The Nation Newspaper

Category: Online Special

  • FACT-CHECK: Viral Obasanjo’s open letter to Buhari from 2019

    FACT-CHECK: Viral Obasanjo’s open letter to Buhari from 2019

    By Alao Abiodun 

    Claim: A viral message with the title ‘Breaking: Obasanjo writes Buhari’ – Open letter to President, General Muhammadu Buhari dated 12th of July 2021 has been trending on many platforms especially Whatsapp.

    Verdict: It is true ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote the letter but it was officially released on 15 July 2019 by his Special Assistant Media Kehinde Akinyemi. The viral message resurfacing in 2021 is MISLEADING.

    Full Text:

    A 2019 viral whatsapp message resurfaced in 2021 stating that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has written a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The claim that Obasanjo has written a “new” letter to Buhari also appeared severally on some blogs including nationnewslead.

    Over the years, ex-President Obasanjo has written different open letters to incumbents.

    Checks by The Nation revealed that Obasanjo wrote to former President Goodluck Jonathan on December 2, 2013 titled “Nigeria is bleeding and the hemorrhage must be stopped”.

    Read Also: FACT-CHECK: BBC Soro Soke used wrong picture in T.B Joshua, Nnamdi Kanu reports

    In the 18-page letter, he accused Jonathan of taking actions calculated at destroying Nigeria.

    Obasanjo also stated that Jonathan failed to deliver on his promises to the people, stem corruption, promote national unity and strengthen national security.

    His first letter to Buhari was in January 2018, with a second in January 2019 and a third in July 2019.

    Talking points from Obasanjo’s letter to Buhari in 2019

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter to President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2019, focused on series of warnings that Nigeria is tipping towards a dangerous cliff and only the President could forestall such a looming disaster.

    Obasanjo said Nigeria has been consumed by violence and ethnic divisions since Buhari assumed office four years ago, in a manner not seen for decades.

    In the July 15, 2019 letter, Obasanjo said the world, especially Western countries, has been warning Nigeria against descending into a state of violence because any outbreak would be difficult to contain.

    He warned that for Buhari to be able to stop the “smouldering ethnic agitations”, he would have to stop fanning “the embers of hatred, disaffection and violence.”

    Obasanjo also called on armed herdsmen to publicly state their grievances to form a national discussion around it, rather than waging a violent campaign across the country. The calls were also extended to any other ethnic groups that have concerns about how the country is being run.

    The killing of Funke Olakunrin, a 58-year-old daughter of Yoruba leader, Reuben Fasoranti, was amongst the national security mishaps which Obasanjo said could tip the country off a perilous edge.

    Verification:

    Checks by The Nation revealed that the trending letter dated June 12, 2021 had similar contents with the original letter released on 15 July 2019 except for the closing captions.

    In both letters, the introductory aspect begins: “I am constrained to write to you this open letter. I decided to make it an open letter because the issue is very weighty and must be greatly worrisome to all concerned Nigerians and that means all right-thinking Nigerians and those resident in Nigeria.”

    The Special Assistant on Media to Obasanjo, Kehinde Akinyemi has debunked the trending version dated June 12, 2021.

    Conclusion:

    It is true ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari dated 15 July 2019 as released by his Special Assistant (Media) Kehinde Akinyemi but the viral message resurfacing in 2021 stating that Obasanjo released the letter dated on 12th of July 2021 is MISLEADING.

  • Eight Yoruba actors/actresses who remarried

    Eight Yoruba actors/actresses who remarried

    By Samuel Oamen

    Some Yoruba Nollywood actors and actresses are not giving up on love after their first marriages crashed. These celebrities chose to give love another chance and have been having a loving time with their spouses.

    Here are eight Yoruba Nollywood actors/actresses who remarried:

    1. Toyin Abraham

    Toyin Abraham & Kolawole Ajeyemi

    You most likely would know her as Toyin Aimakhu. The producer and director got married to a Nollywood actor Adeniji Johnson in 2013. The union appeared sweet on social media as the duo never ceased to gush on each other.

    Surprisingly, in 2015, news went round that the celebrity couples were having it hot as they announced their separation.

    It is however interesting to know that the duo has moved on with their lives as Toyin Abraham recently welcomed a baby boy with another actor Kolawole Ajeyemi.

    2. Bukky Wright

    Bukky Wright

    Bukky Wright had previously been married to Gboyega Amu, who is the father of her two sons. Shortly after separating from Amu, due to what she termed irreconcilable differences, she moved into the arms of fellow actor and one time NNPC top shot and current member of the House of Representatives, Rotimi Makinde, without officially divorcing Gboyega Amu.

    The union lasted a few years before she moved on in the same fashion and found solace in the arms of society journalist and image-maker, Femi Davies. Bukky and Femi got married at the Akodo Registry in Lagos.

    3. Solomon Akiyesi

    Solomon Akiyesi

    Solomon Akiyesi has been married four times. He wedded his university love, Ezinne in 2003. He was alleged to still be married to Ezinne when he contracted another marriage with Lilian, who was said to be 8 months pregnant and living in Port Harcourt when Solomon attempted to marry another wife, Uloma Agwu in Lagos on April 13, 2013.

    Akiyesi and Agwu were almost pronounced as husband and wife when Lilian stormed the Overcomer’s World Outreach church, Surulere Lagos where the wedding was going on. She stormed the place with some family members and policemen

    4. Clarion Chukwura

    Clarion Chukwura

    Clarion Chukwura Clarion tied the nuptial knot with her U.S. based fiancé, Anthony Boyd making it her third marriage. She once had a relationship with Afro-Juju legend, Sir Shina Peters and bore a son, Clarence Peters after she ended her first marriage to a certain Mr. Abiola in 2003.

    She then remarried Femi Oduneye popularly known as Femi Egyptian in 2004. They, however, separated in 2006, after which they got back together before they finally got divorced. She, however, lost her first husband, Tunde Abiola, and her second spouse, Femi Oduneye in 2017.

    5. Femi Adebayo

    Femi Adebayo & Omotayo Adebayo

    The actor, filmmaker and director has three children with his first wife Khadijat. This was his first marriage and, just as many things in life, turned out to be a failure. Khadijat gave birth to the three adorable kids within the eight years of their marriage but in the end, they decided not to wait any longer and broke apart

    He got married to Omotayo Adebayo after staying out of marriage for 8 years. They got married in October 2016.

    6. Mercy Aigbe

    Mercy Aigbe and former hubby Lanre

    Mercy Aigbe, who is popular for her fashion sense on social media, was a wife to an Igbo man and had a beautiful daughter for him but the union couldn’t stand the test of time as it crashed a few years later.

    Mercy and Lanre officially tied the knot at the Ikoyi Registry in 2013 but the marriage also crashed in 2017.

    7. Foluke Daramola-Salako

    Foluke Daramola & Kayode Salako

    She married Babatunde Sobowale in 2005 and the union ended in 2008 after two kids over allegations of wife-battering and infidelity. The actress has since remarried and is happy with her latest husband, Kayode Salako.

    8. Doris Simeon

    Doris Simeon & Taiwo Oduala

    She was once married to a movie producer and director Daniel Ademinokan. Doris and Daniel met on a movie set where love bound them. Together the couple bore a son, David Ademinokan but separated in May 2013 with a subsequent court divorce.

    However, Doris Simeon found love again, as she got married to Taiwo Oduala in 2019.

  • Six Nigerian celebrities married to foreigners

    Six Nigerian celebrities married to foreigners

    By Lekan Ale

    · Regina Askia

    The American-based registered nurse (RN) healthcare and educational activist and television producer writer found fame as an actress and model

    Askia-Williams is married to American Rudolph ‘Rudy’ Williams, nephew of Ron Everette and grandson of Fess Williams. together The couple has two children – daughter Teesa Olympia and son Rudolph Junior. Askia-Williams’s other daughter, model Stephanie Hornecker, is from a previous relationship.

    · Ik Ogbonna

    Actor and model Ik Ogbonna got married to a Columbian, Sonia Morales on June 29, 2015 in Belgrade, Serbia. They have a child together.

    · Ufuoma McDermott

    Ufuoma Ejenobor got married on 23 April 2010 to Steven McDermott. Ufuoma and Steven McDermott have two children: Son Isio Jared (born 10 October 2012) and daughter Kesiena (born 8 August 2015).

    · Uche Jombo

    The Abia-born Actress, screenwriter and film producer married American born Kenney Rodriguez in 2012 in Puerto Rico and they both have a son together, Matthew Rodriguez.

    · Karen Igho

    The Naija FM radio presenter is an Ambassador for GoTV. Karen Igho married Czech Republican citizen, Jaroslav Rakos in 2014. They have a child together

    · Susan Peters

    Award-winning Peters got married to her Dutch fiancé, Koen Croon in Lagos on October 10 2015.

  • FACT-CHECK: No! Tinubu did not ‘declare support’ for June 12 protest

    FACT-CHECK: No! Tinubu did not ‘declare support’ for June 12 protest

    By Alao Abiodun

    Claim: Several blogs including lagosstreetjournal.ng, nationnewslead reported that the National leader of the All Progressive Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu reportedly ‘declared his support’ for the #June12thProtest.

    Verdict: False and Misleading!

    Full Text: 

    A blog — nationnewslead — had reported that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared his support for the #June12thProtest with reference to his democracy day speech.

    The Nation observed that as at the time of report, the news had gathered over 700 readers according to the website statistics.

    It reported: “All Progressive Congress, APC leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly declared his support for the #June12thProtest by asking Nigerians to stand up against anything hindering democracy.

    “The APC National Leader in the mood of June 12 Democracy Day celebrations has urged Nigerians to stand for democracy.

    “The APC Chieftain, made the call in a congratulatory message to the nation on Friday, adding that democratic governance offers solutions to national challenges.

    “Tinubu urged Nigerians to stand for democracy despite the challenges they were going through.

    “Democratic good governance offers the only reasonable solution to the challenges confronting Nigeria.”

    Background to June 12 Protest 

    On June 6, 2018, Buhari declared that the Democracy Day will hold on June 12 of every year.

    Buhari made the declaration after the Federal Government honoured the late Moshood Abiola, presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election.

    Read Also: FACT-CHECK: A bag of rice is indeed more than Nigeria’s minimum wage

    This year, several Nigerians, including groups such as agitators for Yoruba Nation called for protests across Nigeria against bad governance and insecurity.

    Similarly, youth in different states also teamed up to coordinate the June 12 peaceful protests.

    Verification

    Checks by The Nation observed that the Democracy Day speech by National leader of the All Progressive Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not mention the word “protest” nor did it ‘declare support’ for protesters in solidarity/commemoration of June 12 democracy day celebration.

    In the speech analysed by our correspondent, Tinubu urged Nigerians to stand against whatever will hinder democracy, especially those engaging in insurrection and violence.

    The central theme of Tinubu’s message hinged on promotion of national unity.

    “Democratic good governance offers the only reasonable solution to the challenges confronting Nigeria. Thus, we must stand for democracy today. We must stand for it, even more, tomorrow,

    “We contend against those who would render the people ignorant and poor. We celebrate Democracy Day not only because we have come far, but to help give us the social fuel and encouragement to continue onward, because we have farther to go and even greater things to achieve as one nation and one people.” he said.

    Verdict:

    The claim the National leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu reportedly ‘declared his support’ for the #June12thProtest is false and misleading.

  • FACT-CHECK: Viral ‘Operation Positive Identification’ exercise is from 2019

    FACT-CHECK: Viral ‘Operation Positive Identification’ exercise is from 2019

    By Alao Abiodun

    Claim: Of recent, a viral message on WhatsApp states the House of Representatives has approved ‘Operation Positive Identification’ by the Nigerian Army.

    The WhatsApp broadcast warned citizens to always go around with a valid means of identification or risk embarrassments or get arrested by soldiers.

    Verdict: The viral message resurfacing in 2021 is MISLEADING.

    Full Text

    A 2019 viral whatsapp message resurfaced in 2021 stating that the Nigerian Army is set to carry out an exercise tagged ‘Operation Positive Identification’ with the approval of the House of Representatives.

    The message reads:

    CARRY YOUR ID CARD EVERYWHERE NOW. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE HAS APPROVED THE REQUEST OF THE NIGERIA ARMY TO CARRY OUT AN EXERCISE CALLED OPERATION POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION ALL OVER THE NATION. TO THIS END, YOU ARE ADVISED TO CARRY YOUR I.D CARDS ALONGSIDE WITH YOU TO AVOID EMBARRASSMENT.

    I.D CARDS, VOTERS CARD, NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD, DRIVERS LICENSE, INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT, ETC. THIS OPERATION HAS ALREADY KICK STARTED. PASS THIS MESSAGE ACROSS TO THOSE IN OTHER PLATFORM.

    Read Also: FACT-CHECK: A bag of rice is indeed more than Nigeria’s minimum wage

    What is Operation Positive Identification?

    Checks by The Nation revealed Director of Operations and Training of the Nigerian Army, Major General E.O. Udoh initiated the controversy surrounding the exercise.

    Udoh stated at a press conference on September 25 in Abuja that the military was extending Operation Positive Identification, first launched in the North-east, to the rest of the country.

    The General said this would help checkmate terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, ethnic militia, cattle rustlers and other crimes across Nigeria.

    Similarly, the then Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, while defending the army’s decision before a House of Representatives committee said the exercise would focus on intelligence rather than deployment of troops or mounting roadblocks across the country.

    But the House of Representative members were sharply divided by the alleged moves by the Nigeria Army to launch the Operation across the nation.

    Despite the explanations, the exercise attracted criticisms from concerned Nigerians, who vehemently opposed it.

    Similarly, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, had on October 25 filed a suit against the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Attorney-General of the Federation over the exercise.

    In 2019 despite the uproar, The Nation learnt that the exercise was not conducted as a nationwide operation; as it only existed in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe state due to the level of insurgency.

    Verdict

    Operation Positive Identification exercise in 2019 was done in some selected states but it was not launched nationwide in 2019 nor was it extended to other states.

    The viral message resurfacing in 2021 is misleading.

    The Nation after a thorough check through the official communication channels of the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Defence Headquarters with reference to timeline of activities in 2021, found out that there is no information concerning the exercise as at the time this fact-check was written.

  • Three benefits of trekking long distance

    Three benefits of trekking long distance

    By Chinyere Okoroafor

    Last weekend, popular musician Daddy Showkey walked from Ojodu to Ajegunle in Lagos possibly to keep fit.

    He showed that with determination, anyone can reach their fitness goal.

    Some people may see walking as no good workout form because it appears simple and the result takes a longer time. But long distance walking when done consistently is an impactful exercise and can be done for longer periods of time.

    Long distance walking is a suitable workout over running for many people with knee, ankle and back problems.

    It can help you reach your fitness and weight-loss goals.

    Immobility is unhealthy, chose walking sometimes over taking bikes or buses to distances that you can walk.

    Here are three key benefit of walking long distance:

    · It is effective yet gentle

    One of the valuable benefits of walking long distances is that it is a gentle form of exercise, yet is effective in maintaining health levels.

    For those who find vigorous activity a challenge, long distance walking is ideal. Whether you are from your bus stop home or any other distance, you can go at whatever pace you like.

    Also, the freedom to explore new places makes the whole thing interesting. If you’ve found yourself in a situation where you can’t take part in some form of exercise you love or you’re recovering from an injury, walking could be the perfect solution. Like swimming, it strengthens joints and muscles, easing tension.

    · It helps you live longer

    Walking at a fast pace for at least 30 minutes a day has been proven to drastically reduce your chance of developing heart disease, cancers and dementia in the future. It is also great for lower blood pressure! Getting into the habit of walking for a long time will not only be greatly beneficial for your short-term health but is likely to improve your overall health. But, you must keep the habit up.

    · It improves your mood and reduces stress

    Another benefit of long distance walking is that it can greatly improve your mental wellbeing. So much so that some most successful people in the world such as Steve Jobs and Beethoven were known for walking to increase productivity. So, why not follow in their footsteps? Walking releases endorphins which trigger positive feelings and thoughts. If you feel particularly anxious, lacking in motivation or unproductive, getting out into the fresh air walking is likely to give your attitude a boost.

  • FACT-CHECK: A bag of rice is indeed more than Nigeria’s minimum wage

    FACT-CHECK: A bag of rice is indeed more than Nigeria’s minimum wage

    By Justina Asishana

    The ban of micro blogging social network site by the Federal Government last Friday brought a lot of claims and accusations by the citizenry.

    One of the claims that made rounds after the announcement was that a bag of rice costs more than the minimum wage of Nigeria.

    Verification

    While a lot of people posted the information, it was discovered, through Hoaxy, which shows how information is shared, that the tweet on Twitter originated from Shawntomi with the handle @_Iamtomi who has over 21.9k followers.

    Her tweet reads: “How can a bag of Rice be more than Minimum wage and to suspend Nigerians from using Twitter in Nigeria is their topmost priority?”

    An hour after it was posted, it was retweeted 408 times, had 25 comments and 957 likes. However, as of 7th June, the tweet had 1.7k retweets, 3.5k likes and 79 comments.

    Findings

    In Nigeria, two different categories of rice are consumed. They are the foreign rice (which are imported rice) and local rice (which are locally produced and processed in Nigeria).

    Despite the ban on imported rice by the Federal Government to encourage the patronage of locally processed rice, a lot of people still prefer the foreign rice which is usually expensive and cost more than the locally produced rice.

    Market surveys revealed a bag of foreign rice costs from N34,000 to N37,000 depending on the quality of the foreign rice while the bag of the locally produced and processed rice costs from N28,000 to N30,000 per 50kg bag.

    For the foreign rice 50kg bag, the price includes:

    Mama Gold Thai parboiled rice: N34,000

    Par Excellence parboiled rice – N32,000

    Caprice – N33,000

    Royal Stallion – N38,000

    Mama Pride – N31,000

    While the local rice 50kg bag, the price includes:

    Big Bull – N29,000/N30,000

    Local rice (without a specific name) – N27,000

    Kantigi rice – N27,000/N28,000

    Worker Salary

    Nigeria has a government-mandated minimum wage. No worker in Nigeria can be paid less than this mandatory minimum rate of pay.

    The Federal Government had increased the minimum wage from N18, 000 to N30,000 for workers in the civil service in 2019.

    The minimum wage is the mandatory rate of pay for workers in the country.

    Conclusion

    A bag of 50kg of foreign rice is more than Nigeria minimum wage but a bag of 50kg of Nigerian rice is not more than the minimum wage of Nigerian workers.

    However, there is no mention in the claim on the category of rice that is being referred to.

    Going by the price of foreign rice in the market, one would say that a 50kg bag of rice costs more than Nigeria minimum wage.

    And if one wants to go by the price of the Nigerian rice which people are trying to adapt themselves to, one would say that a bag of rice is almost at par with the minimum wage.

  • 15 visa-free countries for Nigerian tourists

    15 visa-free countries for Nigerian tourists

    By Samuel Oamen

    Traveling for Nigerians increasingly requires adequate planning. With Nigerian passports ranking 83rd in freedom to travel across the world, acquiring a visa is always difficult and strenuous.

    However, there are visa-free countries accessible to all Nigerian passport holders. With just a valid passport, you can gain entry into these countries without having to stress yourself over a visa. Some may, however, be required to apply for a visa at their point of entry.

    1. Rwanda

    Easily the nearest African country, Rwanda has become a destination choice for investors and tourists. After the 1994 genocide war, the East African nation is wearing a new look. It is also a secured nation with less than five percent national crime rate.

    Visa is obtained at the entry point with just $100 for Nigerian passport holders.

    2. Djibouti

    In East Africa, one of the best places to visit from Nigeria is Djibouti. You may require a visa on arrival at an affordable rate, but the country still has beautiful places to visit such as Lake Assal, which is the lowest point on land in Africa. In the world, it is only the third after the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea.

    3. Morocco

    The culture, weather and exotic offering of Morocco make the country a great destination for honeymooners. There are super-amazing sites, shops, restaurants, cafes and more around the streets of Morocco which could definitely tempt you to turn your honeymoon into a typical excursion you will not regret.

    4. Cape Verde

    This is an island country that is found on the West African coast. It is one of the most welcoming tourist destinations on the continent as it has great weather and beautiful spots that you could have a splendid vacation.

    5. Kenya

    This beautiful tourist destination has a lot of wildlife, safari and historical places on offer. Cities to explore include Nairobi and Mombassa with the hosts generally welcoming and helpful. Visa is also at the point of entry.

    6. Uganda

    This East African nation with rich historical cuisine and sites such as Lake Victoria and others allow Nigerians to travel to obtain a visa at the point of entry.

    7. Sudan

    Nigerians can get visas at the entry point to visit the massive deserts and wildlife conservations in this hugely vast country.

    8. BURKINA FASO

    Location – West Africa
    (Visa free)

    The country also plays host to the International Arts and Crafts Fair, Ouagadougou which is regarded as one of the most important African handicraft fairs.

    Burkina Faso is a visa For Nigerian who would love to stay as long as they like. The Country boasts of gold reserves and is rich in music and art like the drumming culture.

    9. BENIN REPUBLIC

    Location – West Africa
    (Visa free for 3 months)

    As a Nigerian passport holder, you can visit Benin Republic and stay for 3 months without a visa. A country located close to Nigeria, there are a number of tourist attractions in the country that may interest you like the nominated UNESCO World Heritage site named Pendjari National Park.

    10. BURUNDI

    Location – East Africa
    (Visa free for 30 days)

    Nigerians are allowed a visit to Burundi for 30 days without a visa requirement. The country is known for its craft works that serve as a great gift option for tourists. From shields, baskets and masks to statues and pottery. An important part of the culture in Burundi is drumming, the Royal Drummers of Burundi have been performing for 40 years. The oral tradition of the country through poetry, storytelling and songs is also something worth enjoying.

    11. CHAD

    Location – Central Africa
    (Visa free for 3 months)

    Chad offers a 3-month visa-free stay for Nigerians. All you need to do is provide a return ticket that shows you do not plan to stay in the country permanently. You can visit the Chad National Museum,

    Chad Cultural Centre to get a feel of the rich cultural heritage of the Chadian people.

    12. CAMEROON

    Location – West Africa
    (Visa free for 90 days)

    Enjoy a great time in Cameroon as entry is visa-free for Nigerians. Check out the National Museum & Mvog-Betsi Zoo in Yaounde or the La Pagode Maritime Museum in Douala. There are a number of wildlife species ranging from lions and antelopes to snakes and birds, you will find at any of the parks.

    13. COTE D’IVOIRE

    Location – West Africa
    (Visa free)

    A visa free stay in Cote d’ivoire formerly known as Ivory Coast is worth it as there are several points of interests and tourist attractions you can visit during your stay. The beach resorts of Assinie, the Parc National de Tai, valleys of Man and the artsy Grand Bassam are some of the breathtaking tourist attractions you can see in Cote d’ivoire. You may also enjoy the lagoon boat tour or visit the open markets in Treichville or Cocody.

    14. COMOROS

    Location – East Africa
    (Visa on arrival)

    You can travel to Comoros without a visa but you can get the visa on arrival for $50. Comoros Island is made up of four developed islands with white sandy beaches, giant fruit bats, volcanoes, and rainforests. Enjoy one of the best adventures on Comoros Island and make memories of a lifetime.

    15. CAPE VERDE

    Location – West Africa
    (Visa on arrival)

    A visa will not be required by Nigerian citizen upon entry to Cape Verde, provided you can prove to the immigration officials you do not plan to stay permanently in the country. You will be required to provide a return ticket, as well as proof of funds.

    16. CAMBODIA

    Location – Southeast Asia
    (Visa on arrival for a period of 30 days)

    This country allows Nigerians entry with a 30-day visa on arrival at the port of entry. The country is well known for its beautiful beaches and ancient temple cities. You may visit during the annual Water Festival in November.

  • 10 reasons you should never skip breakfast

    10 reasons you should never skip breakfast

    By Ekaete Bassey

    Do you eat breakfast regularly? Breakfast being the first meal of the day is the most important meal.

    One should not skip breakfast as it helps in breaking your overnight fast. If you forgo your breakfast you extend this fast which might impact your metabolism.

    Those who skip breakfast tend to eat more portions of food in the next meal. Consuming a healthy breakfast restores the glucose levels in the body and lowers stress levels.

    Multiple studies have shown the importance of eating breakfast, whether it’s to improve your energy levels or keep you from overeating later in the day.

    Consider these ten reasons why you should never skip breakfast and why it is so vital:

    · It improves metabolism

    When you wake up in the morning, your blood sugar level drops, so you need a nutrient-dense breakfast that can provide you energy to get through the day and kick-start your metabolism.

    To boost your metabolism, try to eat breakfast at least within 2 hours of waking up.

    · It boosts energy

    Starting your day with the right kinds of foods in the morning can help keep you feeling energised throughout the day.

    Foods rich in whole grains, protein, fiber, and good fats can help provide your body with energy that helps keep your body and brain energy levels sustained for the rest of the day.

    · It improves focus

    Eating a breakfast high in complex carbohydrates can help improve your alertness and focus for the rest of the day.

    This can be especially helpful if you’re one to fall into the afternoon slump, as complex carbohydrates keep you satiated and energised.

    · It improves memory

    Eating breakfast daily can help improve your cognitive functions, including memory.

    Studies have shown that children who eat breakfast everyday show better memory, increase concentration, improved test scores and less absences.

    · It aids better mood

    Everyone knows that food makes people happy. Eating a well-rounded breakfast especially puts people in better moods. Studies have shown that eating food early in the day leads people to be calmer and more level-headed.

    Getting to work on an empty stomach will leave you fatigued and you might end up being grumpy all day.

    If you find yourself struggling with your mood throughout the day, consider making the small addition of breakfast. The impact may just surprise you.

    READ ALSO: Man beats wife to death over breakfast argument

    · It lowers risk of diabetes

    According to various studies, missing breakfast regularly can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes as it may cause chronic insulin resistance.

    Without having breakfast, the insulin level can drop and then spike after lunch, which might increase the risk of type “2” diabetes.

    · It decreases inflammation in the body

    Skipping a meal in the morning after sleeping all night puts stress on the body. Doing this every day can lead to chronic stress and inflammation in the body.

    Inflammation is a normal reaction when your body is fighting an illness, but chronic inflammation can lead to unwanted symptoms. These can include swollen joints, stiffness, and even flu-like things like fever and chills.

    · It helps maintain healthy weight

    If you are looking to lose weight, don’t skip breakfast. Eating heavy breakfast can help you curb hunger throughout the day and ultimately reduce the risk of overeating and consuming more calories than needed.

    Starting the day with a nutritious breakfast can stimulate and motivate healthy choices throughout the entire day.

    Note: Skipping breakfast should be strictly avoided if you’re trying to lose weight.

    · It lowers risk of heart disease

    People who skip their morning meal are more likely to have clogged arteries.

    Skipping breakfast is linked to other harmful habits which can leads to hypertension, obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol which in turn increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes by 27%.

    · It decreases risk of developing certain kind of cancers

    Since skipping breakfast leaves you hungry and fatigued; overeating during the day is often the case.

    Eating quick and unhealthy meals might lead to metabolism impairment and hormonal imbalance which commonly lead to obesity.

    Being obese and overweight exposes you to increased risk of developing certain cancers.

  • Twitter suspension: Five ‘dangers’ of using VPNs

    Twitter suspension: Five ‘dangers’ of using VPNs

    By Alao Abiodun

    The Federal government on Friday announced the indefinite suspension of Twitter operations in the country.

    The Nation reports this action by the government has left many Nigerians with no other choice but to engage the services VPN providers as an alternative option to access Twitter and other social media networks.

    A virtual private network — better known as a VPN — is a key path for digital anonymity.

    Checks by The Nation shows that using a VPN understandably makes one feel invincible, but there are still a few important risks involved that should one keep in mind.

    VPNs provide two of the most important services which are encryption and virtual IP addresses.

    Encryption locks data in a layer of unbreakable code while virtual IP addresses help one to gain access to virtual, non-local IP addresses.

    But a user on Twitter @Ohmsmaestro after the suspension said, “I have been warning some people to avoid doing any bank transactions via VPN. VPN is just like a router.

    “It reroutes your request via another means, bypassing your network providers. Those at the other end can monitor what you are sending over the network.”

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    With VPNs, you can still access the free internet through a tunnel. But can you trust the provider? Here are five dangers associated with using untrusted VPNs;

    Choosing the wrong VPN – One of the central dangers of using a VPN is choosing the wrong one.

    Free services that advertise on browser extension stores and mobile marketplaces are notorious for claiming fast downloads and anonymized activities when in reality they can be more dangerous than not using a VPN at all.

    All devices aren’t automatically protected – If you use VPN software to protect your PC or smartphone, that’s the only device that gets protected.

    In order to keep data safe, you must install an app on every device that connects to the internet (or else use a VPN router).

    Viruses and malware are still a threat – Most VPNs do not protect your computer from viruses or malware.

    You’ll still need to be mindful of downloading suspicious files, especially through torrent and P2P networks.

    Speed issues – VPN will often slow your connection speed by 10-25% depending on the service, all thanks to encryption overhead.

    This can be frustrating if you frequently stream HD movies or do a lot of online gaming.

    Fake VPN scams – In an ironic twist, many online hackers rely on scamming those who are working the hardest to avoid scams.

    This means that consumers should be wary of free anti-virus installers, fake ‘alert’ pop-ups, and, yes, VPN software.

    In the worst case, however, they also sell or supply data to government authorities. Even if the provider promises not to sell the data, it is already a risk that the data is stored at all.

    Not a day goes by without a new data leak being reported, whether due to poor security or criminal hacker attacks.

    Users Data Privacy – If a VPN service doesn’t charge its customers, the company has to bring in revenue from somewhere else. All your data makes a detour via the VPN provider. But do you really know the company and what it’s about? Essentially, you will have to trust your provider to maintain data privacy.

    The most common source is selling user information the VPN promised to protect. If you aren’t paying for the service, you’re not the customer, you’re the product. This holds true for nearly every free VPN service.

    So dear readers, the main concern is simple – you need to trust the VPN provider itself to look after your data. You also need to be certain that the app you are using is a genuine VPN, and not itself a scam.