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Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • Flood: 150 communities submerged in Kogi

    OVER 150 communities are said to have been ravaged by flood across nine local government areas of Kogi State.

    The Kogi State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Sanusi Yahaya, made this known in Lokoja, on Saturday at the state Emergency Operation Centre (EOC).

    He noted that the EOC had been activated as the state was already experiencing flood emergency as a result of river flooding.

    Yahaya, who doubles as the state coordinator, EOC, said out of nine local government areas along the banks of the rivers Niger and Benue, seven are severely affected.

    He listed the severely affected LGAs as: Ibaji, Kogi/Koton-Karfe, Lokoja, Ofu, Ajaokuta, Omala and Idah, saying over 90 percent of Ibaji communities have been submerged.

    “Particularly, majority of communities at Ibaji are under water, and many households have been affected and displaced.

    “As we speak, the water level has risen very high to about 10.60m today in Lokoja, from the report of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

    “In the last few days, many communities, settlements have been displaced as a result of flooding,’’ he stated.

    Read Also: Kogi Govt. set to inaugurate N4 billion Rice Mill

    He said that over 20 camps had been opened to accommodate flood victims.

    He advised residents of flood-prone and affected communities to relocate to safer places or move to the nearest camps opened by the state and local governments, to avoid loss of lives and properties.

    “With the activation of the state emergency centre, the state is collaborating with all the relevant stakeholders to make timely appropriate responses.

    “The state needs help. While we are working within the resources available to us, we need temporary shelter provision, food, non-food items and water, which the affected victims will need.”

    According to him, the number of households as at yesterday, around the Gadumo axis is 215, Ganaja 176, Galili 272 and Adankolo 246, all under Lokoja and Ajaokuta LGAs.

    He, however, noted that no human fatality had been recorded.

    He urged the federal government, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to come to the aid of the state.

    He also appealed to individuals, organisations and other relevant stakeholders to assist the state.

     

     

     

     

  • Look inwards, Obi advises Nigerian universities

    The Vice-Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Peter Obi, has advised Nigerian universities to look inwards for the development of their various schools. Obi said this during a visit to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

    Sharing managerial experiences with some principal officers of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Charles Igwe, and that of Awka, led by Prof Charles Esimone, Obi emphasised the need to work with dedicated men who understand that leadership is about service and embracing values that would encourage scholarship.

    Speaking further, Obi, by way of advice, challenged the leadership of institutions like the universities to study other successful universities worldwide, such as Harvard in the USA and Oxford in the UK, for factors that made for their successes and apply the same to their various institutions.

    Read Also: No nation can grow with election rigging – Peter Obi

    He said universities in Nigeria should seek alternative means of increasing their finances. “Alumni support and research are examples,” Obi said while quoting statistics to show that some universities in America and Europe, through effective alumni networking have billions in investment. “Frontline schools like Nsukka and Lagos can actually pioneer such efforts by diligently studying how the West does it”, Obi submitted.

    Obi contended that such effective use of alumni associations would stem what he called the “uninspiring dependence on moneybags to build structures and be given honorary degrees as if it has cash value.”

    Responding both vice chancellors thanked Obi for the visit and for his priceless advice which stemmed from his practical experiential pedigree.

  • Why 100% fruit juice is important in your diet

    The first step on the journey of wellness is a balance in our diet which is achievable by evaluating and taking advantage of readily available and affordable nutrient fillers. Experts have recommended the regular consumption of fruits as a key ingredient to providing important nutrients for overall health and wellness. Achieving the recommended goals of five fruit portion per day can be challenging and become hindered by availability, convenience, and affordability.

    This is what makes fruit juice a smart choice since it is a delicious and nutritious way to consume a range of exciting variants of whole fruits every day. 100% fruit juice has no added sugar, but contains only the naturally occurring sugars found in the fruit from which the juice is squeezed. When included as part of your healthy diet, 100% fruit juice can help meet recommended daily goals for fruit intake because it is a nutrient-dense drink that provides vitamins, minerals (folic acid, thiamine and magnesium) and beneficial plant nutrients like polyphenols. It is also vital to educate yourself on facts that will help you select a healthy product made from real fruit and not some concocted chemicals mixture.

    The first place to start is to go with time tested and trusted brands and whilst also paying attention to the nutrition facts on the label. Be careful to check that ‘100% fruit juice’ is clearly written on the packaging. In the Nigeria market, one well-known 100% fruit juice time tested and trusted brand is Chivita 100%. It is recommended for its supreme quality, purity and taste. In order to get real value for your money, always ensure that your fruit juice contains no preservatives or artificial colours.

    According to a nutritionist with Healthyliving International, Folakemi Adeyemi, consuming 100% fruit juices with no added sugar can reduce calories associated with added sugar without compromising quality nutrition. “Globally, products with added sugars have come under severe scrutiny because they are believed to provide what is mostly referred to as empty calories without adding nutritional benefits. The natural sugar in fruit juices come with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant. They are a convenient way to reach your daily fruit intake recommendations,” she stated.

    Fruit is a must-have for an everyday balanced diet, and 100% fruit juice is a convenient way to enjoy a portion of fruit when one fails to eat enough whole fruit and vegetables for healthy living. So, whether your favourite fruit is out of season or not readily available, you can reach out for convenience and healthy choice of your favourite fruit in 100% fruit juice.

  • Makinde, ALGON trade words over council funds

    The Oyo State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has faulted Governor Seyi Makinde’s claims that the judgment restraining him and the House of Assembly from sacking the council chairmen and members of the Board of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has been vacated.

    Makinde had stated on Southwest Political Circuit, a political interview programme on Ibadan-based Fresh FM at the weekend that the judgment has been vacated.

    He spoke through his Special Adviser on Legislative Matters, Hon. Samuel Adejumobi (aka Agbara po).

    The judgment had restrained the governor and the House of Assembly from sacking the elected chairmen, conducting another election or tampering with the funds of the councils. But the chairmen were sacked two hours after the new governor was sworn in on May 29.

    Reacting to the claim on Sunday in a telephone chat with The Nation, ALGON Chairman, Hon. Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, challenged Makinde to produce the evidence that the judgment had been vacated.

    He said the appeal filed against the judgment by the state government was still pending at the Court of Appeal, adding that the appellate court was yet to fix the date of hearing because the judges went on holiday.

    The ALGON boss challenged the state government to name the court that vacated the judgment and the date such decision was taken. He urged Makinde to stop deceiving the public over his alleged wrong steps, stressing that integrity should be the hallmark of a governor.

    Read Also: Makinde: my victory triumph of truth over falsehood 

    Makinde also said that his administration was not borrowing to pay staff of local governments and Local Council Development Areas as claimed by the ALGON chairman.

    He said council funds are intact but that the government was paying salaries from it without borrowing.

    Makinde said ALGON came out with the allegation of borrowing because it did not understand how his administration was handling the prompt payment of salaries which he accused the past administration of having inflated by about N1 billion shortly after the March 9 governorship election which it lost.

     

     

     

  • Ogun may establish two additional universities

    The Ogun State Government has revealed that it may establish two additional universities to address the agitation of the people of the Central and Western Senatorial districts respectively.

    The existing universities – Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago – Iwoye, and Tai Solarin University of Education(TASUED), Ijagun- are located in Ogun East senatorial district.

    Governor Dapo Abiodun made this known at the weekend during a stakeholders forum in Abeokuta, the state capital, with the theme “Re-positioning education for outstanding performance.”

    Abiodun said he was aware of the demands of the two senatorial districts to have institutions of a university status, adding that this would be done gradually, taking the state’s financial position into consideration.

    “We have been able to settle the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) issue. It is a win – win for everybody. If the people of Ogun Central still want a University, they will have it and if the people of Ogun West say they want a university, university they will have. But we are going to take it one step at a time and also consider the financial position of the State,” he said.

    Read Also: Governor Abiodun’s ‘Oko Owo Dapo’

    The Governor, who described the State as the education capital of Nigeria, said more than 10 public and private universities and other tiers of tertiary education are running in the state, assuring that his administration was poised at reposition education in order for the State to regain its lost glory in the sector.

    “In the past, Ogun State’s position used to be in a digit, but now we are at the bottom five. This is unacceptable as the State is known to be first in every facets of our nation life. We cannot continue and we are doing everything possible to reverse the trend.

    “As you all know, during my inauguration on May 29, I declared an emergency in the education sector. We are following it up with the rehabilitation of 236 primary and secondary schools in each of our wards.

    “We set up Committees to resolve issues that affected smooth running of academic activities in some of our tertiary institutions.

    “The Committees have since submitted their reports and recommendations. I want to assure our good people that education which is one of our pillars, will continue to receive due and prompt attention,” the governor added.

    Abiodun, while assuring that teaching and learning conditions in public schools would be improved, added that teachers and non teaching staff would be trained and retrained in latest teaching methods and schools’ administration.

    He promised that their welfare would also remain paramount to ensure improved performance of students in both local and international examinations.

  • Woman arrested for allegedly stealing two-month-old baby in Ekiti

    The Ekiti State Police Command, on Sunday, said it had arrested a woman who was alleged to have stolen a two-month-old baby boy in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on Friday.

    The police told newsmen in Ado-Ekiti that the 39-year-old Mercy Momoh was arrested at her residence in Odo area of the state capital by operatives of the command.

    NAN reports that Momoh, who hails from Edo State, was alleged to have stolen the baby from his mother, Mrs Funmilayo Sunday, on Friday, at the state government secretariat.

    She was said to have tricked the baby’s mother into following her to the secretariat under the guise of helping her influence the collection of some relief materials being given to flood victims by the state government.

    The suspect was said to have asked the baby’s mother to help her buy a recharge card and that she should drop her phone and leave the baby with her.

    Momoh was, however, alleged to have disappeared with the baby before the mother returned from the errand.

    The command’s Spokesman, Caleb Ikechukwu (DSP), said that investigations were still ongoing to unravel the circumstances behind the incident.

    “It is confirmed that the woman, who stole a two-month-old baby, has been arrested by the operatives of the Ekiti Police Command.

    Read Also: Five die, many injured in Ekiti road crash

    “The suspect is Mercy Momoh, a 39-yr-old lady from Edo State. She was apprehended through a tip off and will be prosecuted after the conclusion of investigations.

    “The suspect was apparently nice to the mother of the victim and that was why she was able to get the baby easily.

    “Investigations are still ongoing. More details will come on what really transpired.

    Ikechukwu called on members of the public to be careful in their relationship with strangers, adding that they should not get carried away by any act of kindness being shown by them.

    NAN

  • EPL: Liverpool beat Chelsea to maintain perfect start

    Liverpool retained their five-point lead at the top of the table as they became the first team to win their opening six Premier League games in successive seasons with a fiercely-fought victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

    Jurgen Klopp’s title pace-setters looked on course to win in comfort as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s magnificent free-kick and Roberto Firmino’s header gave them complete control at the interval.

    Chelsea, who had been denied an equalizer when Cesar Azpilicueta’s close-range effort was ruled out for offside by VAR, were in no mood to capitulate and made Liverpool fight every inch of the way to maintain that perfect record.

    Read Also: Free-scoring Liverpool make Premier League history

    Tammy Abraham had chances to increase his tally of seven goals this season, particularly when he was denied by Liverpool keeper Adrian when clean through in the first half, but it was left to N’Golo Kante to set up a grandstand finish with a superb strike with 19 minutes to play.

    Liverpool, however, held on, surviving missed chances from Michy Batshuayi and Mason Mount, to produce an instant response to Manchester City’s 8-0 win over Watford on Saturday.

    BBCSports

  • BREAKING: #BBNaija: Frodd wins Ultimate Veto Power

    Frodd has won the ultimate veto power in the Big Brother Naija game.

    This power gives him the ability to nominate five housemates up for eviction

    This win got him 200 Bet Naija coins, and each housemates got 100 Bet Naija coins.

    His win came as a result of his picture aligning with the one in the red box. It was the same box that caused pandemonium in the house during the week, as it got misplaced and a fight ensued, especially between Tacha, Mercy and Diane.

    Big Brother on Saturday issued a strike to Diane, Cindy and Elozonam, concerning the box.

    Reacting to his ultimate veto power win, Frodd shouted “Thank you Jesus”

  • Suspected yahoo boy runs mad, strips self naked in Ekiti

    There was drama on a major highway in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, when a young man suspected to be an Internet fraudster ran mad in full public glare on Sunday evening.

    The suspected Yahoo boy stripped himself naked completely and was making strange statements nobody could understand.

    The incident happened in Adebayo area near the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) School of Nursing.

    Eyewitnesses revealed that he had earlier parked a Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) by the roadside, emerged from the vehicle and removed his clothes one after the other.

    Nobody knew where the guy, who is believed to be in his early 20s, came from before he started behaving abnormally.

    He went ahead to remove his singlet and boxers and was stark naked, a scene which drew bystanders and passersby.

    Read Also: Five die, many injured in Ekiti road crash

    At intervals, the young man would kneel down and stand up singing some songs and making incoherent statements.

    He later moved from one place to the other with some residents shaking their heads in disbelief while others were recording the drama with their mobile phones.

    His action cause disruption of traffic along the federal highway with some motorists and commercial motorcyclists parking their vehicles and bikes to behold the drama.

    A good samaritan had tried to save the young guy by trying to tie his hand but he broke loose again and ran forward to continue the show.

    An eyewitness said: “This is what we have been telling our young men that they should stop mad pursuit of wealth.

    “This guy that has just run mad showed traces of a Yahoo boy and the rituals they are into has backfired and the result is what we are seeing now.

    “A good number of them have run mad and died in places like Ado and Ikere and this is a lesson to others who are into Yahoo scam and Yahoo Plus.”

     

     

  • Group demands unconditional release of Sowore, others

    A group, Peoples Alternative Front (PAF) has demanded the unconditional release of Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare detained by the State Service (SSS) for alleged terrorism and treason.

    They described as unfounded, allegations of terrorism, treason and money laundering against Sowore insisting he was arrested for insulting President Muhammadu Buhari.

    A statement released on Sunday by PAF secretary Alloysius Eze said Sowore had been detained for almost two months contrary to the 45-day granted by a Federal High Court, and the DSS was yet to substantiate its allegations against him.

    “After detaining Mr. Sowore for almost two months the SSS found no evidence to substantiate the reckless allegations. Instead of releasing him from illegal custody Mr. Sowore has now been charged with insulting President Buhari by criticizing him at Arise Television interview and treasonable felony by planning to stage protests against unpopular government policies on August 5, 2019.

    “Mr. Sowore has also been charged with money laundering for transferring the sum of $19,975 (N7.2m) from his personal bank account to Sahara Reporters, an online medium published by him!

    Read Also: Release Sowore now, Ondo Monarch tells Buhari

    “With respect to Mr. Olawale Bakare (aka Mandate) he was arrested in Osogbo, Osun State during the revolution protest on August 5. Other comrades arrested with him have been charged with unlawful assembly at the Magistrate Court, Osogbo, Osun State by the Nigeria Police Force.

    “All efforts to contact Mandate since then have proved abortive as the SSS had denied detaining him. Mandate who has been held incommunicado contrary to Section 2 of the Anti-Torture Act, 2017, has now been charged with treasonable felony along with Mr. Sowore.

    “Since it has been established that both patriots have been detained for several weeks for terrorism without any legal basis we hereby demand for their unconditional release from the illegal custody of the SSS.

    “We also call on the Inspector General of Police to release Messrs Agba Jalingo and Ekanem Ekpo being detained in police custody for terrorism for insulting Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River State by publishing allegations of official corruption in Cross River State.

    “We agree with Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) that there can be no legal or moral basis for harassing patriotic citizens by the Buhari regime which is currently negotiating with terrorists and bandits, bribing them with public funds and granting them amnesty for arson and looting, gang raping women, kidnapping and killing innocent people.”