A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
The United States Government, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO), Friday inaugurated a state-of-the-art polio modular laboratory at University College Hospital, Ibadan, to improve the efficiency of polio diagnosis in Nigeria through reliable environmental sampling.
While examining the ultra-modern amenities with representatives of the Federal Government, U.S. Consul General John Bray observed that the new facility, which cost an estimated $400,000, exists alongside a World Health Organization (WHO) accredited polio laboratory in Ibadan, but is the first one in the country equipped to detect the wild polio virus from waste water.
"This new facility will enhance Nigeria's ability to respond to polio outbreaks quickly, by promptly diagnosing polio from samples received from the 48 environmental sewage sites across the country." Consul General Bray noted.
"The eradication of poliomyelitis will be accomplished only when polio laboratories provide convincing diagnostic evidence of the absence of wild polio virus infections in humans and prolonged circulation in the environment" He added.
More than 70 participants attended the event, including Nigerian government officials, representatives of donor agencies, UN agencies and Rotary International.
To help Nigeria address its high mortality rates, USAID helps increase access to quality family planning and reproductive health services, immunizations, polio eradication, malaria prevention and maternal health services. USAID also provides technical support to immunization campaigns through social mobilization, and other activities.
A socio-political volunteer group in Osun, De Raufs Volunteer group has warned opposition youth group in Osun to desist from peddling lies and unsubstantiated innuendoes against the state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in a bid to drag the governor of the state to the political fight among the contestants in Ondo governorship election.
Governor Rauf Aregbesola
This is contained in a statement issued by the state Chairman of the group, Chief Bashir Oduwole in Osogbo.
In the statement, the volunteer group insisted that those spreading lies against the governor are either lazy or blind to the on-going physical development in the state of Osun, despite the current economic recession.
According to Chief Oduwole, "It is unfortunate that a so called youth movement in Osun will lie without looking beyond the walls that house them that infrastructures in Osun is collapsing at a time every nooks and crannies are wearing new looks."
He said, "It is more of a concern that our recent history of political event in Ekiti will be distorted to malign a workaholic governor like Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. It is even worrisome that youth will even engage in harmful dissemination of fact concerning the bailout fund on the altar of dirty politics."
"To set the record straight, Ogbeni is too focused on laying a strong legacy of development in Osun rather than political annexation of neighboring states."
Chief Oduwole therefore advise the youths to key into the youth empowerment policy of the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the n-power policy of President Muhammadu Buhari to bail themselves and the country out of the recession.
"Osun has a youth driven policy of development, from the O-meal project that created new agri-premium among our youth to O-Yes and youths sent to Germany to learn new agricultural skills."
"we cannot but commend Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola's administration."
"However, if some lazy youths cannot key into the laudable project of Ogbeni and President Buhari but chose to peddle unfounded lies against leaders on a mission for development, their cheap blackmail will hunt them forever," it stated.
German Multinational power company, Bosch is set to lunch a power box tool for artisans and young entrepreneurs who depend largely on energy for production.
Bosch who will be addressing the press on how the tools work said artisans play a big role in Nigeria's economy. "The Global artisan economy is annually valued at $32 billion and it is one of the largest employers in the developing world. Artisans play a big role in Nigeria's economy."
Bosch (www.Bosch.com), one of the world’s leading suppliers of technology and services (70.6 billion Euros in 2015), on Wednesday announced the launch of Bosch Power Box (BPB) in Nigeria.
Bosch Power Box (BPB) will assist thousands of young enterprenuers and artisans in Nigeria – including plumbers, carpenters, welders and electricians – in growing their businesses through providing access to the very latest in technology as well as training and technical and financial support.
In a statement sent to Vanguard, Bosch said Nigerians artisans will be able to buy, lease or rent the very latest power tools developed by the world’s market leader and to be used at these central hubs.
"The Bosch Power Box not only offers power tools to local craftsmen, but also servicing and maintenance expertise. Free training is another part of the Power Box offering. Allowing artisans and carpenters to up skill by giving them hands-on coaching. Power tools mean increased efficiency and productivity, but also less wastage."
The Osun Government has warned residents of the state against bush burning during the harmattan period.
The warning is contained in a statement signed by Mr Oluyemi Olarewaju, the General Manager of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on Thursday in Osogbo.
Olarewaju said the warning became necessary to prevent any activities that could cause fire outbreak in the state during the harmattan period, saying, "prevention is better than cure."
The general manager also warned against careless handling of electrical appliances at homes.
Besides, Olarewaju urged private and commercial drivers to always exercise caution while driving early in the morning due to the cloudy atmosphere that usually accompany harmattan season.
He also warned motorists to avoid keeping fuel inside their cars.
The general manager added that motorists should also ensure that their headlights are on while driving for clear vision in order to avoid road accidents.
Tanzanian super star, Ali Kiba, has extended a hand of peace and reconciliation to Nigerian pop star, Wizkid, after the Nigerian singer was stripped of his recent MTV Best African Act award for the Tanzanian.
Ali Kiba and Wizkid
Ali Kiba expressed dissatisfaction over the attack on Wizkid while clearing the air on the recent disagreement between himself and Wizkid at the Mombasa concert headlined by Chris Brown.
He posted a picture of himself and Wizkid to signify the end of the cold war between them.
"I am not happy with what has been going on on social media. I have a great appreciation for @wizkidayo as a fellow artist and as a fan. I am very disappointed and saddened by the insults and attacks directed at him, and I want to be very clear that I condemn this behaviour and I believe none of my true fans are part of this irrational silliness and stupidity as they know I have always had love for @wizkidayo. Drown out the noise from the haters bro, congratulations on your very successful year", he wrote.
Meanwhile, Wizkid has since remained radio silent over this recent development.
Kid comedienne, Emmanuella Samuel has received an award from international video sharing website, YouTube, for her popular comedy video series, Mark Angel Comedy, in the Top Subscribed Creator Category at the recent inaugural edition of the Sub-Saharan African YouTube Awards.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of YouTube, Susan Wojcicki, the SSA YouTube Award was Google's way of celebrating African creators.
"The YouTube Awards celebrates the talent and creativity of YouTube community while serving as a platform that shares Africa's creativity with the rest of the world. By holding our first-ever YouTube Africa Awards, we hope to celebrate incredible achievements like Olympic medalist Julius Yego show, while also demonstrating our long-term commitment to the continent", she said.
Susan Wojcicki further revealed that the YouTube Awards were handed out to 25 creators across 23 categories, stressing that nominees were chosen based on the number of their subscribers.
MSN Gang artiste, Oritsefemi, has tendered an unreserved apology to Quilox boss, Shina Peller, and one of the club's bouncers, Iliasu, for his unruly behaviour at the club during the early hours of last Saturday.
Oritsefemi in hospital
Recall that Oritsefemi was reported to have engaged Iliasu in an injurious fight which left both of them hospitalised, for attempting to intervene in Oritsefemi's insistence to accommodate his guests at a table he failed to book ahead at the club.
You would also recall that the management of Quilox released an official statement to set the records straight on the unfortunate altercation between Oritsefemi and its staff, Iliasu to counter the one previously released by Oritsefemi's management.
In a latest development, while regretting his initial actions, a repentant Oritsefemi took to his Instagram page to tender unreserved apologies to Shina Peller and the bouncer, Iliasu, whom he injured.
According to him he deeply regrets his actions and appreciates their forgiveness.
"Shina Peller remains my boss, my friend and a brother for life. I know you will never ask anyone to mob me. It’s never your fault, neither your management team. I've chilled with you home and abroad, you are a cool hearted person, you’ve been good to everyone you've come across. I don’t know where this is coming from but I've accepted it as a very deep lesson from the almighty, amuwa olorun ni. In any way I've offended you please forgive me and let our relationship remain stronger. For the injured bouncer, I will take good responsibility for his health condition and always check on him. I thank you guys for forgiving me. Iliasu, the injured bouncer, is also my brother from the same hood, AJ city, I feel his pain also … How I wish he’s not the victim he wouldn’t have let any one touch me ‘cos I know him to be a very gallant dude. My people I'm deeply sorry for all that happened, I promise to be the most gentle human being living on this earth regardless of any circumstances", he wrote.
ABUJA- MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello said Friday, yesterday that there was no ethnic colouration to the recent attacks on some villages in the Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, the attacks, killing and kidnapping of the innocent residents were purely criminal in nature and the culprits would be treated like the criminals they are, adding that the Security Agencies in the Territory were on top of the ugly situation.
Speaking in Abuja after an emergency security meeting that included some of the stakeholders of the affected communities in Kuje Area Council, the FCTA Minister said that the assurance has become imperative because the FCT Administration and the Security Agencies have been following the development in these communities and have put measures in place to tackle the problem headlong.
Mallam Bello reiterated that the FCT Administration and the Security Agencies have outlined ways of handling the unpleasant situation and that all those involved would surely be arrested and be made to face the consequences of their criminal acts.
It would be recalled that Darka Village in Kuje Area Council was attacked in the early hours of Sunday, 13th November, 2016 leaving a 28-year old man, Zakariyya Nuhu dead, and injuring one other with six people kidnapped. In addition, a neigbouring village of Huni-Gade was also attacked on Thursday, 17th November, 2016 where four persons were also kidnapped.
Meanwhile, the Minister has commiserated with the communities as well as the families of those affected in the unfortunate incidents.
He called on the residents of the Federal Capital Territory to go about their normal businesses as the Security Agencies have been deployed to all parts of the Territory, especially the affected places to ensure the security of lives and property.
The Minister advised the residents of the Federal Capital Territory to pass any useful information they have on the security situation to the relevant Security Agencies nearest to them as well as Traditional and Community leaders.
ABUJA- SENATE President Bukola Saraki has asked Nigeria as a nation to create a system that would allow her best trained people who have the required capacity to take over the public sector and make it work for the entire citizenry.
Senator Saraki
Saraki spoke Friday, in Lagos while presenting the key note address at the inaugural National Chevening Alumni Leadership Summit organized by the British High Commission and the Nigeria Chevening Alumni Association in Lagos.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sani Onogu, Saraki said that while the practice across the world was to allow the best brains to go into the public sector, Nigeria’s case is that the most qualified people struggle to join the private sector, the situation, he said, must change such that whether through “the back door, that is by appointment or through the front door, by standing for election, the most educated and skilled people should take over governance and help to convert the numerous God-given resources to genuine development for Nigeria and Nigerians”.
The Chevening scholarship is awarded annually by the UK Government to exceptional individuals who possess outstanding leadership potentials for them to pursue a one-year master's degree in any university in the United Kingdom.
Saraki said, “I wholeheartedly invite you to work with us in productive partnership so that we can journey together in this difficult but necessary task to build the Nigeria that we all wish for, for us and for our children. We are here today to explore ‘The Economic prosperity of Nigeria and the role of alumni in contributing to economic growth.
“As we continue to partner with the private sector, we in the 8th Senate believe that you have a significant role to play in contributing to economic growth largely by engaging with us in government; either at the Executive or Legislative level.
“We have seen from our partnership with the National Economic Summit Group (NESG), the benefits and we believe that with the caliber of alumni here, more can be achieved. Let me reassure you that we remain focused on achieving economic prosperity for all Nigerians.”
While describing the summit as the “illustrious gathering of some of the best minds in our country,” the Senate President said it is time for the best brains in the country to be put in positions where they could contribute effectively to the development of the country.
“As we continue to grapple with the challenge of how best to manage our natural resources, here yet is another dimension. We must urgently begin to develop a system that puts our human assets to best use.
“We must urgently begin to create a system that enables us to put our best brains and minds in positions that they can contribute effectively to the development of our country. As we continue to struggle to find new solutions to the old problems that we face, people like you must be at the forefront, you must bring your expertise and experience to bear.”
He noted that while the economy was in recession with inflation at 18 per cent, “Chevening Alumni in Nigeria must get involved in this quest for solutions to what has effectively become the greatest challenge of our time.”
He stated that the 8th Senate saw very early on that the major challenge before the country is the economy and remains convinced that the only economy that can serve Nigeria at this point in her history is that which is inclusive and is able to protect the weakest among us.
“Our approach therefore is to create the legislative framework for inclusive economic prosperity to all our citizens. We believe that the kind of economy we must build as we face the grim prospect of a post-oil world; is that which is able to tap on the best of our human capital, the creative energy of our youth and the diverse resources of our land.
“Even as we try to embrace this new thinking and solutions, we recognize the institutional challenges. This is why one of the first legislative initiatives we undertook as early as six months from resumption of office was to review all the laws that have made it difficult for people to do business in our country and frustrated investors willing to come into our economy.
“The 8th Senate is confident that these bills, once passed into law, would lay a solid legislative and policy foundation for the broad-based reforms that are so urgently needed to set our country on the path of inclusive economic growth,” he stated.
ENUGU- Former Chief Security Officer, CSO, to the late military head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, has blamed the recurring herdsmen clash with host communities to failure on Nigeria leadership.
Al-Mustapha spoke in Enugu, Friday, at a lecture he delivered at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Enugu, 2016 Press Week.
He said that it was failure on the part of Nigerian leadership that brought about frequent clashes between the farmers and the herdsmen.
He said that what brought about grazing down the Southern part of Nigeria was because of desertification that threatened grazing grounds in the North and the inability to spell out grazing routes.
Al-Mustapha in the lecture topic titled, “Herdsmen Menace in Nigeria: The Way Forward,” said that Bakassi was ceded wrongly to Cameroun and would one day be returned to Nigeria.
He said that Nigeria was blessed with numerous natural resources tapped and untapped including the Bakassi Peninsula.
“Bakassi was given to Cameroon wrongfully. I pray that Bakassi will be back to Nigeria,” Al-Mustapha said.
Al-Mustapha said that Nigerians hardly knew who they were, where they were and what next to do pointing out that if they knew who they are, they will know that Nigeria is staying on top of oasis of wealth without releasing it.
He lamented that the problem Nigeria has is that she lacks patriotic people that will harness the abundant resources.
“We have resources unknown in Nigerian soil. Do we know who we are in Nigeria? Oasis is beneath us in Nigeria while we are in desert,” Al-Mustapha said saying that with patriotism, Nigeria will achieve her potential.
Most Nigerian parents prefer their children to take up or study lucrative fields like engineering, medicine, law and oil and gas. Hence, they tend to discourage their children from doing anything outside these careers.
Except few ones who are convinced that this is not what they want, they renege against their parents. While others do the wishes of their parents and then later go into what they really desire. A good example is Falz d Badh guy. He satisfied his parents' wishes of studying law but today he is a popular entertainer in Nigeria.
Presently, technology is ruling the world and children are inquisitive. So, it will not be out of place to look out for signs your child is a tech geek. Jumia Travel shares some of them.
They operate gadgets at an early age
Children learn fast. There are some of them when they get hold of your phone, they can operate despite their tender age. In fact, they have the natural talent to repair your phones. Then you should know that he has a tech membrane.
They think code
Most teen geeks are children who build their own apps. They are excited and passionate about coding at an early age and they can master this code that when they get to college they can write codes perfectly. Don't divert their attention. Allow them to continue thinking codes.
They learn from failure
Tech geeks who have failed in achieving their ambitions of owning a tech website or an app easily learn from these setback. In the future, they know the dos and don'ts to be successful tech entrepreneur or geek.
They go the extra mile
Ordinarily, children of their age are meant to be engaged in extracurricular activities but they are not. You are different and they enjoy doing a wide variety of activities that us tech related. Just guide them to reach that tech goal.
They buy tech items with the money you give them
When you give a kid money, you expect them to buy confectioneries. But your child will not. They save the money over time and purchase the latest tech item. Don't bother negotiating their career. They are already deep into tech.
Attention President Muhammadu Buhari: This is what the man you appointed the general overseer of our sports told an international media organisation,Voice of America, Hausa Service: Nigeria does not need to attend the next World Cup holding in Russia.
The World Cup is not just a football competition. It also represents a bigger avenue for nations to showcase their football artistry to a global audience, with players getting to secure new and bumper contracts and endorsements, which in turn, impact positively on the country”s Gross Domestic Product and Foreign Direct Investment. Football is business and the World Cup fetches money for all participants. It is top in entertainment and business. Qualifiers even earn more than $5m from Fifa.
Besides the Olympics, the World Cup is by far the single biggest sports competition in the world, drawing record crowd appearances and creating a never-seen like before football atmospheres for its one-month duration.
The road to the next World Cup in 2018 is on, with the Super Eagles are leading the proverbial group of death with six maximum points from two matches against Zambia and Algeria. Cameroon, the only African country with the most appearance at the World Cup make up the group, from which only the first-placed team qualifies for the event.
Dalung
Having missed out on a place at the next Africa Cup of Nations, starting in January in Gabon, Nigeria desperately needs to play at the World Cup to make up for the lost chance to play at AFCON 2017 but bizarrely, the one who ought to be championing the cause of going to the World Cup is ridiculously the one kicking against it.
Minister of Sport and Youth Development, Solomon Dalung yesterday stunned all when he told the Voice of America that he was against Nigeria’s participation at the World Cup.
His reasons: "That competition stinks of corruption; that Nigeria is too poor to waste money on it and that Nigeria would never win the trophy". The implication of his statement is also that it is not necessary to waste money qualifying when you cannot win the World Cup.
As shocking as these may be, Dalung, a lawyer by training, said Nigeria should be content with playing at the Nations Cup, Olympics, Commonwealth Games. He said that Nigeria could win the Nations Cup but not the World Cup. World Cup finalists are guaranteed huge sum of money running into millions.
According to Dalung, "The cup that we can win is the African Cup of Nations. There is nothing again that will take us to another man's balcony in the name of the World Cup. We already have the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics. For these, we can attend such meets. But I am opposed to the World Cup. We don't agree to it. Conspiracy in the World Cup is too much," he said, a statement that could upset the world governing body, FIFA. He was not done.
"There is the issue of bribery and favouritism. There is also the issue of corruption before you are even given the hosting rights. We are here suffering from hunger and we don't have money for such things. That is why, even if we try many times, once it gets into the politics of the game, we can never win.
"That was why this year, we had to tackle him (FIFA President, Ginani Infantino) and we said, 'you , Infantino, if you win this election, you have to give us a position. If not, we shall not agree.' And you see , by the grace of God, he even picked an African as his Secretary-General. That means he has started taking honey and rubbing on our lips. That means that one day, we shall get to really lick the honey."
This is ridiculous and unbelievable. But they are the exact words of Sports Minister Dalung, a man, who has allegedly fanned the embers of discord, disunity and crisis in the Nigeria Football Federation.
It is recalled that Dalung was the unseen hand in the crisis of leadership, that rocked the NFF after Chris Giwa threatened to seize power from the Amaju Pinnick-led Executive Board.
Despite CAS and FIFA’s unambiguous backing of Pinnick’s board, Dalung called for a meeting between Pinnick and Giwa in his Abuja office, which snowballed into an all-out fight between both gladiators. As if that was not enough, the Minister has continuously asked the Amaju led board to co-opt Chris Giwa and his members into their board, ignoring the fact that membership of the board is through election. It has been from one dispute to another and Nigerian football has been in court.
Truly, football disputes are out of the jurisdiction of the ordinary law court as the Courts of Arbitration for Sports in Lausanne, Switzerland sits over all disputes in sports.
The minister’s latest comments confirm him as a total stranger to sports who has bluntly refused to learn the ropes.
Nairobi – Africa's giant rats have been trained to sniff out landmines and detect tuberculosis in humans, and soon they could turn their superior noses to protecting other animals by finding illegal wildlife trophies being smuggled out of African ports.
Kirsty Brebner, whose organisation Endangered Wildlife Trust had the idea of putting rats to work on the illegal wildlife trade, disclosed this on Friday in Nairobi.
She said the U.S. financed project was still in its early stages, but the rats that would be trained to scuttle over shipping containers in search of pangolin scales were only born in October.
Brebner said the aim was to prove by late 2017, that their powerful sense of smell could distinguish the illegally traded items.
She said the items would be detected, even if they were stashed in coffee or other scent-masking substances in containers before they were loaded onto ships for export.
"I firmly believe that we are going to be able to prove that they can.
"They are clearly trainable, they have a strong sense of smell, the eventual aim is to train rats to find ivory and rhino horns too,'' she said.
Brebner said the giant rats were chosen for the project for their longevity because they live as long as eight years.
She added that it would give a better return on the training investment and they don't bond easily with handlers, so they would adapt to whoever uses them.
Brebner disclosed that the Endangered Wildlife Trust had long used dogs to trace wildlife trophies, but rats could scramble into small, dark places and could climb up containers.
The official said pangolins, a mammal hunted close to extinction for the unique scales on its body, which find a ready market in Asia, were the first target.
"The rats were tested and trained by APOPO, a Tanzanian-based group that pioneered the use of the African Giant Pouched Rat to find landmines."
James Pursey, the Head of APOPO, said the rats would first be trained to sniff out a substance in return for a reward.
He said the rats would then be taught to discriminate pangolins from other smells, a process likely to last until mid-July.
"We will then be developing the optimal method for how to actually test the shipping containers," he said.
Pursey said if they succeeded, the project could be rolled out from late 2017.
Governorship Hopeful under the Platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 26 2016 Governorship election in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede SAN has called for calm among his supporters following the indefinite adjournment of the case by the Appeal Court justices sitting on the party's governorship candidate tussle earlier scheduled for today. He also said he would be heading to the Supreme Court to regain his mandate.
Eyitayo Jegede and Jimoh Ibrahim
The three man appellate justices headed by Justice Ibrahim Salauwa had announced to the parties that some set of applicants who had before now submitted a petition against the previous panel, had again filed a motion against the new panel at the Supreme Court seeking to stop further proceedings in relation to all matters touching on the Ondo State PDP governorship candidature.
It would be recalled that the Court of Appeal had fixed today 18th November 2016 to deliver judgment in respect of an appeal filed by Eyitayo Jegede SAN against the decision of Hon. Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja which ordered the substitution of his name with that of Jimoh Ibrahim for the Ondo November Governorship Election.
Jegede in a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of his Campaign Organization, Kayode Fasua said he was not unmindful of the fact that the temporary setback is the handiwork of some anti-democratic elements hell bent on truncating his mandate for the November 26 2016 polls.
He however said, as a true believer in the rule of law and judiciary, he will be at the Supreme Court next week Tuesday to thrash out issues raised by the appellants.
He said the objective of the appellants is to stop a review of the Abang's contrived judgment through various baseless petitions, spurious blackmail and media propaganda, adding that the day of reckoning is near for these anti-democratic elements.
Jegede appealed to his supporters and believers in his course that despite the hurt they feel, they should not take laws into their hands but remain resolute and intensify their door-to-door campaigns, restating that he will contest and win the upcoming poll.
"I call on our supporters to remain calm, and not be weighed down by the latest developments which I believe should only strengthen our resolve in ensuring that despite all contrivances and manipulations, we will contest and win the November 26 2016 governorship election." he said
He said his team of lawyers are working assiduously to ensure that "this grave injustice again, to subvert his mandate, through several devious means of propaganda, blackmail and unprecedented assault against the judiciary" is corrected using available legal means
According to him: "For us, there is no looking back. We remain resolute and focused in our desire to bring development, progress and prosperity to our people, this is our Article of Faith and with God, we will triumph"
Jegede also promised to address a world press conference at the appropriate time.
Abakaliki – An inferno on Thursday burnt a 2 year-old boy and property worth millions of naira at Ekuluobia Street Kpiripiri in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi capital.
The fire which started at about 9:50 a.m. on Thursday destroyed 15 rooms.
Items destroyed by the inferno included refrigerators, mattresses, sofa, electronics, documents, among others.
Mr Stanley Nze, a victim and caretaker of the house lamented the fire outbreak.
"There was an electricity spark and within seconds there was fire everywhere.
"Am the caretaker and a prospective corps member, I have lost all my documents to fire and am supposed to join other corps members in few days time.
"We have 24 rooms in all, but 15 rooms were burnt with no items rescued.
"The most painful is a 2 year- old boy that lost his life.
Nze said the fire fighters were able to arrest the situation, and pleaded for assistance from the government and other well spirited individuals.
Mr James Owoh, Chief Fire Officer in the state, who expressed worry over the tragedy, said his men responded promptly to the situation, and regretted the loss of the little boy and other items.
"We arrived immediately after we were contacted and was able to put off the fire to avoid it escalating.
"We still plead with the public to procure 6kg fire extinguisher for their homes to fight fire before the arrival of fire authority, " he said.
Mr ken Ozioma, Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), condoled with the family of the deceased boy.
ABUJA-President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday assented to 8 bills passed by the National Assembly into law.
His special adviser on National Assembly matters (senate), senator Ita Enang made the disclosure while briefing State House Correspondents at the presidential villa, Abuja.
London, Nov The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it has secured 15 million dollars funding for phase one of pilot deployments of the world's first malaria vaccine in sub-Saharan Africa.
Pedro Alonso, Director of WHO's Global Malaria Programme, said in London that the go-ahead came after the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria approved the money.
He said Global Fund has assured full funding for the first phase of the programme and immunisation campaigns would start in 2018.
"Securing funding and being able to trial the vaccine in Africa pilots would be a milestone in the fight against malaria.
"These pilot projects will provide the evidence we need from real-life settings to make informed decisions on whether to deploy the vaccine on a wide scale,'' he said.
Pedro Alonso said the vaccine, known as RTS,S or Mosquirix is developed by British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline.
He said the vaccine is only partially effective and needs to be given in a four-dose schedule, but is the first approved shot against the mosquito-borne disease.
The WHO said last year that while RTS,S was promising, it should be deployed only on a pilot basis before any wide-scale use, given its limited efficacy.
Alonso said earlier this year, the GAVI Vaccine Alliance and UNITAID announced commitments of up to 27.5 million dollars and 9.6 million dollars, respectively, for the first four years of the programme.
"Malaria infects around 200 million people a year worldwide and killed an estimated 440,000 in 2015.
"The vast majority of malaria deaths are among babies in sub-Saharan Africa,'' he said.
RTS,S was developed by GSK in partnership with the non-profit PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative and part-funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Lagos – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday urged a Federal High Court Lagos, to issue a bench warrant against a former Governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja, over money laundering charges.
EFCC said its prayer was based on Ladoja's refusal to show up in court, to give answers to a N4.7 billion money laundering charges preferred against him by the Commission.
At the mention of the charge on Friday, counsel to the EFCC, Mr Olabisi Oluwafemi, from the law firm of Mr Festus Keyamo, informed the court that the matter was for the arraignment of Ladoja along with his former aide, Chief Waheed Akanbi.
He told the court that the accused were invited and asked to appear at the EFCC's office, but they did not honour the invitation.
He said the accused deliberately stayed away from court and merely sent their lawyers to represent them.
He, therefore, urged the court to issue bench warrants against the accused, arguing that without their attendance in court the trial cannot proceed.
Reacting to the application for a warrant, counsel to Ladoja, Mr Bolaji Onilenla told the court that he was not aware that the business of the day was for the arraignment.
He argued that this was so, because there was a pending appeal before the Supreme Court.
He informed the court that after the decision of the Court of Appeal, Ladoja changed his counsel, and then filed an appeal to the Supreme Court.
He stated that neither the accused nor their counsel were served with any court summons to appear in court.
Onilenla also challenged the prosecutorial powers of the prosecutor on the grounds that the fiat to prosecute was exclusively given to Fetus Keyamo.
He added that such fiat could not be transferred to any other person in his chambers.
He also disclosed that the Supreme Court had earlier dismissed Ladoja's appeal pursuant to order 6 rule 3 of the procedure rules, but that an application had been filed to restore the appeal.
He added that to continue with the trial will amount to showing disrespect to the apex court and it would be an infringement on the rights of the accused.
After the submissions of the counsels the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, fixed Nov. 25 to rule on the application for a warrant of arrest.
The EFCC had in November 2008 arraigned Ladoja along with his former aide, Chief Waheed Akanbi, before Justice Ramat Mohammed, who was then serving at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the two men conspired to convert properties and resources derived from an alleged illegal act, with the intention of concealing their illicit origin.
It also alleged that Ladoja used N42 million out of the proceeds to purchase an Armoured Land Cruiser Jeep, and remitted about 600,000 pounds to one Bimpe Ladoja in London. Ladoja and Akanbi had both pleaded not guilty to the charges and urged the court to quash the charges.
The lower court had refused the prayer to quash the charges.
Dissatisfied, Ladoja had appealed against the decision of the Federal High Court.
But, the Appellate Court in its judgement delivered by Justice Sidi Bage, had disallowed the appeal and ordered the former governor to continue his trial at the lower court.
Bage in his lead judgement, which was unanimously adopted by two other justices, had held that the EFCC had statutory powers to prosecute under Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2004.
Maiduguri – The Borno Police Command on Friday advised members of the Shi'ite sect to drop their planned unlawful procession in Maiduguri.
The state's Commissioner of police, Mr Damian Chukwu, gave the advice while addressing newsmen in Maiduguri.
Chukwu said that the group should adopt a lawful means of championing its cause rather than engaging in road procession.
"We just got information that the Shi'ite group is trying to embark on public procession in Maiduguri and the state government had already issued a statement banning that procession.
"I want to say that we are in support of the ban because the law banning public procession without permission is still in force," he said.
The commissioner said that most procession organised in states by the group had always ended in violence.
"We know the group will always want to carry on with the procession without even trying to seek permission.
" We hereby advise them to please shelve the procession in the interest of peace," he said.
Chukwu said that the police would do everything possible to ensure the maintenance of peace in the state and warned the group to drop the planned procession.
The Nigerian equity market on Friday closed the week on a bearish trend, with market indices dropping by 0.24 per cent, amid huge loses by some highly capitalised stocks.
The All-Share Index shed 62.25 points or 0.24 per cent to close at 25,537.54, compared with 25,599.79 posted on Thursday.
Similarly, market capitalisation lost N21 billion or 0.24 per cent to close at N8.791 trillion against N8.812 trillion recorded on Thursday.
A breakdown of the price movement chart showed that Seplat topped the losers' chart, dropping by N18.05 to close at N342.95 per share.
Flour Mills came second with N1.74 to close at N16.20 and PZ shed 78k to close at N14.99 per share.
Berger Paint dipped 66k to close at N6.23 and Okomu Oil lost 47k to close at N42 per share.
On the other hand, Transcorp Hotel led the gainers table, gaining 48k to close at N5.25 per share.
Ashaka Cement followed with a gain of 23k to close at N11 and Oando gained 18k to close at N3.96 per share.
Dangote Sugar improved by 17k to close at N6.48, while Dangote Flour gained 13k to close at N3.73 per share.
NAN also reports that Diamond Bank emerged the most traded in volume terms, accounting for 35.41 million shares worth N31.86 million.
FBN Holdings accounted for 27.17 million shares valued at N82.88 million and Access Bank traded 23.73 million worth N130.51 million.
Sterling Bank sold 16.44 million shares valued at N12.55 million and Transcorp exchanged 12.24 million shares worth N8.69 million.
In all, investors bought and sold 165.58 million shares valued at N888.17 million exchanged in 2,279 deals.
This was in contrast with 161.59 million shares worth N1.19 billion transacted in 2,086 deals.
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