President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the declaration of November 1st of every year as the National Youth Day in Nigeria.

The Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, disclosed this via his Twitter handle on Wednesday.

According to the minister, the President made this known during the Federal Executive Council meeting which was held Wednesday morning.
He said “Today, President Buhari in Council approved November 1st every year as the National Youth Day to celebrate, draw attention to and find solutions to the issues that affect the Youth.
“Mr. President has again demonstrated his commitment to supporting youth-focused policies. Thank You.”

https://www.wizkidblogger.com/2020/09/buhari-approves-november-1st-as.html

Chelsea have reportedly had a €33m (£29.5m) bid for Ugurcan Cakir accepted by Trabzonspor.

The 24-year-old has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League in recent weeks, with Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur both thought to be in the running for his signature.

Last month, a Turkish journalist claimed that Liverpool had made a €25m (£22.5m) offer for the two-time Turkey international, who has made 39 appearances at club level this season

However, according to Haber365, Chelsea have now had an offer of just shy of £30m accepted by the Super Lig outfit, with the Blues seemingly now in pole position to secure a summer deal for the goalkeeper.

Cakir has only kept four clean sheets in 39 outings for Trabzonspor this term, conceding 46 times in the process, including 11 goals in seven Europa League appearances.

Frank Lampard's side are believed to be in the market for a replacement for number one stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga as the Spaniard continues to struggle for form between the sticks.

https://www.wizkidblogger.com/2020/07/chelsea-295m-bid-accepted-for-ugurcan.html

Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu has started probing his relationship with a Bureau De Change company based in Kaduna that has transacted business in the range of N336 billion, $435 million and about 14 million Euros.

It was reported that the embattled boss of the antigraft agency is expected to respond to the discovery by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, that he allegedly has connection with the said Bureau De Change.

A source within the presidential panel tod the publication

“From the issues before the committee, there are two big issues concerning Bureau De Change being allegedly linked to Magu in Kaduna and that Bureau De Change has been discovered by the NFIU to have transacted business in the region of N336 billion, $435 million and about 14 million Euros.

There was another allegation against Magu that a relatively unknown Pastor in Lagos who was linked with Magu was discovered to have N573 million in his account. Also, there was a famous lawyer in Lagos, who took N28 million from the Bureau De Change.”

Meanwhile, unknown persons allegedly broke into the new office of the NFIU and destroyed computers containing certain vital and sensitive documents that could help in the investigation of the former EFCC boss.

According to reports, some officials of the NFIU had on Thursday, July 9 appeared before the Justice Ayo Salami panel investigating Magu to clarify certain grey areas especially as it relates to some accounts suspected to have been used to move money. The NFIU officials it was gathered told the panel that by their operational protocols and procedure, they don't go about with such documents. The NFIU officials advised members of the panel to visit their office on Friday morning July 10 to see the documents they requested for.

https://www.wizkidblogger.com/2020/07/efcc-boss-ibrahim-magu-probed-over.html

Nigerian superstar Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun better known as Wizkid has been involved with three baby mamas that he met at various times in his life through his music career.

His first baby mama is Shola Ogudu. Wizkid met her in 2010 and gave birth to his first son, Boluwatife in 2011 at the age of 19. The relationship couldn’t last for long as they had to break up.

His second baby mama is Binta Diallo a former video vixen who is the mother of Wizkid’s second son, Ayodeji. They welcomed him back in 2016.

Jada Pollock is Wizkid’s latest baby mama who gave birth to his third son, Zion in 2017. She doubles as his manager.

Wizkid’s relationship with his baby mamas is one that is nothing to write home about because he doesn’t have a cordial relationship with his baby mamas except his third baby mama, Jada Pollock

Source: https://www.wizkidblogger.com/2020/07/love-up-life-of-wizkid-and-his-3-baby.html

Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday lambasted President Muhammadu Buhari over the cancellation of the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE.

Omokri described the cancellation of WAEC as evil.

Recall that the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had announced the indefinite postponement of the 2020 WAEC examination for Nigerian students.

Adamu had explained that it was better for students to lose an academic year than be exposed to the dangers of COVID-19.

However, Omokri wondered why the Federal Government cancelled an examination but did not cancel the forthcoming Edo State governorship election.

In a series of tweets, the former presidential aide said Buhari was trying to spread illiteracy across Nigeria.

He wrote: “Because General @MBuhari does not have a WAEC Certificate, he wants to punish the whole country by depriving Nigerian youths of having their own WAEC certificates. He wants to spread illiteracy, so we can all be almajiri. Never! The cancellation of WAEC is evil!

“How can General @MBuhari say WAEC exams won’t hold this year, yet Edo and Ondo elections will hold? Which is riskier? Exam or elections? @OfficialAPCNg held a mass rally. Yet, they close schools. No wonder Nigeria is the world headquarters for extreme poverty?

https://www.wizkidblogger.com/2020/07/president-buhari-under-fire-over.html

BBNaija star, Nina, has asked people to stop trying to ruin the lives of others by making false claims of rape or sexual assault/sexual abuse.

In a post shared on her Instastories, the soon to be mum, said men and women who make false claims of rape and sexual abuse need to be given a serious beating in the market square before they are dragged to court.

https://www.wizkidblogger.com/2020/07/stop-trying-to-ruin-peoples-lives-and.html

More photos here: https://www.wizkidblogger.com/2020/07/police-release-photos-of-woman-who.html

24, and her husband, Jude Ozougwu, 40, were arrested following credible information received July 2 alleging that a woman in Akonameze Street, Thinker’s Corner, Enugu, inflicted degrees of injuries on her minor female ward.

Ikea said operatives of the Command swiftly moved to the area where they rescued Nneoma and arrested the couple.

''Preliminary investigation showed that the suspect, who the victim’s relative and a mother of three (3), maltreats her to the extent of using different objects, including hot pressing iron, iron rod, and nails to inflict several grievous bodily harm as well as inserting pepper into her private part.'' the statement read

According to Ikea, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmad Abdur-Rahman instructed the Area Commander to take Nneoma to the hospital for treatment after seeing her battered body. He bemoaned why the suspect will be so heartless to abuse and inflict such grievous injuries on another woman’s child left in her care and directed the immediate launch of a thorough investigation and prosecution of the suspect, her husband, and any other culpable accomplices to the crime.

https://www.wizkidblogger.com/2020/07/police-release-photos-of-woman-who.html

A total of 193 Almajiris in Kano State have so far tested positive to COVID 19, according to the Kano state government.

Speaking at the COVID-19 press briefing held, Thursday, July 2, Kano State Commissioner of Education, Sanusi Mohammed Kiru disclosed that a total of 1860 persons were quarantined in three locations in the state, out of which 193 of them tested positive.

Sanusi who is also the head of the state government’s committee on the rehabilitation of almajiris, explained that 86 of them tested positive at Gabasawa Quarantine camp, 68 tested positive in Karaye while 38 tested positive in Kiru.

He expressed happiness at the initiative to isolate the almajiris in the state, adding that state efforts at tackling the dreaded disease would have been worse off if they were allowed to continue to spread the disease in these communities.

He recalled that so far the state has repatriated a total of 1183 Almajirs to the rest of the states in the region such as Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Gombe, Bauchi, Kebbi, and Zamfara States in line with the decision of the Northern Governors forum to end street begging in the region.

He further disclosed that the state government had established three almajiri boarding schools for the immediate admission of the Almajiris of Kano State orIgin, saying that these schools are located in Bunkure, Bagwai and Madobi Local Government Areas.

https://www.wizkidblogger.com/2020/07/shocking-193-almajiria-test-positive.html[url][/url]

Ghanaian actress, Akuapem Poloo has apologized for the controversial photo of her going n*ked in front of her son. However she also explained her reason and tried to justify it by sharing photos of others who have done same.

To celebrate her son's 7th birthday, the actress organized a photoshoot where she was stark n*ked in front of her son. She explained that she gave birth to him n*ked, and as such stands naked before him.

The photo earned her criticisms but she didn't take it down from her Instagram page.

She later shared a video apologizing.

In the video, she said she is an artist and her actions were aimed at passing a message across. She said the message is that children should not be ashamed of their parents, even when they are n*ked and vulnerable. She added that vulnerability isn't always physical, it could be when their parents' names are smeared, leaving them n*ked before members of the public.

https://www.wizkidblogger.com/2020/07/i-bathe-nked-with-my-son-akuapem-poloo.html

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday inaugurated $2.8 billion Abuja-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Project, with disclosures that the contract would create jobs, enhance technology transfer and boost local manufacturing.

Sharing the president’s optimism, the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, said the project has the capacity to generate 3,600 megawatts of electricity.

The president pledged the federal government’s commitment to timely delivery of the project within budgetary allocation and specifications.

The president, who made this commitment at the virtual inauguration ceremony of the project at Ajaokuta, Kogi State and Rigachikun, Kaduna State camp sites simultaneously, said the project was strategic for Nigerians and hence, must succeed.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement, said the president charged NNPC and its partners to remain focused, describing the AKK project as part and parcel of the delivery of the present administration’s next level agenda for sustainable development, enhancement of economic prosperity and an increase in the country’s infrastructure assets.

Adesina said Governors Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna physically inaugurated the projects at both Ajaokuta and Rigachikun sites, while the president watched remotely via video-conference from the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja.

‘‘We promised the nation that we will expand the critical gas infrastructure in the country to promote the use of gas in the domestic market. These include the Escravos to Lagos Pipeline System – 2 (ELPS-2), Obiafu to Obrikom (OB3) pipeline and AKK.
‘‘These projects are fundamental to our desire to industrialise and energise the entrepreneurial spirit that is ever present in our population,” Buhari said.

Source: https://www.wizkidblogger.com/2020/07/president-buhari-targets-more-jobs.html

Source: https://www.wizkidblogger.com/2020/06/pulisic-so-talented-can-get-better.html

The Blues boss saw a highly-rated forward find the target in an impressive win over Manchester City and sees even more to come from his young side
Frank Lampard considers Christian Pulisic to have “so much talent” and believes the United States international can get “better and better” as part of an exciting young Chelsea side.

The 21-year-old put in another impressive showing for the Blues on Thursday as they helped to hand the Premier League title to Liverpool with a 2-1 victory over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

Pulisic had seen his debut season in England disrupted by untimely injuries heading into a coronavirus-enforced break.

He has, however, been among those to benefit from a period of lockdown, with a three-month hiatus allowing him to work on his fitness.

The USMNT star has returned to action with goals in back-to-back outings against Aston Villa and City, with a six-point haul allowing Chelsea to cement a standing inside the top four.

There is the promise of much more to come from Pulisic, and the Blues as a collective, with Lampard excited about what the future might hold.

He told reporters when quizzed on a big-money addition from 2019: “Christian came in last summer. Lot of talk about it. He didn’t really get a break when he got in the team. He was playing really well and gets a really tough injury.

https://www.wizkidblogger.com/2020/06/pulisic-so-talented-can-get-better.html

The former Liverpool midfielder was heavily linked with a controversial transfer to Chelsea in 2004 before being persuaded to stay at Anfield

Steven Gerrard has opened up on how close he came to joining Chelsea, thanks to the lure of playing under Jose Mourinho.

The Liverpool legend, and now Rangers manager, was linked with a switch to the Blues in 2004 and again the following year, but eventually rejected the chance to move to Stamford Bridge.

When asked about the whole episode, Gerrard admitted he regretted the way the transfer saga was blown out of proportion at the time, but revealed he was extremely interested in a move to west London.

“I regret the little bit of flirting back then and how that all blew up," Gerrard told Gary Neville on Sky Sports Soccer Box.

"The fact is I didn’t know whether I was coming or going with Rafa at the time. Rafa was having conversations with me like ‘I know your agent is talking to Real Madrid and Chelsea’.

"I got a paranoid feeling at the time that Rafa would have taken money to try and build Liverpool on.

“Chelsea bid £37.5 million. At the time, massive amounts of dough but what would you get for that now?”

Source: https://www.wizkidblogger.com/2020/06/chelsea-375m-bid-confirmed-by-steven.html

The Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital, has announced that a 2-year-old child tested positive for Coronavirus at its facility.

Spokesperson of the hospital, Segun Orisajo said the child was admitted eight days ago on account of breathlessness and tests carried out on her showed she had the virus.

Orisajo said;

“Due to the persisted high temperature, she was isolated, hence no member of staff or other patients were unduly exposed,” he said.
“To confirm the initial suspicion by a team of care givers, on the third day, she was screened for coronavirus while her treatment continued.
“The samples of her test returned positive for coronavirus few moments ago.
“The girl is already receiving treatment at the Centre’s isolation ward while the facility where she was initially admitted has been decontaminated.”

Read more: https://www.wizkidblogger.com/2020/06/sad-2-year-old-tests-positive-for.html

Chelsea announced their second signing of the summer yesterday after confirming Hakim Ziyech from Ajax back in the winter.

Timo Werner will arrive from RB Leipzig in July after The Blues agreed a deal to sign the German international.

Two world class marquee additions have been added to Frank Lampard’s squad, and Chelsea fans are excited.

But who next? Will there be any more high profile players arriving at Stamford Bridge this summer?
Well, according to Football London, there is a decent chance we could see a few more.
They name Leicester City left back Ben Chilwell as Chelsea’s next high priority after securing the Werner deal.

Then after that, a move for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder and fellow German international Kai Havertz is on the cards.

And they even mention Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund as still being an option for Chelsea, despite admitting that he could be rather unlikely at this stage.

Source: https://www.wizkidblogger.com/2020/06/chelsea-complete-signing-of-rb-leipzig.html

EFCC has given an update on the bundle of cash it intercepted in Benue state earlier today, The money was allegedly meant for vote buying. According to the agency, the money is allegedly owned by APC governorship candidate in the state, Emmanuel Jimeh.

''At North Bank Area, Makurdi, a man was caught with large bags containing lots of money. While trying to arrest him, officers of the Commission were attacked and vehicles vandalised. Information gathered confirms that the money allegedly belongs to Emmanuel Jimeh, the gubernatorial candidate of the APC in Benue state.

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2019/03/efcc-says-bundles-of-cash-found-in-benue-state-is-allegedly-owned-by-apc-governorship-candidate/

Former Lagos Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni has said that the real reason he was redeployed from Benue State was that he refused to obey orders from his superiors that could have led to chaos and further killings in the troubled state.

Recall that Owoseni was posted from Lagos by the then Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to Benue State to quell the herdsmen and farmers crisis that led to the death of more than 100 persons including policemen in the state.

However, less than a year, he was redeployed out Benue for reportedly failing to stop the impeachment of the then Speaker of the Benue legislature, Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange.

However, in an interview with Sun newspaper, he said: “I was deployed to Benue in the heat of the farmers–herdsmen crisis and to the best of my ability, I discharged my responsibility within the ambit of the law.

“In police work, we are the most endangered. Instructions will be given to you and you will be caught in-between obeying superior instruction and respecting the constitution of the country.

“I held that as a principle that my loyalty is to the constitution of Nigeria, not to any human being. Where there are conflicts like that, if you are not able to balance what you do, any mistake of judgment can cost you your job. It’s just for you to be matured enough to know where your obligation lies, to be able to differentiate between what is lawful and unlawful instruction.

“I can tell you that I discharged my responsibility to the best of my ability. Someone will sit in Abuja and give you instruction, it is for you that is on the ground to know the implication of that instruction. Instructions that will lead to killings and disturbance in the state.

“Whatever that might have happened, that has become history now. The most important thing is that I have my integrity intact.”

On the factors responsible for the crisis in Benue, Owoseni said: “These clashes are not new within that axis; it’s just that we are a country without institutional memory. Way back, once you have dry season, the herders, look for water and that axis you have what is called Fadama land which has rich foliage, in the process, they move the cattle towards that area.

“While doing that, they can encounter people who are using the same land to farm. They fight over limited resources. But at a point in time, just as we do about everything in this country, every challenge is always given a religious, tribal and political connotation.

“When the former Inspector General of Police, MD Abubakar was there, he set up a committee led by a retired DIG to go and address those crises which were more in Plateau, Taraba, and Benue axis.

“But because we don’t keep a record, and no lessons learnt at all, instead of us to apply these findings, the leaders will be reckless in their talking. Sometimes they exaggerate, sometimes, they live in denial. We more or less, govern by deceit.

“The fact remains that they had a problem there, it was the way things were handled and how they politicized the whole matter that escalated it.

“The solution is not farfetched; you simply work with the people. When you look at the anti-open grazing law, there were a lot of rooms for both parties to work together.

“It is for the two parties to work together and for the state to create empowerment for the herders. If you say that they should confine the animals to a certain area, how do you help them especially with regards to water? Basically, I think the manner in which all those things were translated did not help the situation at all. A lot of people were killed and we lost about 20 policemen in the process.”

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2019/03/fatai-owoseni-reveals-reasons-why-he-was-removed-as-benue-police-commissioner/

All electoral materials for Mbalom ward in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue were in the early hours of Saturday burnt by armed hoodlums.

According to a witness, the hoodlums on arrival fired shots in the air before setting on fire the RCM Primary School Aya, housing the materials.

Ngunan Yongo, the Electoral Officer for the local government area, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone conversation.

The EO said the materials were yet to be distributed to polling units in the ward when the attack occurred.

”The entire materials are burnt,” she lamented.

However, no official of the commission including ad hoc staff was hurt.

She explained that final decision over the conduct of the elections in the area would be communicated later.

Thaddeus Ujah, a senior staff of the commission, also confirmed the early morning attack.

“Right now I can’t say anything, I am overwhelmed; we were not expecting anything of that nature. I am short of words. I can’t see some of my people; they ran into the bush; some of them got injured. For me, the most important thing to me now is to get those people and take them back”.

Mr Ujah said he was posted newly in the area and could not ascertain the exact number of ad hoc staff that was missing until he takes a roll call.

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2019/03/thugs-set-ablaze-primary-school-containing-electoral-materials-in-benue/