Multi-Billion Dollar "Eko Atlantic City" Project Caused Fatal Atlantic Ocean Surge That Killed 16 People In Lagos

By SaharaReporters, New York

A powerful ocean tide yesterday swept away 16 people in Lagos . So far, 6 bodies have been recovered including that of a six year old girl.

Precisely a month ago,  SaharaReporters released a series of photos depicting a dangerous trend on Lagos beach fronts due to the mindless dredging of the Lagos beach fronts for construction of the Eko Atlantic City. A project planned and executed to create luxury homes for some 400,000 super rich and powerful Nigerians.

Our photonews warned that an environmental disaster on the beaches as a result of the dredging occasioned by the ongoing project was just days away.

Last night the ocean conquered the boundary between it and the Kuramo Beach, sweeping away 16 residents, all of them presumed dead at this point.

The vicious current first assaulted its neighboring Kuramo Beach near Goshen Estate and later spread  to Alpha Beach, Mayegun and Badagry waterfronts.

Several people have been displaced, and Lagos officials are capitalizing on the tragedy to eliminate several homes and small businesses owned poor people by blaming them for the tragic ocean storm.

Several small business owners and residents in the area told Saharareporters that the wave happens every year, but blamed this years ferocity on the construction of the new "Eko Atlantic City". The said the dredging ultimately empowered the Atlantic ocean's discharge of its tidal wave to maximum width and places, thereby causing the havoc yesterday.

The tide to forcefully pull down its border with the Kuramo beach.

The Lagos state government has deployed Policemen this morning to cordon off the Kuramo beach, while executing the Lagos State Government’s order to forcefully eject people from the area.

10 greatest african living business leaders by forbes

culled from forbes.com

Allan Gray, South African

Founder, Allan Gray

As mythical and mysterious as he is reclusive, Allan Gray, 74, is the founder of Allan Gray Limited, the largest privately-owned investment management firm in Southern Africa. The Harvard-trained money manager founded the firm as a one-man company in Cape Town in 1973 and pioneered performance related investment management fees in Southern Africa. Today, Allan Gray manages over $10 billion in investors funds. Gray is also the founder of Orbis Group, a Bermuda-based group of Mutual Funds. Also one of Africa’s most generous philanthropists; in 2007 he endowed his Allan Gray Orbis Foundation with $150 million, one of 

the largest gifts in South African history. The foundation offers full high school scholarships to South African students to cover tuition, hostel fees and living expenses at leading South African High schools.

Mo Ibrahim, Sudanese

Founder, Celtel

The Sudanese telecoms magnate bagged a PhD in mobile communications from the University of Birmingham and worked as a communication engineer at British Telecom. In 1985, while working as a Technical Director at BT, Ibrahim helped invent the United Kingdom’s first mobile phone network. Ibrahim subsequently went on to found MSI, a consultancy and software company; but he opened Africa to a whole new chapter when he founded Celtel, a mobile phone company which served 23 countries in Africa and the Middle East before he sold it off to MTC Kuwait for $3.4 billion in 2005. Ibrahim now devotes his energies towards his Mo Ibrahim Foundation which publishes an annual Good Governance index and awards $5 million annually to former African leaders who have delivered the dividends of good governance to their people.

Sheikh Mohammed Al-Amoudi, Ethiopian

Founder, Midroc Derba

The richest black person in the world is as Ethiopian as he is Saudi. Sheikh Al-Amoudi immigrated to Saudi Arabia with his parents as a child and built a name and fortune by executing construction contracts for the Saudi Royal family. Al-Amoudi has interests in petroleum refineries and oil wells everywhere from Sweden to Morocco, but these days, his largest investments are in the country of his birth: Ethiopia. Earlier this year, Al-Amoudi announced that his Midroc Derba conglomerate will be investing as much as $3.4 billion in Ethiopia in gold mines, agriculture, cement production, steel and transportation. Al-Amoudi funds and supports the Ethiopian soccer team.

Raymond Ackerman, South African

Former Chairman, Pick ‘n Pay

After getting fired from his top managerial position atCheckers, a South African food retailer, Ackerman, 81, used his severance package and a bank loan to acquire four stores in Cape Town which traded under the name ‘Pick ‘n Pay’. Setting out with 175 employees, Ackerman went on to dominate South Africa’s retail markets by implementing his now famous ‘customer sovereignty’ philosophy. Key to 

success in retail business: “Fight for the customer, and she will fight for you.” Today, Ackerman’s Pick ‘n Pay is easily South Africa’s pre-eminent fast moving consumer goods retailer. Portfolio: 450 stores in South Africa, Zambia, Mauritius and Mozambique. Staff strength: 45,000 people. Pick ‘n Pay is also an investor’s delight. According to South Africa’s Financial Mail, the company’s stock is easily the most successful long-term investment on the JSE over the past 4 decades. For perspective: $150 invested in Pick ‘n Pay in 1970 is now worth more than $150,000 today.

Aliko Dangote, Nigerian

Founder, Dangote Group

After studying Business Administration at the Al Azhar University in Cairo, Dangote returned home to Nigeria to work briefly with his maternal uncle in the commodities trading business. He subsequently received a business loan from his uncle and went on to start a commodities trading outfit- an operation which metamorphosed into the Dangote Group, West Africa’s largest industrial conglomerate. The group’s operations span sugar production, flour and cement across more than 11 African countries. Workforce: Over 20,000 employees. Dangote is now divesting his food interests to devote his energies 

towards his cement business. Africa’s undisputed Cement King owns sub-Saharan Africa’s largest cement manufacturing plant- a facility in Obajana, in Kogi State of Nigeria. The plant produces over 5 million Metric tonnes per annum. Dangote Cement also owns plants in Zambia, Senegal, Ethiopia and Tanzania, among other African countries. Dangote plans to list his cement business on the London Stock Exchange next year.

Manu Chandaria, Kenyan

Chairman, Comcraft Group

In 1916, Chandaria’s father moved to Kenya and opened up a small provisions store in Nairobi and subsequently acquired a floundering aluminum plant. That small plant formed the foundation of the Comcraft Group, a multinational industrial giant which manufactures steel, aluminum and plastic products in 45 countries and employs over 40,000 people. Chandaria, 83, is the group’s chairman and has spearheaded the company’s global operations for several decades. East Africa’s most respected business leader is also one of its most generous; Chandaria has reportedly given millions of dollars to causes in education, health and the arts. Also holds the title of the Elder of the Burning Spear, one of Kenya’s highest civilian honors.

Onsi Sawiris, Egyptian

In the early 60s, Onsi Sawiris founded Orascom Onsi Sawiris & Co, a small construction contracting firm with operations in Upper Egypt. The firm went on to become Egypt’s largest construction company, making it an easy target for Egypt’s socialist leader Gamal Abdel Nasser’s nationalization program. When his business was nationalized, Onsi went in exile to Libya, returning in 1977 under the business-friendly administration of Anwar Sadat, upon which he rebuilt his Orascom business from scratch. This time around, he went beyond construction, diversifying his operations to include telecoms, infrastructure, hotels and tourism. Today, the Orascom Group is Egypt’s largest conglomerate and all the companies in the group are run by his three sons- Naguib, Samih and Nassef.

Brian Joffe, South African

Founder, Bidvest Group

In 1988, Brian Joffe founded South Africa’s Bidvest Group with a $1 million cash shell. He built it into a $10 billion (annual turnover) international services, distribution and trading conglomerate. The group employs over 100,000 people and its portfolio companies include Bidvest Freight, sub-Saharan Africa’s largest privately-held freight management business, and Africa’s largest food service outfit. Bidvest also has thriving subsidiaries spanning financial services, automotive retailing, printing and corporate travel.

Strive Masiyiwa, Zimbabwean

Founder, Econet Wireless

biblical principles; subscribers even receive daily scripture via SMS.

Strive Masiyiwa challenged the Zimbabwean government’s monopoly on telecommunications services and went on to found Econet Wireless, now Zimbabwe’s largest mobile telecoms firm. Subscriber base in Zimbabwe: 6 million. Econet also has strong operations in Lesotho, Burundi, Kenya, Botswana, Rwanda and Nigeria and has a market capitalization of roughly $700 million. Masiyiwa, a devout Christian, famously runs the company on 

Wale Tinubu, Nigerian

CEO, Oando

The Nigerian lawyer started a small oil trading operation in the late nineties; went on to buy a floundering government-owned petroleum products marketer and transformed it into Oando, a $300 million (market capitalization) indigenous integrated energy services provider with active operations in West Africa. Oando plans to become Africa’s first oil major and is the only indigenous Nigerian energy company with activities spanning the entire energy value chain- downstream, midstream and upstream. New ambitions: Power. Oando is competing with several local and international firms to acquire key electricity distribution assets currently being unbundled by the Nigerian government in its ongoing privatization program.

Gold medallist claim he cheated

South African gold medalist Cameron van der Burgh admitted to taking extra underwater kicks during his world-record performance in the 100-meter breaststroke at the Olympics, an illegal move that would have earned him a disqualification if judges had caught him.

Swimmers are allowed one underwater dolphin kick during their underwater breaststroke pullouts. Replays show van der Burgh took three on the start.

[ Photos: South African swimmer Cameron van der Burgh ]

He told the Sydney Morning Herald that he took extra kicks, but defends himself by insisting he's not the only one.

''If you're not doing it, you're falling behind," he said. "It's not obviously - shall we say - the moral thing to do, but I'm not willing to sacrifice my personal performance and four years of hard work for someone that is willing to do it and get away with it."

Allowing dolphin kicks during breaststroke is relatively new. The rules were changed, in part, because of four-time gold medalist Kosuke Kitajima, a Japanese breaststroke star who routinely added rogue kicks underwater. When swimmers push off a wall and tighten into a streamline, their legs can arch slightly and resemble a kick. Kitajima and others tried to make this natural movement into an advantage by adding some force behind it. It was illegal and the move angered rivals, like American Brendan Hansen. But the kick was tough to enforce, so FINA changed the rule to allow it.

But the old "give 'em an inch" rule came into play and now breaststrokers are trying to sneak in as many kicks as possible, hoping to do it without drawing the attention of officials.

[ Video: Did British cyclists cheat to win gold? ]

''It's got to the sort of point where if you're not doing it you're falling behind or you're giving yourself a disadvantage so everyone's pushing the rules and pushing the boundaries, so if you're not doing it, you're not trying hard enough," the South African said.

Van der Burgh can get away with the kicks because there is no underwater video review of swimming races. After testing the technology at a meet in 2010 to great success, FINA, the international swimming body, has yet to incorporate it in international meets.

After these comments and the potential uproar they'll create, expect that to change by next year's world championships.

In theory, van der Burgh shouldn't be in danger of losing his gold medal. Swimming doesn't have replay review and the time for appeal has long passed. But the IOC has shown a willingness to impart its own interpretation of fair play so far in London, banning badminton players for tanking matches and attempting to expel a runner who jogged during a race in order to rest for another. Nothing is off the table.

That knee-jerk reaction should be resisted. Throwing in an extra butterfly kick doesn't put van der Burgh on a level with blood dopers and steroid users. It's the equivalent of taking some extra steps in basketball or flopping in soccer: athletes trying to get away with as much as possible under the rules.

[ Photos: Notable Olympic drug offenders ]

His biggest crime was admitting the kicks. Who admits to cheating? What's the benefit? Deny, deny, deny, brother! It's easy:

Reporter: "We saw you took three kicks on your pullout. Did you?"

Van der burgh: "No, I only took one."

If you're morally loose enough to try to justify cheating by giving the "everybody else is doing it defense," lying to some journalist isn't going to be too difficult.

jennifer lopez is getting married again

When it comes to love, Jennifer Lopez isn't giving up on the fairy tale. The actress and pop superstar wants to get married again.

"For me, the biggest dream is the fairy tale. I will never give up on that dream," Lopez, 42, told ABC News' Amy Robach in an interview that aired today on "Good Morning America," as she and singerEnrique Iglesias kick of their Latin pop-infused world tour.

"It can be difficult for anybody who has to stand by my side, but at the end of the day, I know that I deserve that," she said.

Lopez and actor-singer Marc Anthony split last year after seven years of marriage.

The man who is now standing by Lopez's side is Beau "Casper" Smart, her tour choreographer.

Smart gave some insight into his relationship with one of the most famous women in the entertainment industry.

He revealed that it wasn't love at first sight for the pair. Their attraction developed over time.

"It was just very natural, you know, natural how it happened," he said. "There was nothing before, no flirting, no nothing."

So what's it like for him to work with his famous girlfriend?

"Sometimes, I tell her something, you know, give her notes. But at the end of the day, you know, it doesn't matter what position is what, because she's the boss, you know?" Smart, 25, told ABC.

Photo credit: ABC/Philippe BosseAnd when Robach asked Lopez what it was like to take direction from her boyfriend, the singer laughed at the question. "It's all right," she said.

But Iglesias was quick to chime in. "It's got to be tough to work with the one you love," he said.

She agreed. "I have done it many times and it's difficult with some people, and some people, it's easy. Just depends on their personality."

Laughingly, Iglesias prodded her: "Who was it difficult with? Say it, say it, say it," to which Lopez replied, "I am so going to punch you in the head."

It was clear that Lopez and Iglesias get along together on and off the stage.

The two have worked together before.

He penned her hit song, "Dance Again," and the two work closely to coordinate all aspects of their shows, including lighting, pyrotechnics, props and sound.

For behind the scenes photos of their tour, click here

While both admit their styles are very different, each was full of praise for the other.

"I mean, Jennifer has a type of show, I have a completely different type of show. I think your show is better," Iglesias told her.

She laughed, saying, "See, it's so funny, because I'm sitting there watching, I'm like, 'Oh, I want to do that. Why did he do that?'"

Iglesias said that connecting with his audience is "crucial."

"Your show is only as good as your fans," he said.

Lopez's show is an overview of her life and career, incorporating her Bronx roots, Hispanic heritage, Hollywood glam and her role as a mother to 4-year-old twins, Max and Emme. The show allows her to tell her side of the story.

"People obviously over the years have tried to tell it their way. What have the tabloids gotten wrong about you?" Robach asked.

"Everything," Lopez answered with a laugh.

Iglesias has also been the focus of the media spotlight, especially regarding his 10-year relationship with tennis star Anna Kournikova. While his tour co-headliner wants to get married again, Iglesias has a different take.

"You see, for me, marriage is not - I think Jennifer and I see it differently when it comes to that, which I totally respect her opinion, but I don't think you need to be married to someone," he said.

nigerian player dies in romania

Chinonso Ihelewere

A Nigerian player, Henry Chinonso Ihelewere, has died after suffering a cardiac arrest during a friendly match between Romanian second division teams CS Delta Tulcea and FC Balotesti on Sunday.

Delta’s Ihelewere, 21, collapsed with no-one around him only 15 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute. The game was played in the town of Baltoesti, north of Bucharest.

He was taken to hospital but he never regained consciousness. The striker had been playing in Romania since 2007 when he joined Farul Constanta. He later moved to Tulcea in 2010.

“What can I say? We’re all shocked,” Universitatea Cluj boss Cristian Dulca, who previously coached the Nigerian, was quoted as saying. “It’s a tragic day for Romanian football.

“I trained him for a year and a half and I can tell you he was a real example in training. He could’ve become a very good player.”

Report said the player was given CPR for over an hour but never regained consciousness. Doctor John Tanase reported that his heart had stopped and CPR was carried out from 12.05 until 13.12. Ambulances arrived 3 minutes after being called. Bogdan Oprita, head of the local ambulance service, told national news agencyAgerpres that the FC Tulcea player’s cause of death would be determined by an autopsy.

Ihelewere’s death added to a list of Nigerian players who have died in similar circumstances. In 2011, Bobsam Elejiko of fifth-tier Belgian club, Merksem, collapsed and died during a match against FC Kaart.

On August 12 1989, Samuel Okwaraji, died at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, during a World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Angola. Six years later, Amir Angwe, 29, joined the list. He died while playing for Julius Berger against Maxaquene of Mozambique in CAF competition at the Onikan Stadium. Doctors blamed cardiac arrest for his death.

On March 6, 2010, former Berger player, Endurance Idahor, collapsed while starring for Al-Merreikh and died on his way to the hospital in Sudan. He was until his death Al-Merreikh’s leading striker with 46 goals in 62 matches.