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
A nursery school pupil Guo Jintong, suffocated to death after her teacher allegedly taped her mouth shut because she was talking too much during morning exercise.
The incident happened at the Huadian Experimental Kindergarten in north-eastern China's Jilin Province.
The six-year-old Jintong was pronounced dead by paramedics who arrived about 30 minutes after she had already been reported unconscious.
A witness said she was "too chatty" as her class did stretches and aerobic exercises in the morning, so her teacher allegedly sealed her mouth shut.
She claimed tape and possibly even glue was used to seal her shut and she was "smothered" to death in a few short minutes.
Realising the girl appeared "abnormal", her teacher brought her to the school nurse who called an ambulance.
The child was taken to hospital, but doctors said they were "unable to bring her back".
The nursery school has yet to release a statement about the incident, but government officials have confirmed the case and said they are investigating with local police.
A candlelight vigil was held for Jintong by members of the public, and her parents have also been filmed sitting outside the kindergarten's gate waiting for an answer from the school.
The Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative (MHEI), a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) has urged the Federal Government to ensure strict monitoring of the ban on sale of cigarettes to persons under 18 years.
Cigarette smoking
Mr Ameh Zion, the President of MHEI, made the call in an interview withnewsmen in Abuja on Saturday.
Zion said that only strict monitoring would ensure total compliance to the stipulations of the ban by marketers, distributors and sellers of cigarettes.
He said major sellers and distributors of the substance should be given the mandate to collect and confirm personal information of buyers to ensure the latter met the age bracket.
According to Zion, this strategy will help with the monitoring of the sale of cigarettes to under-aged persons in the country.
"This ban by the Federal Government is a welcome development as it will boost the campaign against substance use and abuse in the country.
"We hope to ride on this development in taking our mental health campaign to the grassroots because investigation has shown that substance abuse is one of the causes of mental disorder.
"We have also discovered various communities within the territory where drug and substance abuse is on the rise. Carrying out monitoring will not be an easy task.
"The Federal Government needs to work with major producers and distributors of this substance and give them the mandate to check and identify buyers,'' Zion said.
Newsmen report that the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, had on June 1 announced the enforcement of ban on sale of cigarettes to persons less than 18 years in Nigeria.
The minister made the announcement in Abuja at a briefing to mark the "World No Tobacco Day".
He called for the immediate implementation and enforcement of key sections of the 2015 National Tobacco Control (NTC) Act.
Adewole said that government would begin to implement the prohibition of sale of tobacco products to and by anyone below 18 and ban on sale of cigarettes in single sticks.
He said cigarettes must now be sold in packs of 20 sticks only; and smokeless tobacco should be sold in a minimum of a pack of 30 grams.
He also banned the sale or offer for sale or distribution of tobacco or tobacco products through mail, internet or other online device including prohibition of interference of tobacco industry in public health and related issues.
According to a World Health Organisation estimate, more than 4.5 million Nigerian adults are addicted to smoking tobacco substances.
Mr Wahab Gbadamosi, the Public Relations Officer, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) says the service is presently registers only corporate taxpayers for issuance of Tax Identification Number (TIN).
Gbadamosi, who said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Saturday, said the service no longer registers individuals for issuance of TIN.
He said the development was due to the directive by the Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to stop collection of Personal Income Tax (PIT) in Abuja.
"The FIRS no longer registers individuals for TIN, we only register corporate taxpayers.
"We used to capture individuals in Abuja when we were collecting PIT for FCT.
"We operate like a state in Abuja but about two months ago, the Senate Committee on FCT, chaired by Sen. Dino Melaye directed that the FCT minister should set up the FIRS board to take over collection of taxes in Abuja,'' Gbadamosi said.
According to him, the Joint Tax Board (JTB) has a provision for issuing TIN and can issue TIN to individual taxpayers.
According to him, JTB is an umbrella body for states.
He said that if anyone wants to obtain individual TIN can go to JTB office in Asokoro, FCT to register and obtain TIN.
Gbadamosi added if anyone registered for individual TIN in Lagos or other state and have not been issued TIN, can also visit JTB Asokoro.
The Spokesperson urged individuals who want to register for TIN to check JTB website, adding that they don't need to go to any tax office as there were processes of obtaining TIN.
"It is not possible that one registers for TIN and was not given. If you registered in Lagos or any other state, you will be given TIN immediately.
"If you were truly captured in any state and was not given TIN, then visit JTB office.
"TIN is unique to a corporate entity or individual. Once you have it, it is okay for any part of the country,'' he added.
According to him, the use of TIN is primarily for everyone whether private or corporate, as the use of TIN is not only for civil servants but cuts across.
NAN reports that the taxpayer TIN is an electronic system for taxpayers' registration nationwide in Nigeria, and it is unique to an identified taxpayer for life.
JTB has over the years continued to contribute to the advancement of the tax administration in Nigeria, especially in the area of harmonisation of PIT administration throughout Nigeria.
Shouting “Killers!” and “We want justice”, dozens of people stormed the town hall in London’s richest borough on Friday, accusing the authorities of ignoring the plight of the victims of the Grenfell Tower block blaze.
Three days after fire ripped through the 24-storey block, killing at least 30 people, residents are desperate for answers — and for the bodies of their loved ones, many of which are still inside.
During an angry protest outside the headquarters of the offices of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which manages the social housing block, a group broke off and scuffled with security guards in the lobby of the red-brick building.
“Shame on you!”, they shouted in a stand-off involving around 30 people, as many police officers, as well as a dozen security guards.
Hundreds of people, including singer and human rights campaigner Lily Allen, were protesting outside, holding up signs saying “Justice for Grenfell”.
One protester held up a “Wanted” poster for an executive who manages the building, accusing him of “corporate manslaughter”.
“It is criminal to wrap homes in flammable plastic,” read another sign after it emerged that cladding installed on the exterior walls as part of a recent refurbishment was not fire-resistant.
Residents had long complained about fire safety risks at Grenfell Tower, but said the concerns of the multi-ethnic, largely working-class inhabitants had been brushed off by local authorities.
“We are in the richest borough in the UK and in this very borough we have a building where some of the poorest live and the safety measures are totally inadequate,” said Mustafa Al Mansur, one of the organisers of the demonstration.
“We need to know what commitment the council is taking to ensure this tragedy is not repeated,” he said. “We need to know exactly the number of people who were there during this tragedy.”
There were chaotic scenes as angry protesters shouted through a loudspeaker, with one woman saying: “We are in pain. We have been trodden on by people who say they are there to protect us.”
Another said: “It was a death trap and they knew it.”
The protesters also held up pictures of those still missing and now feared dead, as the crowd shouted: “No justice, no peace!”
– Can’t respect the bodies –
“We are not here to trouble people. We just want answers,” said Salwa Buamani, 25, who attended the protest with her three-year-old niece on her shoulders.
“I have friends in the tower and they are not telling us anything,” she told AFP, adding: “We can’t respect the bodies.”
The death toll was revised up Friday from 17 to 30, but police warned they expect it to increase further, with as many as 70 people thought to still be missing.
Many of those in the crowd were calling for the remains of their loved ones to be returned, highlighting how survivors had described walking over bodies on the stairwell as they fled.
“They (the authorities) are clearly aware roughly of the number of bodies,” said local resident Karen Brown, 36, whose friend’s 12-year-old daughter Jessica was among those missing.
“The fact that they are not telling people is very frustrating. We are not stupid we are aware people are dead. Just tell them!”
A man shouted: “Where are our children now? In the building! No one takes care of their bodies. Shame on you!”
The crowds moved back towards the blackened tower, gaining numbers until several thousands were marching through the affluent streets around Notting Hill and Kensington High Street.
It developed an almost festive atmosphere, with locals providing free food and revellers in pubs and residents on balconies standing up and applauding as the protesters walked by.
But there was still anger, largely directed at Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May, who was earlier heckled and booed after visiting survivors in a church nearby.
“Theresa May it’s time to go” they shouted, while others held up banners saying “Tories out”.
Watch peoples reaction as Theresa May approaches her vehicle. Remember its an extract from Channel 4 News.
There is a saying that goes that, it is only a person that has not been to the farm of another person's father that proclaims his father's as the biggest. This is exactly what holds true recently for Evia Simon, the acclaimed Nollywood queen of booty.
Tasha and Evia Simon
Bootylicious Evia ran into this Tanzanian girl at a nightclub in Abuja and she was simply overawed by the backside this girl, called Tasha has and just couldn't keep it down as she raised alarm that she's seeing a butt that her’s is like a baby's in comparison.
" When you see your senior you should show some respect. Sexy Tasha from Tanzania. She's simply getting the guys mad. Tasha please pity them biko. Fun night out," she posted on her Instagram with some videos of the girl twerking her backside, with some guys falling over themselves to have a feel of it.
When Potpourri asked her, Evia, if truly she surrenders to the girl. Her reply was unequivocal.
" Yes o, is like mine is still learning beside hers o"
Confusion on Twitter as #FreeEvans campaign started on Saturday begging for mercy for the arrested billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudubem Onwuamadike, alias Evans.
Here are what some Nigerian are saying about the hashtag.
A large fire broke out at a packed beach in Bournemouth, England, as sun-seekers were enjoying the hot weather.
Witnesses reported seeing someone 'throw a flare' behind one of the beach huts, which then sparked a large blaze on the grass on the beach.Fire on Bournemouth beach in England
The fire began at around 3.30 p.m. as witnesses reported seeing huge plumes of smoke.
One woman told the Daily Echo she saw a flare go off moments before the flames travelled up the cliff, but this has not been confirmed by police.
Police wrote on Facebook: "There is currently a fire in foliage in the area of Pier Approach.
"Everything is under control, but we ask you please to AVOID THE AREA at the current time to allow Emergency Services to deal with it swiftly and effectively."
"There was a scream and the smoke went up the cliff. The fire started immediately after that."
One beach-goer, John Farr, told the Daily Echo a yellow smoke bomb had been the alleged cause.
He said: "It was a yellow bomb, I saw a load of yellow smoke and thought what's that.
"It caught fire and just went up. Someone said they saw a child chuck it in there. The smoke was going everywhere, it was awful."
A spokesman for Dorset Police said: "Dorset Police is currently assisting the fire service following a fire along the cliffs on Undercliff Drive in Bournemouth.
"The fire is at East Cliff between Pier Approach toward Boscombe pier.
"Officers have set up a cordon and assisting the fire service who are tackling the blaze.
"A section of the promenade has been evacuated as a precaution. There have not been any reports of any injuries.
"We advise people to avoid the area while emergency services deal with the incident."
A spokesman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said they have sent four pumps with help from the aerial ladder platform to tackle the blaze.
Authorities have asked the public to clear the area.
Bournemouth council tweeted: "Our Seafront Rangers are at the scene of the East Cliff fire, guiding beach goers away from danger and ensuring the area is clear."
Nigerian male Barbie and Internet personality, Bobrisky, born Okuneye Idris Olarenwaju has had to answer questions too many times about his sexuality that he just doesn't give a damn anymore. Some have called him gay, while others toy with the idea of him being a transgender, but whatever dirt has been hurled at this male Ogun State indigene, he has remained resolute and ready to throw back his own punches.
Africa's Male Barbie and Cross Dresser, Bobrisky
The guy, who once told Potpourri in a chat that both men and women envy him, has thrown a shade at Nigerian women, saying he is prettier than 70% of them, telling them to stop hating him and appreciate the fact that he is a successful entrepreneur.
In an Instagram post, he wrote: "I'm prettier than 70% women in Nigeria, so, please stop hating, come and learn from Bobrisky. Did I hear some of you saying I don't have a pussy and breast? Oh sorry, what has your breast and pussy given you? Iphone and 100k? I am sorry for you. I don't have any butt but my bae got me a Benz and a house. Some of you that have breast and pussy, have you asked yourself why your man still cheat on you. Awon Olodo. The day the bloggers will know my bae, chai, most of you girls will cry."
Of course, Bobrisky has denied being gay, but more and more of his posts in recent times are running contrary to that.
When one of his followers told him he's sick to have posted such, he simply replied, " You are sick too, use your unfollow button, bastard"
By AbdulSalam Muhammad KANO – The Kano State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) weekend reversed the purported expulsion of Abdulmumini Jibril Kofa and Alhaji Sani Kanti Ranka from the party.Abdumumin Jibrin
The APC's Public Relation Officer, Alhaji Bashir Karaye told reporters in Kano Saturday evening that the steps adopted by the feuding group at Bebeji local chapter was “unconstitutional ” .
Bashir said “we recognized that both Kano Ranka and Kofa were still card carrying members, and the status quo ante remains “.
Ranks faction has been enmeshed in power struggle with Abdulmumuni Jibrin group over the soul of the party culminating in expulsion and counter expulsions.
The spokesman of the party said due processes were not followed in the purported expulsions of the leading light in the party.
Karaye affirmed that “Ranka is still the chairman of APC in Bebeji while Abdulmumini Kofa a genuine member of APC.”
Karaye therefore assured that the party would not accept any contrary action to the provisions of its constitution, as he urged the two warring groups to sheath their swords, while the investigative committee is working around the clock to finding lasting solution to the problem.
In his quest to fulfill his parents dreams and contributing to the development of hospitality industry and tourism in Lagos State and Nigeria at large, former Nigerian ambassador to the Republic of Congo and a legal practitioner, Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe MFR, with the support of the Mbadiwes, have launched a luxurious hotel and tourist centre, King Celia Hotels and suites, in the heart of Lagos.
Greg Mbadiwe
The 5 star relaxation centre situated at 8 Jibowu Street, Yaba, according to the brains behind it, was part of his desire to accomplish his parents, especially his father's dream. According to Mbadiwe, "My venture into hospitality business is to make the dream of my father a reality. My late father wanted to build a hotel in our hometown before his death, but the project is still awaiting attention right now. Also, having partnered with some Congolese to set up a relaxation, Brassaville Beach Hotel, I felt it is important to boost the hospitality and tourism of my country too with this initiative."
"Located on two floors are 50 luxury rooms ranging from standard, deluxe, executive rooms and suites for guests. Other facilities include well designed parking space, 24hour electricity and room service, as well as internet facility. For recreation, we have a swimming pool, gymnasium, on site bar and restaurant, conference room, standard event center among others. Also, it is situated only five minutes away from the Ozone Cinemas, and easily accessible to the business districts of Lagos such as Ikeja, Victoria Island and Lekki," added the General Manager, Hassan Fawaz, a renowned hospitality business expert.
Sosoliso plane crash survivor, Kechi Okwuchi, became an instant international singing star when she wowed the judges of America's Got Talent reality show recently with her sonorous voice and powerful vocal. All four judges; Mel B, Howie Mandel, Hedi Klum and Simon Cowell and the whole audience had to stay on their feet to greet the genius of the brilliant lady who cheated death in the ill-fated Port Harcourt bound Sosoliso flight of 2005, where 107 persons lost their lives.
Kechi
Kechi, who is through to the next round of the competition, is now grappling with realities of fame as her Instagram page has been cloned by some fraudsters who have seen her as a prospect to defraud people. Kechi who opened her Instagram page on May 24, 2017 already has over 26,000 followers. This must have prompted the fraudsters into thinking she's a fertile land to milk for unscrupulous gains. Even the cloned handle, in matter of days, has had over one thousand followers.
"Guys, this is not my account, if you followed, thinking it was me, it isn't. It's just a PSA," she warned.
Kechi, who had more than 100 surgeries, in the US after the crash, graduated with a First Class degree from University of Thomas Houston. She only opened her Instagram account after joining the America's Got Talent reality show.
This season, physically speaking, heavens have opened. In several parts of this country, we are experiencing rainfall. However, spiritually speaking, when heaven opens, there is usually a voice. At other times, there may be no voice but something spectacular happens. When heaven opens, blessings come down. Things turn around for the best.
How do we know? Let's refer to the gospel according to St. Luke 3 vs. 21 and 22
" Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened".
What happened? Verse 22 " And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased".
Brethren, from then on things changed. Jesus was empowered and miracles began to happen. Lives were transformed. The blind began to see, the lame began to leap, inadequacy changed to abundance and many more.
This season, I pray that Heaven will open for you and your life will experience a turn around. Whatever has been your source of worry will become a testimony in Jesus name.
Let's take a look at the life of a young boy called Samuel. He was a product of a closed womb. The child of a woman that was called barren. You are familiar with the story of how his mother decided to give him back to the Lord .
Samuel was just like any other child ministering unto Eli. He slept on his mat in the house of Eli but one day, heaven opened for him.
How? Ist Samuel 3 verses 3-21 gives us a detail record of how God spoke to Samuel.
Let's consider verses 8&9 " And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he rose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel , Go lie down: and it shall be, if he calls thee, that thou shalt say, Speak LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place".
Heavens opened and Samuel heard the voice of God. This season, in the name of Jesus, concerning that issue that has been a point of sorrow, heaven will open and you will hear his voice in the mighty name of Jesus.
Samuel heard the voice of God and from that day, his life changed. His life was transformed from a child ministering to a servant of God to a great prophet of God.
What we are saying is that that when heavens open for you, your breakthrough will come in. You will begin to succeed where others have failed.
But it is one thing for heaven to open unto you, it is another thing for you to keep the channel open. God in his mercy might decide to speak to you through the voice of the Holy Spirit or give you a revelation by way of a vision or a dream but whether that channel will remain open could be determined by you.
What do I mean? For instance, a couple is trusting God for the fruit of the womb. Like several others, they have gone from one physician to another and they have been told to just go and relax that babies will come.
Year after year, they continue to wait but no baby was forth coming. At the same time they have been prayerful. During one of such praying sessions, the pastor told them that God would visit them and they would be parents.
Both of them heard the pastor and told him they believe. One year, two years, there was no physical manifestation of the promise of God. Soon they began to give in to societal pressure. The man began to get into relationships with strange women. The woman too due to the influence of friends, also began to commit adultery. They began to cheat on each other. Still no baby came.
Unknown to the man, the woman he got into a relationship with is a cultist. The woman too did not know that the man she had a secret relationship with had another agenda.
No baby came, their marriage began to sink. Two friends had become enemies. It got to a point that they were no longer on speaking terms.
The man went down, completely down financially and the marriage broke down.
The couple went their separate ways. Both worse than they started.
Brethren, whose fault is it? Would you say God did not speak? God spoke, but they failed to live a life that would bring down the promised blessing.
What are you doing in that secret corner of your room that is contrary to the word of God?
Have you gotten yourself to a stage where you believe that God is not coming fast enough for you and you decided to take other steps? Be prepared for the consequences of your action.
For us to have the joy of the Lord in our lives, we must believe in the word of God and live by his word. There is no short cut. You cannot jump God's queue but your desperate cry can provoke God's mercy and he will attend to you in a manner that will surprise you.
Brethren what one is saying in today's article is that God is merciful and will open heaven for those who trust in him. Heavens will open for those who serve no other god but Jehovah.
Testimony- I 'll share this testimony by a member of Living Faith Church popularly called Winners Chapel written by the man.
He wrote, " Success was an illusion in my family. We only heard of people succeeding but had never experienced it. Rather, it had been death after death. But God said to me "My son, you will not die". Today, I am the first graduate in my family and the first person to know God. There were many problems, but God was my strength. I came to this church last year, jobless, I had no money to feed myself. I was about getting married. I had to cancel the wedding because I had no job. But I was trusting God for provisions for the wedding. For the first two weeks, I was trekking to and from church. The first time I would give an offering in church, I gave five Naira. Three months after, I gave that offering, I got a job and a month later, I changed the job for a better one. Two weeks ago, I got married. I single-handedly sponsored the wedding without borrowing from any body! God raised me from grass to grace".
Brethren do you see the difference? In what way was this brother different from the couple? God spoke to both of them. The difference was that this brother held on to the word. He continued to trust God.He also made a sacrificial giving. You may say only five Naira but for someone who was jobless that was a great sacrifice. He said while waiting there were many problems but God was his strength.
Who is your strength? Is it that herbalist that your parents are urging you to come and consult so that you don't remain childless in your marriage?
Are you putting your trust in a fake prophet who is promising you that bathing by the river in the dark of the night will bring you riches?
Brethren, you have a choice. Keep the Lord's channel of communication open or shut it with your unholy conduct.
My suggestion is, hold on to the Lord steadfastly. Cry to him in desperation and his mercy will turn your situation around for the best.
Since Nollywood actress, Collette Orji started her blog, Cocowonder blog and her marriage counseling section, she has been a thorn in the flesh of men. The highly liberated, opinionated beautiful thespian is particularly pissed about how African men regard and treat their wives. To her, a man and a woman should be equal in a marriage.
Collette Orji
Though her blog is known to be a bit feminist in outlook and has raised many questions concerning the rights of a woman and man in a marriage, many men felt she crossed the line recently when she openly advised her readers, whom, she calls Cocowonders’ addicts, not to marry men who can't cook. Predictably, it was an outrage of responses from the menfolk but Coco, as she is called by friends, stood her ground, ready to take on anyone who dares to challenge her.
" Yes! I have said it. I can see women screaming Coco has come again and I can hear the men saying, 'abomination'," she offered, as cool as cucumber.
"Last year, I learnt a certain pastor made this statement boldly, and to tell you the truth, why should any man marry a woman who don't know how to cook also. But you see, what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Equal….. Equality of the sexes. That's my mantra," she stressed.
"The marriage bond among my Nigerian folks is alarming, sickening and outright disdainful. It kills the young and discourages the single. There's almost no hope for my African (I love restricting to Nigerian) marriages. The women have become hopeless lovers glued on Telemundo and fairy tale Philippines’ movies as their escape for what they deem impossible in their own lives and marriages. The only message they hear and listen to every day from their husbands is, 'I am the head of this house … and submission!'
"Some of these men have zero submission spirit, simply to lick a woman properly and let her moan from the joy of his tongue on her clitoris, they would not do. Very insubordinate men, zero submission in their spirit and to worsen it.. some will come here and type Coco, the Bible says and pastor says. But you see these African men, marrying a woman because of food. I'm telling you, because of food. And the women will come here and respond that my pastor says and the Bible says…. and others will say it's love.
"Do you know the worst one? A man will take a girl to his family who will wait to eat her food and the family will say you cannot marry her because she didn't cook well… kai!!! Women have suffered," she ranted in deference.
The Jigawa Government has directed the state's Ministry of Agriculture to deploy 630 youths trained on pest control to all the local government areas affected by army worm invasion.
The state Acting Governor,Ibrahim Hassan, gave the directives on Saturday during an assessment tour of affected farmlands.
Nigerian youths
Hassan, in a statement by his Director Press, Alhaji Ahmad Haruna, noted that the menace is threatening to wipe out early planted rice, sorghum, guinea corn and maize across the state.
Hassan also ordered the state's Agricultural Supply Company (JASCO) to release all the needed chemicals and pesticides without further delay to tackle the menace.
"The Agric ministry should mobilize and deploy the 630 youths who were trained as pest control agents under the value chain programme to spray the affected areas and create buffer zones to check further infestation.
"JASCO should immediately release enough cartons of contact pesticides at no cost to farmers for use by the pest control team."
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola on Saturday signed a N4.34 Billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dangote Group and other stakeholders for the reconstruction of Apapa Wharf Road.
The project is to be funded by AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd, an arm of the Dangote Group, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Flour Mills of Nigeria.
Newsmen report that the site was handed over to the stakeholders for commencement of reconstruction works after the agreement was signed in Lagos.
Fashola explained that the gridlock in Apapa became compounded and had reached an unbearable level as transporters ignored the old system of moving cargo through rail to trucks and containers.
Fashola
He said that the choice of the transporters to use road instead of rail for haulage increased gridlock, caused degeneration as well as well as hardship to residents of Apapa.
The minister commended the "leadership role'' of the stakeholders to solve the complex problems in Apapa and its environs.
According to him, the situation has caused stress to residents, business owners and other stakeholders in the state.
"As a result of all these unsavory practices, we have reached a point of near total gridlock, it is difficult to move cargo in or out, difficult for residents to get home and this must stop,'' he said.
Fashola said that it took time to reach an agreement on the project because the stakeholders were putting up an effective design that would address the drainage problem because the area was water logged.
"We have finished with the design, we now have a Bill of Quantity and the cost of the road is N4.34 billion to be funded and paid for by these three groups, Flour Mills of Nigeria, AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd and NPA,'' he said.
The minister said that although the parties were funding the project, the Federal Ministry of Power Works and Housing would supervise it through all the stages to ensure quality and compliance with standards.
Fashola sought for the cooperation of all residents of Lagos and directed the Apapa Area Commander of the Nigerian Police Force, DSP My Nuru to apprehend reckless drivers who drive against traffic during the period of construction.
He also appealed to Nuru to tackle all bureaucracies that would affect free flow of traffic while apprehending offenders.
Fashola also appealed for synergy among law enforcement and traffic regulatory agencies for better traffic management to reduce stress on road users during the one-year duration of the project.
The Managing Director, Flour Mills of Nigeria, Mr Paul Gbededo said that Wharf Road was the "most important road in the entire country'' which needed more attention.
"This kind of road cannot be handled with levity,'' he said.
Responding to issues of lack of holding bays raised by transport unions, the Managing Director of NPA, Ms. Hadiza Usman said that government would support the private sector to drive the initiative to set up new ones. "We have received proposals on electronic management of holding bays, we are working through processes and we would soon conclude on that,'' she said.
She said that tank farms that do not have holding bays for their trucks would soon be sanctioned.
Usman said that the NPA was also working on providing weigh bridges within the ports as well as enforce implementation in a few months to take care of problem of high axle load on the roads.
Mr Joseph Makonjuola, the Honorary Adviser to Dangote Group of Companies assured that the company would contribute its funding as part of its corporate Social responsibility and would still meet its tax obligations to government.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd, Mr Ashif Juma, while giving a brief of the two-kilometer road project said that rigid pavement would be used on the road.
He also assured that high quality materials that would withstand stress would be used.
Representatives of truck owners, transport unions, maritime operators, business owners in Apapa were among stakeholders present at the ceremony
President Donald Trump left Saturday with his wife and young son to spend the weekend at Camp David for the first time.
Since taking power on January 20, Trump has spent most weekends at his resort estate Mar-a-Lago in Florida.
But this time, Trump, First Lady Melania and their 11-year-old son Barron embarked on the Marine One helicopter for the short trip to the official US presidential retreat in the mountains of western Maryland, according to pool reports from journalists traveling with them.
Trump wore an open-collar white shirt and waved as he walked across the White House grounds to the helicopter.
Melania was in a light blue dress and wore sunglasses on an overcast day. Barron was in football garb with knee-high red socks. The first family is scheduled to return to Washington late Sunday.
Trump’s trips to Florida aboard Air Force One have raised complaints among some Americans because of the cost and the disruption it causes for Palm Beach locals because of the enhanced security traveling with the president.
Camp David is best known for hosting secret Middle East talks that laid the groundwork for Israel and Egypt to sign a peace accord in 1979.
The residence has also been used by US presidents to receive visiting foreign leaders and host diplomatic talks.
In 2013, thousands of young men formed a rag-tag militia and rounded up Boko Haram members in Maiduguri, northeast Nigeria, then handed them over to the military. File: Health officials carry the body of a victim of a suicide bomb attack out of an ambulance in Potiskum, in northeast Nigeria’s Yobe State, on June 15, 2015. Ten people were killed in twin suicide bombings in Potiskum, northeast Nigeria, a police source and a civilian vigilante assisting the military against Boko Haram told AFP on June 15. Eight vigilantes were killed in the first blast in the Igwanda area of the city, while two died in the second outside a tavern and brothel in the Dorawa area. AFP PHOTO The Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), as it later became known, was instrumental in driving the Islamist militants out of the strategic city.
Since then, the ranks of the “vigilantes” have swollen to about 20,000 across the remote region.
Armed with home-made muskets, swords, axes, slingshots and bows and arrows, they man security checkpoints and even accompany the military on operations against the jihadists.
“If it wasn’t for the CJTF (Maiduguri) would have long fallen into the hands of Boko Haram,” said Saad Abubakar, a community leader in the Borno state capital.
“They are a fearless band of committed young men who know Boko Haram members and the terrain very well,” he told AFP.
But with a relative calm returning to the northeast as a result of a sustained counter-insurgency, one question is increasingly being asked: what to do with the vigilantes?
Some have already been implicated in allegations of human rights abuses and there are fears that with no alternative employment, some could turn to a life of crime.
“What next after the war is our concern,” said the Borno state coordinator of the CJTF, Abba Aji Kalli.
“Some vigilantes may decide to become criminals. The government should think twice before it’s too late.”
– No alternative –
The CJTF is largely made up of uneducated and unemployed young men, who receive no regular wage and are instead reliant on hand-outs from sympathetic locals.
Many lost their jobs in farming, herding, fishing and trading as a result of the conflict, which has left at least 20,000 dead and displaced more than 2.6 million others since 2009.
Umar Usman, 32, used to be a food spices trader and was one of 700 vigilantes trained in weapons handling.
He said he has no other way of earning a living and agreed that crime could be a way out for some.
“Going by the current trend we are heading towards a repeat of the Bakassi Boys scenario,” he suggested.
The Bakassi Boys were a militia in Nigeria’s oil-rich south, who were formed to fight armed robbery and other crime in 1998.
Politicians used them as violent enforcers during the 2003 elections but they turned to crime, including oil theft and kidnapping for ransom, when they were disbanded.
In Maiduguri itself, the ECOMOG, which took its name from the West African peace-keeping mission during the Liberian civil war, was a similar gang for hire.
They were used during the 2007 elections to intimidate political opponents and allow electoral fraud through threats and violence.
When they were let go, it is thought some joined Boko Haram.
“With money at the disposal of desperate politicians, it is very easy for the poverty-stricken and hungry vigilantes to compromise,” said Abubakar.
– Grooming a monster? –
The military has made efforts to reign in the vigilantes, organising them into groups or sectors with central and unit commands, and given them basic security training.
Many young men have been given a sense of purpose through volunteering, not to mention a degree of authority, in a region blighted by poverty and unemployment.
Vigilante Modu Grema, however, said lax recruitment procedures has raised fears that criminals — and even Boko Haram members — may already have infiltrated their ranks.
In February, the head of the CJTF, Lawan Jaafar, was arrested on suspicion of links to the militants. Two local politicians are also in custody for alleged complicity with Boko Haram.
Grema said the influx of new members has compromised the structure and led to indiscipline, but Kalli maintained “appropriate sanctions” were given to offenders.
“We never take the law into our own hands,” he said, citing the case of one vigilante who was convicted and sentenced to death in January last year for killing a civilian.
Borno state governor Kashim Shettima has acknowledged the potential security threat from the CJTF.
Some 1,700 vigilantes have been recruited into a youth empowerment scheme since 2013, which gives them a guaranteed monthly stipend of 15,000 naira.
The authorities want to recruit 1,000 more as firefighters and 500 as road traffic personnel, while a further 500 have joined the army and 30 the intelligence agency.
Kalli, however, said more was needed to secure the future, while Umar had a stark warning if the current situation continued.
“The government is unwittingly grooming another monster that will haunt it after Boko Haram is defeated,” he said.
' they've called the group evil, a corrupter of young women'
It is one of Facebook's fastest growing communities and has become such a phenomenon that, last week, Mark Zuckerberg asked to meet its founder. But what is Fin?
•Ms Omolola, FIN founder, with the Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg
Female IN or Fin is a "secret" Facebook group that recently clocked over a million members, largely from Nigeria.
But it's a secret that founder Lola Omolola wants you to know all about – if you're a woman that is.
Though it has a vaguely romantic air, secret is just Facebook terminology, Ms Omolola says. It means invitation-only – you need to know a member to get in.
"It's a safe place, for a woman who has something to say," Ms Omolola explains.
"You don't have to agree but it is her story, she can say it."
The group is a sort of confessional space, where women share stories that they might be uncomfortable – or even afraid – to tell in person.
It doesn't offer anonymity – members have to post under their real names.
And the stories are stunning, although they remain strictly confidential.
In the few days that I've been a Finster, I've read testimonies on domestic abuse, physical and emotional violence, child abuse and rape.
One woman speaks about the moment she told her parents she was about to have a child as a single girl of 17, another about finally being accepted as a lesbian by her mother after many years.
They are brave and intimate, telling of failed relationships or unconventional sexual preferences.
The posts are brutally honest but many of them are laced with self-deprecating humour.
Like the woman who mortified herself on a first date in front of a banquet hall of people or the lady who stole the keys of a bus driver after he bumped her car and refused to apologise.
Many of the stories speak of a distinctly Nigerian experience.
Until recently the group was called Female In Nigeria, so it's not a surprise that most of its members are just that.
"The Nigerian woman has been the core of this process, because I am a Nigerian woman," says Ms Omolola.
A former journalist, she moved from Nigeria to the US in the early 2000s at the age of 24 and started the group nearly three years ago.
She had had an idea to start something for some time – a forum where Nigerian women could talk openly about the issues that affected them. But it was the kidnap of the Chibok girls that drove her to do it.
"I knew the cause of it," she says.
"When you grow up in a place where a woman's voice is not even valid, everything reinforces that idea that we're not good enough."
It didn't surprise her that a group of men could kidnap and enslave these girls, because they didn't see them as equals.
"Between the ages of three and six I noticed that whenever a girl shows any sign of self-awareness she gets silenced. When I said anything I got a pinch – a real, live pinch."
Those pinches came from aunties, uncles, even her mother but never from her father. And it's him that Ms Omolola traces her early feminism to.
Her father was a part-time businessman and was often at home with the children while her mum worked as full-time haematologist.
"We never felt any gender disparity," she says.
"I realise now how much effort it must have taken. It was not something he was just stumbling into. It was an active choice."
Fin started out as a group where women could discuss women's issues – one of the first blogs was on domestic violence – and Ms Omolola expected it to be an abstract conversation.
But women responded with their own stories.
Almost instantly it became a place where people could share things they had never shared before.
"When we started I used to cry. I stopped sleeping, I stopped eating," she says. "I was not ready for the stories that were coming out."
"There were women who had been abused for 40 years and hadn't told anyone. No-one should live like that."
Now the group gets hundreds of applications for posts every day but they are managed and approved by a group of 28 volunteers. About four or five make it on the page.
Fin has strict rules. Above anything else, Finsters are not allowed to judge each other. Any negative comments are removed, as is the member who posts them.
"I noticed that those people who try to shut women up in real life, they came there," says Ms Omolola.
"They are so deeply conditioned to work against their own interest.
"It's the online version of the pinch and the shush."
But the pinchers and shushers were persistent.
In a religiously conservative society like Nigeria, expressions of female sexual freedom were never going to go unchallenged.
Some members tried to get around the ban by commenting with passages from the bible which condemned the woman's actions.
That inspired a second rule – no preaching.
"We prohibit religious-themed advice," it says in the rules. "Fin is not a place of worship."
People have likened Fin and its founder to the devil, they've called the group evil, a corrupter of young women.
Ms Omolola says she has been the subject of concerted attacks by church groups. But she's not worried.
"Most people think that the controversy would kill me," she says. "They don't realise that it's actually empowering me."
After amassing a million-strong membership and a high-profile meeting with Mr Zuckerberg, what is next for Fin?
Ms Omolola has dreams of expanding the group into bricks and mortar, providing centres where women can go to talk about their experiences in a safe space.
But that may be a long way off.
"It needs money and right now I have none," she says. "I can't even pay my rent."
It's something that she discussed with Zuckerberg and though Facebook haven't offered funding yet, she's still in conversation with it on how to move the group forward.
From day one, she says, she had offers from companies who want to advertise on Fin but she has refused to monetise women's stories.
On Mr Zuckerberg's prompt she is now focusing on promoting the message of the site – female empowerment and tolerance.
Since Nigeria have an acting president, the Minister of information, Mr. Lia Mohammed, said ‘I don’t have to speak to Muhammadu Buhari’ who is on medical vacation since 7th of May 2017.
He made this known in a chat with the Channels television on ‘Politics Today’ anchored by Mr. Seun Okinbaloye, while speaking on the likely day Buhari will come back from his medical trip.
Mr. Seun who reminded Lai Mohammed his duty as the Information Minister was replied by the Minister “I don’t have to speak to him since we have an acting president”. Without being specific on the likely arrival of Mr president to Nigeria Lai Mohammed said “The president made it clear when he was living, that the length of his stay will be determined by his doctors.
“The most authentic news we have so far is the one from the wife of Mr. president, Aisha Buhari who came back and said that Mr. president is recovering very fast. I think that is the best I can say for now, he said.
Lai Mohammed
Speaking on the viral negative speeches and skepticism of people over Aisha Buhari not being able to see her husband when she traveled to London, Lai Mohammed said, “I have no reason to doubt what the wife of the president said. “She said I saw my husband and he is doing very well, so I have no reason to doubt her,” he firmly said.
Recall that governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State yesterday led eminent people of the country to pray for quick recovery of President Mohammadu Buhari, who is on medical vacation in London. The governor at the prayer said the President would soon return to the country to continue the good work of redirecting the course of the country.
The prayer which was held during the jumat prayer observed at the Government House mosque, Lokoja, was attended by a former governor of Kano state, Senator Kabiru Gaya.
The governor said "President Muhammadu Buhari is the man the world see when they look at Nigeria. He is Africa's number one anti-corruption crusader whose integrity has helped rebound the nation's global respectability.
COALITION of State Chairmen of Registered Political Parties in Delta State, has called on Prof Pat Utomi to vie for the state governorship seat in 2019, saying he is the best person with the right combination of knowledge, experience, integrity, network, broad acceptability and the best chance to win and chart a new way forward for the state.
Pat Utomi
The coalition in a statement by signed by their chairman, secretary, Chief Efe Tobor (Mega People Political Party) and Prince Jude Eze (Kowa Party) respectively, on behalf of the political parties, said “Delta State needs an honest statesman of the first order to create the state of our dream. It needs a man of integrity whose word is his bond. It needs a leader Deltans can trust to change the rigged political system.
“Having carried out an assessment of all the available options in the opposition and reviewed their pedigree, education and political experience, we concluded that you are the best person to win and have the ability to chart a new way forward for Delta State.
“We trust that you can rescue Delta State from the challenges that has held it down for so many years now. It is for these reasons that we respectfully implore you to run for Governor of Delta State in 2019. Any of our political platforms is available for your use to actualize your political dreams”.
We do so because we believe that what truly matters is not which political party controls the government but whether the government is led by a competent person.
“It is germane that you take this request seriously, and step forward in service to your state, with a heart of love to your brothers and sisters. We are confident that you will begin a new chapter in the political leadership of Delta State come 2019, with a focus on creating opportunities, advancing education, providing safe and practicable healthcare, focusing on our youths and giving all Deltans fresh hope to excel in every endeavor, under a peaceful and safe environment.
“We also believe that your candidacy would help to unify the many contending interests in Delta opposition across party lines. More so, your inspirational candidacy will help in no small measure to strengthen the opposition by the new energy and zeal that it will bring to the political process. This will help you to compete very well across the entire length and breadth of Delta state, with very great potential for a resounding victory.
“We have been disappointed too many times, but we are very confident that you will not disappoint Deltans. We have exhausted our options and this time around, we won’t count on, nor depend on ‘money politics’ as we will ensure that this ‘old style of politics’ definitely fails come 2019.
“You are a singular ray of hope that Deltans can rely on today. We implore you therefore to pick up the mantle, and take that bold and blessed step. Be most assured that you can leave the rest to us and all other Deltans who look up to you as the ‘Moses’ of our time”.
