for 2009 on Monday. The trio were awarded the prize for the discovery of "how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase,"the Nobel jury -- the Nobel Assembly announced at a press conference at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. The Nobel Laureates of 2009 have solved a major problem in biology: how the chromosomes can be copied in a complete way during cell divisions and how they are protected against degradation, explained Professor Rune Toftgard, member of the Nobel Committee, who gave an introduction about the discovery at the press conference. He added, the solution is to be found in the ends of the chromosomes -- the telomeres -- and in an enzyme that forms them – telomerase.

An undated photo shows Carol W. Greider from the John Hopkins University, School of Medecine in Baltimore. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
"The importance of the discovery has its main implications in our understanding of disease process such as stem cell maintenance, cancer, inherited diseases and aging," Professor Rune Toftgard told Xinhua. He said that scientists also speculated that telomere shortening could be a reason for ageing, and also bone marrow, lung and skin problems but the application is still in an infant stage. It was Blackburn who first presented her results at a conference in 1980. That caught the interest of Jack Szostak who performed experiment together with Blackburn later. The breakthrough of the discovery took place on Christmas day in 1984 when Greider discovered signs of enzymatic activity in a cell extract, explained Toftgard. Blackburn, born in 1948 in Tasmania, a state of Australia, has both U.S. and Australian citizenship. She has been professor of biology and physiology at the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF) since 1990. "We are very excited here at the UCSF," Corinna Kaarlela, a spokesperson of the university, told Xinhua early Monday morning. The university will be having a press conference Monday on Blackburn's winning of the Nobel Prize, she said. "Dr. Blackburn's research over the course of more than three decades has revolutionized scientists' understanding of the way in which cells function," Susan Desmond-Hellmann, chancellor of UCSF, said in a statement. "Her co-discovery of the telomerase has revealed a mechanism that plays a key role in determining the lifespan of cells, as well as the processes of cell aging and cancers," she added. "Her generous spirit, curiosity and highly collaborative nature have led her to forge research partnerships that have significantly broadened scientists' capacity to understand the remarkable telomerase enzyme. As a scientist, a colleague, a mentor and a woman in science, she is an inspiration to the nationand the world," the chancellor said.

An undated photo shows Jack W. Szostak from the University of California in San Francisco.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)
Carol W. Greider, born in 1961, is the youngest woman who won the Nobel Prize and also one of the two women who won the prize. Jack W. Szonstak was born in London in 1952 and grew up in Canada. He got a PhD at Cornel University in New York and is currently professor of genetics at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The winners of the physics prize will be announced on Tuesday, to be followed by those for chemistry on Wednesday, literature on Thursday, peace on Friday and economics next Monday. The annual Nobel Prizes are usually announced in October and are handed out on Dec. 10, the anniversary of the 1896 death of Alfred Nobel, a Swedish industrialist and the inventor of dynamite. The prizes have been awarded since 1901. Each prize consists of a medal, a personal diploma and a cash award of 10 million Swedishkronor (about 1.41 million U.S. dollars).

Aviation unions threaten to shut down airspace again

Aviation unions in the country have declared that they will go on strike today if Bi-Courtney Limited begins its planned refurbishment of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) at the Murtala Mohammed Airport 2. Members of these unions had gone on strike on Wednesday, September 23 when Bi-Courtney tried to take over the terminal.
Their actions were reportedly based on the fear that the concessioning of the GAT would lead to the loss of jobs. However, domestic and international flights took off and landed on that day as scheduled. The unions, which include the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, (ATSSSAN); Nigerian Union of Air Transport Employees, (NUATE); Nigerian Union of Pensioners, (NUP); Trade Union Congress, (TUC); and the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), accused the government of not keeping its side of a bargain where it was agreed that talks would continue after President Umaru Yar’Adua, who was out of the country during the discussions, returned.
The unions had met with Bi-Courtney and delegations from the presidency at Abuja, and all parties resolved that they would put their grievances on hold until the president’s return.
Failed promises
According to Gideon Ogbuji, the general secretary of NUATE, the government had handled the matter poorly by failing to invite the unions again for dialogue on issues surrounding the handover of the terminal upon the president’s return.
“If Bi-Courtney takes over the terminal as they have planned, we have no option but to down tools,” said Mr. Ogbuji.
“Bi-Courtney is trying to take GAT forcefully and alleging that the September 23 agreement is not binding on them,” said Frank Aiyede, a spokesperson for one of the unions. “If they take over the terminal, we have no option but to commence strike from Monday.”
Mr. Aiyede disclosed that the unions had mobilized thousands of their colleagues and that international affiliates had been warned not to fly into the country, stressing that any aircraft coming into Nigeria starting Monday did so at its own risk.
No lay-offs
Bi-Courtney, which currently manages the larger main domestic wing of the MMIA, has assured workers that there will be no job loss. According to Bicourtney’s chairman, Wale Babalakin, the job loss talk were just rumours.
“The management wishes to dismiss this rumour as unfounded and out of place in our determined effort to provide modern infrastructure and create opportunity for
Nigerians,” he said. “The handover of GAT to our company will not, in any way, result in job losses or disrupt smooth terminal and flight operations for scheduled domestic activities.”
If the unions go on strike, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria employees and some National Civil Aviation Authority employees will not provide services.
History
During the formal inauguration of Murtala Mohammed airport 2, currently run by Bi-Courtney in 2007, all domestic airlines were asked to move to the new terminal. Some of the airlines, however, did not move to the new terminal, as they claimed that Bi-Courtney’s charges were high.
After some adjustments by Bi-Courtney, some of the airlines moved to the new terminal (MAA2), but Arik Air did not. Sources from the airport disclosed that the airline had plans of upgrading the terminal, but the government’s directive that Bi-Courtney should control operations of the terminal halted the plans of Arik Air.
Latest figures from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) show that about 8,208,195 passengers pass through the nation’s airports yearly, all of which are served by the workers.

Aviation unions threaten to shut down airspace again

Aviation unions in the country have declared that they will go on strike today if Bi-Courtney Limited begins its planned refurbishment of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) at the Murtala Mohammed Airport 2. Members of these unions had gone on strike on Wednesday, September 23 when Bi-Courtney tried to take over the terminal.

Their actions were reportedly based on the fear that the concessioning of the GAT would lead to the loss of jobs. However, domestic and international flights took off and landed on that day as scheduled. The unions, which include the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, (ATSSSAN); Nigerian Union of Air Transport Employees, (NUATE); Nigerian Union of Pensioners, (NUP); Trade Union Congress, (TUC); and the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), accused the government of not keeping its side of a bargain where it was agreed that talks would continue after President Umaru Yar’Adua, who was out of the country during the discussions, returned. The unions had met with Bi-Courtney and delegations from the presidency at Abuja, and all parties resolved that they would put their grievances on hold until the president’s return.

Failed promises
According to Gideon Ogbuji, the general secretary of NUATE, the government had handled the matter poorly by failing to invite the unions again for dialogue on issues surrounding the handover of the terminal upon the president’s return.
“If Bi-Courtney takes over the terminal as they have planned, we have no option but to down tools,” said Mr. Ogbuji.

“Bi-Courtney is trying to take GAT forcefully and alleging that the September 23 agreement is not binding on them,” said Frank Aiyede, a spokesperson for one of the unions. “If they take over the terminal, we have no option but to commence strike from Monday.”
Mr. Aiyede disclosed that the unions had mobilized thousands of their colleagues and that international affiliates had been warned not to fly into the country, stressing that any aircraft coming into Nigeria starting Monday did so at its own risk.

No lay-offs
Bi-Courtney, which currently manages the larger main domestic wing of the MMIA, has assured workers that there will be no job loss. According to Bicourtney’s chairman, Wale Babalakin, the job loss talk were just rumours.

“The management wishes to dismiss this rumour as unfounded and out of place in our determined effort to provide modern infrastructure and create opportunity for
Nigerians,” he said. “The handover of GAT to our company will not, in any way, result in job losses or disrupt smooth terminal and flight operations for scheduled domestic activities.”
If the unions go on strike, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria employees and some National Civil Aviation Authority employees will not provide services.

History
During the formal inauguration of Murtala Mohammed airport 2, currently run by Bi-Courtney in 2007, all domestic airlines were asked to move to the new terminal. Some of the airlines, however, did not move to the new terminal, as they claimed that Bi-Courtney’s charges were high.

After some adjustments by Bi-Courtney, some of the airlines moved to the new terminal (MAA2), but Arik Air did not. Sources from the airport disclosed that the airline had plans of upgrading the terminal, but the government’s directive that Bi-Courtney should control operations of the terminal halted the plans of Arik Air.
Latest figures from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) show that about 8,208,195 passengers pass through the nation’s airports yearly, all of which are served by the workers.

AN ACCIDENT OF SADNESS AND JOY AT ALABA EXPRESS

When the downpour started in the early hours of Thursday, commuters and motorists at the ever-busy Apapa/Oshodi Expressway were prepared for the usual gridlock as such downpour had always resulted in the road being flooded.
True to their fear, this was exactly what happened. But then they also underestimated the extent of this familiar problem.
This is because about three hours later they were still trapped in the near standstill bumper-to-bumper traffic jam. That was when it dawned on most of them that the cause of the problem went beyond the rain and the attendant flooding.

And soon enough information filtered in that a multiple accident had occurred at the Alaba Express Bus-stop close to the Amuwo-Odofin Low-Cost Housing Estate.
It was not until they got to the bus-stop that they were confronted by the enormity of the accident. Indeed many of them could not believe their eyes when they saw a tipper dangling dangerously from a badly damaged pedestrian bridge at the bus-stop. The tipper was said to have hit the bridge with its carriage and brought down a section of it in the process. This occurred around 4am according to eyewitnesses.
In fact, some residents of the nearby estate were the first to see the unusual spectacle of a truck hanging precariously under the pedestrian bridge having witnessed the accident as it occurred. One of them, Chief Gabby Okorere, informed that he was at the scene of the accident a few minutes after it happened.

Decrying “the careless attitude of our trailer drivers”, he, however, blamed slow response on the part of both government and private emergency rescue agencies for why the accident scene degenerated into total confusion later. According to him, the situation became worse after some other heavy-duty vehicles rammed into the stricken, partially suspended truck under the bridge, a development that could have been avoided if emergency rescue operation had commenced on time.Vice-Chairman of Jakande Estate Community Development, Mr. Tony Okotie, told Vanguard Metro that “the accident happened around 4:00 a.m when a tipper’s carriage hit the flyover bridge. Not quite long after, a trailer with plate number XC 358 SKK loaded with goats rammed into the debris from the collapsed bridge which worsened the situation. Immediately the accident happened, the tipper driver bolted away, but the conductor was caught and handed over to the policemen at Festac Division”.

Vanguard Metro gathered that a tragi-comical drama ensured when area boys were said to have invaded the scene and under the pretext of assisting in rescue operations pounced on the hapless goats and made away with some of them.
An eyewitness who is a resident in the estate informed Vanguard Metro on condition of anonymity that he saw some of the area boys butchering and roasting the goats they stole from the accident scene somewhere within the estate. Perhaps more goats could have been lost to the area boys if the driver of the vehicle had not alerted his Northern kinsmen who immediately stormed the scene from their nearby settlement to safeguard the goats.
They were said to have chased away some area boys who were still hovering around presumably with the intention of snatching more goats.
The accident brought commercial activities to a standstill for hours as the debris of the collapsed bridge barricaded the expressway, a situation which was not helped by the early morning downpour.
“The road was free at the time the accident happened. I believe such an incident would have been averted if the driver was patient enough,” said a commercial bus driver.

When Vanguard Metro visited the scene of the accident, cranes from construction giant, Julius Berger and the Lagos State Transport Management Authority, LASTMA, were seen battling to evacuate the badly damaged trailer and the debris from the place.Men of the Federal Roads Safety Commission, plaincloth security agents and LASTMA officials were also on hand to control traffic.A fallout of the accident was that many commuters were stranded as commercial drivers took advantage of the situation to increase their fares by over 100 per cent. As at 1pm, commuters were seen trekking long distances.Danfo buses charge as much as N350 from Oshodi to Mile Two while other buses charged between N250 and N300 Motorcycle riders popularly called Okada also charged as much as N1,000 from Cele to Wharf.