₦airaland Forum

The cholera outbreak in Mubi North and Mubi South Local Government Areas of Adamawa has extended to Hong and Maiha local governments in the state.

A statement from the Information Officer of Adamawa Ministry of Health, Mohammed Abubakar, said two cases were recorded in each of the Local Government areas but there was no death.

Abubakar said as at Sunday, the total number of cases recorded in Mubi North, Mubi South, Maiha and Hong stood at 985, with 16 deaths.

The breakdown indicated that Mubi North had 427 cases, with 10 deaths, while Mubi South had 554 cases, with 6 deaths.

Hong and Maiha, who are recording their first cases since the outbreak early last month, have two cases each, with no death.

The ministry put the fatality ratio of the outbreak as at June 3 at 1.6 percent, a drastic reduction from the initial 17 percent when the epidemic started in May.

It urged the public to do more on personal and environmental hygiene.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/cholera-outbreak-extends-to-two-more.html

The Federal Government at the weekend said it had developed policies and programmes that would help reduce the impact of climate change.

Director in charge of Climate Change department, Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr Yerimah Tarfa, stated this at a roundtable series put together by the Institute for Public Policy Analysis and Management ( IPPAM ).

Dr. Tarfa, who spoke on the theme: “Climate Change, Livelihoods and Public Policy Responses in Nigeria,” said that his department had put in place policies, measures and activities that are all inclusive and geared towards implementing policies on climate change.

He said the focal points and approaches of the government in tackling climate change was hinged on adaptation and mitigation.


He said: “We have put in place a national policy on climate change which is available in our website.

“The structure of the department is such that there is a greenhouse gas inventory division, vulnerability and adaptation division, mitigation division and the education awareness and outreach.

“These divisions are supposed to be the entities that will touch on each of the activities that relates to climate change.”

He also said Nigeria was the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases through gas flaring.

Dr. Tarfa therefore said there was need for an urgent action to be taken by government which would enable the country tackle these challenges.

He also stressed the need to engage climate-smart agriculture and focus more on renewable energy.Member of the Governing Council, IPPAM, Prof. Eric Eboh, said the roundtable series was to foster cross-fertilization of critical thinking, innovative ideas and interactions between researchers, policy practitioners and non-state actors towards canvassing evidence-informed public policy options for sustainable social and economic development in Nigeria and Africa.

He also added that proceedings and recommendations of the roundtable which featured presentations from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders drawn from the community would be developed and transmitted to relevant government institutions and public policy agencies.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba said it was sad that Nigeria does not have a thorough and comprehensive policy document on climate change.

Prof. Nwajiuba, who was the keynote speaker said: “The focus on agriculture with respect to the roundtable discussion on climate change is very obvious due to its contributions to the GDP, employment and its vulnerability to climate change.

“When Nigerians talk about policy, they most times get a few friends to write up a certain document that they will never come around to implement because it never really passed through much rigour, and we call that policy.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/we-have-measures-in-place-to-tackle.html

The Medium Security Prison located at Tunga area of Minna metropolis was attacked by gunmen on Sunday night.

DSP Rabiu M. Shuaibu, PRO, Nigerian Prison Service, Niger command, confirmed this in a statement made available toAkelicious on Monday morning.

He said the incident was perpetrated by armed criminals, who attacked the prison and gained access after exchange of fire with armed prison’s officials.
“This led to dead of a prison officer and an Okada rider who convey a prison officer on night duty”, the spokesman added.
“So far, through combined effort of all security agencies in the state 7 prisoners who attempted to escape have been recaptured and returned to the prison.
“The Prison authority in Minna is profiling the number of fleeing inmates to ascertain the escaped prisoners.
“However, normalcy has returned and security agencies are working together to ensure that fleeing inmates are recaptured.
“The general public is hereby assured of its safety; and advised to go on with its normal business.
“At this juncture, we will like to urge all law abiding citizens to support the security agencies in maintaining law and order as security is a collective responsibility.
“We also advise that citizens should endeavor to report to security agencies any suspicious person or group of persons.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/breaking-officer-killed-inmates-escape.html

Senator Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi West) has explained why he opted to sit among opposition senators shortly after he resumed sitting following weeks of absence.

The senator opted for a change of seat to the side occupied by senators from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday.

“I see lion, tiger and snakes on this sit. Change my sit,” Maleye said in a message posted on his Instagram page.

The embattled senator had been away from the plenary for some weeks after he sustained injuries when he allegedly jumped off a police vehicle when he was being take to a court for an appearance in a criminal case.
At the plenary on Wednesday, Melaye openly made a request to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, saying “Mr President, I want to seek your indulgence that you would call on the Sergeant-at-Arm to look for a comfortable seat for me on this side of the divide (pointing at the PDP side) because I’m no longer comfortable sitting here.”
A PDP senator, Ben Murray-Bruce, subsequently ‘welcomed’ him to the party on Twitter. “Hearty welcome to our great party, @OfficialPDPNig. We will treat you good – no trauma or intimidation whatsoever,” Murray-Bruce tweeted.
However, Senator Melaye has not made any official declaration about his decamping to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/why-im-sitting-among-pdp-senators-melaye.html

The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has stated that some banks in Nigeria were collapsing.

Magu in a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, spoke yesterday in Lagos during an interactive session with Association of Chief Compliance Officers of Banks in Nigeria.

The EFCC boss charged banks’ compliance officers to always provide the commission with necessary information to assist it in carrying out its responsibilities.

He said: “We must work together to save this country. Most of the banks are sitting on water. In fact, some of these banks are almost collapsing.
“We need to find a common ground to work together. You have a responsibility to fight corruption”.
He stressed that compliance officers in various banks in Nigeria must also take ownership of the fight against corruption, which he described as one of the problems bedeviling the banking industry.

Magu said: “The Commission is ready to partner you to ensure a healthy economy.
“We are ready to assist the banks in recovering their debts, but compliance officers must ensure due diligence, especially when giving out loans to customers.
“I know you sometimes need to protect some of your customers. But it is sometimes better that you do without some of these people; otherwise, you will be seen as conspiring with them to steal public funds.”

Full details at http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/some-nigerian-banks-collapsing-efcc.html

Minister of Budget and Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, on Thursday said the country’s total exports appreciated by 59.9 per cent between 2016 and 2017 following the implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP). Speaking at the FT Nigeria Summit sponsored by First Bank of Nigeria Plc and others in Lagos, Udoma said the non-oil sector accounted for the growth recorded. He said the agricultural sector export grew from N6.7 billion in 2016 to N170 billion in 2017, and that yam was among the products exported. Udoma said the solid minerals export also rose from N44 billion in 2016 to N102 billion in 2017. Speaking on the theme: “Delivering economic resilience,” he said the ERGP and other government policies had made great impact on the economy. Udoma said the country’s business climate had improved with the government focusing on creating an environment for private sector investment. “We have tackled those issues that made Nigeria not to be competitive in the past such as ease of getting visas and acquiring lands, among others,” he said. The minister said the growth of other indices like foreign reserves, inflation rate, Gross Domestic Product were encouraging and made the economy more resilient. “We have built up our foreign reserves, in June 2016 it was 26.51billion dollars but today it’s about 44 billion dollars,” the minister said. He said the growth in the country’s reserves was achieved with prudent management.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/nigeria-records-599-export-growth-udoma.html[b][/b]

American and Chinese scientists have found that an antimicrobial ingredient commonly used in hand soaps and toothpastes could have adverse effects on colonic inflammation and colon cancer by altering gut microbiota, the microbes found in people’s intestines.

A study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine revealed that short-time treatment with low-dose triclosan led to low-grade colonic inflammation, and exaggerated disease development of colitis and colitis-associated colon cancer in mice.

“These results, for the first time, suggest that triclosan could have adverse effects on gut health,” said Zhang Guodong, assistant professor of food science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the paper’s senior author.

Zhang told Xinhua, “The toothpaste we use can enter into the intestinal tract, then impacting the gut microbiota.”

Triclosan is among the most widely used antimicrobial ingredients and is found in more than 2,000 consumer products and a National Health and Nutrition Examination survey showed that triclosan was detected in about 75 per cent of the urine samples of individuals tested in the U.S. and it is among the top ten pollutants found in U.S. rivers.

“Because this compound is so widely used, our study suggests that there is an urgent need to further evaluate the impact of triclosan exposure on gut health in preparation for the potential establishment of further regulatory policies,” said Yang Caixia, a postdoctoral fellow in Zhang’s laboratory and the paper’s first author.

Zhang’s team and Chinese researchers including those from Xi’an Jiaotong University investigated the effects of triclosan on colonic inflammation and colon cancer using several mouse models.

They reported that in all mouse models tested, triclosan promoted colonic inflammation and colon tumorigenesis.

The research team found that gut microbiota was critical for the observed adverse effects of triclosan, since feeding triclosan to mice reduced the diversity and changed the composition of the gut microbiome.

However, triclosan had no effect in a germ-free mouse model where there is no gut microbiome present, nor in a genetically engineered mouse model where there is no Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), an important mediator for host-microbiota communications.

“This is strong evidence that gut microbiota is required for the biological effects of triclosan,” Zhang said.

This study observed that triclosan altered mouse gut microbiota, increased inflammation, increased the severity of colitis symptoms and spurred colitis-associated colon cancer cell growth.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/see-how-toothpastes-cause-health-problem.html

Oil prices steadied on Wednesday after slipping on concerns that Saudi Arabia and Russia will pump more crude in response to falling global crude inventories and rising consumer prices.

Saudi Arabia and Russia have discussed raising OPEC and non-OPEC oil production by one million barrels per day (bpd) to counter potential supply shortfalls from Venezuela and Iran.

Brent crude was up one cent at 75.40 dollars a barrel by 0619 GMT.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 10 cents, at 66.83 dollars a barrel.

“OPEC has over-delivered on supply cuts in the past six months,” Harry Tchilinguirian, global head of commodity market strategy at French bank BNP Paribas, said in a note to clients.

“There is … scope for an increase in OPEC output.”

OPEC-led supply curbs have largely cleared an inventory surplus in industrialised countries, and stocks continue to decline.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is due to meet in Vienna on June 22.

Credit Suisse analysts on Tuesday said even if Russia and OPEC producers raise output, they would likely only add an additional 500,000 bpd.

The move would leave inventories in the most developed countries short of the five-year average by the end of 2018.

Falling share prices and a stronger U.S. dollar index also weighed on oil prices.

A stronger dollar makes greenback-denominated commodities more expensive for holders of other currencies.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/oil-prices-steady-after-shake-out-on.html

Governor orders civil servants to offices or risk sack Umahi warns traders not to fail to open their shops today in Ebonyi Police enjoin indigenes to ignore IPOB’s directive
David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka and Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki

Today’s sit at home order by the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) may have caused ripples in Anambra State as the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has reportedly ordered civil servants in the state to shun the exercise.

The governor in a three paragraphs statement meant for the state work force, which was obtained by Akelicious in Awka, while speaking through the Head of Service (HoS), Harry Udu, pointedly informed workers that after the democracy day celebration, work was expected to commence in full force.


The HoS in the short memo directed permanent secretaries and heads of ministries, agencies and parastatals to direct their subordinates to come to work.

The directive came as Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, warned that any trader in the state who fails to open his shop today in solidarity with the IPOB and MASSOB will be made to forfeit the shops to the state government.
The memo read: “The Governor of Anambra State has directed that work resumes on May 30 after the public holiday on May 29.

“All public servants must therefore report to their duty posts on Wednesday and the rest of the week. Permanent Secretaries and Heads of MDAs should monitor and report compliance unfailingly. Please circulate to all your staff.”
Though the memo failed to mention the sit-at-home order by IPOB, a source told Akelicious that the directive was meant to weaken the IPOB order.

But IPOB, the secessionist group, has further reiterated their commitment to ensuring that its order was carried.
A statement by the Deputy Leader of IPOB, Uche Mefor, titled: ‘May 30 Sit At Home is about respecting those who fought and died for your freedom’, said it has sent out canvassers to interior villages of Biafra land to sensitise the people on the need to obey the order, and have gotten favourable response that compliance would be high.

According to the statement, “The past few days have witnessed a remarkable public interest in the symbolism of the May 30 Biafra Remembrance, particularly the Sit-at-Home order. May 30 is just one day in 366 days but it represents an enduring epitaph that recalls many great feats, struggles and tribulations. It is about the greatest collective self-defence against a genocide that lasted four years from 1966 to 1970.

“It is about remembering and honoring those who fought valiantly against that genocide, and those who could not make their way safely to the East as they succumbed to the sheer numbers and bloodlust of their supposed northern compatriots who sought their gruesome death for nothing except for jealousy and speaking a different tongue.

“May 30 does not just remind us of the sacrifice of the soldiers, sailors and airmen of the great Biafran resistance of 1967 to 1970, but also of those who followed them in later conflicts-those who in this era, stepped out to the streets of Igweocha, Onitsha, Aba, among others to protest the resurgence of evil, those who were murdered at the night vigil in Aba, those who were mowed down at Nkpor, and those who, more recently, lost their precious young lives at various locations in Biafraland, including at Afara-Ukwu, Umuahia.

“Particularly with this year’s Sit-at-Home, as we rue our fate as a people and remember those who have died in the course of freedom, we must think of those they left behind – their families and their friends. We must also remember those that are missing since 2015, those in illegal detentions and those that have stepped forward to speak out, to lead; and despite the great dangers ahead, have stayed the course.”

Meanwhile, Governor Umahi, while speaking during the 2018 Democracy Day at Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, condemned the sit-at-home exercise, stressed that the methods being deployed by pro-Biafran groups in the county which he said are inimical to peace and development of the region.

He warned the members of the proscribed IPOB not to hold any protest in the state, as any activity held would be decisively dealt with.
The governor noted that though the South-east governors proscribed the activities of the secessionists does not mean that they are happy with the alleged marginalisation of the South-east in the affairs of the nation.

He said: “And so, any trader that closes shop will forfeit the shop forever. Anybody that flouts this order will be decidedly dealt with. I ask Ebonyians to go about their businesses freely and peacefully.
“Let me say that when we the South-east governors say that we don’t want the activities of IPOB does not mean that we are very happy with the marginalisation of the South-east in the affairs of our nation.

“What we are saying is that IPOB is not doing it the right way. The right thing was what Ohanaeze did in the comity of Igbo sons and daughters. We do not need second colonisation. We do not need distraction. We want to strive, we want to continue. We believe in God. We with do everything to change our condition.
Umahi called on the federal government to look into the plights of the South-east geopolitical zone and address the issue of marginalisation.

The governor, who make the call during the 2018 Democracy day at Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, noted that he believed in one united Nigeria founded on equity, justice and fairness.
He, however, emphasised the need for the zone to constructively engage the federal government on the issue.
“We call on the federal government to look into the plights of the South-east people and address the issue of marginalisation. We believe in one Nigeria that is found in equity and fairness and fair play.”

However, the police in Anambra State have enjoined all the people of the state to disregard alleged calls by any group urging them to sit at home today and go about their lawful businesses.
It denied reports that IPOB organised a rally and marched through the streets of Onitsha on peaceful demonstration to sensitise the public on the planned sit-at-home today.

In a statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Haruna Mohammed,
it said such reports are fictitious, saying: “The publication is not only fictitious but also mischievously orchestrated by those elements who are not happy with the prevailing peace in the state which the police and other law enforcement agencies are working tirelessly to maintain.”

full details at http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/sit-at-home-obiano-ipob-flex-muscles.html

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja, said permanent voter cards (PVCs) and card readers which he described as technology were the mysteries behind his victory at the 2015 presidential election.

Buhari who made this remark while breaking fast with members of the judicial arm of government in the State House, said the use of both devices was fantastic and ended difficulties in winning elections.

According to him, before the introduction of card readers, he ran for presidency for three times without success and further attempts to claim victory through the court was impossible because there was no platform to prove his case before judges.
However, he said the introduction of card readers and PVCs made winning elections easier and tasked the governors to embark on voters’ education in their various states.


“I decided to put agbada and come back. I tried (contested election) three times and then fourth time, I eventually made it. Thanks to God and thanks to technology because this permanent voter card and card readers are fantastic.

“Those who went to their polling booths in their constituencies and voted, their votes counted. Before, votes were disregarded and results written and there was nothing you could do before the justices to prove your case.

“But now, with technology, it has been made easy. That is why I keep appealing to the governors to embark on voter education, to please tell the people that their voter card is their national card so to speak.

“Let them vote for anybody they want across ethnicity and religion and impose their decisions on them. I think that is what I am calling for and I am begging the governors to please continue with voters’ education so that people will take their permanent voter cards seriously and make sure that they don’t loose it,” he said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/buhari-pvc-card-reader-magic-wand.html

Four people have been killed and seven others injured as suicide bomber hit the restive town of Konduga in Borno, in the latest Boko Haram attack, the police confirmed on Monday.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Damian Chukwu, told reporters in Maiduguri that the jihadists detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at a village, known as Mashimari in the Konduga Local Government Area on May 27, killing the four people.

Chukwu said that two of the dead were civilians. He, however, did not explain the identities of the other victims.
According to him, the bomber managed to sneak into Mashimari, a community near an Internally Displaced Persons Camp and detonated the IED.
He said that the Police Explosive Ordinance Device Corps had been deployed to the area.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Konduga has seen countless bloody attacks by insurgents since the crisis hit Nigeria’s expansive northeast almost a decade ago.
On Feb. 17 this year, 22 people were killed in a bomb attack at a fish market in Konduga, one of the deadliest incidents in the recurring bloodbath in the town.
The jihadists, who are fighting to enthrone a strict Islamic state, have killed thousands of people, ruining the economy of the northeast and displacing millions of people.
But federal troops have decimated the fighters, making the insurgents to resort to attacking soft targets in various communities from time to time.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/suicide-bomber-hits-borno-kills-4.html

Aviation labour organisations, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), have threatened to disrupt operations at the Nigeria’s busiest domestic terminal, the Murtala Muhammed Airport Termina Two (MMA2), Lagos, following the termination of services of some members of staff.
The unions gave the company one -week ultimatum, which expires today, to recall the 20 workers, alleging that they were sacked because of the major roles they played in the agitation for better welfare for the workers of the organisation under the unions.

Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of MMA2, in its reaction to the plan to close its operations described the threats as act of lawlessness by the unions.
A statement by the company in Lagos yesterday said: “The attention of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) has been drawn to the activities of two of the unions in the aviation industry namely, the ATSSSAN and NUATE, which have threatened to disrupt operations of our terminal.
BASL said it was shocked by the threats of the unions “to further display acts of lawlessness against our organisation.
“It would be recalled that when the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) was handed over to our company in accordance with the Concession Agreement executed between our company, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), these two unions physically prevented us from exercising our constitutional and legal right of ownership of the terminal.


“Subsequent to this handover, the courts have confirmed that the terminal belongs to our company.
“It is interesting to note that the two unions, NUATE and ATSSSAN, actually challenged our ownership of the terminal in court in Appeal No. CA/A/141/M/09. The case was decided in our favour in the Court of Appeal on October 16, 2010. Their case was dismissed for lacking any merit whatsoever.
Bi-Courtney said it would do everything within the laws of Nigeria to enforce its right to peaceful existence and to
operate its business without any interference from meddlesome “interlopers.

“Contrary to their allegation that our members of staff had their service terminated because they threatened to join a union, these members of staff who were relieved of their appointment are staff who had either attained retirement age or who were found not to be diligent in their duties. We reserve the right to continue to improve the quality of our staff,” the company said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/unions-threaten-to-stop-flight.html

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Sunday disclosed that it will review the key performance indicators (KPIs) and other operational strategies it had given to its subsidiaries to boost its plan of becoming a fully integrated national oil company.

NNPC stated that the reviews would enable it prosper as an oil company despite the changing dynamics of the global oil industry.

Its Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, said this at the corporation’s first quarter 2018 top management steering committee meeting held in Abuja.

A statement from the corporation’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, quoted Baru to have admitted that there were tremendous changes going on in the global oil industry which NNPC must plan well to survive through.

Baru explained that apart from the review of its operational KPIs, the other new strategies to be adopted by NNPC would include setting realistic targets for immediate sign-off, as well as spending items capable of improving its bottom-line.

All these, Baru noted would become NNPC’s long-time survival strategies to achieve efficiency, growth and profitability in its operations.
“The changes we are seeing in the industry over the last few years call for some action on our part. This is because as a business concern, we don’t live in isolation in the industry and therefore, we must act now,” said Baru in the statement.
According to him, the NNPC was accelerating its action on the holistic rehabilitation of its four refineries in Kaduna, Warri, and Port Harcourt, in addition to strengthening its internal control mechanisms and intensifying exploration efforts in the frontier oil basins.
He added: “Today, we are reviewing the mission and vision of the corporation and have also ventured into renewable energy and power sectors.”
The statement equally quoted NNPC’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Downstream, Mr. Henry Ikem-Obih, to have explained that a lot of work had been done to get the corporation to measure up with its peers.
Ikem-Obih noted that the corporation was investing a lot in downstream supply and distribution assets, and that now its focus in the sector revolved around imbibing world-class culture, implementing best practices, focusing on cost reduction, improving efficiency, deploying cutting-edge technologies and having a clean balance sheet that reflects its corporate business vision.
He said: “Gradually, we are repositioning from an intervention engine for the nation to one that is ready to make profit, grow and create value for our teeming stakeholders.”
Similarly, NNPC’s Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy Division, Mr. Bala Wunti, said the essence of the meeting was to review performance, redefine expectations, identify areas of improvement and implement actionable items that would boost efficiency and high profitability.
Wunti noted that the meeting had brought to the fore areas yearning for further improvement which the division would vigorously pursue to ensure profitability and growth for NNPC.
He said: “It is important that we do what we need to do like any other NOC to move on the upward trajectory and be able to achieve our mandate of delivering value to our major shareholders, who are Nigerians.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/nnpc-reviews-operational-kpis-to.html

The Nigeria Optometric Association (NOA) has said that 33 per cent of children in Cross River have visual defects.

The state Chairman of the association, Dr Onyebuchi Ndukwe, made the disclosure at this year’s outreach programme tagged “Save the sight of the child’’ on Saturday in Calabar.

Ndukwe said the programme was a continuation of the 2017 intervention titled “My sight, My right’’.

“We are looking at ages 5 to 14, at that age, most children are in school and you know that we cannot separate vision from academics; poor vision can lead to poor academic performance.


“The state government had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Brian Holding Vision Institute which would last for two years and the Nigeria Optometric Association is part of that agreement,” he said.

Ndukwe however said his association’s major challenge was reaching children in rural areas.

“Most of our members are based in Calabar and you know the distance between one local government and the other in the state.

“We are advocating for the employment of optometrists in the state civil service who will serve at the local government level to bridge the gap,’’ he said.

An optometrist, Dr Bernardine Ekpeyong, said a current research published by Ekpeyong et al, 2017, showed that refractive errors, conjunctivitis, cataract and glaucoma are some of the major eye defects affecting children in the state.

Ekpeyong revealed that out of the 33 per cent of the children with various eye defects in the state, 11 per cent would need glasses.


She also said that they discovered that 95 per cent of the children in the state had never had eye examination in their lives and that is what they were preaching against.

“We are pushing for physical eye examination for children before school entry because that way, we are sure that any problem would be detected early, early detection is very important for prevention of blindness.

“We target children to prevent amblyopia which becomes a condition when children are not given glasses early enough to correct their sight, thereby making the defect irreversible later in life,” she said.

The expert identified poverty and ignorance as major problems in the fight as most parents were either too poor or did not see the need to take their children to a hospital when there are complaints.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong, noted that the state had a vision to make sure that children did not have visual disabilities that were preventable or could be treated.

According to Asibong, the outreach will help check the major eye defects that children encountered and glasses would be given to those in need of glasses.
She said those whose cases could not be handled during the outreach would be referred to the State Eye Care Programme to be treated free at the College of Health Technology.

“We are collaborating with other ministries and departments, and would work with the existing eye care programme in the state to make sure that every child in Cross River is captured and the intervention is sustained,’’ she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the outreach was organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Optometric Association, Calabar branch. (NAN)

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/33-criver-children-have-visual-problems.html

The ECOWAS Parliament has said it will be resending MPs on a peacekeeping mission to Sierra Leone next month. The decision announced by the Speaker, Moustapha Cisse Lo, came at the request of the Sierra Leonian MPs requesting the mediating presence of the parliament to smoothen the lingering tensions in the country. Addressing the Speaker, Hon. Shiaka Sama, said although the parliament had successfully mediated over the political conflict of Sierra Leone’s parliament, the latest attack on the Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyer, on May 24, had raised tensions in the country. Sama called on the parliament to resend the peacekeeping mission to Sierra Leone to help douse the remaining tensions. Meantime, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, advised the peacekeeping mission should be sent within the next month in order to adhere to the country’s election policy – that all election matter must be addressed within 4 months after the election. Hon. Mohammed Lafiagi, advised the return mission to Sierra to be headed by the Chair of the Political Affairs, Peace, Security and APRM, Yahya Sangare, to include some members of the original mission, to ensure smooth deliberation. Speaker, Cisse Lo, said the parliament will resend a mission to Sierra Leone within the next two or three weeks.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/ecowas-resending-mission-to-sierra-leone.html

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says it is planning campaigns on public health issues such as HIV/AIDS and drug abuse in Zamfara, as part of activities to mark the 45th anniversary of the scheme.

The state NYSC Coordinator, Hajiya Walida Isa, made this known in a statement made available to newsmen in Gusau on Friday.

“As we are all aware, the NYSC management, staff and corps members will be marking the 45th anniversary of the scheme nationwide from May 28, 2018.
“In Zamfara State, we plan to embark on environmental sanitation by NYSC officials and corps members at Gusau New Market on May 30, 2018, by 9 a.m.”
Isa said that there would also be public enlightenment on health issues such as HIV/AIDS and drug abuse on May 31, 2018 at Gusau Central Motor Park by 9 a.m.
“We are using this medium to call on all stakeholders and members of the public to cooperate with us to succeed in the exercise,” she said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/45th-anniversary-nysc-plans-campaigns.html

The wife of former Minster of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, Precious, has delivered a set of triplets on Friday, same day she is marking her birthday.
Fani-Kayode announced the good news on his twitter handle.
He said: “I give thanks to God for the birth of my three beautiful sons, Ragnar, Aiden and Liam this morning.
“They are so beautiful. Precious and the three boys are doing very well.
“Today is her birthday: what a wonderful birthday gift that the Lord has given to us. To God be the glory,” Fani-Kayode tweeted.
His wife Precious who is also in celebration through her twitter handle thanked God for safe delivery.
She said: “thank you Lord for these special birthday gifts.
“My target was 35weeks and exactly today, Ragnar,Aiden and Liam just arrived.
“I’m doing fine and so are my boys. Thanks for your prayers and wishes, I really do appreciate”.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/fani-kayodes-wife-precious-celebrates.html

The chairman of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS), Dr. Murtala Awodun has disclosed that the agency generated the sum of N7.7bn between January and April this year.

The KWIRS chairman disclosed this in Ilorin at the quarterly media parley on the state of revenue generation in the state.


According to him, “The sum of N2.2billion was generated for the month of January, N2.3billion for February, N1.8billion for March and N1.29billion for April as against the total sum of N11 billion generated at the first quarter in the year 2017.”

He said that the development was due to the persuasion and civility being used to interact with both formal and informal sectors of the state.

Awodun further added that the gentleman approach to the revenue generation has gone a long way towards assisting the agency to garner more taxes without any hindrance among the teeming populace of the state.

On the return of revenue collection meant for the 16 local government councils in the state, Awodun said that the agency decided to cede the revenue meant for councils to be collected by them so as to enable the councils in the state fulfil their rightful obligations to the people of the grassroots.

He added: “Since the state government believe that the local government councils have learnt their lessons in the management of revenue resources meant to them, the agency early this year relinquish the power to collect revenue meant for the councils to them without any hindrance.

“What the agency is doing now is advising and monitoring of their activities as way of helping them to be alive to improved revenue generation at the grassroots so as to meet the yearnings and aspirations of those that elected them into office.

“And this would assist them to add values to the socio economic development and growth of the grassroots in the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people of the state at rural areas”.

The chairman also enumerated some of the agency’s community impact activities within the first quarter to include renovation of marriage registry and distribution of books to pupils of schools in the Kwara north senatorial district.

Others are: Clearing of drainages around Tanke area, contribution of endowment funds to the forthcoming convocation of the Kwara State University, Malete and donation of vehicle to the National Union Road Transport Workers (NURTW); sponsoring of symposium at KWASU, donation of borehole to Ifelodun community in Alagbado area, as well as clearing of Yoruba road market.”.

Awodun therefore appealed to the residents of the state to continue to support the agency in its bid to meet its target so as to help the state to move forward.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/kwara-revenue-agency-generates-n77bn-in.html

As the spread of the dreaded disease, Ebola, continues across major towns in the Congo Democratic Republic (DRC) ahead of the friendly game between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Leopards of DRC in Port Harcourt on Saturday, the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has called on Gov. Nyesom Wike not only focus on reaping from the razzmatazz the grade ‘A’ friendly brings to his empty celebration of 3 years in office, adding “he (Wike) must forget politics for a while and act to protect the lives of the people and residents of Rivers State.”

The APC in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Mr. Chris Finebone said, “the APC is not averse to the game going on in Port Harcourt as earlier scheduled, we are worried that the possibility of Ebola making its way into Rivers State may be lost on the lackadaisical and purposeless government led by Gov. Nyesom Wike in the State. We believe that a government that, for years, has been at sea over the soot enveloping Port Harcourt and environs may just be celebrating and backslapping while Ebola sneaks into town to wreak havoc on the people and residents of our dear State.”

He urged governor Wike to roll up his sleeves and deploy emergency health services especially the infectious disease personnel to ensure that the players and other delegation members who will make contact with hotel staff are properly screened to ensure that they do not leave any Ebola footprint on the hotel facilities and the staff.
“More specifically, the hotel to accommodate the DRC delegation should be carefully selected and orientation for the personnel of such a hotel held to acquaint them with the need to reduce contacts and maintain general high hygiene standards while they host the delegation” Mr. Finebone advised.

He noted that the APC is deeply worried and not sure whether the State government is aware that all major international media outlets are currently highlighting the increasing Ebola spread in the Congo DRC.

“What can be achieved by the federal government through surveillance at the airport of entry should not replace the need for the Rivers State Government to do more to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the people and residents of Rivers State. This should not be another matter over which the governor will play his unending politics with. This is about life and we hope the governor gets it” Mr. Finebone finally declared.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/rvsg-must-act-proactively-to-prevent.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved new appointments for four Federal Government Agencies.



Buhari said this in a statement signed by Olusegun A. Adekunle, from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The President charged the appointees to deliver selfless, exemplary and socially impactful services, with strict observance of the extant policies, guidelines, rules and stipulations guiding the discharge of their offices.

The appointments are:
S/N ORGANIZATION APPOINTEE DESIGNATION EFFECTIVE DATE
1 Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto Dr. Anasa Ahmad Sabir Chief Medical Director (CMD) Initial Period of Four (4) years with effect from 17 th May, 2018
2 Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze, Anambra State Dr. Theresa Obumneme Okoli Provost Initial Period of Four (4) years with effect from 17 th May, 2018

3 Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku, Rivers State. Dr. Emmanuel Ikenyiri Provost Initial Period of Four (4) years with effect from 17 th May, 2018
4 Directorate of Technical Aid Corps Dr. Pius Olakunle Osunyikanmi

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/buhari-makes-new-appointments-for-four.html

The Lagos State Government on Monday said its current debt profile of NN874.38 billion is manageable and that the debt service charge to total revenue ratio is still within the World Bank threshold of 30%.

Commissioner for Finance, Akinyemi Ashade disclosed this on Monday at a ministerial press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

According to Ashade, the Lagos State Government debt stock-to-GDP as at 2016 had been maintained at 2% from 2015, while reported total debt-to-total revenue in 2016 was 150% from 129% in 2015; both ratios being well below the World Bank thresholds of 40% and 250% respectively.

‘Our reported net debt stock, comprising of 48% local debt and 52% foreign debt, amounted to N874.38bn at the end of 2017, while the debt service charge to total revenue ratio, which stood at 17.61% compared to 13.32% in 2016 and 12.45% in 2015, is still within the World Bank threshold of 30%,” he said.

On the bond issuance programme, the commissioner said the government established a multi-year infrastructural development bond of N500 billion out of which the State had issued a cumulative amount of N132.14 billion, saying that the first tranche of N47 billion was issued in December 2016, while the second tranche of N97 billion was issued in August 2017.

“The sustained interest in the Lagos State Government Bond Issuance Programme is a confirmation of investors’ confidence in the State Government and its instruments. As at 28 February 2018, the State Government had accumulated over N36.7 billion in the Sinking Fund accounts managed by independent trustees towards the redemption of existing bonds, with the next set of bond tranches of N80 billion and N87.5 billion set to mature in November 2019 and 2020 respectively,” he said.

However, Ashade disclosed that the government had so far achieved an average monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N34 billion in 2018 compared to monthly averages of the last three years.

Ashade attributed the gradual improvement to the impact of the ongoing reforms and growth in the State’s economy.

He said, “Notably, we are recording gradual improvement in our average monthly IGR in 2018 compared to the levels achieved in previous years due to the impact of ongoing reforms and growth in the State’s economy. Based on our first quarter results, Lagos State has so far achieved an average monthly IGR of N34billion in 2018 compared to monthly averages of N22bn, N24bn and N30bn in 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively.”

The commissioner expressed optimism that the IGR would continue to rise even further as the State continues to implement the various reforms, driven by wider technology adoption and innovation, adding that the target to grow the State’s IGR to N50bn by next year was well on course.

“The target we set for ourselves is N50 billion but we all know the kind of push backs we have experienced including people going to court and all that. Our commitment is not for now, its for the future of Lagos. We know it’s a marathon, we would win some and we would lose some, but we are very committed towards ensuring that we meet the target, but if we don’t meet it this year, definitely there would be another year, but we believe we would succeed in that target we set for ourselves,” Ashade said.

On Federal Transfers, he said since Lagos joined the league of oil producing State, the Government had received a total of N327 million revenue, comprising N197 million and N130 million received in 2017 and first quarter of 2018 respectively.

“Furthermore, we are in ongoing discussions with the Federal Government towards obtaining a refund for expenditure totalling N51 billion that was incurred by the State Government on behalf of the Federal Government for infrastructure projects developments in the State. We are optimistic of successful discussions that will result in the approval and payment of the amount owed to the State Government by the Federal Government,” he said.

The commissioner said the State Government has continued to maintain a positive credit rating, however, adding that a downgrade of Nigeria’s sovereign rating would lead to a corresponding action on Lagos’ international drawing rights.

“As Nigeria continues to improve on its credit rating, we would be able to achieve better rating as we currently have because no amount of revenue generation, no amount of employment growth of Lagos State can make us surpass to surpass the sovereign rating,” he said.

He, however, said that the State Government has taken some strategic steps to help Nigeria improve on its ratings including adhering to fiscal discipline, improved revenue generation, reforms in infrastructure development, transport and embedded power.

Giving an update on the revised Land Use Charge (LUC), Ashade said the State Government has continued to engage critical stakeholders in line with its tradition of inclusive governance, adding that a wide range of response have been received.

He said the extensive discussions led to several concessions on Land Use charge for property owners across board, adding that a revised bill to further amend the LUC Law to incorporate the additional concessions was presently before the House of Assembly and would be passed soon.

Besides, the commissioner said the Government through the LUC Assessment Appeal Tribunal, received a total of 1,503 complaints, out of which 1,113 were successfully resolved administratively and through mediation, adding that an additional 263 property owners/agents had their grievances resolved in the last two weeks and more still ongoing.

Ashade also urged residents to continue to support the government by fulfilling their civic duty of paying their taxes and remitting all taxes collected on behalf of the Government as and when due, assuring that the present administration was committed to maintaining financial accountability and transparency for the overall development and prosperity of the State.

http://akelicious..com.ng/2018/05/our-debt-profile-of-n87438bn-manageable.html

President Muhammadu Buhari’s Personal Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie on Monday stated that the Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike should be in a medical facility receiving “mental” treatment.

She stated this while reacting to remarks made by Governor Wike while fielding questions from reporters of Channels Television on Monday.

Wike had insisted that the Federal Government was plotting to assassinate him, among many other allegations.


The governor claimed that “federal might” was being used against him in the state.
“So many strategies have been mapped out. They have asked EFCC to monitor the accounts of the states I don’t have a problem with it, if they respect the rule of law, if they obey court orders. Before I came in, there were judgments against EFCC in the state financial activities which they have appealed and they have not set aside that judgment.
“These are strategies mapped out, they want to make sure that you are at the level that you can’t operate as a state,” Wike had said.

Speaking in response to these remarks, Onochie said the country’s laws must be changed to give citizens the rights to demand mental assessment of their leaders.
“It’s sad that a man who should be receiving care, sympathy and attention in a health institution is sitting as a governor of Rivers state.
“Our laws must be changed to give citizens the rights to demand mental assessment of their leaders. Sadly, the people of Ekiti lived through it.”

http://akelicious..com/2018/05/wike-should-be-in-hospital-receiving.html

Pope Francis has named 14 new cardinals, the elite group of churchmen who are his closest advisers and can enter a conclave to choose his successor if they are under 80.

The Pope made the announcement on the new cardinals during his weekly Sunday address.
He said the ceremony to elevate the nominees, known as a consistory, would take place on June 29.

Vaticannews reports that the men who will receive their red hats from the Pope include bishops from Iraq, Pakistan, Portugal, Peru, Madagascar, Italy and Japan.
Pope Francis said their nominations “manifests the unbreakable bond between the See of Peter and the local Churches throughout the world”. Alongside them, Pope Francis also nominated to the College of Cardinals a retired archbishop of Mexico, a retired bishop of Bolivia and a priest from the Claretian order, all of whom, he said, “have distinguised themselves for their service to the Church”.
The names of the new Cardinals are: Louis Raphaël Sako, Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Babylon, Luis Ladaria, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Angelo De Donatis, Vicar General of Rome. Giovanni Angelo Becciu,Substitute of the Secretary of State and Special Delegate for the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Konrad Krajewski, Almoner of the Office of Papal Charities, Joseph Coutts – Archbishop of Karachi, António dos Santos Marto, Bishop of Leiria-Fátima, were also named.

Others are Pedro Barreto, Archbishop of Huancayo, Desiré Tsarahazana, Archbishop of Toamasina, Giuseppe Petrocchi – Archbishop of L’Aquila, Thomas Aquinas Manyo – Archbishop of Osaka, Sergio Obeso Rivera, Emeritus Archbishop of Xalapa, Toribio Ticona Porco, Emeritus Bishop of Corocoro and Reverend Father Aquilino Bocos Merino, member of the Claretian order.
There was no Nigerian priest on the list but the country has three cardinals at present.
They are Cardinals Francis Arinze, 85, Olubunmi Okogie, 81, and John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, 74. The first Nigerian to be appointed a cardinal in 1976 was Dominic Ignatius Ekandem. He died in 1995. Arinze was appointed in 1985, Okogie 2003 and Onaiyekan 2012.

http://akelicious..com.ng/2018/05/pope-francis-names-14-new-cardinals.html

Chief Derin Adebiyi, the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor Ibikunle Amosun on Political Affairs, on Saturday, emerged as the Chairman of the state executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun.

In a peaceful exercise, former Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Bashiru Fadayiro and Patrick Ogunde emerged Deputy Chairman and Secretary respectively.

A former media aide to former Gov. Olusegun Osoba, Wole Elegbede, equally, emerged as the Publicity Secretary.


The Chairman of the Congress Committee, Rev. Peter Obadan, announced the result at the conclusion of the exercise.

He disclosed that a total of 1,749 delegates from 20 local governments in the state, were accredited and participated in the congress.

Obadan, who described the election as peaceful, said out of the total votes cast, 18 were voided, just as he commended the party members for giving good account of themselves.

In his acceptance speech, Adebiyi, said his exco would ensure politics of inclusion and work to ensure victory for the party in 2019 general elections.

Adebiyi, who assured that the new exco would obey the national leadership of the party, also said the party will be firm and not tolerate indiscipline, declaring “era of indiscipline is gone in Ogun APC”.

He noted that the peaceful conduct of the congress was a reflection of outstanding leadership of Gov. Amosun, adding that the party will continue to follow the leadership style of the governor.

In his remark, Amosun, commended the former executives for their hard-work, endurance and sacrifice.

He urged the new executive committee members to continue working towards making the party formidable ahead of next year’s general elections.

Earlier, a governorship aspirant in the party, Jimi Lawal, in a chat with journalists, expressed confidence that the congress would produce capable hands to steer the party to success in 2019.

http://akelicious..com/2018/05/amosuns-aide-emerges-chairman-as-ogun.html

By Okey Igbokwe

What manner of restructuring is Ohaneze campaigning for? This is one of the points I'm yet to get the specifics. From the other end, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is singing his own different song on restructuring. He has already hinted that he's going to achieve the impossible by restructuring Nigeria in just six months of his presidency. Again without clear specifics.

It should not take a toddler or a neophyte in politics a second thought to observe the deceit in all these cacophony.

Ohaneze Ndi Igbo is being used by Atiku Abubakar as vehicle to drive his 2019 presidential campaign and gain Igbo popularity. As part of this decoy, the first place he took this restructuring comedy happened to be in UNN of all places where he felt our Young Minds could easily swallow it. A risk he dares not take in the ultra radical Ahmadu Bello university or Bayero.

Ohaneze is about to host a summit on restructuring in Ala Igbo. All the while they have been singing this music, they are yet to bother our people with the specifics or the type of restructuring they want; whether political restructuring, economic restructuring or restructuring along regional or ethnic lines.

Restructuring Nigeria in whatever form is not as easy as drinking tea. And Atiku Abubakar knows this. Yet he's telling our people, using Ohaneze, that he's going to do it in six literal months.

Ohaneze should quit allowing this revered socio cultural institution to be used as political foot march by anybody desperate for Igbo support. No type of restructuring in Nigeria today could settle the Igbo quest for equity and inclusiveness.

Nigeria is already too suffocating for Ndi Igbo.

Besides, Ohaneze can not be talking restructuring without asking questions on the whereabouts of Nnamdi Kanu and his parents who originated this consciousness to restructure.

Nnamdi Kanu and his parents disappeared for months now following the invasion of their home by a rampaging, murderous Nigerian Army few days after coming out of a round-table with Ohaneze and Igbo governors.

It is a criminal indictment on Ohaneze and Igbo governors. Their silence since the disappearance of Mr Kanu and his parents who is a traditional ruler shows that Ohaneze is complicit on whatever fate that befell them. You can not claim to be a father of a house and your child vanished in mysterious circumstance and you could not ask question. What manner of father are you? It portrays you as irresponsible. Also, hundreds of Igbo youth agitating for freedom and demanding equity are languishing in various prisons across Nigeria without Ohaneze raising an eyebrow. Yet these are supposed to be their children. Can fanciful restructuring talk assuage their feelings or secure their freedom?

Nnamdi Kanu it was, who awakened the consciousness of people on the flaws and seams about Nigeria at the risk of his life and family. Sensitive topics people were wont to speak in hushed tone and afraid to say in public, Nnamdi Kanu broadcasted everywhere daring the consequences. Something a hitherto indolent and docile Ohaneze with Igbo governors could not do. With uncommon courage, he energized our people, he mobilized them to stand up for their right. The entire world heard us. He exposed the criminal injustices deliberately designed to suppress our people. He breathed in our people a new conscious awakening. He was the reason everyone started rambling about restructuring, including Ohaneze. Such an important sacrifice can not be made and Ohaneze can not stand up to ask questions as father figure when such person suddenly disappeared from the public.
The crowd Nnamdi Kanu pulled can never be matched by anybody within Ohaneze rank. And what those crowd are asking for is Referendum not Restructuring.

Igbo culture is a true embodiment of democracy. It is a brand of system practiced even before the colonial masters came with their own brand. In Igbo brand of democracy, the voice of the people is what is adhered to and never the voice of a authoritarian figure. Igbo culture abhors dictatorship. Therefore, denying their demands for a referendum by few in Ohaneze means denying them their democratic right. And it means that Ohaneze is bending towards dictatorship and authoritarianism.

Ohaneze can not use our revered socio cultural institution as shelf to sell Atiku product for 2019. They must demand the whereabouts of Nnamdi Kanu and his family as well as tell the world and whoever that is coming to them for support about the democratic demands of our people, which is Referendum.

http://akelicious..com/2018/05/ohaneze-and-restructuring-song.html

Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has congratulated members of the Oyo State House of Assembly on the rancour-free election of their new speaker, Olagunju Ojo.

The governor also felicitated with the new speaker for being found worthy by his colleagues to occupy the exalted position.In a statement on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr Bolaji Tunji, Governor Ajimobi pledged the full support of the executive arm of government to the new speaker.

He noted that the peaceful emergence of Ojo has further consolidated his leadership as an apostle of geo-political balancing in the political configuration of the state.

The governor added that the peaceful and successful emergence of the speaker has demonstrated the unity among members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

He, however, urged Speaker Ojo to sustain the legacy of peace, cooperation and bridge-building existing between the executive and the legislature.

Ajimobi stressed that the support of the legislature was critical to the consolidation of the unprecedented achievements of his administration in the last seven years.

The seat of the speaker became vacant following the sudden death of the late Speaker of the eighth Assembly, Michael Adeyemo, who died on April 27 at the age of 47.

Ojo is a ranking member of the Assembly, having emerged as deputy speaker from 1999 to 2003, while he was the running mate of a governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) in the 2007 election.

He was elected speaker by his colleagues during a plenary session, while late Adeyemo’s deputy, Abdulwasi Musa, retained his position.

Governor Ajimobi prayed that the Almighty God would continue to comfort and sustain the family of the late speaker.

http://akelicious..com.tr/2018/05/ajimobi-lauds-peaceful-election-of-new.html

The Code and Conduct Tribunal sitting in Abuja, has discharged Justice Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta, a serving Judge of the Supreme Court of the allegations against him. Honourable Member of the Tribunal, Mr. William Atedze, in his decision in the matter said he is persuaded by the argument of the Applicant in paragraph 4.1 of his written address that; as a serving judicial officer, he is under the management, control and discipline of the National Judicial council, a body whose independence from external control or interference is constitutionally provided for by section 158 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). He held, ‘’This means that any allegation of official misconduct will first have to be referred to the National Judicial Council to the exclusion of any other body, court or Tribunal’’. The court held that the prosecution, who queried veracity of the adoption of the case of Ngajiwa v. FRN as a precedent, further contradicted himself by alluding to the possibility that should the matter be appealed to the Supreme Court for final determination, that the apex Court may adopt his line of argument.

http://akelicious..com/2018/05/corruption-cct-acquits-supreme-court.html

President Muhammadu Buhari will travel to London on Tuesday to see his doctor, his media Garba Shehu said in a statement on Monday.
Buhari is expected to be in London until May 12.
“In the course of the technical stop-over for aircraft maintenance in London on his way back from Washington last week, the President had a meeting with his doctor,” Shehu said. “The doctor requested the President to return for a meeting which he agreed to do.”

The president was in London between January 19 March 10, 2017, to “undergo routine medical check-ups” during a short holiday.
On his return, he tacitly acknowledged that he was very ill, telling his cabinet members that “I couldn’t recall being so sick since I was a young man.” He also said he had “blood transfusions, going to the laboratories and so on and so forth.”
He returned to the United Kingdom on May 7, 2017, for the same reason and did not return until August 19.
More details soon.

full report at

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/breaking-buhari-off-to-london-to-see.html

As the nationwide Police screening excise begins, 1265 candidates have undergone the excise in Abuja. Narrating the procedure to journalists at the screening centre, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Training and Development, DIG Emmanuel Inyang psc(+), said the Nigeria Police is dedicated to ensuring that the best candidates are employed to the Force. He noted that Medical Examination will be conducted for each candidate in the following areas before final selection: Visual Assessment which covers far and near visual acuity, binocular vision, colour vision, visual field testing and pathology, General medical test which covers blood pressure, sugar, body mass index, hepatitis b and c, HIV screening, Tuberculosis, antigen in serum and pregnancy test (for women only) and Psychological evolution of the candidates which covers psychological interview, personality and integrity as well as drug screening.” The DIG further stated that “For the first time, successful candidates, after the physical screening, will undergo a written aptitude test to be conducted by Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to ensure transparency and get the best out of the candidates.” Recall that the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris had tasked Commissioners of Police and other Senior Officers nominated to serve as Heads of Police Recruitment Screening Committee in the 37 Commands of the Federation and warned them to be thorough and above board and ensure that the screening exercise which will commence with effect from Monday, May, 7, 2018 is smooth, hitch free and devoid of any form of corrupt practice. The IGP further warned the Officers that will be participating in the screening exercise to remain impartial and ensure transparency. The Inspector General of Police also directed that the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Training and Development to embark on monitoring and assessment of the exercise throughout the 36 states and the FCT to ensure that the exercise is carried out in line with best practices. Candidates were also advised to be of good conduct throughout the exercise.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/1265-applicants-undergo-police.html

The Nigeria Police Force on Monday, has recorded no fewer than 1,113 applicants in its on going recruitment exercise in Lagos State.

About 6,000 applicants were shortlisted for the exercise nationwide.

The Presiding Officer for the screening, ACP Okon Otoyo, gave the figure at the Police College, Ikeja, venue of the screening.

The Nation reports that some of the applicants reported at the venue as early as 7.30 a.m.


At 10a.m., some senior police officers began to teach them how to fill forms. The officers gave out some other instructions.

The Nation reports that some applicants, ignorant of what they were expected to bring to the venue, began to purchase plastic canvass, white T-shirts and shorts when they got to the college.

Otoyo said: “We have started the screening. We have 1,113 applicants to be screened in Lagos and it will take one week.’’

Some of the candidates, who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity, said that they were looking forward to having a bright career in the Nigeria Police Force.

Some, however, decried the high cost of training kits such as canvass and shirts which they bought in front of the college.



“We were not told what to bring to the venue; someone only called me requesting me to check for my name on the internet; luckily, I found my name.


“There was no instruction on what to bring apart from certificates.

“It was when we got to the Police College that we discovered that some of our colleagues were putting on white-and-white kits.

“Normally, I can’t buy plastic canvass more than N600, but because of emergency, I bought mine N1, 000, while some of my colleagues bought theirs more than N1000,” one of the applicants said.

Another applicant told our reporter that he desired policing in spite of the hazards of the profession.

“We know a lot of things are wrong in Nigeria and we have to put them right. Although policemen and other security agents are being killed, we must join to fight crime,’’ he said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/police-recruitment-1113-begin-screening.html

For allegedly stealing 10 drums of kerosene valued at N560,000, a 32-year-old truck driver, Ibrahim Wasiu, was on Monday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court. Wasiu, whose address is unknown, is being tried for stealing and damage. The Police Prosecutor, ASP Ezekiel Ayorinde, told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 28 at Ogba, Lagos. He said the accused stole 10 drums of kerosene valued at N560,000, property of Mr Quadri Taiwo. “The accused used his company’s truck to load the complainant’s kerosene to deliver at Ore, Ondo State, but he sold the commodity to two different persons and ran away with the proceeds.” Ayorinde said the complainant traced the accused to his company — Crystal Group of Companies — and reported the theft. “The accused used the company’s vehicle which was only meant for brewery products to transport kerosene which is against the policy of his company.” The prosecutor alleged that the accused also damaged the back axle of the truck which would cost the company N800,000 to repair. “Taiwo and Crystal Company reported the theft and the damage at the station and the accused was arrested.” The offences contravened Sections 287 (7) and 350 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 (7) stipulates seven years jail term for stealing employer’s property, while Section 350 provides two years for damage. The accused pleaded innocence of the offences and was granted bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum. The Magistrate, Mrs B.O.Osunsanmi, who gave the ruling, said the sureties should be gainfully employed with an evidence of two years tax payment. The case was adjourned until June 25 for mention.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/truck-driver-charged-with-n560000.html