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The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted partly cloudy conditions over the central states of the country on Monday with thundery showers over Jalingo and Ibi in the afternoon and evening.
NiMet gave the prediction in its Weather Outlook by the Central Forecast Office (CFO) on Sunday in Abuja.
It added that the region would have day and night temperature of 30 to 39 and 18 to 26 degrees Celsius.
The agency predicted that southern states would experience cloudy morning over the inland cities with chances of localised thunderstorms over Akure, Enugu, Awka, Abakaliki, Owerri, and Umuahia in the afternoon and evening hours.
It also predicted localised thunderstorms over the coastal cities of Lagos, PortHarcourt, Calabar and environs with day and night temperature of 31 to 37 and 20 to 25 degrees Celsius.
According to NiMet, northern states will experience sunny and hazy conditions, in good visibility during the forecast period with day and night temperature of 32 to 39 and 22 to 27 degree Celsius.
"Sunny and hazy conditions will prevail over the northern cities with chances of isolated thunderstorm activities over the southern cities in the next 48 hours," NiMet predicted.
Rivers United Football Club on Sunday beat visiting Rayon Sports of Rwanda 2-0 in the first leg tie of their CAF Confederation Cup second round of 16 fixture.
Newsmen report that the match was played at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.
Rivers United
Willie Udube, Assistant Coach of Rivers United, told sportswriters after the game that though his team won but they could not execute their game plan.
"We had our game plan. The match didn't go the way we wanted and we ended up having only two goals. We are going home now to work on the players.
"We found out that the boys from Kigali are very good. They are ball jugglers. We need to neutralise the ball juggling spirit in them.
"While football is not mathematics, we have however learnt our lessons and I strongly believe that with hardwork, we will win in Kigali," he said.
Udube said Rivers United were under pressure during the match because of the current form and position of the team in ongoing competitions.
"I want to say that we are under pressure. We are trying to pick the pieces and put the team together and get something.
"Before now, you will come here and watch a team that is winning with confidence. But now things are different and the boys have been losing confidence.
"It is left for the technical team to put confidence in the boys by encouraging them and teach them what to do," he added.
Festus Austin, captain of Rivers United, said they had hoped to score more goals but succeeded in scoring only two goals.
"We hope to improve because I appreciate that the fact that our opponents our good.
"We learnt a lot from the game we played in Sudan, against El-Merreikh. We will talk to ourselves and get a good result in Rwanda," he said.
Coach Masoudi Juma of Rayon Sports, on his part, said he accepted the defeat as a sportsman.
'`I have studied United. I've seen their strengths and weaknesses and known how to prepare ahead for the second leg.
"It's a 180 minutes game. We just played 90 minutes, we will prepare for the remaining 90 minutes.
"There is no game that is the same. Today is 2-0, it could be 7-0 against them or us. Anything can happen," he said.
Emeka Atuloma had, with a brilliant finishing, put Rivers United in the lead in the 29th minute, while Guy Kuemian scored the second goal in the 51st minute.(
Italian Emma Morano’s death on Saturday at the age of 117 years, leaves Jamaican Violet Brown, born March 10 1900, as the oldest living person, according to the Gerontology Research Group (GRG).
Here is the list of the ten oldest living people on the planet, all of whom are women, according to the US-based group. Emma Morano, world oldest person The list is dominated by Japanese and Italian women with the oldest man coming in at 16th place at the age of 113.
– Violet Brown, 117 years old, Jamaica
– Nabi Tajima, 116, Japan
– Chiyo Miyako, 115, Japan
– Ana Vela-Rubio, 115, Spain
– Marie-Josephine Gaudette, 115, Italy (born in US)
Towards efficient health service delivery in Lagos State, the state government is collaborating with a company specialized in medical diagnostic products, ISN Products Nig. Limited to engage laboratory scientists in Lagos State in a 2-day intensive workshop on Cobas C111 Chemistry Analyzer.
From left: Mr. Daniel Adewuni, Application Specialist and Training coordinator, ISN Products Nig Ltd; Nancy Njoku, Application Specialist and workshop facilitator; Dr. Babafemi Thomas, Acting Director, Pathology Services, Lagos State Health Service Commission, Mr. Oparanozie Jude, Principal Medical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria and Mr Pius Ihimenkpen, Regional Sales Manager, South West, ISN during the Cobas c111 workshop organised by ISN Products Nig Ltd for Lagos State General Hospitals held in Lagos
The training which took place at ISN Biomedical Systems Training Center in Lagos, according to Acting Director, Pathology Services, Lagos State Health Service commission, Dr. Babafemi Thomas, will strengthen laboratory services in the state as the training will update the knowledge of those in that sector of the medicare on the analyzer and help them in delivering qualitative service to their patients.
Thomas reiterated that the Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode is committed to making life meaningful to the people of the state and make positive impact in the society.
In his words: "Lagos State government in the vanguard of delivering good and quality health care services to the people has decided to collaborate with ISN Products Nigeria Limited to train our laboratory scientists on Cobas C111 machine and we believe that whoever is assigned to operate the machine will be versatile in its operation, which will lead to proper diagnosis in our state health care systems."
One of the workshop facilitators, Mr. Daniel Adewuni said the aim of the workshop is to build the capacity of laboratory personnel in Lagos State government hospitals in the area of automation and quality assurance for the overall benefit of the patients because there will be accurate diagnosis which will definitely improve health care system in Lagos State and the nation at large.
Adewuni further said "When we have quality health care system, then we are sure that the people of the society will have access to quality diagnosis that will give a true picture of their health condition whenever the need arise. It's our goal to train more Medical Laboratory Professionals in the country, we have bigger analyzers that we will train them on".
Representative of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), Mr. Oparanozie Jude described the collaboration between the Lagos State government and ISN as a great one, noting that it is an indication that the state government wants the best for the scientists and the patients.
"As scientists, they have to know how the machine operates, so that they can deliver quality result to clinicians who are going to manage the patients. Laboratory is a backbone of medicine, if the clinician did not get good report, what such person is doing can be liken to self medication," he maintained.
One of the trainees, Chief Medical Laboratory Scientist, Amuwo Odofin Maternal & Child Care Centre, Mrs. Olaoke Odunola said: "The training is an eye opener for us. Cobas C111 is a fully automated machine that is so dear to us in Lagos State hospitals because it is simple to use and the turn around sample analysis is fast and considering our environment where we have baby sample and need to bring out result on time, the machine is of paramount importance.
"The training has also offered us an opportunity to trouble shoot. There are some little errors that will come out that we do not need to call the supplier but through this training, we can correct such errors and get our results as and when due," she noted.
An Italian born woman, Emma Martina Luigia Morano, an alleged world oldest person and world oldest woman by Guinness World Records, was reported to have died on Saturday.
Having been born in November, 29, 1899, she died at the age of 117.
Emma Morano, world oldest person
Emma Morano was also believed to have been the last surviving person in the world who was born in the 1800s.
Newsmen gathered that she died while sitting in an armchair at her home in Verbania, a town on Lake Maggiore, Italy.
Commenting on Emma’s passing, a Guinness World Records spokesperson said: “It is with deep regret and great sympathy that Guinness World Records, the global authority on record-breaking, has learnt of Emma Morano’s passing.
She joined our celebrated hall of fame with her amazing achievement when she was announced in 2016 as the oldest living female, and was officially confirmed as the last person to be born in the 1800s.
Guinness World Records is consulting with our expert Gerontologists and will verify the new title holder, subject to evidence review, in due course.”
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said his risky tactical approach had been vindicated after his side stunned Premier League leaders Chelsea 2-0 on Sunday.
Facing his former club, Mourinho rested top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic and charged Ander Herrera and Matteo Darmian with the task of man-marking Chelsea dangermen Eden Hazard and Pedro.
Chelsea were successfully nullified, failing to register a single shot on target in a league game for the first time since 2007, and now lead second-place Tottenham Hotspur by just four points.
“Maybe we didn’t ‘rest’ players ahead of Thursday (when United play Anderlecht in the Europa League), we just chose the team we thought was the best team,” Mourinho told Sky Sports at Old Trafford.
“We went to Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup with the same tactics (when United lost 1-0).
“The game was totally controlled with 11 players, only the decision that made us play with 10 men for the second half and 10 minutes in the first half gave Chelsea a chance to be dominant.
“We knew that playing this way would be very difficult for them.”
In United’s 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Chelsea last month Herrera was sent off in the first half after being shown a second yellow card for a foul on Hazard.
This time he was United’s match-winner, setting up Marcus Rashford’s seventh-minute opener and netting with a deflected shot early in the second half.
Herrera, who denied deliberately handling the ball prior to setting up Rashford’s opener, said United’s display had been “almost perfect”.
Mourinho was goaded with chants of “Judas” during United’s FA Cup defeat at Stamford Bridge, but he said he took no special satisfaction from getting one over on his former club.
“I don’t feel extra joy at beating Chelsea,” he said.
“We beat the leader. It doesn’t matter if the leader is Chelsea or another. We beat them convincingly. Nobody can doubt our credit to win the game.”
Beaten manager Antonio Conte took responsibility for Chelsea’s defeat.
“They deserved to win because they showed more desire than us, more motivation,” said the Italian, whose side face Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-finals next weekend.
“In this case, the fault is the coach. It is mine. In this case I wasn’t able to do the right motivation.
“To play this type of game from now and until the end, we must have great enthusiasm, great motivation to try to reach the target.”
An Economist, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, has expressed optimism that the Federal Government would meet its target of 15.74 inflation rate as contained in the 2017 budget.
Uwaleke, the Head of Banking and Finance, Nasarawa State University, made this known in an interview with journalists on Sunday in Abuja.
He said the government could meet this target if there was absence of any serious shock to the economy either from oil price or output.
He also expressed optimism that in the coming months Nigeria's inflation rate would trend further downwards in the wake of favourable developments in the international oil market.
The don said: "The drop in headline inflation from 17.78 per cent in February to 17.26 per cent in March is a welcome development.
"Given the import-dependent nature of the economy, the appreciation of the Naira in recent times came as no surprise due to the CBN's sustained intervention.
"The CBN's sustained intervention in the forex market is moderating inflationary pressure from pass-through effect of high exchange rates.
"It was also expected that the high food and non-food prices recorded in the corresponding period of 2016 provided a base effect on the inflation rate for March 2017.
"Be that as it may, the key driving factors; namely electricity, fuel, housing and transportation services remain.
"This is understandable though as these challenges are fundamentally structural and will take some time to address."
Newsmen recall that a recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed the country's inflation rate dropped by 0.52 per cent in March to close at 17.26 per cent.
According to the report, the declined rate is the second recorded in two months with the first drop of 0.94 per cent which closed at 17.78 being witnessed in February.
"It represents the effects of stabilising prices in already high food and non-food prices as well as favourable base effects over 2016 prices.
"It is also indicative of early effects of a strengthened Naira in the foreign exchange market.
Manchester United ignited the Premier League title race with a victory over leaders Chelsea, who are starting to feel the heat from red-hot Tottenham. Liverpool and Manchester City remain on course for top four finishes.
Here are five things we learned:
Mourinho hasn’t lost his touch
Amid Manchester United's travails this season, a common refrain has been that manager Jose Mourinho has lost the magic touch that once made him the most coveted manager in world football. His side's stunning 2-0 victory over leaders Chelsea, his former club, showed that reports of his demise have been exaggerated. Mourinho pulled off a tactical masterstroke at Old Trafford, deploying Ander Herrera and Matteo Darmian to man-mark Eden Hazard and Pedro and picking Marcus Rashford as a lone striker to exploit the space behind the Chelsea defence. Both Rashford and Herrera excelled, scoring early in each half to leave Chelsea just four points clear of in-form pursuers Tottenham Hotspur. United, meanwhile, closed to within four points of fourth-place Manchester City, on whom they retain a game in hand and who welcome them to the Etihad Stadium a week on Thursday.
Kane is no one-season wonder
Arsenal fans were sceptical when home-grown striker Harry Kane broke into the Tottenham Hotspur first team during the 2014-15 season and started banging in goals at an arresting rate. Kane had had a succession of unconvincing loan spells and was slower than most top-level strikers. His critics decided he was a ‘one-season wonder’. But having followed up his 31-goal haul that season with 28 goals last season, he took his tally for the current campaign to 25 by netting in Spurs’ 4-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday. In doing so, he became the first Spurs player to score at least 20 league goals in three successive seasons since Jimmy Greaves in the late 1960s. Some one-season wonder.
City back in good Kompany
The sublime performance of Vincent Kompany must make Pep Guardiola weep at what might have been if the Belgian international had stayed fit and has been restricted to nine appearances. Kompany scored on his return but it was his calming influence on what has been City’s weakest unit this season the defence which augurs well both for finishing in the top four and also for the FA Cup and maintaining Guardiola’s proud record of winning a trophy every season he has managed a club. However such has been his injury jinx that Guardiola will need to put him in mothballs in between games.
Mignolet main man at last?
It may still be some time before Liverpool fans speak of Simon Mignolet with the same respect they reserve for such Anfield greats as Ray Clemence and Bruce Grobbelaar but it looks as if the Belgian could be winning round his sternest critics at last after he helped ensure Liverpool’s 1-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Mignolet’s position appeared in danger when Reds manager Jurgen Klopp signed Loris Karius last year. But Mignolet has re-established himself as Liverpool’s No 1 and maintained that form with a crucial point-blank save from West Brom’s Matt Phillips. Even former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, one of Mignolet’s loudest detractors, admitted the keeper deserved plaudits for helping the Merseysiders go third in the Premier League table. “Has he earned praise? Without a doubt, ” Carragher told Sky Sports.
Meltdown sounds Euro alarm
With the decisive second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid looming on Tuesday, Leicester were on course for a morale-boosting victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday. But instead a second half collapse exposed the soft centre at the heart of Leicester's defence which could lead to the end of their European adventure. Leicester trail 1-0 from the first leg in Spain and their chances of extending their remarkable run into the semi-finals will depend largely on how their defence fares at the King Power Stadium. So with Robert Huth suspended for the rematch and Wes Morgan struggling with a back injury that forced him to miss the Palace game, Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare will be alarmed by the way his team crumbled at the back and allowed Palace to snatch a 2-2 draw.
Bastia’s home game with Lyon in French Ligue 1 was abandoned at half time after supporters of the Corsican side twice invaded the pitch and attacked the visiting players on Sunday.
Home fans at Bastia’s Armand Cesari stadium targeted Lyon’s players as they warmed up before the game, causing it to be delayed by more than 50 minutes, and then again as the two sides went in for the break with the score at 0-0.
“We must stop, we must stop, they hit the players,” Lyon coach Bruno Genesio told club president Jean-Michel Aulas in the corridors of the stadium.
“We’re not going to war.”
Bastia, who were sitting bottom of the league going into the match, are likely to have points deducted for the latest trouble involving their supporters.
Bastia were punished in February over racist abuse directed at Nice striker Mario Balotelli while the Nice team bus had its windows smashed.
“Following the new incident at the end of the first period, the LFP decided to definitively stop the game between Bastia and Lyon,” the French professional football league (LFP) said in a statement.
In the first incident Lyon players fled to the dressing rooms and the 1500 GMT kick-off was consequently delayed as captains and officials from the two teams and league officials held talks over whether the game should go ahead.
Lyon’s players had been finishing their pre-game warm-up when about 50 Bastia fans — many of them dressed in black — attacked them, an AFP reporter at the scene said.
The trouble — the second time in four days that Lyon have been caught up in football violence — started when a Bastia fan from behind the goal where Lyon were practising approached the goalmouth and kicked a ball.
That sparked an exchange with a Lyon player and more Bastia supporters from behind the goal quickly streamed onto the pitch.
Former Manchester United winger Memphis Depay was reportedly among the Lyon players pushed by Bastia fans in ugly scenes.
Stewards and security staff rushed to intervene and for a few minutes there was chaos and scuffles until the playing surface was cleared and the Lyon players protected in the tunnel by a metal gate.
Visiting Lyon initially refused to leave the changing rooms again, but eventually did so to warm up for a second time and the game kicked off soon after with stewards lined up on the edge of the pitch.
– Baying mob at gates –
However stewards were powerless to prevent more disturbances at the half-time whistle, triggered by a confrontation between a Bastia official and Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes, who had to be restrained by security men and appeared to be the chief target of the Bastia fans.
The French league’s disciplinary commission is certain to hit Bastia hard after it docked them one point — suspended — and ordered the club to close its East Stand for three games over the monkey chants by some of its fans at Balotelli.
Lyon’s players huddled in the dressing rooms and later left the stadium in their team bus after security guards dispersed hundreds of waiting Bastia fans massed at the gates of the ground.
Lyon star striker Alexandre Lacazette, who was not playing, tweeted: “Pfffff shameful!”
On Thursday fans streamed onto the pitch in Lyon’s Europa League home clash with Besiktas and the start of the quarter-final first leg was delayed by 45 minutes as officials attempted to clear their Parc OL playing area of fans.
Home supporters poured onto the pitch as they attempted to protect themselves from firecrackers and other objects raining down from the stands above.
By Dennis Udoma UYO-Tragedy struck in Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on Sunday as gunmen killed the council Secretary, Mr. Ime Atakpa.
This is happening almost a week the proprietor of Sure Foundation Polytechnic in the area, Dr. Idongesit Umoh was kidnapped last Sunday by gunmen on his way to Church.
A source, who craved anonymity said, he was killed in the morning at Ikot Udo Obobo after being trailed to his farm by six gunmen suspected to be assassins.
He explained that, Ukanafun had been under siege by criminal elements in the past six months thereby leading to frequent killings and maiming of unsuspected members of the public by criminals.
According to the source, who said the killing has a political undertone and build up to 2019 maintained that, ''in the past six months more than 10 persons have been killed as criminal elements lay siege to the area.
''By the last count, five persons have been killed in Okoyo Village, while 4 were killed in Nkek and, the recent killing of the council Secretary happened just few poles to the Divisional Police post in the area''.
The deceased, who was appointed as the Secretary, Transition Committee of the Local Government mid last year by Governor Udom Emmanuel was described as a dependable ally and, politician who believed in what he was doing.
Governor Udom Emmanuel and the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Donald Awunah have visited the area to console with the deceased family.
Meanwhile, the police have confirmed the incident to our correspondent saying that, efforts were being made to bring the culprits to book.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Chukwu Okechukwu: ''Yes! We are aware of the incident this afternoon and, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Donald Awunah along with the State Governor, Mr Emmanuel have visited the area.
''We are doing something about it as efforts are being made by the police to bring the perpetrators to justice''.
The Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA) 2007 have vested the control, regulation and ownership of all mineral resources in all states, to the Federal Government. This is stated in a document made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja. It said all lands in which minerals had been found in commercial quantities shall be acquired by the Federal Government in accordance with the Land Use Act. It said that property in mineral resources shall pass from the Government to the person by whom the mineral resources were lawfully won, upon their recovery in accordance with provisions of the Act. The document also explained that the NMMA 2007 was enacted to deal with the shortcomings of the minerals and mining Act No. 34 of the 1999 Act. It said the 2007 Act was enacted to also deal with the principal legislation that regulated all aspects of exploration and exploitation in the mining sector. The document said the Act was enacted to deal with broad discretionary powers granted to the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development on matters relating to the granting of mineral titles. It also said that some of the key features of the NMMA 2007 include the eligibility requirements to grant mineral titles, the grant of title on a "first come, first served" basis. The Act also required the ministry to establish Mining Cadestre Office to issue mining titles and Environmental consideration which provided that holders of mineral title should prevent pollutions of the environment resulting from mining operation, among others. The document explained that the post-independence phase in the mineral sector in Nigeria had evolved the Federal Government of Nigeria to create enabling environment for mining activities to flourish.
The inspector General of Nigerian Police Mr. Ibrahim Idris, on Sunday ordered an immediate destruction of illegal roadblocks across Nigeria.
He said this through a statement issued by the Nigerian Police spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood who said that Mr. Idris has deployed a special X- Squad Team that will remove all the illegal roadblocks across the country. According to him "the IGP has deployed a special X- Squad Team that will be in charge of the removal of all forms of illegal blockage of highways and roads, and other obstructions on public highways and roads created by unlawful revenue/tax collectors, road transport unions, labour and trade related unions inhibiting vehicular movement and smooth passage of passengers and goods, and other road users".
However, the statement issued reads thus:
Out-going Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase and the Acting Inspector General Mr. Idris Ibrahim at the Presidential Villa,Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida
"It is unlawful and contrary to the laws for any individual, or group under any name to take laws into their hands and block any road or highway in full or any part of it under the guise of collection of revenue/tax or enforcement of the interests of such organisations,"
"For avoidance of doubt, the Taxes and Levies act, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 section 2 (2) disallowed any person, including a tax authority from mounting a road block in any part of the federation for the purposes of collecting any tax or levy.
"Consequently, the Nigeria Police Force hereby advised the relevant state governments, local government councils, boards of internal revenue service across the country, various transport unions, labour and traders associations that it is against the law for any organisation to create a blockage and restrict or restrain members of the public the free usage of roads and highways anywhere in the country."
Again Moshood opines that the police had received complaints that "illegal blockage points were most times taken over and used by armed robbers and kidnappers to rob, kidnap and maim innocent travellers and other road users".
"The Nigeria Police Force implored the affected stakeholders mentioned in paragraph 'four' above to prevail on their proxies, agents and representatives to desist forthwith the blockage of highways and roads across the country, as the full weight of the law will be applied on anyone arrested in the act, and they will be prosecuted along with their sponsors," he said.
The ‘Yes’ campaign to give Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expanded powers was on course to win a tightly-contested referendum on Sunday although the ‘No’ camp had closed the gap, according to initial results.
A supporter of the “yes” brandishes a picture of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan among other supporters waving flags during a rally near the headquarters of the conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP) on April 16, 2017 in Istanbul after the initial results of a nationwide referendum that will determine Turkey’s future destiny. The “Yes” campaign to give Turkish President expanded powers was just ahead in a tightly-contested referendum but the ‘No’ was closing the gap, according to initial results. Turkey’s two main opposition parties on April 16, 2017 said they would challenge the results. / AFP PHOTO
The ‘Yes’ campaign had won 51.3 percent of the vote while the ‘No’ campaign had mustered 48.7 percent, the election commission said in figures quoted by state news agency Anadolu, in a count based on 99 percent of the ballot boxes.
Pope Francis castigated "oppressive regimes” in his Easter massage on Sunday and appealed to world leaders to prevent the outbreak of conflicts among nations.
Francis, making the fifth Easter season of his pontificate, said Mass before tens of thousands of people under exceptional security measure in St Peter's square following recent vehicle attacks against pedestrians in London and Stockholm.
Pope Francis leads the Easter mass in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican.Stefano Rellandini
Francis who spoke some hours after North Korea warned the United states to end its " military hysteria "or face retaliation, said “In the complex and often dramatic situations of today’s world, may the Risen Lord guide the steps of all those who work for justice and peace. May he grant the leaders of nations the courage they need to prevent the spread of conflicts and to put a halt to the arms trade,” he said.
Francis also condemned the bomb blast on a crowded Syrian bus convoy that killed at least 112 people outside Aleppo as an “ignoble” attack, asking God to bring healing and healing and comfort to civilian population in what he called the “beloved and martyred Syria”.
He called for peace in South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ukraine.
Dr Buki Adewole, a Consultant Gynecologist and Obstetrician at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, says eight out of 10 women suffer sudden mood swings at menopause.
Adewole told newsmen on Sunday that the mood swings and menopausal hot flashes were common to all women particularly from ages 40 and above.
Experts including Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English define mood swings as extreme or abrupt fluctuations in emotional state; it can also be a sign of mental illness precedent to the end of menstrual cycle in women.
women
Wikipedia states that mood swing is an extreme or rapid change in mood. Such mood swings can play a positive part in promoting problem solving and in producing flexible forward planning. However, when mood swings are so strong that they are disruptive, they may be the main part of a bipolar disorder.
"The mood swings are of one the most common symptoms of menopause which could be very frustrating for women.
"Menopausal age varies from women to women, but it generally starts between ages 40 to 55 in women and that it is at this period that the fertility of the woman diminishes.
"During mood swings women often experience drastic shifts in emotional state and exhibit inappropriate emotional reaction.
"Fortunately, it is widely known that mood swings are caused by fluctuating estrogen and progesterone levels as soon the woman enters the pre-menopausal age," Adewole told newsmen.
She added:"Mood swings during menopause are caused largely by the hormonal transitions women go through during this time.
"Hormones, such as estrogen, influence the production of serotonin, which is a mood-regulating neurotransmitter.
"Mood swings can leave a woman laughing hysterically one moment and weeping the next moment and understanding why they occur is the key to getting solutions."
The gynecologist, who described it as troublesome and traumatic, however, pointed out that the experience differ among women.
Adewole said the condition was usually worsened by stress and anxiety and that in order to mitigate the effects of mood swings it was better for women to avoid putting themselves under stress and anxiety.
"Of course, medications to regulate the hormonal imbalance are also one of the ways to treat mood swings.
"I will advise spouses and children to understand this stage in a woman's life so that she can be helped to lessen the discomfort," she said.
The Director-General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Muhtar Usman, on Sunday said the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja runway project was 99 per cent completed.
Usman made this known in a statement signed by the media consultant to the Minister of State for Aviation, Mr Ariyo Akinfenwa, after carrying out an audit on the runway.
He said :"Today, NCAA along with the airport owner, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), conducted an inspection.
"We were able to see that the job has been done well up to at least 99 per cent completion. We believe that the remaining work will be completed on or before the official opening date."
Usman said what was found during the audit were some items that were not critical to safety and would not stop the reopening of the airport scheduled for April 19.
" The findings have been communicated to the owner of the airport, FAAN. We are expecting a corrective action plan that will come with timelines that will address those issues.
" But as I mentioned earlier, those items that we found are not safety critical and then cannot affect the opening.
"The job has been well-done. The technology employed is the latest and we believe Nigerians will be happy," he said.
Responding, the Managing Director of FAAN, Mr Saleh Dunoma, said the items identified by NCAA would be corrected in accordance with the agreed action plan and timeline.
Dunoma said :"The inspection has been conducted. Since the beginning of the project, this is the major inspection that was conducted.
"We have been working in collaboration with the NCAA, but of course we have to adhere to procedures and the procedure is that after the completion or near completion of the project, an inspection will be conducted.
" The inspection will have to be conducted by both our engineers from NCAA, FAAN , the consultant and the contractors. They have made some findings just like the DG has said, they are not safety critical.
"It is normal after huge project like this, such findings will be there. All we need to do is to adhere to the procedure, which means we have to respond to those findings by writing to the NCAA our action plan and timeline.
"This will be submitted immediately. We will work together with contractor to make sure that all these findings are corrected within the timelines that we are going to agree with NCAA.
"And of course, after the final inspection will be conducted then, we believe we will be given a clean bill of health by the NCAA," he said.
On his part, an official of Julius Berger who was part of the inspection, Dr Lars Richter, expressed satisfaction with the level of completion of the project.
He said : "We are really proud to be part of this project. It was quite a bit challenging to finish the project within six weeks.
"At the beginning, everybody in Nigeria was concerned. Not everybody was happy that the airport was closed for six weeks.
" But we, together with FAAN, the contractors have delivered the runway within six weeks and it was a good cooperation because the task was really tight.
"At the end of this inspection, everybody could see the proof that the runway is finished. The runway is delivered on the highest quality. We can say for the next ten years, it will remain there of course with good maintenance."
Newsmen report that the Abuja airport was shut on March 8 for six weeks to enable Julius Berger carry put complete rehabilitation of the 3.6 kilometres runway.
The runway, which was constructed in 1982, was meant to last for 20 years, but had been in use for 35 years without major repair and proper maintenance.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, on Sunday commended the National Ummah Association for supporting agriculture in Nigeria.
Abubakar made the commendation during the 22nd National Ummah Convention held in Sokoto.
The Convention which has as its theme: "Agriculture: Panacea to Nigeria's Economic Recession", was aimed at addressing the cognate issues of hunger in the country.
"Much is needed from the government and the general public to tackle hunger, as our laziness could not aid our progress.
Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III
"Yes, there is hunger in the country, but we have been so much lazy to tackle the issue, as we always depend on government and other wealthy individuals to assist us.
"Moreover, no one could solve our own problems, but we should improve more on agriculture, in order to tackle them and yield a better society," Abubakar said.
Gov. Aminu Tambuwal thanked the organisers of the convention and commended them for their consistency in organising it annually.
Tambuwal, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Alhaji Mani Maishinku, assured that the state government was ever ready to collaborate with the Ummah in achieving the said objectives.
"The theme of this year's convention is considered timely as it is in tune with the programmes of the Federal and State governments in agricultural development.
The Chairman of the occasion, Malam Ahmad Bello, lauded the Federal Government,"for defeating Boko Haram threats to security".
"Having thus addressed the issue of insecurity last year, it is only logical that we should, this year, address the cognate issue of hunger in the country.
"Our political and spiritual leaders must do something about this, and urgently too, as it would be a crime, a sin, and a folly, not to do so," Bello said.
Pope Francis urged an end to “horror and death” in Syria and implored God to bring peace to the Middle East as he delivered the traditional Easter Day mass in Rome on Sunday.
Pope Francis waves to the crowd after the “Urbi et Orbi” blessing for Rome and the world from the central loggia of St Peters’ basilica following the Easter Sunday mass on April 16, 2017 at St Peter’s square in Vatican. Christians around the world are marking the Holy Week, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, leading up to his resurrection on Easter. / AFP PHOTO
The Easter mass, the highlight of the Christian calendar began under a cloudy sky where worshippers had gathered since the early hours to gain access amid tight security.
After a short bout of heavy rain, the pontiff gave his traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing, to the city and the world, in which he prayed for those suffering from war, famine and political unrest, highlighting Syria, but also Ukraine and conflict zones in Africa.
He expressed hope that Jesus’ own sacrifice might “sustain the efforts of all those actively engaged in bringing comfort and relief to the civil population in Syria, prey to a war that continues to sow horror and death.”
And he prayed for peace “beginning with the Holy Land, as well as in Iraq and Yemen.”
He also spoke out against the hostilities and famine in Africa, notably in South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo “who endure continuing hostilities, aggravated by the grave famine affecting” parts of Africa.
He further urged world leaders to hear the message of peace as they contend with “the complex and often dramatic situations of today's world,” and to work “to prevent the spread of conflicts and to put a halt to the arms trade.”
Without mentioning Venezuela by name, Pope Francis also alluded to political and social tensions in Latin America, expressing the hope that the “common good of societies” would prevail.
“May it be possible for bridges of dialogue to be built, by continuing to fight the scourge of corruption and to seek viable and peaceful solutions to disputes, for progress and the strengthening of democratic institutions in complete respect for the rule of law,” he said.
– Bloody start to Holy Week –
Turning his attention to eastern Europe, he asked that “the Good Shepherd come to the aid of Ukraine, still beset by conflict and bloodshed.”
Of the social and political upheaval in Europe, Francis prayed for God’s blessing on “those experiencing moments of crisis and difficulty, especially due to high unemployment, particularly among young people.”
The mass followed his Good Friday prayer in which he deplored the suffering of migrants, the victims of racism and the persecution of Christians around the world.
Easter week got off to a bloody start last Sunday when 45 people were killed in attacks on two Coptic churches in Egypt which were claimed by the Islamic State group.
The entire area around St Peter’s Basilica was blocked off, with only several access points for those admitted after having their bags inspected.
Access to St Peter’s Square itself was only possible after security checks similar to those at airports. Hundreds of police and security forces stood guard.
Sunday also saw Francis’ retired predecessor Pope Benedict XVI turn 90, marked by a quiet celebration at the restored convent where he lives within the Vatican grounds.
“There will doubtless be something on the menu to mark his birthday,” former Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi told reporters last week.
Benedict’s brother will join a small group of old friends on Monday for a birthday party at which they will celebrate with a few “Bavarian songs,” Benedict’s personal secretary Georg Gaenswein told Italian media.
“He will see his brother Georg, which will be the best present for him,” he said.
To mark the occasion, the Vatican stamp and coin office has released a series of stamps marking important events in the two millennia history of the church.
Benedict stepped down in 2013 citing his increased frailty. He was the first pontiff to do so in 600 years.
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