The Nation Newspaper

Category: Online Special

  • Seven things to do when there’s sudden explosion

    Unfortunately due to a poor maintenance culture, negligence, careless and a number of other factors, the incidence of sudden explosions in different parts of the nation have become more rampant in recent times. Here are seven safety measures you can take in the event of a sudden explosion.

    Remain calm

    Against your natural response, you should try as much as can to remain calm when there’s a sudden explosion. This mainly because explosions are of different types and can be caused by different factors, you therefore need to try to identify the type and cause of the explosion to help you effectively deal with the problem. Sometimes, it might not even be an actual explosion you’re dealing with, but an explosive sound that might have been caused by nothing too serious.

    Be as rational as possible

    In a sudden event, there is a tendency to lose all sense of rationality and react with fear, rather than think with your brain. Avoid this. You need to understand that without being able to rationally assess the situation, you’re likely to make costly and even deadly mistakes. If you can calm down enough to think rationally, rather than screaming and overreacting, you’re more likely to successfully get out of the situation.

    Try to take cover

    If the explosions happen outdoors, try to take cover behind any shield or shelter around you. Ensure the shield is unable to conduct electricity and is reasonably sturdy. Use the time you’re taking cover to try to assess the situation and see if there is need for concern. Finding a place to take cover can also help keep you safe in the event of crowd chaos or a stampede.

    Attend to loved ones

    If you are not alone and you’re caught up in the incident with family and friends, after you’ve taken cover and assessed the situations, you can then try to help the loved ones around you. Remember that you need to ‘put your oxygen mask on first’, therefore you need to first be okay before you can successfully save anyone.

    Turn off electrical appliances and clear all possible exits

    If you’re indoors, immediately turn off all electrical appliances around you. If it’s possible, try to turn them off at their central point. Try to get your hands on a fire extinguisher, if you have one. Then, try to find and clear an exit for yourself and other loved ones that might be around or with you. Ensure you have a phone or communication device on you as you exit.

    Get help

    The moment you have been able to identify the explosive sound with an actual or likely dangerous explosion, immediately call a local emergency response team and report the incident to them. If you’re not able to reach an emergency response team, call anyone you know that might be able to help. Also, if you have access to the internet, immediately post a live or recorded video of the incident and copy or mention rapid response agencies that might be able to help.

    Try to leave the area

    If you can, try to leave the area and get as far away as possible. Please avoid downplaying the importance of an explosion and sticking around believing that nothing serious will happen. It’s called an explosion for a reason. Even in the event of a mere explosive sound, you still need to be careful and get away from the area for a while to be sure it does not escalate into an explosion.

  • 4 ways to avoid arguments with bus conductors

    Most bus drivers and conductors could be bold and rude towards passengers over issues that could be avoided if managed well. Sometimes issues are escalated and both parties’ haul insults on themselves, which leads to chaos.

    Below are ways to avoid arguments with bus conductors:

    Always remember to tell them where you are going before boarding a bus to be sure they are driving through your route. Bus drivers sometimes try to truncate routes to avoid traffic. Also, always try to remind them of where you are alighting because they most times don’t care and end up missing stops therefore. You have to tell them where you are going to avoid argument with them and to save yourself the stress of either trekking to your suppose bus stop or paying another fare to get there.

    READ ALSO: 16 faults destroying relationships (2)

    *Have exact fare amount before boarding a bus. Most of these conductors could be cunning and sometimes you might end up leaving your change with them because you are in a hurry to meet up with work. When you don’t have change, make sure the amount you are giving the conductor is not so high from the normal price to avoid trouble and insults from him and passengers. Sometimes passengers are at fault because these conductors make their own announcement ( abeg enter with your change o) but we still do not comply leading to embarrassment and definitely Nigerian conductors and drivers are no respecter of anyone.

    Know how to talk : Few passengers prefer to be gentle while these conductors grossly abuse them. This is not to say they are weak or can’t fight for themselves. But some passengers would act like the conductors, exchanging words thereby causing so much chaos among passengers.

    Negotiate fare before boarding: Yes! It’s possible for you not to have enough but it’s also right to tell the conductor or driver what you have at hand if they accept you can board the bus but if they don’t there is no need boarding in order to avoid embarrassment you can try another bus.

  • The joy of Atlanta ’96, 23 years after

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Atlanta ’96 remains one of the most unforgettable Olympic Games for football and sports lovers in Nigeria. Nigeria won six medals overall, two gold, one silver and one bronze medals. But the gold medal the men football team won remains the biggest highlight, and an evergreen story of joy and pride for the country. It is 23 years today since that feat which marked the first time any African team will claim the Olympic football gold.

    The journey to the football gold medal for the country was not a smooth one. Nigeria then faced serious political issues that had claimed a lot of lives. General elections had taken place three years earlier, and it was believed to have been won by Chief M. K. O. Abiola. Abiola was in detention at the time of Atlanta ’96, a year after famous activist Ken Saro-Wiwa had been executed by the Sani Abacha military junta.

    Football was the only source of hope and joy for Nigerians then, as the country had just won the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia two years earlier, and also participated in her first-ever FIFA World Cup in the United States, where the Super Eagles progressed to the Round of 16, losing 1-2 to eventual runners-up, Italy at extra time.

    Nigeria experienced one more pain after General Abacha stopped the Super Eagles from going to defend their African title in South Africa early in 1996. This was because Nelson Mandela, who was then President of South Africa, had asked that Nigeria be suspended from the Commonwealth of Nations, because of the killings of Saro-Wiwa and his four other Ogoni rights agitators. It was therefore hoped that the summer Olympics would bring joy to Nigerians.

    The Dream Team I of Nigeria, coached by Dutchman Johannes Bonfere, was grouped alongside Hungary, Japan and Brazil. Bonfere Jo himself almost lost his job just before the start of the Olympics as the team struggled to win matches. They had just lost 1-5 to Togo in a friendly, and at a point, he left the job due to unpaid wages, but was convinced to come back by the players.

    The team began Atlanta ’96 with a 1-0 win over Hungary from the goal by Nwankwo Kanu, just before halftime. The second game saw the Dream Team playing a not-too-fancy football against Japan, but they got the needed three points. Two late goals from Tijjani Babangida and Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, both after 80 minutes, got the job done.

    Nigeria marched on to the third group match, against Brazil, with qualification already sealed. The Brazilians had lost to Japan and beaten Hungary, and so they needed the three points against Nigeria. They got it, beating the Dream Team 1-0 with Ronaldo’s goal. They even went ahead to top the group, haven secured superior goal difference. Fate had plans to bring both sides together again.

    Nigeria faced Mexico in the quarter-finals, and it turned out a very simple match. Okocha opened the scoring after 20 minutes with a missile from outside the area. Legendary Mexican goalkeeper Jorge Campos again had no answer when 17-year old Celestine Babayaro pounced on a loose ball in the area and slammed home to seal the re-match against Brazil, in the semi-finals

    That second encounter against Brazil turned out the defining moment of the Olympic Games that year. Brazil had just won the FIFA World Cup two years earlier in the USA, and they had just beaten Ghana 4-2 in the quarter-finals.

    Read Also: Mikel, first to arrive Atlanta for Mexico friendly

    Flavio Conceição opened scoring for the Seleçao in the first minute, and minutes later, Roberto Carlos scored an own-goal to the relief of Nigerians. From then on, the Dream Team went through pains.

    Brazil scored two more goals. First Bebeto tapped in after goalkeeper Dosu Joseph had got a hand to Ronaldo’s shot, and then Conceicao got his second of the afternoon after a quick one-two on the edge of the box. All hope was lost for Nigeria.Nigeria vs Brazil

    But the never-say-die spirit, which the Dream Team had been exhibiting since the beginning of the competition, was reignited in the 78th minute with Victor Ikpeba scoring a fine goal from outside the box.  Hope rose again, and Nigeria held on to that hope.

    In the last minute, a long throw-in from Okocha caused havoc and the ball fell to Kanu’s long legs, and he smartly flicked the ball up and smashed it past goalkeeper Dida to equalise and send the match into extra-time. Four minutes into extra time, with the golden-goal rule then in place, Kanu scored again, dribbling past one defender and smashing the ball into the net.

    The final was against Argentina, another South American power-house, filled with star players. They took the lead yet again three minutes into the game, when Claudio López got at the end of a great cross and smacked in a header. Nigeria responded immediately, just like in the semi-finals, with a header from Babayaro. Argentina scored a rather controversial penalty-goal early in the second half to lead again, but the Dream Team came back, the long throwing from Okocha coming handy again. This time, it fell to Amokachi and he scored.

    Emmanuel Amunike, who scored the goals that gave Nigeria the 1994 AFCON title, had the final say yet again, coming off from the bench to beat the Argentine offside trap and volley home the winner from a free-kick.

    It was late night in Nigeria, but massive celebrations broke out round the country. People went out partying and drinking, as beer parlours were filled.

    The team returned to a heroic welcome in Lagos and were showered with gifts and bonuses. Many of them were teenagers or young adults, but they remain celebrated for generations to come, inspiring millions and putting a smile on faces that needs it, as it is difficult for a Nigerian to forget a wonderful moment like the 1996 Olympic Games.

     

     

  • Seven things you may not know about Fela’s death

    Late Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, musician and human right activist, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, passed on 22 years ago today.

    Here are seven(7) things you may not know about his death:

    1. Fela Kuti’s body was encased in a five side glass coffin and staged for public viewing after he was laid to rest at the site of the old shrine compound.

    2. Although it was proved that he was HIV/AIDS positive, Fela was reported to have denied the existence of HIV and said that it was a “disease of white men.”

    3. Contrary to the medical report on the cause of his death, some of the former Fela Kuti’s wives denied Fela Kuti HIV diagnose. They claim the cause of his death was the severe beating he received when his house was attacked.

    Read Also; Don’t ever compare Naira Marley to Fela, says Dede Mabiaku

    4. Fela refused to be tested to determine the cause of his weight loss and skin lesions, attributing them to spiritual change and growth of new skin.

    5. On the year of Fela’s death, UNAIDS estimated that 30 million people had HIV, equating to 16,000 new infections a day.

    6. His son, Femi Kuti, has been vocal about HIV/AIDS prevention since 1997 and was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF in 2002, making him an important figure as he broadens UNICEF’s reach to young people worldwide.

    7. Kuti’s final piece was called C.S.A.S (Condom Scallywag and Scatter) which condemned condoms as ‘un-African’, but ultimately Fela died from AIDS-related complications in 1997 at the age of 58.

  • 10 Nollywood celebrities that have died in 2019

    As we all know Nigerian movies industry has produced many Nollywood actors and actresses over the years and at the same time lost most of them to the cold hand of ‘Death’.

    The Nigerian movie industry has lost icons within the short period of the year 2019 and it’s been a sad occurrence.

    Here are 10 Nollywood stars that have died this year.

    Funmilayo ‘Ijewuru’ Ogunsola

    Funmilayo ‘Ijewuru’ Ogunsola

    Funmilayo ‘Ijewuru’ Ogunsola passed away on Monday, February 4 in Ibadan at the age of 58. She was a popular actress and was married to the late movie star, Ishola ‘I show Pepper’ Ogunsola.

    Gbenga ‘Burger’ Akintunde

    Gbenga ‘Burger’ Akintunde
    Gbenga ‘Burger’ Akintunde

    Gbenga ‘Burger’ Akintunde died on Thursday, January 3 at the age of 47, after visiting the hospital to complain of malaria.

    Adewale Olanrewaju 

    Adewale Olanrewaju Adewale

    Adewale Olanrewaju popularly known as  ‘I show Larry’ died on Monday, January 21 at the age of 36. The actor was also a movie producer.

    Abe Ishola Monsurat Olabisi

    Abe Ishola Monsurat Olabisi

     

    Abe Ishola Monsurat Olabisi passed away on Saturday, March 30 at age 39. Her death was announced days after she delivered a baby girl.

    LinChung Duke Oliver

    LinChung Duke Oliver
    LinChung Duke Oliver

    Duke ‘LinChung’ Oliver passed away on April 2 at age 45. He passed away after a car crash on his way to Lagos from his mom’s burial. He is famous for his role as Sylvanus in the sitcom, ‘Do Good.’

    Alfred Rotimi Popoola

    Alfred Rotimi Popoola
    Alfred Rotimi Popoola

    Alfred Rotimi Popoola passed away on Thursday, February 27 in Abeokuta, Ogun state. He died at 51. Popoola has featured in several Nollywood movies including ‘Aiye Foreign,’ and ‘Ropo Ijogbon.’

    Prince Dammy Eke

    Prince Dammy Eke
    Prince Dammy Eke

    Prince Dammy Eke died on April 28. He died at age 41. The actor reportedly slumped and was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.

    Adio Majester

    Adio Majester
    Adio Majester

    Adio Majester passed away on Tuesday, May 7 in the intensive care of an undisclosed hospital. He died at age 50. He featured numerous movies and a number of stage plays in his career as an actor.

    Henry Okoro

    Henry Okoro
    Henry Okoro

    Henry Okoro died following injuries sustained during a fatal accident that occurred on May 11. He was an actor before taking a backseat to work as director and producer after a decade. He died at 36

    Eddie Ugboma

    Eddie Ugboma
    Eddie Ugboma

    Eddie Ugboma died on May 11 after a health challenge. He would be remembered for his role as Oyenusi in a film of the same title. He died at 78

  • TechTips: How to retrieve deleted WhatsApp messages

    WhatsApp is a cross-platform instant messaging application that allows smartphone users to exchange texts, images, videos and audio messages for free.

    It boasts of regular 1.5 billion users who it enables to send, archive, star and delete messages.

    Here are ways to retrieve messages previously deleted on WhatsApp:

    1. Restore WhatsApp Data from Google Drive Backup

    If you have back up your WhatsApp messages with Google Drive, you can retrieve deleted messages on WhatsApp via the backup copy.

    – Uninstall the WhatsApp on your device.

    – Reinstall and sign into your account.

    – You would be prompted with a message to restore your backup after you open the reinstalled WhatsApp. Please tap “Restore”. And the job is done!

    NOTE:  If you have never backed up before, you are not able to restore the data when it accidentally deletes.

    Also, it doesn’t allow you to select recover the data selectively and you need to restore the whole files on the backup copy, even some  which are useless.

    1. Restoring from a local file

    If you didn’t connect a Google Drive account to Whatsapp, there is another way to restore messages from a local file. Here’s how to retrieve deleted WhatsApp chat history from a local file:
    –  Open the SDcard/WhatsApp/databases folder in the file manager. All chat backups are stored there. If there are no files, check the main storage also.
    – Select the file you want to restore from the list. (the format should be msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt12.) Rename it to msgstore.db.crypt12.

    – Uninstall WhatsApp from your phone (if it is still on the phone) and reinstall by downloading the latest version from Google Play.
    – Specify the phone number you’ve used before during installing,
    – In the “Restore chat history” window click “Restore” to import old chats and get back deleted WhatsApp messages.

  • 10 signs you may be in a toxic relationship

    In a time such as ours that oozes with the entitlement mentality, toxic relationships thrive. People are in relationships for the wrong reasons; people live in a country of me, me and me and enter into romantic relationships with same mentality. They end up dragging their partners in a downward spiral of hurt, pain and brokenness.

    The sad part however is that many do not even know they are in a toxic relationship. Here are ways to know you are in a toxic relationship:
    * You are always drained: Usually, a toxic relationship always leaves you drained of all energy. This could come from giving your all, constantly compromising, incessant quarrels and misunderstanding. In fact, you could find that you are the only one loving and trying to make the relationship work- there is simply little or no effort from your partner.

    *You always expect negative things: If you are in a relationship where you have gotten so used to criticism and verbal abuse that it has become normal for you, you should know you are in a toxic relationship.

    * You tread carefully: Relationships are meant to be a loving and blissful. Sure, there will be misunderstandings but when every single thing you do is seen as wrong such that you are careful of every word that comes out of your mouth, then you, my dear, are not in a relationship but a prison. In such case questions and statements become traps. Eg. “So you prefer to go out with your friends and leave me alone? ,“You have been smiling a lot at your phone today”.

    * You feel trapped: When you feel trapped but your partner uses manipulation to keep you in the relationship, beware. Sometimes, to keep you hooked to them, your partner will make sure to feed you a bit of positivity from time to time, overwhelming you with signs of adoration and love. In the end you stay put in the relationship with hopes that the relationship will get better even when the relationship is more of a negative one.

    *You feel unworthy: if you feel unworthy in a relationship and that your partner is doing you a favor by being in a relationship with you, that’s a bad sign. Also if you always seek constant acceptance from your partner, then that is a subtle signal of a toxic relationship.

    READ ALSO: How to deal with people with toxic behaviours

    *You are ALWAYS wrong: If you can never do anything right and are ALWAYS wrong, then there is a problem. If your partner is constantly pointing out wrong things you do making you apologize every time, then it gradually brings down your self-esteem. Such a relationship is likely toxic.

    *They never accept they are wrong: When even in the face of complete and glaring evidence that your partner is in the wrong yet they refuse to admit it but find a way to make you the culprit, then that relationship is highly toxic.

    *They hit you where it hurts: Having knowledge of your fears, insecurities and deep issues, a toxic partner may use this information to hurt you. Normally, your partner is to make you feel safe with your issues and make you never regret telling them. However, when you hear things like “that’s why your father abandoned you” or “you can never be a lawyer” then you should hit the road.

    *They are controlling: If your partner has no consideration for your feelings and emotions but always wants to have his or her desire done no matter the costs, it is a glaring sign of a toxic relationship. They constantly check your phone, want to know everything you do and even up to what you are thinking. This is very unhealthy and not a sign of love. RUN.

    *They are violent: This is definitely a NO,NO! When it gets to the point where your partner physically abuses you then you should call it quits. No relationship is worth being abused physically or even verbally abused.

  • Five top 5G smartphones in 2019

    1. Samsung Galaxy S10 5G

    Samsung launched two 5G phones at its Unpacked event this year. The Galaxy S10 5G looks almost similar to the Galaxy S10+, but it has a bigger 4500mAh battery, a faster 25W charging support, and an extra ToF camera sensor for better depth-mapping, enhanced low light shots, and faster autofocus.

    2. Huawei Mate X

    Huawei’s foldable Mate X 5G smartphone a 6.6-inch front panel display, 6.38-inch back panel display, and when unfolded, a combined 8-inch edge-to-edge OLED display with 2480×2200 resolution. The phone is 11mm thick when folded and 5.4mm thick when unfolded.

    There are three cameras in this 5G phone: 40MP wide-angle, 16MP ultra-wide-angle, and 8MP telephoto. It is the first foldable phone and the first 5G phone from Huawei.

    3. Oppo Reno 5G

    The Reno 5G comes with a 6.6-inch edge-to-edge OLED display, a large 4,065mAh battery, 10x lossless hybrid zoom camera and, yes, a 5G modem. It also features a wizzy pop-up wedge selfie camera. In short, the Oppo Reno 5G looks like a real 5G phone contender.

    This beauty has 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage.

    Read Also; 10 social media tools every business owner should have

    4. Huawei Mate 20 X 5G

    It will be Huawei’s first non-foldable 5G device. The phone will be first available with Swiss telecom network – Sunrise. The Mate 20 X 5G phone will have a new modem, slightly smaller 4200 mAh battery in comparison to the regular Mate 20 Pro

    5. Samsung Galaxy Fold

    The Galaxy Fold is a really cutting edge phone from Samsung and it will also have a 5G variant. The phone opens like a book to reveal its bigger, flexible display.

  • 6 secrets to saving out of your monthly NYSC allowance

    The N19,800,  allowance for Nigerian Youth corpers is not enough to sustain them for a whole month. It is, however, more challenging for some whose  Place of Primary Assignments (PPAs) don’t pay them stipends.

    It is necessary to note that money management is more important than money itself because even if your allowance is increased to 100k if you cannot manage your money effectively, you will end up asking for an increase again and again.

    Here are a few secrets to saving your monthly allowance.

    1. Set a budget: You need to know how much you are going to spend every day. You have to discipline your spending. If you spend money without the discipline of a budget, you’d end up going overboard with your alawee.

    2. Set a scale of preference: You should differentiate between a need and a want. If you really want to make the most of your allowance, you would need to set a scale of preference to guide your decision making and budgeting.

    Read Also: Minimum wage: NYSC allowance rises to N30,000

    3. Keep the savings aside: You should have separate accounts, one for your expenses and the other for your savings.

    4. Try Cooking: If you buy foodstuff and cook them by yourself, you will end up spending less than going to buy expensive cooked food at restaurants.

    5. Tone down on the partying: As much as NYSC affords you a lot of liberty, try not to wild out at your expense.

    6. Understand the difference between want and need: That you want something does not mean you need it at the time.

  • FIFA approves new football rules

    The International Football Association Board(IFAB) officially agreed a number of amendments and clarifications to the current laws of the game on June 1 2019.

    It’s not the first time rules of the game have been tweaked and it probably won’t be the last as administrators continue to figure out the best way forward in a world of changing technology.

    Here, we take a look at some changes:

    Substituted players can leave the field anywhere

    When a player is withdrawn they will no longer have to leave the field at the halfway line and will instead be permitted to leave the pitch at the nearest point.

     

    There will be no rebounds from penalties

    Play will stop for a restart if a penalty is saved or hits the post, meaning there will be no chance to follow up and score from rebounds, meaning players will no longer need to line up on the edge of the area.

     

    Coaches will receive cards again

    It has been done in the past but discipline of coaches changed to simple reprimands or sending off.

    Now they are able to receive yellow and red cards much like players.

     

    Handballs inside the area

    Goals scored that have hit a player’s hand – voluntarily or involuntarily – will not be allowed.

     

     

    Players can touch the ball in the area after a goalkeeper kicks it out

    Until now, players could not touch goal kicks before they exited the box but now they will be able to.

    Penalty kicks: Goalkeepers must have at least one foot on line

    The new rule say that the goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot on or in line with the goal-line.

    “Allowing the goalkeeper to have only one foot touching the goal line (or, if jumping, in line with the goal line) when the penalty kick is taken is a more practical approach as it is easier to identify if both feet are not on the line,” goes the IFAB’s explanation.

    “As the kicker can ‘stutter’ in the run, it is reasonable that the goalkeeper can take one step in anticipation of the kick.”