Saturday 16 May 2020

Haaland scores in Dortmund win on Bundesliga return

Erling Braut Haaland scored for Borussia Dortmund as they marked the return of the Bundesliga during the coronavirus outbreak with a convincing derby win over Schalke.

The game will mostly be remembered for the surreal circumstances in which it was played, as Germany became the first major league in Europe to resume action behind closed doors.

There was an eerie atmosphere at Dortmund's iconic Signal Iduna Park stadium, with every shout by players or coaches audible, and social distancing protocol followed by substitutes and during goal celebrations.

Haaland opened the scoring with a trademark cool finish, flicking home Thorgen Hazard's cross to continue his sensational season, albeit after an enforced break of almost 10 weeks.

Raphael Guerreiro added two more goals and Hazard also found the net as Dortmund went on to claim a comfortable win over their near neighbours and move within a point of leaders Bayern Munich, who play on Sunday.

A strange feeling as football resumes
Elite-level football might be back in Europe, but it certainly has a different feel about it than it did two months ago.

Strict hygiene protocols saw the Dortmund and Schalke players arrive on multiple buses, use several changing rooms and then enter the pitch by different routes.

Warm-ups were staggered and the coaching staff and substitutes wore masks and were all separated by two metres as they took their place on the sidelines.

Once the balls had been disinfected by the ball-boys, the game began in total silence, only pierced by the referee's whistle for kick-off, before being played out to the sound of echoed applause or yelled instructions from the dug-outs.

Fans were completely absent from the 80,000-capacity stadium but that did not stop the Dortmund players performing their trademark salute to the empty stands at the final whistle - standing apart rather than holding hands of course.

Haaland reminds Europe of his talent
The backdrop to the game made for a strange spectacle, but it did nothing to disrupt Haaland's fine form even if it was 70 days on from his last Bundesliga appearance.

With the rest of Europe watching on, Dortmund's 19-year-old Norwegian wonderkid reminded everyone of his precocious talent as he scored one goal, and helped make another.

Haaland now has hit 10 goals in his first nine Bundesliga appearances - and 13 in 12 games in all competitions - since his January move from Red Bull Salzburg and his prolific scoring rate shows no sign of slowing up.

Another of Dortmund's highly-rated young talents, England forward Jadon Sancho, was restricted to an 11-minute cameo off the bench, because of a calf injury.

On-loan Everton full-back Jonjoe Kenny started for Schalke, who brought on Wales winger Rabbi Matondo as one of their five substitutes - two more than usual are permitted under the new regulations for the Bundesliga's restart. (BBC Football)

Buhari Receives Native Cure For COVID-19 From Madagascar

Nigeria Latest News Blog



President Muhammadu Buhari has received a native remedy for the COVID-19 from Madagascar.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, announced this on Saturday in a series of tweets.

According to Mr Garba, samples of the native remedy were brought by the President of Guinea Bissau, Umaro Embalo.

However, he noted that President Buhari reiterated that all necessary procedures will be put in place before allowing traditional or any new medicines to be administered on Nigerians.

(Channels Television)

Ekiti Govt Approved The Appointment Of Prince Adeagbo As The New Oore Of Otun-Ekiti

The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has approved the appointment of Prince Adekunle Adeayo Adeagbo from Ile-Iyaba Ruling House as the new Oore of Otun-Ekiti, succeeding HRM Oba James Adeyemi Popoola who joined his ancestors on the 21st of October, 2019.

This announcement was contained in a press statement released in Ado-Ekiti on Friday by the state commissioner of Information and Values Orientation, Hon. Muyiwa Olumilua at the end of the State Executive Council meeting.

The statement reads; "The Council also approved the appointment of Prince Adekunle Adeagbo of the Adifagbade Ruling House, Ile-Iyaba, of Otun-
Ekiti as the new Oore of Otun-Ekiti, following his nomination by the Kingmakers".

Born 52 years ago in Ibadan to the family of Prince (Hon.) Samuel Adebowale and Lady Janet Adeagbo. He is a blue Economist, well travelled and globally exposed Oba (Elect) Adekunle Adeayo Adeagbo is happily married to Catherine. A. Adeagbo and blessed with three sons.

He attended All Saints Primary School, Jericho, Onireke, Ibadan, Oyo State between 1975-1980. He is a product of International School, the prestigious Imperial University of Ibadan, Oyo State for his Ordinary and advanced level certificate between 1980-1987. Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, where he obtained B.sc in Economics between 1987-1991. He did his NYSC at Rigom Oil Services/Shell Petroleum Development Company West Ogunu, Warri, Delta State after graduating in the year 1992.

Even though the he is not a politician, his father was a diehard follower of late Obafemi Awolowo and a former UPN Member, Federal House of Representatives between 1979 and 1983.

Oba(elect) Adeagbo is an International Dredging practitioner on sharp sand, aggregates, granite, gold, tourmaline and precious minerals. An Executive Director 
Mercury Dredging and Construction Ltd, Lagos & Mercury Dredging and Construction Inc, Canada. 

He has been involved in several successful projects like;
1. Successful supervision and completion Of Bush Clearing Works for Dangote Refinery 600,000 barrels a day refinery at Ibeju Lekki, Lekki Lagos, Lagos State between 2014 – 2018. 

2. Sand filling of SAHARA GROUP tank farm site at Onne Oil and gas free zone, Onne, Rivers State between 2014 -2018. 

3. Pioneer camp site for Olokola Liquefied Natural gas site at Odeomi, Ogun State for Chevron/Popham Walter Odusote Group between 2007 – 2009.

Defeating six other princes from the dame Ile-Eye Aba ruling house of Otun-Ekiti, Prince Adeagbo, a very close ally of the Arole Oodua and Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, was on 5th May, 2020 selected as the new Oore of Mobaland in Ekiti state by the kingmakers after due consultations of the IFA Oracle in line with the customs of the ancient town ss directed by the Ekiti State Government with respect to the 1961 chieftaincy declaration.

He is a member of;
1. International Western Dredging Association, Canada. 
2. Nigerian - Canada Association, Ottawa, Canada. 
3. The World Dredging Association.
4. Ibadan Golf Club, Ibadan.

Benue lady allegedly stabs her baby's father to death

A 22-year-old indigene of Benue State, Mrs Veronica Mohammed, who was alleged to have killed her husband over a trivial matter, had tear all over her face as she narrated her story in a broken voice.


Trying helplessly to hold back tears, Mohammed said, “My parents who brought me to this world have humiliated, cheated and frustrated my entire life. If I knew early enough that the people I stayed with weren’t my biological parents, I would have run away from them. I was deceived and introduced to fake parents by my own blood sister. What a wicked world!

“ My parents violated my human right and my late husband , Anyakwo Mohammed , who impregnated me without paying my bride price, deceived me. It was frustration and anger that pushed me to stab my late husband . The time he brought in another lady with pregnancy worsened the situation. 

"Since this incident happened, I have been unhappy. I called my husband’s brother working with the Nasarawa Broadcasting Service to plead on my behalf. I have sinned against them . My late husband ’s brother said I should not worry that it was how God wanted it for there was nothing they could do to bring their late brother back to life.

“ I am begging the commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to forgive me and help me to get out of my predicament . I was arrested by the NSCDC . I am being neglected by my family members even those I refer to as my parents have also abandoned me to my fate.’’

Veronica was said to have allegedly stabbed her husband to death for impregnating another woman.

She told our correspondent that she was staying with her grandmother before she died and her uncle took her to Keana council area to live with him. Mohammed said it was while staying with her uncle that she met her late husband who impregnated her out of wedlock.

Veronica, who could not complete primary school from Army Children School , Makurdi , the Benue state capital , said she and her late husband dated for four years before he impregnated her with a promise that he would marry her if she converted to Islam.

“ I regret my action ; May his gentle soul rest in peace . I did not know that he would die. I have been having misunderstanding with my late husband over a woman he impregnated and it led to constant quarrels and fighting . I got tired of it all. I returned from my ‘parents’ house and was told that Mohammed was with another lady whom he impregnated and when I asked him if the pregnancy was his , he refuted. He only said the lady was his girlfriend but the pregnancy wasn’t his .

“ We stayed together with the lady but she left before this incident happened. My late husband promised to marry me if I could change my religion . But when we started having constant quarrels , I was discouraged to do that.’’

Narrating what led to the incident , she said she asked him to give her his phone and he refused thus a disagreement ensued.

She added that she roasted some yams on that day, adding that she went inside the bedroom to pick a knife to peel the yams.
Veronica stated that while peeling the yams, she told her late husband he wouldn’t share out of it but he insisted and stood up to fight her and in the process he held her hand and she didn’t know how the knife hit him. He said the incident happened in the night and before he could be rushed to a hospital , he had died.

She added, “My late husband visited my people twice and bought them some things. I have a two-year baby for him. The baby is in Lafia with my husband’s family.

“My sister told me that the man I thought was my father is not my biological father. I heard my sister telling her husband that my story is not a good one. I listened to their conversation and I didn’t say anything to interrupt them. I asked the man who I believed was my father if he was my biological father and he said I should not mind my sister. I just became confused.’’
The Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr Mahmud Fari, said the suspect would be charged to court upon completion of investigation.

Fari said the suspect stabbed her husband to death over an alleged dating of another woman, adding that the suspect claimed that the deceased only kept her without any legal marriage between them.

He added, “She confessed to the crime and pleaded that justice be tempered with mercy because she has a baby girl of two years and also two-month pregnant for the deceased.’’


Bribery: EFCC Arraigns Two Chinese For N100 Million


The EFCC, Sokoto Zonal  office on Friday, May 15, 2020  arraigned the duo of Meng Wei Kun and Xui Kuoi, both Chinese, before Justice Mohammed Sa’idu Sifawa  of the State High Court Sokoto. 

They were arraigned on two-count charges of conspiracy and offering bribe to a public servant to the tune of N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira). 

The defendants were docked for allegedly offering to bribe the EFCC Sokoto Zonal Head,  Mr. Abdullahi Lawal with the sum of one hundred  million naira (N100,  000.000.00) on behalf of a construction company:  China Zhonghao Nig. Ltd,  which is being investigated over contracts  awarded it  by the Zamfara State Government in the sum of over Fifty Billion Naira (N50, 000,000,000.00) between 2012 to 2019.

The EFCC is investigating the construction company in connection with the execution of contracts for the construction of township roads in Gummi, Bukkuyun, Anka and Nassarawa towns of Zamfara State; and also the construction of 168 (One Hundred And Sixty-eight)  solar-powered boreholes in the 14 local government areas of the state.



Count one read: ’That you Mr. Meng Wei Kun and Mr. Xu Kuoi sometimes in May 2020 at Kasarawa area, Airport Road Sokoto, within the jurisdiction of  the High Court of Justice Sokoto State agreed to do an illegal act to wit; bribery and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 59 of the Sokoto State Penal Code Law, 2019 and Punishable under Section 60 (2) of the same Law’’.

The second count read: ‘’That you Mr. Meng Wei Kun and Mr. Xu Kuoi on the 11th of May 2020 at about 2200 hours at Kasarawa area, Airport Road Sokoto, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice Sokoto State,  being staff of China Zhonghao Nigeria Limited, offered a bribe of  fifty million naira as inducement to one Abdullahi Lawal a Public Servant (Zonal Head of Operations of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Sokoto Zonal Office) in order to compromise an ongoing investigation involving your company with regard to various contracts award/execution in parts of Zamfara State and thereby committed an offence of offering bribe to a Public servant contrary to Section 83 of the Sokoto State Penal Code Law, 2019 and Punishable under Section 83 (2) of the same Law’’.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when  read to them.

In view of their pleas,  prosecution counsel, Musa Mela Gwani who appeared with Habila Jonathan, asked for a date to commence trial and prayed the court for an accelerated hearing.

However, counsel to the defendants, A. A. Usman, told the court that he had filed an application of bail for his clients and urged the court to grant his prayers.

Justice Sifawa adjourned the matter to  May 18, 2020 for bail hearing and  June 15,  2020 for commencement of trial.

Trouble started for the two Chinese when they offered the sum of N100,000, 000( One Hundred Million Naira only) as bribe to Abdulahhi Lawal, EFCC Sokoto Zonal Head,  in a desperate  bid to compromise ongoing investigations of a construction company,  China Zhonghao Nig. Ltd,  handling contracts awarded by the Zamfara State Government to the tune of N50billion  (Fifty  Billion Naira)  between 2012 to 2019. They were arrested and now facing prosecution for such an act of corruption.

(EFCC)

Nigeria records 288 new COVID-19 cases, total now 5,445

Nigeria has recorded 288 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the country to
5,445.

Announcing via its official Twitter handle on Friday night, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said the country recorded the new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.

Lagos State recorded 179 cases, Kano State had twenty cases, Katsina and Jigawa State recorded fifteen cases each, Borno State had thirteen cases, Ogun State recorded eleven cases and the Federal Capital Territory recorded seven cases.

The tweet further revealed that Niger and Ekiti State had four cases, Oyo, Delta and Bauchi State had three cases each, Kwara State had two cases and Edo State recorded one case.

The NCDC also said that four new patients have been confirmed dead to the virus in the country, bringing the total number of deaths to 171.

Till date, 5,445 cases have been confirmed, 3,959 are active cases, 1320 cases have been discharged and 171 deaths have been recorded in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory
Read more stories on Nigeria Latest News Blog

Friday 15 May 2020

Ekiti govt confirms 4 new cases of coronavirus

Ekiti State Government on Friday confirmed four new cases of Coronavirus disease in the state.

The State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Mojisola Yahaya-Kolade, disclosed this when members of the Covid-19 Taskforce gave an update on the spread of the virus in the state.


Yaya-Kolade said though the state has discharged some patients from the isolation centre, but hinted that three of the four new cases were those that have been quarantined having come to the state from places considered as epicentre of Covid-19.

“We have four new cases now. One of the cases is an old man that has been isolated in one of our tertiary health institutions for a while. He is an elderly person who is in a critical condition.

“Others included a 35-year-old female from Katsina and 32-year-old male from Ibadan, while the third one is a 38-year-old male from Lagos, who all sneaked into Ekiti during the lockdown.

“But despite all these, no community spread, because they all came from outside. We beg our people to always alert us when new people come into town, because this has been working.

“But we are begging that nobody should come to Ekiti now, it is an executive order given by Governor Kayode Fayemi that nobody should come at this precarious time.

“It constitutes financial burden to Ekiti for victims of Covid-19 to come from Lagos, Oyo, Katsina to our state for treatment,” she stated.

Yaya-Kolade added that the government has trained a total of 80 civil servants on how to test the people using infra red thermometer.

She added that a total of 234 blood samples had been taken and tested since the outbreak of the disease, adding that more will be done to safeguard the state from calamity.

The commissioner added that Ekiti has set up a molecular laboratory situated within the premises of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, which she said will be launched soon.

Also speaking, the Director General, Office of Transformation, Strategy and Delivery, Prof. Bolaji Aluko, stated that the state has received the sum of N631.083 million cash donations through the Covid-19 Fund Mobilisation Committee, headed by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN).

“We have received a sum of N631.08 million from 535 contributors which the breakdown includes 231 donors and 234 political appointees.

“About 50 private organisations had donated food items and other consumables to fight this scourge by way of cushioning the effect of lockdown on the people,” he said.

Aluko said the state government will continue to work with security agencies and border towns to make the borders safe and impenetrable by intruders.

The Commissioner for Environment, Hon Gbenga Agbeyo, said drone fumigation by Oodua fumigating team being powered by Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, will soon commence as part of the measures to curb the menace.

FAAC Shares N606.196 Billion April Allocation To FG, States, LGs ...

The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared a total sum of N606.196 billion  as April allocation to the Federal, States, Local 
Governments and relevant agencies in the country.

This amount, includes revenue from Value Added Tax (VAT), Exchange Gain, Solid Mineral Revenue, Excess Bank Charges and Excess Oil Revenue.

The Federal Government received N169.831 billon, the States received N86.140 billion, Local Government councils got N66.411 billion, while the oil producing states received N32.895 billion as derivation (13% Mineral Revenue).

Cost of collection, FIRS Refund, Allocation to North East Development Commission and Transfer to Excess Oil Revenue was put at N15.134 billion.

Hassan Dodo, Director of Information at the Federal Ministry of Finance said “the Gross Revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) for April 2020 was N94.495 billion as against the N120.268 billion distributed in the preceding month of March 2020, resulting in a decrease of N25.772 billion.

The VAT distribution for April shows that the Federal Government got N13.182 billion, the States received N43.941 billion, Local Government Councils got N30.758 billon.





How Nigeria can defeat COVID-19 – Osinbajo

The challenge posed by the coronavirus pandemic can only be defeated through careful coordination and collaborative efforts of the government, public and private sectors, as well as philanthropists, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has said.
 
Mr Osinbajo said given the unprecedented nature of the global pandemic, both in its impact and severity, it was clear that it was a challenge the public sector alone cannot tackle.
 
“As the pandemic’s impact is unprecedented, so too is the commitment of Nigerians both at home and abroad, who have rallied to help one another and stand in solidarity against this deadly virus,” he said.
 
The vice president spoke on Thursday in Abuja at an event to announce the impending launch of a Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF) to provide additional support for Nigeria’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 
The fund is an initiative of Global Citizen, a global movement committed to ending extreme poverty by 2030, in collaboration with Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to enable Nigerians at home or in the diaspora as well as international donors to contribute to Nigeria’s fight against the pandemic.
 
The event hosted by the NSIA and chaired by the vice president also had the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, in attendance.
 
Others present included the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NSIA, Jide Zeitlin, and the Managing Director, Uche Orji, with Global Citizen represented by the Chairman of Global Citizen Nigeria, Babatunde Folawiyo, and the Vice-Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede.
 
Mr Osinbajo noted the significant health, social and economic challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has presented across the world, adding that the Nigerian government instituted measures to contain the spread of the virus.

 
Despite efforts to increase access to testing, ensure contact tracing and isolation as well as implementation of social distancing to contain the potentially devastating impact of this deadly virus, he said more support was needed.
 
“The government of Nigeria is delighted that the NSIA, together with the world’s leading international advocacy organization, Global Citizen, and their partners, have embarked on a process to set up a new funding vehicle,” he said.
 
“The NSSF will provide support to our most vulnerable communities in the fight against COVID-19,” he added.
 
The NSIA Board Chairman, Mr Zeitlin, said the NSSF would be incorporated as a non-government charitable foundation to be managed professionally and transparently governed in line with global best practices.
 
He said the advisory board of the fund would comprise eminent and qualified men and women to ensure the funds are effectively used and properly accounted for, to the benefit of all Nigerians. (Premium Times)

COVID-19: EFCC Hands Over Property to Lagos State Govt for Isolation Centre

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, May 15, 2020, handed over a property forfeited by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke to the Lagos State government for use as an isolation centre for COVID-19 patients.

The property consisting six flats of three bedrooms and a boys’ quarter was forfeited by Mrs Allison-Madueke  following an order of Lagos State Federal High in 2017.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Lagos Zonal Head of the EFCC, Mohammed Rabo stated that the gesture was part of the Commission’s social responsibility efforts towards the fight against the spread of Corona virus.

“In addition to our mandate to fight economic and financial crimes, the Commission is committed and ready to render essential services that may be required of it in the fight against covid-19.

Therefore, Lagos State should not hesitate to call on the Commission anytime the need for such essential service arises,” he said. 
In his remarks, the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, thanked the Commission for the gesture, noting that it was a welcome collaboration between the Federal and Lagos State Government.

While assuring the Commission that the property would be put to good use, the governor thanked the EFCC for paying attention to the efforts of the state government at containing COVID 19.

He added that “part of the challenges we have been facing is getting isolation centres for COVID-19 patients. We will go round the facility to see what we can do to improve on it.”

(EFCC)

Tragedy As Missing Seven-Year-Old Girl Found Dead Inside Co-tenants Vehicle In Ekiti

Olujoda area of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital on Friday, was thrown into mourning when the corpse of a 7-year -old girl Olagoke Morire, was found dead inside a vehicle owned by a co-tenant.

It was gathered that Morire and her twin sister, Olagoke Mokore were with their cousin in their apartment before they went out to buy biscuits.

The mother of the deceased Kehinde Ajayi said her daughter got missing around 1:15 pm after Mokore left her in the compound to fetch the money she forgot in the room.

Ajayi said the deceased’s twin sister and her neighbors raised the alarm when she could not be found and the situation prompted them to conduct a search for the girl around the compound, which proved abortive until 8 pm when her corpse was found inside a co-tenant’s vehicle that was parked in their compound.

“When we woke up in the morning I took care of my children as usual. They are twins. I gave them money to buy biscuits and left them in the house with my cousin.
“Suddenly, I received a distress call from one of my neighbors around 3 pm that Morire was missing and that they have searched everywhere but they could find her. I quickly left what I was doing and rushed home. We searched everywhere to look for her yet we didn’t find her. We reported the incident to Ologede Police Division and we were told to wait for 24hrs before they could take any action.

“It was later around 8 pm that someone discovered her corpse inside a vehicle parked in our compound with her body peeled off”, she added.

When contacted, the Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer, Abutu Sunday confirmed the incident, describing it as unfortunate.

“It was true that a teenager was declared missing and the parents reported the incident in our division at Ologede. So, all efforts to recover the little girl turned out unsuccessful until 8 pm. She was found lifeless in one of the cars parked within their compound”.

He said the corpse of the deceased had been deposited in the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital’s morgue in Ado-Ekiti, adding that autopsy would be conducted to unravel the cause of the teenager’s death.

Vanguard

Death of Ponmo Seller Sparks Protests in Ekiti


A woman, Sefiat Useni, who lived at Oketoro area of Iyin-Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun local government area of Ekiti State, was gruesomely murdered in her room in a mysterious circumstance at midnight on Wednesday, which has sparked protests.

It was learnt that the deceased, a ‘ponmo’ seller who lived alone, was hit on the head with a pestle and she died on her bed. It was further revealed that her body and the room where she was murdered were drenched with blood as a result of the severe head injury she sustained.

The death caused violent protest on Wednesday at Iyin, as Ebira people and the deceased kinsmen demanded that a man arrested in connection with the murder should be handed over to them for possible jungle justice.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti command, Mr. Sunday Abutu, said the cause of the death is being thoroughly investigated. “We have arrested a suspect in respect of this murder and he is being detained at the CID section,” he said.

Minister Flags Off Home Grown School Feeding Programme In Abuja

The Minister, Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq has flagged off the modified Home Grown School Feeding Programme in the FCT.

Sadiya Farouq performed the commencement of the programme today in Kuje, Abuja.

She said that the Modified Home Grown School Feeding is a National Programme funded by the Federal Government but implemented by the states.

According to Farouq, '' the ministry is working hard with our partners both at National and International levels to mitigate the challenge posed by hunger especially during this trying period.''

The Minister disclosed that she was in Kuje to flag off the commencement of the modified programme in the FCT and to also conduct a spot check of the operations.

Farouq explained that hunger is a serious by-product of this pandemic crisis, which is why from the onset the Ministry has been evolving strategies to facilitate humanitarian interventions in the country.

She maintained that the commencement of the school feeding programme today was based on Mr. President’s directive to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to liaise with State governments to develop strategies on the continuation of the school feeding programme.

She further disclosed that the Ministry in consultation and collaboration with State governments identified the distribution of Take-Home Rations (THR) to the households of the children on the programme as a feasible method of achieving this directive after exploring several options, this according to her is a globally accepted means of supporting children to continue to have access to nutrient rich foods despite disruptions to the traditional channels of school feeding.

She highlighted that beginning from today in Abuja, this programme will target parents and guardians of children in primary 1 to 3 in public schools participating in the programme.

‘’We are working with the World Food Programme, who are providing technical support while other agencies of Government have been invited to provide an extra layer of monitoring. They include the DSS, EFCC, ICPC, Code of Conduct Bureau and a host of NGOS and CSOS. The Ministry is using the opportunity of the Programme to collect and verify data with the support of CSOs and NGOs’’, she added.

The programme will impact 3,131,971 households across the nation out of which the FCT has 29,609 households. The Take Home Rations will be distributed to parents and guardians of the children in six Area Councils in FCT- Kuje, Kwali and Abaji on Thursday and Friday while the distributions continue in Amac, Bwari and Gwagwalada on Monday and Tuesday next week.

Sadiya Farouq said Lagos and Ogun states are next ports of call before the programme moves to other states of the Federation.

In his remarks, the Nigeria Country Director, World Food Programme, Paul Howe, noted that everyone shares the aspiration for Nigeria to be a country with zero hunger but COVID-19 had really been a setback.

He said the WFP and other partners are in support of the Ministry's leadership in trying to address in a high quality, effective and timely manner the crises of hunger caused by COVID-19.

Howe encouraged more collaboration between the Ministry and other partners to achieve zero hunger for Nigeria. (CKN News)

Laylatul Qadr Is Not a Carnival Night

Laylatul Qadr Is Not a Carnival Night

The manner with which some of us observe the night is quite different from what is expected of us.

The night of power otherwise known as Laylatul Qadr is a prominent night in the month of Ramadan.

It is the night we are expected to seek from the 20th of Ramadan to the end of the holy month.

However, seeking the night requires Muslims to stay up all night observing vigil (Tahajud), remembering Allah (adhkar), reciting the Holy Qur'an and other forms of Ibadah.

However, the manner with which some of us observe the night is quite different from what is expected of us. Some people sees the night of majesty as some forms of entertainment.

This stems from the misconceptions we have about the night. In the Holy Qur'an Allah informed us about the night and its virtues.

Allah says:

"The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn."

Literally, this means worshipping Allah on this night is equivalent to 83.3 years. And is the reason why Muslims are expected to devote the whole of the last 10 days to the worship of their Lord.

However, this is not the case in most Muslim communities. Laytul Qadr has a different meaning in these communities as it comes with funfare and entertainment.

The night of majesty has no specific date. The prophet only enjoined us to observe it in the last 10 days and seek it within the odd days of the period. The night comes on the 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29 of Ramadan.

Laylatul Qadr in some communities has become more or less a praise jamz because it has some elements of carnival. It comes with drums, music and food to entertain the guest. Only few hour is spent for Ibadah.

That is not the version of the night of power Allah and his Prophet informed us about.

Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: I asked: "O Messenger of Allah! If I realize Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), what should I supplicate in it?'' He (PBUH) replied, "You should supplicate: Allahumma innaka `afuwwun, tuhibbul-`afwa, fa`fu `anni (O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me).'' [At-Tirmidhi].

It is a night to seek forgiveness, praise Allah, pray for ourselves, and repent from our sins. It is not called the night of majesty and power for no reason.

BRT crushes Lagos businesswoman to death, driver flees

By Deji Lambo

A driver with the Bus Rapid Transit , Collins Nnodi, has gone into hiding after crushing a businesswoman , Mrs Grace Okeleke, to death at the Agric bus stop in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

The incident happened on Monday.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Grace, the wife of the Head of Public Relations , Globacom , Andrew Okeleke, attempted to cross the road after being dropped off by her driver around 7 .20pm, when Nnodi, who was driving a bus with number plate EPE 59 XR, knocked her down.

It was learnt that the businesswoman died on the spot.

However, Nnodi was said to have zoomed off and abandoned the victim at the scene of the accident.

Annoyed by the development, it was gathered that an angry mob vandalised some BRT buses plying the route .

Explaining the circumstances surrounding the incident, the family said in a statement that until her death , Grace was a minister at the Redeemed Christian Church of God , adding that the businesswoman was survived by her husband and children.

The statement read in part , “ The death has been announced of Mrs Grace Okeleke, wife of the Head , Public Relations , Globacom , Mr Andrew Okeleke.
“ Mrs Okeleke died in a motor accident on the Lagos Road , Ikorodu , on Monday evening. She was hit by a Lagos BRT bus with number plate EPE 59 XR.

“ The deceased was crossing the road after being dropped off by her driver just after the Agric bus stop, inwards Ketu , where there was no pedestrian bridge, when she was hit by the BRT bus. She died on the spot before she could be taken to hospital.

“ The late Mrs Okeleke, a businesswoman , hailed from Issele - Mkpitime , Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. She was until her demise a top leader of her town’s women group in Lagos as well as a minister of the Redeemed Christian Church of God , Grace Hall Parish , Ikorodu.

“ Mrs Okeleke is survived by her husband and children. Burial arrangements will be announced later by her family .”

When contacted, the Chief Security Officer , Primero Transport Services Limited, the franchise holder of the BRT buses, Cletus Okodolor, while commiserating with the family , condemned Nnodi for abandoning Grace at the scene of the accident.

Okodolor said, “ We sympathise with the family and we are shocked at the action of the busman. The accident involved one of our buses, with number 344. The bus was coming from Ikorodu inwards Mile 12, and she was trying to cross to the other side of the road without actually looking properly ; she entered the BRT corridor to cross and there was contact.

“ The woman died on the spot . But the busman did not help matters , because he drove off out of fear of being hurt and refused to put us in the picture. Suddenly , we started getting calls that an angry mob was vandalising our vehicles , because one of our buses knocked someone down on the corridor and we quickly informed the Traffic Division of the Owutu Police Station and its personnel were dispatched in the area .

“ When we got there, we learnt that the husband had taken the corpse to the morgue . But during our investigation, we realised that the busman had parked his bus in front of our office and left the engine running, instead of parking it at the right place.

“ So, we started searching for the busman, but he was nowhere to be found and that was how we realised that it was the busman, who knocked down the woman.

“ The driver is still at large and we are working with the police to get him arrested. We have also taken the bus to the police station.”

(The Punch)

Atiku Asks FG To Sell Presidential Jets, Scrap N27bn N’assembly Renovation Budget

Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has advised Nigerian leaders to abandon luxury and adjust to the reality that comes with living in a pandemic.

In a statement on Thursday, Atiku described the reduction of the 2020 budget by 0.6% as “window dressing”.

“It is to my consternation that despite the crash in the price of oil, and the inability of Nigeria to expand our revenue base through the non-oil sector, the FG of Nigeria has only seen fit to slash our budget by a mere 0.6%. This represents a reduction of only ₦71 billion,” Atiku, who was the presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 election, said.

“Putting politics aside, this is grossly insufficient and betrays the fact we have lost touch with the current realities in the global political economy.”

Explaining that crude production and revenue projections have been badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Atiku said the 2020 budget should have been slashed by at least 25%.

“How can anyone justify a reduction in expenditure of just 0.6%? We cannot be the only nation bucking the trend?

“Saudi Arabia, a nation with a much stronger production capacity than ours and with a larger global market share, as well as a foreign reserve that is 12 times ours, has slashed her budget by almost 30%. Ditto for other oil economies.

“Any budget slash that is less than 25% will not be in the interest of Nigeria.”

Listing items that should be expunged from the budget, Atiku said the N27 billion budget for the renovation of the national assembly should be scrapped alongside the monies budgeted for purchasing cars for the president and other political officeholders.

“The billions budgeted for the travels and feeding of the president and vice president has to be reduced. Sell eight or nine of the jets in the presidential air fleet,” he advised.

“Leave the salaries of civil servants alone, but reduce the salaries of political appointees.”

Atiku, who once claimed to be the largest employer of labour in Adamawa state, advised the government not to make up for revenue losses by taking more loans and issuing bonds.

Nigeria has had to revise its 2020 budgetafter crude oil, its main source of forex earnings, took a hit on the back of reduced demand as a result of lockdowns imposed across the world to control the spread of the coronavirus.

Don’t Forget Boko Haram And Sponsors In Your Tahajjud Prayers- Zulum Urges Muslims

Zulum’s prayer request was contained in a statement issued by his spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, on Thursday.

“It is expected and rightly so, that in these last ten days of the glorious Ramadan, majority of fellow Muslims all over the world, are likely to focus their minds on seeking Allah’s intervention for an end to the Coronavirus pandemic,” he said.

“Without doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most severe threats to human existence, hence, accelerating prayers against it should be TOP-MUST.

“With that in mind, however, I will like to appeal to Muslims in Nigeria, particularly those of us in Borno state and rest of the northeast, not to forget the murderous activities of boko haram. We have two viruses with equal-lethal proportions.

“Therefore, our late night supplication should have twin-focus: prayers against Coronavirus and prayers against boko haram, their sponsors and those who intentionally support them.

“Without ignoring prayers for other individual, family and societal needs and wants, we should please submit ourselves with absolute faith to continually, seek the divine help of our creator, the almighty Allah, before whom no disease is without cure and no crisis is without solution.”

"Prayers against boko haram are particularly necessary at this time, when our gallant military heroes, together with other security agencies and the complementary support of courageous volunteers in the civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes, are recording huge victories in the ongoing fight against the insurgents.

“These armed forces and volunteers have earned our eternal gratitude and respect, and they certainly need and deserve our sustained prayers for more victories, their well being and the well being of their families,” the statement added.

Zulum also urged citizens with economic means to intensify support for needy persons especially displaced orphans, widows, relations and neighbours during and beyond the Ramadan.

Nigeria records 193 new COVID-19 cases, total now 5,162

Nigeria has recorded 193 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the country to 5, 162.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control made this known via its Twitter handle on Thursday.

“193 new cases of #COVID19; 58-Lagos, 46-Kano, 35-Jigawa, 12-Yobe, 9-FCT, 7-Ogun, 5-Plateau, 5-Gombe, 4-Imo, 3-Edo, 3-Kwara, 3-Borno, 1-Bauchi, 1-Nasarawa, 1-Ondo” NCDC said.

It further stated that of the 5162 cases of COVID19 in Nigeria,1180 have been discharged with 167 deaths recorded so far.


Thursday 14 May 2020

Man who battered his wife and then went on Facebook to brag about it and shared photos of her bleeding face, has been arrested

The police in Lagos state have arrested a man who battered his wife and went on Facebook to brag by sharing photos of her bleeding face.

LIB had earlier reported about how Afobaje Maiyegun, posted the photos of his wife’s bleeding face on Facebook and bragged that he was waiting for the police to arrest him.

An update shared this morning, May 14, by the Lagos State Domestic & Sexual Violence Response Team DSVRT, stated that Afobaje has been arrested. 

Preliminary investigation showed that this isn’t the first time Afobaje would carry out such a dastardly act.

The agency says Afobaje will be arraigned in court this Friday May 15.

Photos : President Buhari Presided Over Security Council Meeting

President Buhari presided over Security Council Meeting at State House, Abuja. 

The meeting is summoned over the recent security challenges in Katsina, Nasarawa, Kaduna and elsewhere. 

Accident Claims Three Lives in Ekiti - By Olalekan Ayeni

Accident Claims Three Lives in  Ekiti

By Olalekan Ayeni

 A Toyota car today crushed three  persons to death in Ado Ekiti

The accident which occurred between a commercial motorcycle and a Toyota car led to the death of two men on the motorcycle and one other person who was said to be on the walkway at Okesha Roundabout Ado Ekiti when the incident happened.

According to witness, Mrs Oluwadare Funmilayo said that the driver of the  Toyota Camry car who is a teenager was coming from the Okesha market toward the overhead bridge but lost control and rammed into a guy making a call on the walkway and those on the motorcycle.

The corpses of the deceased have been deposited at mortuary and the teenager who drove the car has been arrested.

Ekiti Govt. Decries Hawking of Facemasks by Children

Ekiti State Government has frowned at children selling facemasks on the streets across the city of Ado-Ekiti.

The Commissioner for Information and Values Orientation, Mr Muyiwa Olumilua, who made this known at a press briefing on COVID 19 in Ado-Ekiti, described the act as child abuse which was punishable under the law.

Mr Olumilua maintained that henceforth, any child caught selling facemasks on the highways and major streets in Ekiti would be arrested, while the parents of such child would be prosecuted for child labour and abuse.

He observed that Ekiti State Government under the present administration was against actions violating the child rights and it would not hesitate to deal decisively with anyone caught sending their children to sell on the highways and major streets in the state.

 (Radio Nigeria Ibadan)


Fayemi Reduces Broadband Way Charges From N4.5m To N145k Per 1km In Ekiti

The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi has signed an Executive Order to reduce the Right of Way charges related to laying broadband or any other telecommunications infrastructures from N4,500 to N145 per meter in Ekiti state.


Ekiti is the first state in Nigeria to adhere and comply with the NEC on approving Right of Way charges for broadband, by now Ekiti state has become the cheapest state for broadband infrastructure investment as 1km of cable will now cost just N145,000 instead of N4.5m previously.

Fayemi said the executive order is part of the ongoing reforms by the Ease of Doing Business project inaugurated by the Governor last year to improve indices that will make Ekiti State an attractive destination for national and international investments in 5 years.

According to the Special Adviser Investment, Trade and Innovations, Mr. Akin Oyebode @AO1379, this decision will ensure Ekiti achieves full broadband penetration by 2021 to attract new businesses, create jobs, improve access to quality healthcare and digital education while improving internally generated revenue. 

 It is also aligned with the ongoing development of the Ekiti Knowledge Zone, designed to be Nigeria’s first service-based innovation park.

Nigeria records 184 new COVID-19 cases, total now 4,971

Nigeria recorded recorded 184 new cases of coronavirus on Wednesday.


The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control announced this on its website.

The 184 new cases are reported from 22 states- Lagos(51), Jigawa(23), Bauchi(16), Katsina(16), Kano(14), FCT(10), Rivers(10), Kwara (9), Delta(5), Kaduna(5),  Sokoto (4), Oyo(4), Kebbi(3), Nasarawa (3), Osun(3), Ondo(2), Ebonyi(1), Edo(1), Enugu (1), Anambra(1), Plateau (1), Niger (1).

It said the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country has increased to 4,971.


Data from the centre’s website showed that six new COVID-19 fatalities were recorded in the country.

Also, 111 patients were discharged after testing negative twice for the virus, making the total number of recoveries rise to 1070.


Wednesday 13 May 2020

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE: THREE OF FIVE FG PRIORITY PROJECTS TO DRAW FROM ABACHA LOOT

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

THREE OF FIVE FG PRIORITY PROJECTS TO DRAW FROM ABACHA LOOT
 
The recently repatriated Sani Abacha loot will go towards three of @NigeriaGov’s five priority projects, excluding the Mambilla power and East-West road projects.

In an earlier statement, I had mistakenly noted that the Mambilla Project was one of five priority projects to benefit from the $311 million Abacha loot under the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) managed by @nsia_nigeria. That error is regretted. 

According to the document, only the second Niger bridge, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressway, and Lagos-Ibadan expressway will benefit from the repatriated funds. The funds are domiciled in the NSIA.

All print and online media should please take note of this correction and make the necessary adjustments to their previous publications on the issue. 

Thank you. 

Garba Sheu
SSA, Media & Publicity 

COVID-19: Ekiti To Begin Random Testing For Residents

To avert the community spread of the dreadful COVID-19 pandemic, the Ekiti State government would next week begin random testing for residents across the state.

The government also restated its commitment not to allow security agencies enforcing the lockdown to infringe on the rights of the suspected offenders in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Mojisola Yaya-Kolade spoke in Ado Ekiti, yesterday while giving an update on the COVID-19 report in the state.

The commissioner added that all the claims by institutions that they have produced an herbal cure for COVID-19 must be scrutinised and make to pass through medical screening before approval.

She said the random testing, which will be done across the 16 local government areas and which must be undertaken in view of the geometric increase in number of COVID-19 victims, will not be done by coercion, but through sensitisation and volition.

Yaya-Kolade revealed that the state would soon set up a molecular laboratory to boost the state’s testing capacity, so that many people can know their statuses and be aware of their safety.

The Commissioner stated that the state presently has only five patients in the isolation centre, which she said are stable, responding to treatment and asymptomatic.

“We are still tracing some contacts and we are expecting our molecular laboratory soon just as we are still preaching prevention and containment through usage of masks and keep to personal hygiene and social financing. (Vanguard)

Why I drowned my 18 months old baby in a bucket of water – Suspect

A lady who confessed to have drowned her one-year and six months old baby inside a bucket of water in her apartment in Gowon Estate area of Lagos has been arrested by the Police.

Surprisingly, the suspect, Funmilola Adisa, 22, did not express regret for her action.
Rather she boldly admitted to have killed her baby, because “she deprived me of realising my dream of becoming a lawyer”.
During interrogation, Adisa said: “I drowned my baby inside a bucket filled with water on Monday.

“Thereafter, I reported myself at the Gowon Estate Police Division.
“The police did not come immediately but when they did, they found the dead baby inside the bucket.

“I was impregnated by a boy who attended same JAMB lesson with me.
“But he rejected the pregnancy.

“I wanted to abort the pregnancy but my father said no.

“I passed my JAMB and was offered admission to study Law at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, but I had to defer the admission because of the baby.

“I wanted to take her to the orphanage home at first when it became difficult to take care of her.

“I live with my sister who has no job and I am also not working.

“I felt there was no use keeping her since I could not take care of her.

“I killed her because I was frustrated, but most importantly, because she stood in the way of actualising my dream of becoming a lawyer.”

From Gowon Estate Division, Funmilayo was taken to the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja, from where the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, directed that she should be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, Yaba.

Her elder sister, who did not want her name mentioned, said she was too shocked to believe that her younger sister could commit such act.

BREAKING: Buhari appoints Gambari as Chief of Staff

Professor Ibrahim Gambari has been appointed as the Chief of Staff to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

Gambari’s appointment was announced by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, at the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.

The PUNCH had reported that Gambari arrived at the Presidential Villa about 10.53am on Wednesday.

Gambari, an indigene of Kwara State, replaced Abba Kyari who died on April 17 from coronavirus-related complications.

“President @MBuhari has appointed Professor Ibrahim Gambari, as his Chief of Staff, Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, announced the appointment today at the virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) Meeting,” Bashir Ahmad, Personal Assistant on New Media to Buhari, tweeted.

Details later…

Admitting Corpses into Ekiti during this Covid-19 Pandemic



Admitting Corpses into Ekiti during this Covid-19 Pandemic

 Here are the steps:

1.  Please get a death certificate indicating that the deceased  did not die from Covid-19 -  and any other relevant details.  (Note: corpses of Covid-19 deceased are NOT  allowed to be transported across borders at this time.)

2.   Bring or Scan the certificate to the Ministry of Health (eg to Commissioner for Health Dr. Mojisola Yaya Kolade on  08162961640  and/or to PS. Dr. Olomojobi on (08033881226))  Be sure that you have the original  certificate  on hand throughout the journey.

3. Also  Inform the MHHS ahead  of time  about .border port of entry into Ekiti State and day and  approximate time of day that  the hearse or ambulance will get there. 

 4.  A letter will be issued by MHHs to cover the process of bringing in the corpse, and of the burial itself.  A call can be put to MHHS  from the border security  post if necessary.  

5.  It is advised that Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - the free movement days under the current Guidelines - are the best days for corpse movement. The burial must follow gathering size and social distancing rules.

6.  It must be ensured  that there is no unusual convoy of vehicles and people accompanying the corpse, otherwise many of the vehicles and people  might  be turned back at the border post.

Your cooperation is highly appreciated in these unusual times.


Prof. Bolaji Aluko
Ekiti State Covid-19 Response Taskforce Coordinator

Nigeria Records 146 New Cases Of COVID-19, Total Now 4,787

Nigeria on Tuesday recorded 146 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 4,787.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control made this known via its Twitter handle.

According to NCDC, the newly confirmed cases are as follows; 57-Lagos, 27-Kano, 10-Kwara, 9-Edo, 8-Bauchi, 7-Yobe, 4-Kebbi, 4-Oyo, 3-Katsina, 3-Niger, 2-Plateau, 2-Borno, 2-Sokoto, 2-Benue, 1-Gombe, 1-Enugu, 1-Ebonyi, 1-Ogun, 1-FCT, 1-Rivers

This brings the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria to 4787.

However, 959 have been discharged, with 158 death recorded.