2023 Will Either Birth A New Nigeria Or Ground It —Obasanjo

FORMER President  Olusegun Obasanjo has described 2023 as the year that will either bring about the emergence of a  new federation or make the country slide into dissolution.

Speaking on Wednesday  when he hosted members of the Tiv Professionals Group at his Penthouse residence within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) premises in Abeokuta, the former president  urged the nation’s  leaders to ensure that the year 2023 is a watershed in Nigeria.

He noted that all efforts must be geared towards ensuring that 2023 marks the beginning of a new Nigeria,  warning  that if the feeling of rot in the system continues, the nation will be slide into dissolution. He warned those beating  the  drums of war to desist from such, adding that they do not have the interest of the minority ethnic groups at heart |||READ MORE

Authorities arrest man accused of stealing 100 vials of COVID-19 vaccine

A man has been arrested for allegedly stealing 100 vials of a COVID-19 vaccine and other property in Washington state, authorities said.

The burglary happened last week at a dental office in Purdy, about 30 miles southwest of Seattle. The owner called 911 in the early morning on April 30 to report that someone had entered the building overnight and stolen 100 vials of Johnson & Johnson's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine, a vial of Botox and more than $100,000 in medical equipment, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.

While its deputies searched for the person responsible, the sheriff's department put out an alert reminding residents that "COVID-19 vaccines are always free" and to only access them "through legitimate sources."|||READ MORE

Woman from Mali gives birth to 9 babies in Morocco

BAMAKO, Mali -- A Malian woman has given birth to nine babies at once — after expecting seven, according to Mali's Minister of Health and the Moroccan clinic where the nonuplets were born.

It appeared to be the first time on record that a woman had given birth to nine surviving babies at once.

The five girls and four boys, and their mother, “are all doing well,” Mali’s health minister said in a statement.

The mother, 25-year-old Halima Cisse, gave birth to the babies by cesarean section on Tuesday in Morocco after being sent there for special care, Mali’s top health official announced|||READ MORE

India’s COVID-19 Cases Worsen As 3,980 Die In 24Hrs

India saw record new jumps in Covid-19 cases and deaths on Thursday, dashing tentative hopes that a catastrophic recent surge that has stretched hospitals to the limit might be easing.

Health ministry numbers showed 3,980 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the national total to 230,168, and 412,262 new cases, taking India’s caseload since the pandemic began over 21 million.

Many experts suspect that with low levels of testing and poor record-keeping for cause of death — and crematoriums overwhelmed in many places — the real numbers could be much higher |||READ MORE

EFCC Arrests 30 Suspected Yahoo Boys in Kwara

Operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested 30 internet fraud suspects, also known as Yahoo-Yahoo Boys, in Ilorin, Kwara State.

An EFCC statement listed the suspects as Adigun Oladapo, Olamilekan Ogunsola, Fuad Abidemi, Haastrup Samuel, Olamide Adeyemi, Akinola Abideen, Ebenezer Haastrup, Kehinde Adeyemi, Quadri Kareem, Abubakar Abdulbashit, Damilola Akinola, Ola-Oluwa Samuel, David Oyewole, Mojereola Toheeb, Isaac Chikezie, Joshua Chiekezie, Abdulsalam Opeyemi and Abawonjo Abdulazeez.

Others are: Ganiyu Olanrewaju, Adeleke Ibrahim, Taiwo Ganiyu, Oke Gideon, Olakunle Adebisi, Ajani Samuel, Joshua Ogizien, Sodiq Olasupo, Olamilekan Mubarak, Adeniyi Olashile, Rotimi Adeyemi and Rasaq Olanrewaju |||READ MORE

Years Of Leadership Failure Responsible For Insecurity – Obi

Vice presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election, Peter Obi, has lamented the current nationwide insecurity, warning that unless drastic action is taken to contain it, the situation would degenerate into anarchy.

The former Anambra State governor blamed what he described as cumulative years of leadership failure for the security situation in the country.

Obi, in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday in Awka, identified the total absence of merit as the major problem affecting Nigeria |||READ MORE

CBN Introduces Funding Opportunities For Anambra Farmers, Traders

Branch comptroller of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Awka, Benedict Mmaduagwu, has advised farmers, artisans, traders and others in Anambra State to embrace the funding opportunities the apex bank has made available for them to grow their businesses.

He stated this during the bank’s two-day fair held at Prof. Dora Akunyili Development Centre, Awka, which began on Tuesday.

At the fair with the theme, “Promoting Financial Stability and Economic Development” Mmaduagwu said the apex bank had opened some funding windows designed to help boost the country’s economy, with targets at promoting small and medium scale enterprises across Nigeria |||READ MORE

Breaking: NAFDAC approves Pfizer-BioTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in Nigeria

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, on Friday approved the use of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria.

This is coming few months after it gave authorisation for the use of the Oxford-Astrazeneca jabs in the country.

Announcing this at a press conference in Lagos, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye  explained that the pfizer-Bio Tech vaccine was for emergency use only |||READ MORE

How to end illegal migration, neo-slavery in Nigeria – Justice Nweze

Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Centus Nweze, has recommended for total revamping of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, to end illegal migration and neo-slavery in Nigeria.

Justice Nweze, made the remarks while presenting his keynote address during the 2nd edition of  the Grace Uzoma Okonkwo Foundation’s international conference tagged  ‘Migration and Neo-slavery as Significant Features of the 21st Century’ at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN on Wednesday.

The legal luminary who was represented by the chairman of the occasion, Justice  C. A Ogbuabor  during the conference organised by the aforementioned Foundation in collaboration with the Institute of African Studies, and the Department of English and Literary Studies, UNN, also said that the agency seems overwhelmed by the enormity of challenges bedeviling adequate checking of illegal human trafficking in Nigeria |||READ MORE

God has directed me to prophesy against Buhari, Uzodinma – Mbaka

The Catholic Priest and Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Fr Ejike Mbaka, has blessed the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, for championing the cause of his people.

“Up till today, I don’t know who Nnamdi Kanu is. I have never seen him face to face. Look at my hand on the altar. But I want to tell you something. Wherever he is, may God bless him. Because if somebody has risen to shout that his brothers are suffering, is it a crime? May the lord bless his courage,” Mbaka said in a recent sermon at his church.

Mbaka also stated that God had asked him to withdraw his support for the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, and to prophesy against them |||READ MORE

Woman collapses in church while fasting, dies in Lagos hospital

The family of a woman, Joy Owoyele, is in grief after she died during a 14-day fasting in the Isheri Olofin area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that Owoyele had sought spiritual help regarding her matrimonial challenges at the Christ Apostolic Church, Ori-Oke Gbogunmi, aka Ajanpelenbe Mountain, located on Pipeline Road, Isheri Olofin.

She was said to have been placed on 14-day fasting and prayer, but on the 10th day, things took a tragic turn as she suddenly collapsed after the morning prayers inside the church |||READ MORE

Painter impersonates Oba Elegushi, defrauds Facebook lover of N51m

The Lagos State Police Command, on Thursday, paraded a painter, Moses Olaitan, and his accomplice, Segun Omoshola, for allegedly impersonating the Elegushi of Ikate land, Oba Saheed Elegushi, and using his image to defraud a woman they met on Facebook of N51m.

The state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, while parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Ikeja, said after a report was made, detectives tracked down and arrested Olaitan and Segun three months after perpetrating the crime.

“She told me to send my account number, but because I didn’t have an account number, I contacted Segun, who provided the account used for collecting the money |||READ MORE

Sexual assault: Lagos lists possible charges against Baba Ijesha

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team has waded into the sexual assault allegation against Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, also known as Baba Ijesha.

Baba Ijesha who is currently in police custody is accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.

 In a statement shared by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Lagos, Gboyega Akosile, the LSDSVRT revealed the possible charges Baba Ijesha could face if legal action is carried out against him.

The statement read, “This is to inform members of the public that the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Team is actively following up on the Baba ljesha’s case, we are also in direct contact with the complainant with a view to providing the necessary support |||READ MORE

BREAKING: US mission to prioritise student visa applications for Nigerians

The United States Mission in Nigeria says it will prioritise visa applications by Nigerians students who hope to resume academic studies in the States by September 2021.

This was contained in a statement on Friday signed by Temitayo Famutimi of the Public Affairs Section of the US Consulate General.

According to the statement titled, ‘US Announces Priority Appointments for Student Visa Applicants’, the Mission said it would prioritise visa interview appointments for Nigerian students well in advance of their programme start date |||READ MORE

Lagos Creates 30, 000 Jobs Through Waste Management

Lagos State Government yesterday revealed that efforts of the present administration to revamp the operations of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) provided employment to over 30,000 residents.

The state’s Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello disclosed this at the annual ministerial briefing to mark Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second year in office.

The commissioner said LAWMA has successfully increased the number of trips completed daily in evacuating waste to landfill from 357 to 850 on the average |||READ MORE

Minister Dissolves Board Of Sports Federation, Set Up Caretaker Committees

Barely three months to Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the Minister of youth and sports federation, Chief Sunday Dare has dissolved all the boards of 31 National Sports Federations and set up caretaker committees to run the fairs of the federation.

This was disclosed in a press statement on Friday in Abuja.

Minister said the dissolution of boards of Federations was inline with the Olympic Charter which stipulates a four year tenure for all Sports Federations Boards |||READ MORE