₦airaland Forum

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Adamu Adamu has named Senate President Ahmed Lawan as the party's consensus candidate.

This is coming after President Muhammadu Buhari’s call for a consensus candidate.

Ahead of the party’s presidential primaries, the President had on Saturday night met with presidential aspirants from the southern region.

According to a statement by Buhari’s media aide, Femi Adesina, the president had urged the aspirants to come up with a consensus candidate ahead of the party’s primary holding this week at the Eagles Square, Abuja.

“Without prejudice to your qualifications, I urge all of you to hold consultations amongst yourselves and with the party, with a view to building a consensus in a manner that would help the party reduce the number of aspirants, bring up a formidable candidate and scale down the anxiety of party members,” the president was quoted to have said.

The president’s advice followed the decision of Northern governors elected on the platform of APC, who had asked him to pick a southerner as his successor.

But on Monday, June 6, 2022, the party Chairman, Adamu announced Lawan as the party’s consensus candidate.

Adamu made the announcement at the meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja.

READ HERE: https://livenews.ng/breaking-adamu-announces-ahmed-lawan-as-apcs-consensus-candidate/

Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra, has picked the Labour Party's (LP) presidential ticket.

This comes after another presidential aspirant on the platform of the party, Prof. Pat Utomi, endorsed Obi, who only joined the party last week.

Utomi, a renowned professor of political economy, had stepped down and endorsed Obi on Monday at the venue of the party’s presidential primaries in Delta.

Newsmen however learnt that Utomi was instrumental in Obi joining the Labour Party from the PDP.

“Prof Utomi brought Peter Obi to Labour Party in the first place and he has now endorsed him,” a source had told SaharaReporters on Monday.

The venue of the primary holding today (Monday) is Orchid Hotels, GRA, Asaba, the state capital.

The 3rd Force Movement under the umbrella of the National Consultative Front, NCFront, had on Sunday called on more leaders of conscience in the country to quickly join the Labour Party, following its adoption by the 3rd Force Movement as the alternative 'Big Tent' for the 2023 elections.

The 3rd Force Movement was initiated to create a strong platform to challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), both of which have had opportunities to lead Nigeria and failed.

A statement signed by Ms Bilikis Bello, the Communications Executive (National) of the NCFront disclosed this on Sunday.

Obi left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last week, blaming recent developments in the party for his defection.

Obi in a letter dated May 25, 2022, and titled, ‘Resignation From Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Withdrawal from the Presidential Contest’, resigned from the PDP and withdrew from the presidential contest.

READ HERE: https://livenews.ng/peter-obi-selected-as-labour-party-presidential-candidate/

Behind every successful artist is a ‘management’ toiling day and night to see him grow, says Founder and Chief Marketing officer at Mp3bullet Media, Seun Akinsanya.  He thinks that an artist’s success is mostly contingent on his or her manager.

As a result of their status as a brand, artists are managed like businesses, and as a result, they are unable to make choices on their own.

The record label, the booking agency, and the band are all important components of a musician’s career, as are tours, recordings, publications, merchandise, and public relations.

The management’s role is to ensure that all of these components are properly balanced and in sync..

If a musician wants to succeed in the music business, he or she must devote their whole attention to their craft and surround themselves with colleagues and representatives who can provide just as much value as they do.

Management can assist the artist and their band go further in their careers at this time. He may take on a range of tasks, encouraging the artist’s creativity while also overseeing the commercial aspects of their career.

When it comes to management, Akinsanya thinks that artists, particularly independent ones, need to be extremely careful.

“It’s extremely important for independent artists to exercise caution when selecting a suitable management,” he said.

There are a number of artists whose careers have been stifled because of poor or no management. The most successful artists are those that don’t fade away or go away at all. They are constants. Momentum reverses the moment an artist stops pushing ahead. A good manager would never allow this to happen to his band/artist.

“A musician’s career may be made or shattered by the management he or she picks to monitor it,” Akinsanya concluded.

READ HERE: https://tribuneonlineng.com/proper-management-of-artistes-vital-to-their-success-akinsanya/

Founder of Mp3bullet Media, Seun Akinsanya, has shared his thoughts on how companies may improve interactions with their workers and how this can help them expand.

Toxic workplaces in Nigeria have been a hot topic on the Internet, with many revelations about the negative influence on employee-employer relationships.

According to studies, a company’s culture has a significant impact on productivity, in large part because it impacts an employee’s thinking and the subsequent level of engagement at work.
Akinsanya, in the context of these experiences, provided advice on how to improve and prevent toxicity in these relationships.

“If you want your business to prosper, you must treat your employees as if they were members of your family.”

“It was also claimed that workers who feel like they are part of a team are more inclined to put in extra effort and time to complete their daily chores.”

He said “Organisations may reevaluate their goals and create work environments where people feel comfortable, engaged, inspired, and productive whether they are working from home or on the front lines when they are experiencing output volatility.”

“Employees are entitled to better care than many companies now provide.”

“Workers deserve better treatment from their employers than many of them now get, which is why many companies need to modify the way they manage and make decisions about workers,” says Akinsanya.

READ HERE: https://guardian.ng/appointments/employees-deserve-better-care-akinsanya-tells-employers/

An expert on digital marketing, and Founder of Mp3bullet Media, Seun Akinsanya, has offered advice to small business owners.

“For small businesses, digital and social media marketing should be more of a priority than ever”, says Seun Akinsanya.

Digital marketing may make your business receive the attention it deserves via search engine optimization, social media marketing, or email marketing.

“According to research, having a website and social media accounts with high-quality content will provide you a competitive edge over other small business owners.”; Seun added.

Lack of branding makes it impossible for your business to generate the confidence of the public since no one wants to be associated with a company that lacks branding.

Your business may not obtain the patronage it deserves if you don’t have a presence on social media. In order to stay ahead of your competition, you must stay current with the latest developments in technology.

Small businesses that invest in digital marketing may reach a far broader audience than a physical store that just serves its immediate neighbourhood. Trust the process and you’ll be more productive.

During a crisis like Covid-19 and beyond, consumers’ insights will set the tone for how a business goes forward, therefore you need to create connections with your audiences.

Digital marketing, which may supply you with useful information about your target audiences, can enable a well-established company to be more easily competed with than it otherwise would be.

READ HERE: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/03/as-a-small-business-owner-prioritize-the-use-of-digital-marketing-seun-akinsanya/

Seun Akinsanya, Founder of Mp3bullet Media, has shared his thoughts on how companies may improve interactions with their workers and how this can help them expand.

Toxic workplaces in Nigeria have been a hot topic on the Internet, with many articles about the negative influence on employee-employer relationships.

Seun Akinsanya, in the context of these experiences, provided advice on how to improve and prevent toxicity in these relationships.

“If you want your business to prosper, you must treat your employees as if they were members of your family.”

“It was also claimed that workers who feel like they are part of a team are more inclined to put in extra effort and time to complete their daily chores.”

“People who are treated well will feel like a part of your organisation, according to the adage,” He said.

According to studies, a company’s culture has a significant impact on productivity, in large part because it impacts an employee’s thinking and the subsequent level of engagement at work.

He said “Organizations may reevaluate their goals and create work environments where people feel comfortable, engaged, inspired, and productive whether they are working from home or on the front lines when they are experiencing output volatility.”

“Employees are entitled to better care than many companies now provide.”

“Workers deserve better treatment from their employers than many of them now get, which is why many companies need to modify the way they manage and make decisions about workers,” says Akinsanya.

READ HERE: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/03/employers-should-treat-workers-like-family-seun-akinsanya/

Media personality Akinsanya Seun has shared his ‘2 cents’ on the price to stardom for Nigerian artistes, he said the price of every fame bears children with numerous features; patience, hard work, determination, vision, and more importantly, consistency.

Akinsanya said this on Tuesday in a chat with our reporter.

He said “Consistency is like a land you build anything on; it serves as the befitting immobile natural characteristics which all other factors depend on.

“In the business called music, many factors have become a necessity to attain the a-list, more importantly as a Nigerian artiste.

“While some have attained their dream status of fame and wealth in the music industry, some are on the verge of pulling through, others have given up.

“Africa as a whole has produced renowned musicians the world would always remember, and Nigeria who has one of the largest numbers of musicians in the continent, competing alongside South Africa and other top countries has spearheaded this achievement.” He said.

He noted that the glory music pioneers like Fela Anikulapokuti, King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, and many more have been a great force of courage to many upcoming artistes who want to hit stardom and many top-tier list artistes who have attained fame.

He acknowledged the fact that the likes of Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido pulled through into the international market, walking in the footsteps of these said legends.

“The exemplary focus on getting what one wants despite one’s limitations speaks volumes of the tenacity of consistency.

“Although, the land that flows with ‘milk and honey’ will be the center focus for bees and bears, i.e the prey and predators”. He said.

On a final note Akinsaya advices fast-risings to understand that everything is achievable in such land but all things must be in place with the backbone of ‘consistency’.

READ HERE: https://thenationonlineng.net/consistency-owns-the-game-seun-akinsanya-tells-music-artistes/

Veteran media personality, Seun Akinsanya hits the spotlight again, explaining the importance of technology for business growth.

Founder of Mp3bullet Media, Seun Akinsanya has shared his opinion on the use of technology in businesses.

The brand specialist expressly advices the advancement of technology because it helps one’s firm to expand faster.

“No matter what kind of business you’re in, staying on top of the latest technological developments will hasten your company’s expansion”, he said.

He added, “with my decade of experience as a media specialist and business mogul, I have come to realize that every enterprise needs to flow with the age of tech to achieve excellent results”.

It is indeed a fact that technology has been helpful in various ways to businesses. Some of which are; keeping track and streamlining processes, maintaining data flow, and managing contacts and employee records.

Recall that the father of one recently shared his counsel on how companies in Nigeria could improve workers’ relationships.

“If you want your business to prosper, you must treat your employees as if they were members of your family,” he stated.

“Workers deserve better treatment from their bosses than many of them currently receive, which is why many businesses must change how they manage and make personnel choices”, according to Akinsanya

READ HERE: https://www.sunnewsonline.com/technology-can-speed-up-your-business-growth-seun-akinsanya/

Founder of MP3 Bullet, Akinsanya Ismaila Oluwaseun, popularly known as Mister Boboskie, is an entrepreneur and social media executive who hails from Ogun State. A close encounter with the blogger reveals his brilliance and passion for helping upcoming artistes grow. In this interview with Oamen Samuel, he speaks on his business and other sundry matters.

Can we meet you?

Akinsanya Ismaila Oluwaseun popularly known as “Mister Boboskie” is an online media personality and entrepreneur who has a passion for blogging. His zeal to succeed along with his very strong interpersonal skill has helped him build Mp3bullet Media from just a passionate hobby to a platform to reckon with for social influence.

He consults for large corporate especially from the finance, technology, advertising, media, and creative arts sectors where he has grown significant leverage and contacts. ‘Seun who is a lover of music isn’t resting on his oars as he plans to be even bigger than he currently is in the media world.

How did you come about Mp3bullet?

The name mp3bullet was coined from separate words “Mp3” and “bullet”, as a lover of music. I can’t do without moving around with an MP3 player and you know what bullet is. I ended up thinking if I can be shooting mp3 to lovers of music in the era of free downloads, that’s when I concluded, using the word “Bullet” to back up the Mp3.

It has been in existence as an underground project since 2010 and later turned into a verified domain in late 2012. So since then, it has become a household, an online platform promoting Arts & Entertainment by delivering Music-related content within Nigeria and Africa as a whole to music lovers across the globe. A medium used in bridging the gap between talented artistes and music lovers.

What were the major challenges faced so far as the CEO of Mp3bullet?

Well, life itself is full of challenges, before you can become big, you need to see it as a hobby, despite this, there are times I will feel like giving up on it. Times there was no revenue to keep up the brand, times no one believed in what you are doing, even until now, challenges still surface, but giving up shouldn’t be the answer.

Are there artistes signed or managed by you?

No signed artists but there are artists we are supporting digitally to attain their heights.

Have you worked with a major artiste in Nigeria before?

As it may be there are many major artistes I have come in contact and worked with, even until now.

What do you think up-and-coming artistes can do to soar higher in 2022?

As an up-and-coming artiste, you need to be original, follow the right steps, connect with the right team, focus more on good music because bad songs tend to fade out with time.

Can you tell us about your educational background?

I was opportune to attain my first leaving certificate and high school certificate in Ogun State, from there to the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology where I bagged my first degree (B.Tech in Agricultural Economics & Extension) and second degree (MBA Human Resources Management).

How are you coping with the business aspect of Music?

Until now, the music business is demanding and it hasn’t been easy, but we keep it going as it used to be to attain the goal.

How do you see yourself in the next five years?

I see myself to be extremely bigger than I am now, owning one of the leading A&R companies in Nigeria, even Africa possibly.

If you were not a blogger, what else would you have been doing?

I would have been a musician because I started as a musician in the late 2000s but I later realised there’s more to becoming an artiste than just recording songs every day

What is your message to upcoming artistes and record labels?

To up-and-coming artistes out there, it’s until you are signed that you can attain the height you deserve. Just be you and know what you are doing. A day will come when you will be celebrated.

As for record labels, It’s time to understand what we call proper artiste management because some labels are only about the money and not concerned about artistes under them that’s why we always experience unexpected contracts terminations.

READ HERE: https://thenationonlineng.net/artistes-should-be-original-connect-with-right-team-to-grow/

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sacked Governor Dave Umahi, his deputy, Eric Igwe, and the Speaker of the state assembly, Hon Francis Nwifuru, for defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgement, on Tuesday, held that their defection was unconstitutional.

The two-term governor, who was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), joined the APC in 2020.

Shortly after the governor and his deputy crossed over to the APC, the speaker and some lawmakers joined them.

In his ruling, Ekwo ordered all the lawmakers who defected to vacate their seats.

Details later…

Read Here: https://livenews.ng/breaking-court-sacks-ebonyi-governor-speaker-for-defecting-to-apc/

The Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022 has been signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari (ret.).

This was disclosed on Twitter by presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, on Friday.

“BREAKING: President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021 into law,” his tweet read.

Details later…

Read Here: https://livenews.ng/president-buhari-signs-electoral-act-amendment-bill-into-law/

After documents tied him to Russian President Vladimir Putin's administration, Roman Abramovich, Chelsea FC owner, faced calls on Thursday to have his right to own a football team revoked.

It also accused Abramovich of “public association with corrupt activity and practices”.

The billionaire Chelsea owner is facing renewed focus on his business activities as Russia begins to launch an all-out attack on Ukraine.

Labour MP, Chris Bryant, today shared a leaked Home Office document in the Commons.

Bryant noted the document was from 2019 and questioned why no action had yet been taken against Abramovich based on its warnings.

“I have got hold of a leaked document from 2019 from the Home Office which says in relation to Mr Abramovich – ”As part of HMG’s Russia strategy aimed at targeting illicit finance and malign activity, Abramovich remains of interest to HMG due to his links to the Russian state and his public association with corrupt activity and practices.

“An example of this is Abramovich admitting in court proceedings that he paid for political influence,” he said.

Bryant added that “That is nearly three years ago and yet remarkably little has been done in relation.

“Surely Mr Abramovich should no longer be able to own a football club in this country? Surely we should be looking at seizing some of his assets including his £152million home? And making sure that other people who have had Tier 1 Visas like this are not engaged in a malign activity?”

The UK Sun also reports that Abramovich has effectively been barred from living in Britain ever again.

He has not watched matches at Stamford Bridge for months and withdrew an application for a British Tier 1 investor visa in 2018. This came after delays in his application, following criticism of Russian oligarchs following the Salisbury poisonings.

Senior security sources are of the view that it is unlikely that the 55-year-old will ever be allowed to live in Britain again.

Immigration officials have also reportedly been instructed to make it impossible for Abramovich to base himself in the UK.

Read Here: https://livenews.ng/russia-vs-ukraine-uk-lawmaker-demands-abramovichs-chelsea-ownership-revoked/

According to the emergency services, a Ukrainian military plane carrying 14 people crashed south of Kyiv on Thursday.

The service said it was “still determining how many people died.” The incident occurred about 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of Kyiv, amid reports of several locations around the city coming under attack.

Details later…

Read Here: https://livenews.ng/ukrainian-military-plane-carrying-14-people-crashes-near-kyiv/

Clarence House announced on Twitter on Thursday that Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, has tested positive for COVID-19.
“This morning The Prince of Wales has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now self-isolating,” the statement read.

“HRH is deeply disappointed not to be able to attend today’s events in Winchester and will look to reschedule his visit as soon as possible.”

Read Here: https://livenews.ng/prince-charles-of-wales-tests-positive-for-covid-19/

Chris Brown, an American singer, has been sued for allegedly drugging and raping a woman aboard a yacht in Miami two years ago.

According to TMZ, the suit was filed by a choreographer, dancer, and musician identified only as Jane Doe.

She is suing the music star for $20M, this is according to her lawyer.

According to the suit, Brown invited Doe to music star P Diddy’s home on Miami’s Star Island.

Doe in the suit claimed that she and Brown were on a yacht in the area and that Brown offered her a drink.

According to the suit, Doe felt “a sudden, unexplained change in consciousness” after Brown filled her cup a second time.

The music star then walked her to the bedroom, undressed her, and raped her.

She alleged that the singer sent her message the following morning and demanded she took Plan B.

Doe's lawyers said she didn't report the crime at that time because she was still in medical school.

Brown has had several legal dramas in the past, bordering on rape and sexual assault.

From the famous assault on his ex-girlfriend, Rihanna, to being accused of rape during a visit to France, the music star has had his hand full with allegations.

Read Here: https://livenews.ng/alleged-rape-chris-brown-sued-by-american-dancer-demands-20m/

On Friday morning, a tanker carrying premium motor spirit exploded near Onitsha's Upper Iweka junction in Anambra State.

Many shops and buildings around the scene are feared burnt as the rest of the fire from the explosion of the tanker that had broken down along the busy Onitsha-Owerri Road in front of the Relief Market.

The fire which started at 8.30 am had caused a long standstill of vehicles in and out of Onitsha.

Fire service both from Anambra and Delta states have arrived at the scene and are battling to quench the fire amid a shortage of water.

Details later…

Read Here: https://livenews.ng/tanker-explosion-devastates-anambra/

Samuel Adebamigbe, 37, was sentenced to life imprisonment by an Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti for raping a 13-year-old girl.

He was tried and found guilty on the charge of rape.

The charge read, “That you, Samuel Adebamigbe, on November 3, 2020, at Ado Ekiti, within the jurisdiction of the court, did rape a 13-year-old girl, contrary to Section 31(2) of the Child’s Right Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.”

In her statement to the police, the teenager said she was sent by her mother to deliver a loaf of bread to the defendant on request.

She said when she got there, the convict told her that he wanted to buy pepper soup around the Ajilosun area of Ado Ekiti.

“He asked me to sit in a room till when the pepper soup would be ready. When he came back, he locked the door and had sexual intercourse with me twice. I shouted, but there was nobody to rescue me. He later gave me N1,500 and warned me not to tell anybody,” the victim added.

The girl was said to have narrated her ordeal to her mother, who reported the case to the police, leading to the arrest and arraignment of the convict.

The police prosecutor, Kunle Adeyemo, called five witnesses and tendered the statement of the victim, her birth certificate, a medical report, among others, as exhibits.

Adebamigbe spoke through his lawyer and called three witnesses.

In his judgment, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye said, “The defendant willingly had sexual intercourse with the victim. The prosecution has, therefore, proved its case beyond reasonable doubt with the implication that the sole issue for determination is resolved in favour of the prosecution.

“The defendant is hereby convicted as charged. He is sentenced to life imprisonment.”

Read Here: https://livenews.ng/man-sentenced-to-life-imprisonment-for-raping-13-year-old-girl-sent-on-errand/

The fluid that comes out of a man's urethra when he ejaculates is semen.

Semen contains sperm and other liquid from the prostate gland. Normal semen ought to be is thick and white like Nigerian pap.

Watery semen might signal other fertility issues.

Here are some causes of watery semen;

1. Frequent masturbation and sex

Frequent masturbation and sex reduce the quality of the sperm. Men require some hours after ejaculation to recuperate if they expect normal semen.

2. Low sperm count

A man has a low sperm count when his semen has a small amount of sperm. Low sperm count is caused by infections, tumors, hormonal imbalances, and swelling of veins in his testicles.

3. Pre-ejaculation

Sometimes, it is not semen that comes out but pre-ejaculation or precum. Precum is a more clear liquid that typically contains few sperm cells.

4. Zinc deficiency

A zinc deficiency is not good for your men's sexual health. Certain antibodies fight and reduce sperm cells, zinc supplements help resist these anti-sperm antibodies.

5. Lifestyle choices

Lifestyle choices like smoking, stress, consuming a lot of carbonated drinks, and lack of exercise can affect the quality of your semen.

Read Here: https://livenews.ng/causes-of-watery-semen/

According to rumors in Spain, Real Madrid duo Eden Hazard and Casemiro have both turned down January moves to Newcastle United.

The Magpies have brought in Chris Wood from Burnley and Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid so far in the winter transfer window.

Newcastle have been linked with an incredible amount of players as they search for the right ones to help revamp their struggling squad.

Eddie Howe’s side did record their second win of the season at the weekend when they beat Leeds United but they still remain in the relegation zone and in a battle for Premier League survival.

Their position in the league table seems to be impacting their ability to bring in the quality of signings they desire with several players reportedly rejecting their advances.

And Spanish publication Nacional claims that they can add two more players to that list after €100m (£83m) Real Madrid duo Hazard and Casemiro turned them down.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez no longer sees Casemiro as ‘essential’ and would consider any ‘good offer’ for the player, who turns 30 in February.

Nacional insists that Newcastle wanted the Brazilian as their ‘next galactic target’ with the Magpies willing to pay €50m (£41.5m) after offering the midfielder ‘an incredible salary’.

However, Casemiro sees his ‘destiny’ at Paris Saint-Germain and has ‘ruled out the idea of ​​ending up at St James’ Park’ any time soon.

Nacional said ten days ago that Real Madrid had accepted a €50m offer from Newcastle for Hazard but, despite the Geordies promising to make him the ‘star of the team’, the Belgium international ‘does not intend to sign’ to sign for the Premier League side.

Perez is understood to be ‘fed up’ with Hazard’s refusal to leave the Bernabeu with the forward wanting to return to Chelsea, who don’t currently want him.

Meanwhile, the Newcastle Chronicle claims that Howe’s have been ‘offered’ Fenerbahce center-back Attila Szalai as they struggle to get a deal for Sevilla’s Diego Carlos over the line.

Szalai has ’emerged as a possible option with just five days left of the window’ as ‘the 24-year-old’s agency ROGON have solid links with Newcastle’s head of recruitment, Steve Nickson’.

Read Here: https://livenews.ng/hazard-and-casemiro-turn-down-newcastle/

The United Kingdom (UK) Government intends to ban hymen repair and virginity testing surgery throughout the country.

This is following widespread concern that some young women and girls are being coerced and forced to have their virginity tested, and subsequently undergoing hymen repair surgery.

The hymen is a thin membrane that partially covers the entrance to the vagina. During puberty, oestrogen causes the hymen to change in appearance and become very elastic. Normal variations of the post-pubertal hymen range from thin and stretchy to thick and somewhat rigid.

Hymenoplasty is a surgical intervention that involves reconstructing the hymen. There are a number of different techniques to achieve this but generally, it involves stitching the torn edges of the hymen together with dissolvable stitches. The procedure aims to ensure that the woman bleeds when she next has sexual intercourse.

A review by the Department of Health and Social Care and the Home Office concluded that there is no reason why a virginity test should be carried out. 

“It is not a medical procedure and is based on repressive and inaccurate views about female virginity and the hymen. It is a form of abuse and violence against women and girls that has detrimental physical and psychological impacts on women and girls,” they said.

The final report of the expert panel on hymenoplasty concluded that the prohibition of virginity testing would be undermined if hymenoplasty was not also banned.

The experts on the panel are the Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust Chair of the British Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology, Dr Pallavi Latthe MD; and the Professor of Healthcare Law, University College London Chair of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust and co-chair of the Moral and Ethical Advisory Group, Prof. Sir Jonathan Montgomery.

“We recognise that this involves restricting the availability of services that some doctors are prepared to offer and that some women choose as a strategy to protect themselves. However, in many cases requests for hymenoplasty are the direct result of family coercion.

“Further, the belief that hymenoplasty would offer protection exists only where the context is a series of unacceptable attitudes and beliefs about virginity that put women at risk. These will persist unless we have the courage to tackle them.

“We believe that a ban on hymenoplasty is necessary at this time. It would protect the rights and freedoms of those who are vulnerable and help the government’s drive to promote a sound public morality in which women and girls are safe from violence.

“So long as the option of hymenoplasty is available, women will be placed under pressure to undergo the procedure. Only criminalisation will make it safe for them to refuse. We hope that the government will take steps to create an offence at the earliest opportunity,” they said.

Read Here: https://livenews.ng/uk-to-ban-hymen-repair-and-virginity-testing-surgery/

The Transport Authority of Slovakia has awarded a certificate of airworthiness to the flying car model AirCar. This is a huge step forward in the quest to make flying cars a reality.

The approval stamp comes after the flying car completed 70 hours of flight testing and over 200 takeoffs and landings compatible with European Aviation Safety Agency requirements, Klein Vision, the company behind the futuristic vehicle, announced in a statement.

“AirCar certification opens the door for mass production of very efficient flying cars,” enthusiastically reacted Stefan Klein, the inventor, and test pilot. “It is official and the final confirmation of our ability to change mid-distance travel forever.”

“Fifty years ago, the car was the epitome of freedom. AirCar expands those frontiers by taking us into the next dimension, where road meets sky,” added the cofounder of the venture Anton Zajac.

A pilot license is required to fly the hybrid vehicle, which can go beyond 8,000 feet (2,500 meters). Developers hope to put it on the market for commercial distribution within the next 12 months.

“Where road meets sky”

The Slovakia-made flying car, equipped with a BMW engine and with a 170 km/h cruising speed in the air, has already been making headlines for months.

Last summer, it completed a 35-minute test flight between the airports of Nitra and Bratislava. After landing in the Slovak capital, it reverted to a car driven through the city center.

Similar types of transportation are being developed elsewhere, as CNN reminds, including by companies in the US and the Netherlands. Most of them, however, have a helicopter-like vertical takeoff procedure and are mostly designed for short distances.

“I do believe we will see full electric or at least hybrid vehicles of this, or similar kind, in the near future, contributing to our environmental sustainability targets,” commented Kyriakos Kourousis, chairman of the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Airworthiness and Maintenance Specialist Group.

The company is planning a test flight between Paris and London in the near future, according to the BBC.

Read Here: https://livenews.ng/flying-car-gets-approval-to-take-to-the-skies-in-slovakia/

Gunmen believed to be kidnappers abducted Jephthah Robert, a cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

It was gathered that he was kidnapped at 9.30 pm on Tuesday in front of his house around Dimrose Road in Yenagoa.

The victim is the elder brother of Azibaola Robert, who is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Zeetin Engineering Limited.

Details of Jephthah’s abduction had been sketchy but a spokesman for the State Police Command, SP Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident in a terse response to inquiries.

Butswat said, “He was picked up at Dimrose Road in Yenagoa. We are intensifying effort to rescue him and arrest the kidnappers.

“We are working on a promising lead.”

The kidnapping of Jonathan’s cousin happened barely 24 hours after the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Federal Otokito, was released by his abductors.

Otokito was whisked away on January 20 from his residence in his community, Otuokpoti, in the Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.

He spent about five days in the custody of his assailants before he was freed on Monday.

Read Here: https://livenews.ng/gunmen-abduct-jonathans-cousin-in-bayelsa/

Mercy Aigbe, a Nollywood actress, has cleared the air about her new marriage, saying that her new lover, Adeoti Kazim, also known as Adekaz, and her ex-husband, Lanre Gentry, were never friends.

She made this known on Wednesday in a message which she sent to the hosts of the TVC talk show, Your View, where they discussed her new relationship.

The topic for the show was ‘Nollywood actress Mercy Aigbe marries ex-husband’s friend’ and towards the end of the show, the actress called the main show host, Morayo Afolabi-Brown on the phone.

Afolabi-Brown then announced that Aigbe was trying to call them on the show but as she couldn’t reach them, the actress has sent a text.

“I just want to clear the impression, Adekaz isn’t Lanre Gentry’s friend,” Afolabi-Brown readout Aigbe’s text to the viewers of the show.

Aigbe had set the internet agog on Sunday when she unveiled popular movie marketer, Adeoti, as her new lover.

She also took to her Instagram page on Monday to shower praises on her new lover on his birthday.

Aigbe’s estranged husband, Gentry, had shared a picture of himself, Aigbe, Adeoti, and Adeoti’s wife on his page as he revealed that the “truth” was finally out.

The ace actress separated from her estranged husband in 2017 after she alleged that she suffered domestic violence in her marriage.

Since their separation, the duo had frequently engaged in social media clashes since then.

Read Here: https://livenews.ng/mercy-aigbe-says-new-lover-isnt-ex-husbands-friend/

According to Forbes magazine, Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has been ranked first on the 2022 list of Africa’s richest persons for the 11th year in a row

According to Forbes in its latest report on the richest people in Africa, Dangote is worth an estimated $13.9 billion, which is up from $12.1 billion last year after a 30% increase in the stock price of his most valuable asset, Dangote Cement.

Forbes analysts attributed Dangote’s retention of the top spot to the “surge in housing developments in Nigeria and growth in government infrastructure spending drove higher demand in the first nine months of 2021.”

Also, Nigerian business tycoon and founder of the BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu, came in fifth with around $7 billion in net worth.

The Forbes report stated that Rabiu became $1.5 billion richer after listing his sugar and food firm BUA Foods on the Nigerian Exchange Limited in early January 2022.

“He and his son retained a 96% stake in the company, which recently had a market capitalization of nearly $2.8 billion. BUA Cement, in which he and his son have a 96% stake, listed in January 2020,” Forbes stated.

Meanwhile, Founder and CEO of Globacom, Mike Adenuga, comes in a close sixth after Rabiu with an estimated net worth of $6.7 billion.

Read Here: https://livenews.ng/dangote-ranks-first-on-forbes-2022-africa-richest-people-list/

After 13 days in captivity, the kidnapped mother of Kano lawmaker, Hajiya Zainab, was released on Tuesday after an N40 million ransom was paid.

Hajiya Zainab, the mother of Isiyaku Ali Danja, a former Minority Leader, Kano State House of Assembly, was said to have been abducted from her bedroom in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State, on January 12, 2021.

The lawmaker, who is the Speaker of Kano Assembly, confirmed the development on Tuesday, disclosed that his mother regained freedom after the payment of N40 million.

Ali Danja said he is on his way to pick his mother up from a Local Government in Jigawa State where the abductors dropped her.

Read Here: https://livenews.ng/kidnapped-kano-lawmakers-mother-regains-freedom-after-13-days-in-captivity/

Transparency International’s new corruption perception index (CPI) ranks Nigeria 154 out of 180 countries sampled methodically.
The organization, in its latest report released on Tuesday in Abuja, said that Nigeria dropped five places downward compared to the 2020 CPI results.

The report showed that Nigeria scored 24 out of 100 points in the 2021 CPI, falling back one point compared to the 2020 CPI.

Country Representative of TI, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani blamed the decline on corruption in the public sector.

Transparency International has released the 2021 corruption perception index globally, placing Nigeria 154 out of 180 countries studied methodologically.

Rafsanjani, who is also the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), said that corruption in Nigeria has greatly contributed to the nation’s underdevelopment.

The TI rep noted despite successive governments claiming to fight corruption, job opportunities, driving license acquisition, passport applications among others, were still frost with corrupt tendencies, especially as officials in charge of these basic services expect some form of kickbacks while rendering such duties.

He claimed that corruption was responsible for rising insecurity, high unemployment rate, systemic failure in healthcare delivery, and leadership dysfunctions.

The TI Rep said: “The CPI aggregates data from eight different sources that provide perceptions by country experts and business people on the level of corruption in the public sector.

Read Here: https://livenews.ng/nigeria-ranks-154-globally-in-corruption-rating-drops-five-places/

President Muhammadu Buhari has unveiled Nigeria’s National Policy on Fifth Generation (5G) Technology for the Digital Economy.

The President also directed all security institutions to immediately leverage the new technology to enhance security in the country.

He said the Federal Government will take full advantage of the opportunities provided by5G for the economy, security, and well-being of the nation.

He spoke at the presentation of the national policy on 5G, approved at the Federal Executive Council meeting.

Details later…

Read Here: https://livenews.ng/buhari-orders-operatives-to-use-5g-network-to-combat-insecurity/

A Federal High Court in Lagos has cleared comedian Joshua Sunday a.k.a. De General of drug trafficking charges.

The social media influencer was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) alongside Caleb William, a cinematographer on Monday, January 24, 2022, before Justice Daniel Osiagor.

During the hearing, the Judge noted that the volume of substance was minimal for which he would not convict but caution the defendants.

The prosecutor had told the court that the offenses committed by the convicts are contrary to and punishable under section 11 (c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ACT CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The prosecutor further urged the court to sentence the two men as prescribed by section 356(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, having pleaded guilty to the charge.

But Justice Osiagor declined to sentence the convicts.

He cautioned them ‘to go and sin no more’.

Read Here: https://livenews.ng/court-clears-de-general-of-drug-trafficking-charges/