₦airaland Forum

Happy new month! What a wonderful time to start working out or reading more. Every small beginning can become a beginning of something that can changes your life. It’s up to you. Keep your head up!

Stop dreaming about tomorrow and do what you’re dreaming about today! May this month be full of inspiration and emotions that will fill your heart with love and happiness. Something great is waiting for you around the corner.

Turn on your favourite happy tunes, because new month is here! I hope you’ll start it with a smile, determined to change your life for the better. Sending you a ton of virtual hugs and kisses.

We also wish everyone born in this month of June a HAPPY BIRTHDAY and more life in Good health

Barely a week after emerging the most admired brand in Africa, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has won another award through its television commercial on the Cable Network News (CNN) detailing its business processes.

The company said in a statement on Sunday in Lagos that Dangote Industries won “Most Compelling Agency Story” award by the World Travel Market (WTM) with its ‘Farm to Table’ commercial.

The commercial, which is part of the ‘Touching Lives’ documentary aired weekly on CNN, detailed the process of food metamorphosis from the farm as raw material to final process as food on the tables at home.

According to CNN International Commercial Account Executive, Varshmi Arasalingam, the award recognises powerful storytelling capabilities.

He affirmed that the Touching Lives Farm To Table campaign holds a prominent socio-economic impact for which Dangote Industries continues to empower and improve the lives of people in Africa.

“We are extremely pleased to announce that Dangote Industries and CNN International Commercial are the winners of the WTM Africa Awards for the ‘Most Compelling Agency Story.

“Dangote Industries is one the most diversified business conglomerates in Africa, with multiple entities impacting the daily lives of most of the continent’s population.

“The company provides the population with employment opportunities that are also self-sustaining through basic needs, such as food, cement, construction, agriculture, and technology.

“Through a branded content production, CNN International Commercial (CNNIC) wanted to showcase Dangote Industries empowering Africans through employment and self-sufficient opportunities.

“Filmed and produced by CNNIC’s award-winning branded content studio Create, the campaign promotes Nigeria and the wider continent through the stories of real people, and focuses on the connections people have with each other, be it in their work and daily lives.

“The character-driven story helps to change perceptions and encourage global audiences to visit Nigeria (and the African continent more generally) so they can experience and understand its culture and hospitality.

“It also shows that we should not look at the travel and tourism as a narrow sector, but instead view it as part of a larger socio-economic project.

“In this way, travel and tourism can empower and improve the lives of people in Africa – and all over the world – a goal Dangote is dedicated to realizing,” he said.

In his comment on the award, DIL Group Chief Branding and Corporate Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, said the management was delighted at the award and it only showed that the company was living up to its billing as the most diversified conglomerate in Africa.

He said the Commercial shot by the CNN which has won the award depicted the businesses of the company and gave vent to how we arrive at our mission statement of meeting the expectation of the people by providing for their basic needs.

“It simply demonstrates how it starts from the farm through which our people are engaged in every process before it gets to table at home.” he said.

The Lagos State Branch of the Nigerian Medical Association’, NMA, Thursday called off its sit-at-home order over the continued harassment of their members by Police Officers.

In a press statement made available to Vanguard and jointly signed by the Chairman, Dr Saliu Oseni and the Secretary, Dr Ramon Moronkola, directed their members to resume work from 6 pm today 21st of May 2020 (this affects that on-call duty).

They explained that the decision to reverse the sit -at -home order was informed by the intervention of the State Governor and the top hierarchy of the Nigerian police.

“The association has further received assurances from Mr Governor and the top hierarchy of the Police that no health workers will be further harassed in the course of their lawful efforts to sustain services in the middle of the pandemic.”

They explained that the leadership of the Association has followed the turn of events while monitoring the situation.

“The Nigerian police force has reached out to the Association to clarify and give assurance of cooperation with all health-workers. This, they have also done in the media.

“The executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu was exemplary as his timely intervention from the late hours of May 19th helped prevent worsening of the situation.

They added that the passionate appeal from the good people of Lagos state was difficult to resist considering the fact that Lagosians would be most hit by the situation.

They said following a holistic consideration of these factors, the Lagos State, NMA, had taken seriously, a responsibility to partake actively in the fight against COVID-19 and the delivery of quality healthcare to the citizenry for the entire period of the ongoing lockdown/ restriction of movement and beyond.

The medical doctors demanded that the Lagos state government should ensure clarity at all times, on the exempted status of healthcare and other essential workers for the entire period of the ongoing lockdown/restriction of movement.

They added that the Association will continue to monitor the situation and will not hesitate to take any action to protect the safety of their hardworking members.

The NMA further expressed appreciation to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his timely intervention and continued assurances in ensuring that the health-workers who were held by the police were released immediately as well as preventing subsequent recurrence.

“We also appreciate the Honourable Minister for Health, Dr Enahire Osagie and the Lagos state Commissioner for Health’ professor Akin Abayomi on their timely interventions.”

THE Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, on Tuesday admonished Nigerians to prepare for the worst, even as the Federal Government assiduously work to curtail the spread of the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

He urged health workers and citizens alike to do their best to learn more about the virus.

Speaking during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, in Abuja, he said: “Yesterday, the President authorised extending easing of restrictions in Lagos, Ogun and FCT by another two weeks. The lockdown in Kano was also extended by two weeks, to address remaining challenges to containing the increasing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

“It is of great importance that we – members of the health sector and citizens — endeavour to use this period to dedicate efforts to strive for the best, but also prepare for the worst.

“As we learn more about coronavirus every day, we must be ready to adjust our strategy, based on knowledge and evidence.

“To continue strengthening response in States, the Federal Ministry of Health and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) are assessing isolation centres all over the country, recently in Yenagoa and Osogbo. We also continue providing diagnostic commodities and facilities in collaboration with partners.

“In those states, the states are identifying hotspot areas and based on these identifications, intensifying testing in those communities. We haven’t gotten to the stage of drawing community testing across the country. We are doing targeted hotspot areas identified by states.”

He reminded Nigerians that the ravaging force of the virus does not discriminate on the basis of status, creed, political persuasion, profession or where you come from.

“Now is the time to avoid any distraction from whatever quarters and all hands must be and remain on deck. On our part, we assure Nigerians of our commitment to accountability, diligence and probity.

“For those who are struggling with the disease, help is available. Do not go underground. It’s important to talk about it and to seek help. Every effort spares humanity the agony of the spread of the virus,” he said.

For the third time, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun on Friday night extended COVID – 19 lockdown in the state for another one week.

Abiodun while addressing newsmen at the Governor’s Office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, cited non – compliance to the safety regulations and the community spread of the virus as reason for extending the sit – at – home order.

The Governor hinted that state officials would continue to monitor the level of compliance with the lockdown measures and the incidence of community transmission, in order to determine easing of the lockdown.

He said, “Consequently in view of the evidence of community transmission and poor compliance with the lockdown measures, we are constrained to extend the lockdown for another week till Sunday 24th of May.

*The current pattern of lockdown, with relaxation windows from 7.00am to 5.00pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday continues. We will continue to monitor the level of compliance with the lockdown measures and incidence of community transmission and hopefully, there will be positive developments that will enable us further ease the lockdown at the end of this new lockdown period.”

Abiodun disclosed that 108 violators of lockdown order and measures have been apprehended and prosecuted in the state.

“They were promptly tried by the newly introduced mobile courts, with some of them made to pay fine whilst some are undergoing community service. In the same vein, 517 vehicles, 109 motorcycles and 6 tricycles were impounded for breaching the Presidential directive on curfew within the same period.

"In addition, security agencies also intercepted migrants from other states, who defied the ban on interstate travels, and promptly turned them back at our borders with other states,” he said.

Staphylococcus:
Christ Embassy member wont buy this phone.

5G will kill them.

Davash222:
I wonder how IPOB and GEJ take enter this matter now.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed Nigerian evacuees from Bangkok to pay a total of N297,600 for their hotel, isolation and quarantine upon arrival in Nigeria as a precondition for their airlift.

A statement by the Embassy of Nigeria in Bangkok, Thailand, signed by the Head of Chancery, Nicholas Uhomoibhi, said the prices were negotiated in Nigeria.

“I am directed to bring to your attention due to measures that are beyond the control of COVID-19 local organizing team in Nigeria, all evacuees going to Nigeria henceforth are to now pay for their quarantine, isolation, accommodation centre or hotels before departure and arrival in Nigeria

“In this regard, all prospective evacuees are to note the negotiated rate below: Accommodation (N15,000 x16 days=N240,000) and Feeding (N3,600 x16 days=N57,600). Total: N297,600 at N18,600 x16 days.”

“Kindly be informed that these rates were negotiated in Nigeria and that the Embassy has been instructed not to airlift any evacuee who fails to pay the above fee,” he said.

It would be recalled that Nigerians from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United States and the United Kingdom have been evacuated and are currently isolation in Lagos and Abuja hotels at the expense of the government.

It appears the Federal government can no longer foot the bill as this new letter seems to suggest.
When Nigeria recorded its first case in February, Nigerians abroad asked to be evacuated home.

The Federal Ministry of Health in April issued a statement saying it has started the process of evacuation and that those who wish to be evacuated will pay for their flight ticket and will also be placed on a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

A similar letter was sent to Nigerians residing in the State of Kuwait by the Embassy of Nigeria on May 13, 2020, to the effect that the evacuees will pay N297,600 for their quarantine in Nigeria apart from the airfares.

The letter, titled “Re: Request for the evacuation of Nigerian nationals in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, reads in part-
Further to our notice of 5th April 2020 on the above-mentioned subject matter, the Embassy wishes to inform that all intending evacuees are to pay for their quarantine/isolation/accommodation/centre/hotels before departure and arrival in Nigeria.

The negotiated rate is as follows: Accommodation-N240,000 (N15,000 x16 days); Feeding-N57,6009( N3,600 x 16 days). Total- N297,600 (N18,600 x16 days).

All evacuees are to pay the aforementioned amount for their quarantine/isolation/centre/hotels directly to the airline along with their tickets.

Evacuees have the option to pay in dollars or its equivalent in Naira.

It is important to note that evacuees that do not pay for their quarantine/isolation/accommodation/ centre/ hotels will not be allowed to board the flight.”

England captain Harry Kane says players are waiting for safety guidance from the Premier League after the government said it was “opening the door” for the return of football next month.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said Thursday’s meeting with the Football Association, Premier League and English Football League had “progressed plans for the resumption of the professional game in England”.

The Premier League hopes for a return to action on June 12, with matches played behind closed doors.

Tottenham striker Kane is willing to take the next step, moving from individual training to small group sessions, but suggested more information was needed.

“I don’t think anyone knows the right answer at the moment,” he told ITV’s Good Morning Britain programme.

“I think the majority of players are looking forward to playing again as soon as possible but we know we want it to be as safe as possible too.

“From what I have heard — obviously I haven’t seen too much of my team-mates — at the moment everyone is OK. We want to see how the Premier League gives us a plan and what that looks like.”

Kane confirmed that he, along with the rest of the Spurs squad, had taken initial tests for coronavirus, with no positive results following their return to training.

“About a week ago we started going to the training ground, we were allowed to have one-on-one training with one member of staff on one pitch, self-distancing from everyone,” he said.

“We had tests on Monday, all the players and staff had tests, and everyone came back negative, which was great.”

Kane said Liverpool’s 25-point lead would make them worthy champions however the 2019/20 campaign ends, with the absence of their fans from the conclusion to the season a necessary evil because of the pandemic.

“Liverpool deserve to lift the title and with their fans missing it will be a strange situation. But we’ve not been through a time like this in our lifetimes,” he said.

“I guess if we want to finish the season then we are going to have to do that.”

Kane also revealed he had been contact with team-mate Dele Alli after the Spurs midfielder was burgled at knifepoint.

“I think he’s a little bit angry. He said the most important thing was that he was OK, his family was OK and nobody was hurt. But it’s horrible to hear, especially when it’s someone close to you,” Kane said.

The new coronavirus may never go away and populations around the world will have to learn to live with it, the World Health Organization warned Wednesday.

As some countries around the world begin gradually easing lockdown restrictions imposed in a bid to stop the novel coronavirus from spreading, the WHO said it may never be wiped out entirely.

The virus first emerged in Wuhan in China late last year and has since infected more than 4.2 million people and killed nearly 300,000 worldwide.

“We have a new virus entering the human population for the first time and therefore it is very hard to predict when we will prevail over it,” said Michael Ryan, the WHO’s emergencies director.

“This virus may become just another endemic virus in our communities and this virus may never go away,” he told a virtual press conference in Geneva.

“HIV has not gone away — but we have come to terms with the virus.”

More than half of humanity has been put under some form of lockdown since the coronavirus crisis began.

the WHO warned there was no way to guarantee that easing the restrictions would not trigger a second wave of infections.

“Many countries would like to get out of the different measures,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“But our recommendation is still the alert at any country should be at the highest level possible.”

– ‘Long way to go’ –

Ryan added that there was a “long, long way to go” on the path to returning to normal, insisting that countries would have to stay the course.

“There is some magical thinking going on that lockdowns work perfectly and that unlocking lockdowns will go great. Both are fraught with dangers,” the Irish epidemiologist said.

Ryan also condemned attacks on healthcare workers that were linked to the pandemic, saying more than 35 “quite serious” such incidents were recorded in April alone in 11 countries.

He said the attacks were often over-reactions from ill-informed communities — while others were more sinister.

“COVID-19 is bringing out the best in us, but it’s also bringing out some of the worst,” he said.

“People feel empowered to take out their frustrations on individuals who are purely trying to help.

“These are senseless acts of violence and discrimination that must be resisted.”

But he insisted that in finding a way to conquer the virus was a chance for humanity to take major step forward by finding a vaccine and making it widely accessible.

“It’s a massive opportunity for the world,” Ryan said.

Us authorities warned healthcare and scientific researchers Wednesday that Chinese-backed hackers were attempting to steal research and intellectual property related to treatments and vaccines for COVID-19.

Organizations researching the disease were warned of “likely targeting and network compromise by the People’s Republic of China,” a statement from the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said.

"These actors have been observed attempting to identify and illicitly obtain valuable intellectual property and public health data related to vaccines, treatments, and testing from networks and personnel affiliated with COVID-19-related research,” they said.

The two organizations gave no evidence or examples of their allegation against Beijing.

But they urged “all organizations conducting research in these areas to maintain dedicated cybersecurity and insider threat practices to prevent surreptitious review or theft of COVID-19-related material.”

On Monday US media reported that the FBI was poised to release the warning about vaccine-research hacking.

Asked about the coming report, President Donald Trump replied: “What else is new with China? What else is new? Tell me. I’m not happy with China.”

“We’re watching it very closely,” he added.

In Beijing on Monday, Foreign Affairs ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian rejected the allegation, saying China firmly opposes all cyber attacks.

"We are leading the world in COVID-19 treatment and vaccine research. It is immoral to target China with rumors and slanders in the absence of any evidence,” Zhao said.

The warning comes as dozens of companies, institutes and countries around the world are racing to develop vaccines to halt the spread of the coronavirus, which has killed at least 292,000 worldwide.

Many more groups are researching treatments for infected patients. Currently there is no proven treatment.

The warning adds to a series of alerts and reports accusing government-backed hackers in Iran, North Korea, Russia and China of malicious activity related to the coronavirus pandemic, from pumping out false news to targeting workers and scientists.

Last week in a joint message Britain and the United States warned of a rise in cyber attacks against health professionals involved in the coronavirus response by organised criminals “often linked with other state actors.”

Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre and the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said they had detected large-scale “password spraying” tactics — hackers trying to access accounts through commonly used passwords — aimed at healthcare bodies and medical research organizations.

Reporting the expected FBI warning on Monday, The New York Times said it could be a prelude to officially sanctioned counterattacks by US agencies involved in cyber warfare, including the Pentagon’s Cyber Command and the National Security Agency.

Mihaug:
What is sweet in a Man's yansh...?

Pendemomium broke out in the Apapa area of Lagos State on Monday as some policemen reportedly beat a senior officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Roland Fuludu, to a pulp.

It was gathered that the traffic officer was beaten by policemen led by one SP Femi Iwasokun for allegedly interfering with their job.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Fuludu and other enforcement officers were controlling traffic at the Eleganza area of Apapa when six policemen came on the pretext of also controlling traffic .
Our correspondent gathered that the policemen opened a section of the road that was under construction for motorists, who parted with bribes.

Trouble started when Fuludu accosted one of the policemen for turning back a vehicle that passed through the normal route and the encounter degenerated into an argument.

It was gathered that when Iwasokun later came to the scene, another argument ensued between him and the LASTMA officer.

Fuludu said Iwasokun slapped him on the face, while one of the other policemen hit him on the head with a stick, which made him fall and lose consciousness.

He stated, “Around 9 am on Monday, six policemen came and said they were asked to start turning vehicles back and nobody was against them doing their job. When they wanted to open the road that was under construction for motorists, they said we should reach a compromise and be collecting money from the motorists, but I declined and left them.

“When they turned a vehicle that passed through the normal route back, I went to ask one of them why they would do that, but he just said he was going to hit my head with a stick; we had an argument and I called his boss, Supol Femi , to report the cop, but he too was cursing me on the phone and I dropped the call.

“Five hours later, when I was coming back from where I went to eat, I saw Supol Femi and I went to greet him, only for him to ask me why I was talking to him on the phone like that and asked if we were mates. When I told him that he did not know my age, he slapped me and his colleagues manhandled me and I fell from the pavement, where I stood, and hit my head on the floor and lost consciousness.”

An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that the policemen seized the phone of one of the LASTMA officers, who was recording the incident.

He said, “The policemen held on to the other LASTMA officers, who was recording the incident, and seized his phone, because they knew that what they did by beating an officer in uniform was wrong. SP Femi is fond of aiding lawlessness among truck drivers, which makes the LASTMA job difficult.

“Police officers and other law enforcement agents on the road are to work together without confrontation and if there is any, they should find a common ground to resolve it amicably and not disgracing and humiliating each other.”

The LASTMA Public Relations Officer, Olumide Filade, who confirmed the incident, however , declined further comments on the matter.

The World Health Organisation says it met with 70 traditional medicine experts in a bid to find a cure for the coronavirus pandemic.

WHO African Region made this known via its Twitter handle on Tuesday.

The health organisation said an agreement was reached with the herbal medicine experts on clinical trials of their remedies.

The PUNCH reports that the meeting is coming days after Madagascar said it found an herbal remedy capable of curing the disease.

@WHOAFRO tweeted, “70 traditional medicine experts from countries across #Africa held a virtual meeting with @WHO on the role of traditional medicine in the #COVID 19 response.

“They unanimously agreed that clinical trials must be conducted for all medicines in the Region, without exception.”

Earlier, Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina criticised WHO and other international organisations for allegedly scorning local “remedy” for COVID - 19.

“If it wasn’t Madagascar, and if it was a European country that had actually discovered this remedy, would there be so much doubt? I don’t think so ,” he told French media in an interview.

Before the meeting, WHO had repeatedly warned that the COVID-Organics infusion, which Rajoelina has touted as a remedy against the deadly coronavirus, has not been clinically tested.

But Madagascar claimed the drink is derived from artemisia – a plant with proven anti - malarial properties – and other indigenous herbs.

Already Equatorial Guinea, Guinea -Bissau, Niger, and Tanzania have taken delivery of consignments of the potion, which was launched last month.

Also, Nigeria’s president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has approved the importation of the remedy.

Sunisonflex39:
hmm. so should we clap for EFCC or what?

Durentt:
Why would i want To choose To be stagnant in growing. Rubbish joke

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Mr Mohammad Shehu as Secretary, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), for an initial term of five years with effect from March 19.

Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), made the disclosure in a statement signed by Mr Willie Bassey, Director of Information, office of the SGF, in Abuja.

Buhari also approved the appointment of Mr Bitrus Chinoko as the Director-General of the Centre for Management Development (CMD), Lagos, with effect from April 27.

Until his appointment, Chinoko was in an acting capacity at the CMD.

The President congratulated the new appointees and urged them to bring their wealth of experience to bear on their appointments.

strykr:
LOL. When would you understand that no single man can fix Nigeria. The problem with Nigeria is foundational. The system is what brings the leaders. You can't get good leaders from a bad system.