Six people are reported to have lost their lives at the Tin Can Port in Apapa, Lagos, following crisis that erupted there this morning.

According to sources at the port, trouble started after an official of the Nigeria Ports Authority, struck a driver to death following a disagreement between them.

Report say the free for all that ensued resulted in the death of six persons.

The sources told our correspondent that the clash has paralysed activities at the port.

Our sources also revealed that the cause of the disagreement was that the NPA security personnel accused transporters of removing N650,000 from a safe at the security post.

However, this allegation could not be officially confirmed at press time.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Jide Idris has appealed to  doctors in the state to call off their strike to give room for further  negotiation.

Dr Idris who made this appeal on a current Affairs Program on CoolFM ‘Nigeria Watch” said the strike is not necessary because government will address whatever problem that is pending by the end of February.

Vice –Chairman Medical Guild, Taofeek Majolagbe  however said doctors will call off the strike if government should release a circular to back the agreement between the two parties.

Lagos Lawyer and Socio-critic, Ayo Baje has urged Nigerians to withdraw the blind trust and confidence reposed on the INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, alleging that he lacks ability to conduct credible elections in April.

Barrister Baje, who spoke against the backdrop of Professor Jega’s  fresh demand for 11billion naira to pay its 360,000 ad-hoc staff, said  Nigerians should ask questions rather than leave their destiny in the  hands of an inexperienced umpire.

The Lagos Lawyer told correspondent, Georges Macnobson that recent  irregularities and unnecessary demands for funds by INEC showed that the commission lacks what he called thinking-through and direction.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Barr Association has warned that the people, who are alleging that the entire judiciary is corrupt, should be careful of such statement.

Constitutional Lawyer, Fred Agbaje said such allegation should be directed to the right quarters, insisting that the judiciary is constituted of the Bar, the Bench and the Court workers.

In an interview with correspondent, Ijeoma Esek, Barrister Agbaje however, said he cannot vouch that the entire judiciary is clean.

The Action Congress of Nigeria has announced the postponement of the North-west zone flag-off of its presidential campaign, earlier slated for Monday, Feb. 21st in Dutse.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party said it decided to postpone the rally after the police said they had granted a permit to another political party for an event on the same day.

The party said it would soon announce a new date for the North-west rally, and apologized to its numerous supporters over the postponement.

The police in Aba, Abia state have detained five officials of a first generation bank allegedly found with undisclosed millions of naira being conveyed in vehicles.

A top police source said the officials were conveying the huge amount of money in three vehicles without any security escorts, when they were intercepted and subsequently arrested.

The police said nobody knew where they were going.

They wanted to compromise the security arrangements that had been formalized by the police for coveying such huge amount of money.

The NDLEA Commander, Sokoto State Command, Mohammad Idris has said the agency's seized 1,200 kg of Indian hemp in 2010.

Speaking while conducting Governor Aliyu Wamakko round the command's premises in Sokoto, Mr. Idris said the agency also seized 15 kg of psychotropic substance and 75 kg of codeine cough syrup commonly used by the youth.

He said the agency had developed new strategies that would enhance its operations and facilitate the arrest of more drug suspects in the new year.

The Director General of the Raw Materials and Development council, Peter Onwualu has called for adoption of policies that will ensure the promotion of local raw materials content development through the exposition of indigenous process technology.

Prof Onwualu said the council in line with the vision 20:2020 program of government and the millennium development goal is focused on promoting local raw material content development initiative so as to drive the process for a viable micro small and medium scale enterprise.

Inadequate Personnel is said to be responsible for the problem of  Mother-to-Child transmission of HIV in Nigeria.

Co-coordinator, Ikeja Local Action Committee on AIDS, Bola Faleke, who made this remark explained that it is not all Health Workers that have been trained in the control of Mother-to Child transmission of HIV Virus.

Mrs Faleke added that another challenge is that a lot of Women visit Traditional Birth Attendants and these People help spread the Virus  because they don’t do the necessary Test.

Rights activists say over 24 people have been killed in anti-government protests in Libya in recent days.

The US-based Human Rights Watch said many others were wounded in the clashes between security forces and protesters.

Witnesses said protests continued overnight with thousands on the streets of the eastern city of Benghazi, while activists set up camps in al-Bayda, after yesterday's "Day of Rage.

Large protests are uncommon in Libya, where rebel is rarely allowed.

A former English soldier has been jailed for life for trying to murder his pregnant wife by blowing up her car with a grenade.

Victoria Fabian, 33, suffered severe leg injuries when the weapon exploded in Vigo, Kent, in March 2010.

Her eight-year-old son, also in the car, and her unborn child were unhurt.

Nicholas Fabian, 33, was found guilty of attempted murder at Maidstone Crown Court. He was told he would serve at least 16 years.

He was also given a 15-year sentence for the explosion charge, to run concurrently.

BUSINESS

The Founder of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Boniface Aniebonam says the association will seek court clarification on the status of Presidential Committee on Customs Reform Dr. Aniebonam said the association would file a suit at the Federal High Court to determine which organization was also funding the committee.

He told correspondent Clementine Okonye that the Nigerian Customs Service has some lingering problems caused by the introduction of external persons to head the organization, which he described as highly technical organization.

The G20 is being urged to tackle the issue of price inflation affecting basic goods ahead of a two-day meeting which kicks off later.

Finance ministers and central bankers from 20 of the world's biggest developed and developing nations will gather in Paris.

Ahead of the meeting, the International Monetary Fund warned food price rises have increasedeconomic imbalances.

Earlier this week, the World Bank said food prices were at "dangerous levels".

STOCK MARKET REPORT

At the floor of the Nigerian Stock Market today NESTLE led the gainers chart with N20. 55k to close at N431.55k; NB followed with N2.5k to close at N79.5k, while NBC gained N1.9k to close at N39.9k.

On the flip side, GUINNESS lost N10.13k to close at N192.62k to top the losers chart, OANDO and UNILEVER lost N2 and 96 kobo in that order.

The most active stock include ZENITH BANK, FIRST BANK, and FIRSTINLAND.

EXCHANGE RATE

1 US Dollar = 155 Naira

1 British Pound = 250 Naira

1 Euro = 210 Naira

ENTERTIANMENT

Nigeria`s rap act, Ruggedman has urged up and coming talented artistes to work hard at their game and not to base their decision to enter the music industry on fame and the money.

In an interview with our correspondent, Francis Onoja, Ruggedman also advised that they should also remember to put the “Naija” flavour in their music so as to make their music have an identity.

Ruggedman, who also stressed the need to make the right kind of music said up and coming artistes need to be prayerful and involve God in their quest to become the next big artiste.

It’s all about Michael Jackson this Sunday on Nigerian Idol!

The show producers say as a means of paying tribute to the late King of pop, the contestants will on Sunday perform select songs from Michael Jackson’s rich collection.

Since the show entered its final leg, the contestants have followed different themes for their performances. From disco to movie soundtrack to Abba, and now Michael Jackson.

The producers say this is not the end as plans are in motion for a full week dedicated to African music!

Obviously the highlight of the evening will be when Jeffery Daniel, (a Judge on the show) and one of Michael Jackson’s mentors mounts the stage to do the world-famous moon walk!

SPORTS

Veteran Welsh winger, Ryan Giggs has signed a one-year contract extension at Manchester United.

It means the 37-year-old will take his time at Old Trafford into a remarkable 21st year, having made his club debut as a substitute on 2 March, 1991.

And having already played 24 times for United this season, Giggs says he still has much to contribute to the team.

ODD SIDE OF THE NEWS

Doctors in China have found a four inch blade buried in a man's face.

Li Fu was stabbed in a robbery four years ago, but never realised that the knife was still inside him until he was examined because of headaches and a bad taste in his mouth.

Doctor Xu Wen, vice-director of stomatology at Yu Xi City People's Hospital, said they were amazed to see such a long blade in his face.

And it's even more amazing to think that the blade had been there for more than four years and the patient was still living without too many problems."

The knife, which doctors primarily missed after the attack in 2006, had penetrated Li's tongue root, muscles and brain.

It was removed in a four-hour long operation and the $8,000 medical bill was waived.