By Racheal Ishaya

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and the Central Bank Governor on Sunday left Nigeria for Washington DC to join other economic experts from around the world in discussing issues affecting global economy.

The discussions is taking place under the auspices of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The Spring Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank will bring together central bankers, ministers of finance and development, parliamentarians, private sector executives, representatives from civil society organisations and academics.

They will discuss issues of global concern, including the world economic outlook, poverty eradication, economic development, and aid effectiveness.

Also featured are seminars, regional briefings, press conferences, and many other events focused on the global economy, international development, and the worlds financial system.

Below are some pictures from the meeting.

Source: NAN

By Stanley Nwanosike

Mr Chukwudi Ezinwa, the Chairman of Ezeagu Local Government in Enugu State, says his priority is to provide electricity to all households in the council area.

Ezinwa made the promise in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Enugu.

According to him, he has made contact with the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and other rural electrification agencies and partners on how best to achieve this within record time.

My foremost priority now is to improve the infrastructure of the council area, especially the extension of electricity from one community to another.

This will ensure that areas not currently energised in the council area would be energised with electricity so that the lives of rural dwellers can be touched, he said.

Ezinwa said that with constant electricity, the issue of pipe-borne water would be tackled as there would be electricity to power generating sets in mini-water schemes in the council area.

The chairman said he would also focus on staff welfare and education during his two-year tenure.

He said that there must be a harmonious relationship between the government and its staff because the workers, being the creator of the wealth, must work hand together with the government to move the administration forward.

No government can survive without taking adequate care of its staff.

Another area of importance to my administration is education. Most of the primary schools in the council area are dilapidated.

They need effective renovation for us to put them to normal shape so that pupils can go back to the classrooms and learn like their counterparts in the cities, he said.

Source: NAN

The Nigerian Army has arrested 23 suspected cultists, who were conducting physical training for new recruits and initiation and involved in robbery and kidnapping.

The army also arrested 15 other persons suspected to be pipeline vandals and recovered 31 jerry cans of refined petroleum products in the process.

Maj.-Gen. Enobong Udoh, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, reported at a news conference at the 174 Battalion, Ikorodu area of Lagos on Saturday.

Udoh was represented by the Brigade Commander, Brig.-Gen. Moundhey Ali.

The GOC, who said the suspects were arrested at different times and locations, explained that the arrests were a result of intensive surveillance and intelligence report.

In continuation of the crackdown on criminal elements and cultists in and around Lagos and Ogun states, the troops of 81 Division arrested 23 suspected cultists in Ikorodu area on April 16.

Over 50 suspected cultists from Eiye confraternity were conducting physical training for new recruits, initiation and planning for robbery and kidnap activities.

Their arrest was preceded by a shootout between the troops of 174 Battalion Ikorodu and the cultists after which, 23 of the suspected cultists were arrested while others escaped, he said.

The GOC said that two of the suspects sustained gunshot wounds, adding that one of the suspected newly-recruited cultists died as a result of injuries inflicted on him during the cult initiation.

However, one of our gallant soldiers, while combatting the cultists sustained a gunshot wound on his left leg during the encounter and was immediately evacuated.

The soldier and the 2 wounded cultists are receiving treatment at the Battalions Medical Reception Station.

Items recovered from the suspects include one locally-made double barrel pistol, five live cartridges, five machetes, four jack knives, two table knives, three locally-fabricated axes with nail like edges and five mobile phones.

Also recovered from them are one parcel containing substance suspected to be Indian hemp. Others are two ATM cards, eight identity cards, nine passport photographs, packets of condom, rings and a variety of charms, he said.

The GOC further said that the troops of the 81 Division also raided some suspected pipeline vandals at Ilara and Imagbon areas of Ikorodu to stop them from vandalising the countrys pipelines.

The suspected vandals, armed with AK-47 rifles, fired sporadically and fled on sighting the troops.

During the operation, sabotaged portions of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipelines were observed in Imoro Creek in Imagbon.

Items recovered from them include: one wooden boat, 40 empty jerry cans each weighing 50 litres and a 1,000-metre-long hose, ostensibly used in siphoning products by the suspected vandals.

The recovered items were destroyed and no arrest was made, Udoh said.

The GOC also said that seven impersonators were arrested alongside eight suspected vandals on April 17 in Lagos and Ogun states.

While on anti-bunkering patrol along Imoro Creek in Ikorodu, troops discovered sabotaged points along the NNPC Pipeline including a loading area in the Creek for siphoned products where eight suspected vandals were arrested.

Items recovered from them include 10 Vehicles, 31 Jerry cans loaded with refined products, 77 empty Jerry cans, three coolers, nine mobile phones and substances suspected to be hard drugs.

Another set of 1,320 empty Jerry cans were also discovered and destroyed.

In addition, seven suspected impostors were arrested by troops while on operation CHECKMATE, he said.

Udoh expressed appreciation to the general public and particularly the people of Lagos and Ogun states for their continuous cooperation.

He urged them to always give timely information that would help the Division in its operations.

He pledged not to relent until the Area of Responsibility of the division was completely rid of all forms of cultism, vandalism and other violent criminal activities and elements.

The suspects are undergoing preliminary investigation after which they will be handed over to the appropriate security agencies for further investigations and prosecution, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

In 1984, when lawyers in Nigeria boycotted the anti-corruption tribunals set up by the Buhari led military regime, to try corrupt politicians, Fawehinmi decided to appear before the tribunals. Consequently,he was isolated by the Nigerian Bar Association. But Gani was undeterred.

As part of the posthumous celebration of the human rights advocate, the Lagos State Government will unveil a new statue in his honour at the Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Park in Ojota.

Source: NAN

By Ariwodola Idowu

Crisis on Saturday rocked the delegates congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti leading to an attack on a former Chairman of Ikere Local Gvernment, Mr. Mr Banji Aluko.

Aluko was beaten up by persons suspected to be political thugs over allegation that he was working against Ikere Agenda, fashioned by Gov. Ayo Fayose in support of his deputy, Prof Kolapo Olusola.

Aluko , who led a group of youth to the secretariat of the party to register his protest over alleged subversion of the oppositions will, was chased away from the congress.

The supporter of former works minister, Mr, Dayo Adeyeye, was beaten with canes and cudgels and his sparkling apparel heavily stained.

Aluko accused the Deputy governor and a member of the House of Assembly representing Ikere constituency 1, Mr. Wale Ayeni, as the masterminds of the attack.

Our group won election at Ogbonjana ward 7 and we were rejoicing only for these thugs to pounce on me and started beating me.

I have reported the case to the police and proper action will be taken against the sponsors, he added.

The fragile peace brokered recently in the party broke down as the political gladiators squared up in virtually all the 177 wards, where elected delegates were expected to emerge, preparatory for the May 8 governorship primary.

The major gladiators are Governor Fayose; former Minister of Works, Mr. Dayo Adeyeye and Senator representing Ekiti south, Sen. Abiodun Olujimi.

They engaged in battle of wits in the delegates election.

While Fayose is backing his deputy, Olusola to succeed him in the July 14 governorship poll, the duo of Adeyeye and Olujimi were also contesting the same seat.

Adeyeye described the congress as a charade, calling for outright cancellation of the exercise to prevent anarchy.

Adeyeye said the election was brazenly manipulated in all the 177 wards , accusing the leaders of PDP Ad hoc committees sent to the 16 local governments of diverting the materials meant for the election.

Former Senate President, David Mark , led other top hierarchy of the party to conduct the congress.

The National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Uche Secondus and members of the National Working Committee, as well as Senator Mark, were in Ado Ekiti last Wednesday to mediate between the opposing camps.

Tension was particularly high in Ikere Ekiti, hometown of the Fayoses deputy , as factions fought over the control of the Ikere local government delegates in all the eleven wards in the council.

Adeyeye, who spoke through his Media Assistant, Niyi Ojo, said: There was no election anywhere in the state. Those loyal to Fayose sat somewhere and wrote the list of delegates.

What really marvelled us was that the committees sent by the national headquarters to conduct the election didnt go to the wards, they
diverted, he alleged (NAN)

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja after his visit to the United Kingdom, where he held bilateral talks on Nigeria British relations and also participated in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting ( CHOGM).

The President on April 9 left Abuja for London after he announced his intention to seek re-election in the 2019 general election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the presidential aircraft which left London at about 1p.m.(Nigerian time), landed at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 7.10p.m.

President Buhari was received at the airport by service chiefs, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Muhammed Bello and Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari.

Others at the airport to welcome the president included the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu and other presidential aides.

While in London President Buhari on April 16 held bilateral talks with British Prime Minister, Theresa May, where he asked for more British investments in Nigeria.

Buhari commended British companies; Unilever, Cadbury, and many others.

The President noted that the companies had stood with Nigeria through thick and thin. He said they remained in Nigeria even when the country fought a civil war.

But like Oliver Twist, we ask for more investments. We are encouraging more British companies to come to Nigeria.

We appreciate the support you have given in training and equipping our military, particularly in the war against insurgency, but we want to also continue to work with you on trade and investment.

Buhari also briefed the Prime Minister on the strides in agriculture, which he said had put Nigeria firmly on the road to food self-sufficiency.

I am very pleased with the successes in agriculture. We have cut rice importation by about 90 per cent, made lots of savings of foreign exchange, and generated employment.

People had rushed to the cities to get oil money at the expense of farming. But luckily, they are now going back to the farms. Even professionals are going back to the land.

We are making steady progress on the road to food security, he said.

The President recalled that the All Progressives Congress-led government had campaigned on three major issues, to secure the country, revive the economy and fight corruption.

According to him, as the 2019 general election approaches, politicians are already pre-occupied with the polls, while he is bothered more about security and the economy.

We have elections next year, politicians are already pre-occupied with the polls, but I am bothered more about security and the economy, he stressed.

Prime Minister May, in her remarks, said Britain would continue to work with Nigeria in the areas of training and equipping the military.

She also said that her country would continue to assist Nigeria on the rehabilitation of abducted schoolgirls freed from by Boko Haram.

On April 18 President Buhari delivered his keynote address at the Commonwealth Business Forum at Guildhall, London, where he enjoined leaders of the Commonwealth to avoid trade wars and work collectively to preserve the global trading order.

The Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) with the theme, Making Business Easier between Commonwealth Countries, was part of events at this years Commonwealth Heads of State Meeting, CHOGM- 25.

President Buhari said: If we are to make business easier between our countries and going beyond the Commonwealth, we must avoid trade wars and work collectively to preserve the global trading order, support regional initiatives as well as support domestic structural reforms that focus on the priorities of individual countries.

He reiterated his belief in wealth creation and employment opportunities within the Commonwealth.

President Buhari called on the members of the Commonwealth Business Forum and prospective investors to participate in the 2018 UK/Nigeria Trade and Investment Forum at the London Stock Exchange.

The President also met with the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Mr Ben van Beurden in connection with Shell and other partners plan to invest $15b in Nigerias oil industry.

NAN observed that no statement was issued on the outcome of the meeting which was held behind closed doors.

However, an earlier statement in Abuja by the Presidents Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said the Shell investment ventures would lay the foundation for the next 20 years production and domestic gas supply, bringing with it all the attendant benefits both to the economy and the wider society.

President Buhari also met with the Archbishop of Canterbury, His Grace Justin Welby and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in London.

Archbishop Welby said it was always a delight to see President Buhari, whom I have tremendous respect for.

You have my best wishes on your recent decision. I read your declaration speech.

We are neutral as a church, but we will pray for you. Great statesmen are those who run for the good of their country. We will be praying for you.

The Archbishop presented President Buhari with a copy of his recent book, Reimagining Britain. Foundations for Hope.

President Buhari on April 15 received members of the Buhari Diaspora Support Organisation, led by Mr Charles Sylvester. He reassured the group that his administration would always justify the trust and confidence reposed in it by Nigerians.

He said:We will do our best to justify your trust in us, and that confidence wont be abused.

I am happy that people like you are here on your own, defending the country. You have shown courage and sacrifice.

I assure you that your confidence in us wont be abused, we will do our best to justify it.

President Buhari also said that Nigeria was gifted with tremendous human and natural resources, but regretted that the failure of some of the leadership we had in the past led to our not being able to capitalise on resources to improve the lot of the people.

The President said his administration has not done too badly benchmarked against the state of the nation in 2015.

He explained that government was doing its best to recover looted funds, noting, however that it was impossible to identify and recover all the loots.

NAN reports that the presidents visit to London witnessed various rallies in support of his administration.

On April 20 some Nigerians converged in front of the Nigerian High Commission in London, to rally in support of the APC-led Federal Government.

The President is resetting the country on the path of growth and development, said Mr. Stephen Kifordu, from Delta State, the leader of the group.

According to him, there is no credible alternative to Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the 2019 election, noting that the group represents the aspiration of many Nigerians who want progress for Nigeria.

Kifordu said Nigeria is attractive to investors because of Buharis fight against corruption in the country.

He claimed that the previous administration gave room for rot and corrupt activities.

We have a President in Nigeria that people can look at and trust that If I invest in Nigeria, my investment will not be stolen.

When we talk of security, he has done security in terms of Boko Haram and in terms of the Niger Delta, he said.

Explaining further how President Buhari is resetting the country, Kifordu said it is the primary role of the police and not the military to protect Nigerian citizens and President Buhari is enforcing this.

The Police is the number one organisation that takes care of our security. It is only when we are under attack that the military comes in.

In past years, we have seen the issue when the military jumps on board without paying regard to the police. Then suddenly when something happens in Nigeria, Mr President says deploy the police, people are saying dont deploy the police.

President Buhari is resetting our country. He is bringing us back to the way things should be.

This support rally came 24 hours after a group bearing Biafran flags staged a protest in front of the Commonwealth House in Westminister, London.

Source: NAN

Manchester United inflicted more FA Cup semi-final misery on Tottenham Hotspur as they recovered from a poor start to win 2-1 at a packed Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

Tottenham, playing on the ground which has been their temporary home all season, got off to a dream start.

Dele Alli scored from close range but Alexis Sanchez equalised with a header and Ander Herrera fired Uniteds winner midway through the second half.

While United can look forward to the prospect of finishing the season with some silverware, Tottenham must pick themselves up after an eighth successive FA Cup semi-final loss.

The usual Spursy argument will be made and there will come a point when this undoubtedly talented side must back up the bouquets it gets with actual trophies, the true currency of success.

Spurs flew out of the blocks but simply could not put United away and there was an air of desperation and frustration.

There was also the questions of Pochettinos decision to persist with Michel Vorm in goal and keep first-choice Hugo Lloris on the bench.

While it is harsh to place defeat solely at Vorms door, he certainly could have done better with Herreras winner.

Harry Kane could not find his usual sure touch and Son Heung-min, superb this season, had one of those days when nothing went right.

Standing between United and a record-equalling 13th FA Cup triumph will be Chelsea or Southampton, who play on Sunday.

Source: NAN

New research suggests that a single night of sleep deprivation can increase levels of beta-amyloid protein involved in the making of Alzheimers disease.

The discovery was made by scientists from the American National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

Beta-amyloid also known as amyloid beta is a sticky protein that can accumulate between brain cells and form plaques. These plaques disrupt brain cell communication, and this is believed to play a key role in Alzheimers disease.

Study co-author Nora D. Volkow, of the Laboratory of Neuroimaging at the NIAAA, and colleagues recently published their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Alzheimers disease is a progressive cognitive disorder characterised by memory loss and changes in behaviour. It is the most common form of dementia, affecting around 5.7 million adults in the United States alone.

Past research has associated disrupted sleep with an increase in beta-amyloid levels, but Volkow and colleagues note that there have been some shortfalls in research.

Despite the evidence, say the researchers, that acute sleep deprivation elevates [beta]-amyloid levels in mouse interstitial fluid and in human cerebrospinal fluid, not much is known about the impact of sleep deprivation on [beta]-amyloid burden in the human brain.

To help shed light on how acute sleep deprivation influences brain levels of beta-amyloid, the team studied 20 healthy adults aged 2272.

Using positron emission tomography imaging, the researchers measured beta-amyloid burden in the brain after one night of rested sleep and after one night of sleep deprivation.

After a single night of sleep deprivation, the researchers noticed an increase in beta-amyloid levels in the right hippocampus of the subjects brains, as well as in the thalamus.

The hippocampus is the brain region associated with long-term memory, and the thalamus is a brain region involved in processing sensory information.

According to the authors, these findings provide preliminary evidence for the role of SD [sleep deprivation] on [beta-amyloid] accumulation in the human brain.

Volkow and her colleagues note that they are unable to say whether a night of rested sleep could negate the accumulation of beta-amyloid caused by a bad nights sleep, but this is something that they plan to investigate in future research.

Still, they believe that their new study suggests that getting a good nights sleep may be crucial to our brain health.

The authors conclude:Our results highlight the relevance of good sleep hygiene for proper brain function and as a potential target for prevention of AD [Alzheimers disease].

Reported by Medical News Today.

Source: NAN

In Ghana, mosques and churches are seen to be compounding the problem of noise pollution, according to a report by Deutsche Welle.

In the capital Accra, authorities are seeking to deal with the noise caused by these places of worship and mosques in particular.

Mosques are being asked to use mobile text or WhatsApp messages to call the Muslim community to prayer.

Why is it that time for prayer cannot be transmitted with text message or WhatsApp? So the imam would send WhatsApp messages to everybody, said environment minister Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng.

I think that will help to reduce the noise. This may be controversial but its something that we can think about, he told DW.

The government says it is hopeful such a change could contribute to a reduction in excessive noise.

For many Muslims living in the capital, the idea of a mobile call to prayer is more difficult to embrace.

Fadama community mosque imam, Sheik Usan Ahmed, calls Muslims to prayer five times at prescribed times throughout the day. Although he agrees that the level of noise could be reduced, relying on text and WhatsApp messages could also have economic implications, he told DW.

The imam is not paid monthly. Where would he get the money to be doing that? We try to practice what is possible. So the text message or any other message is not a problem. But I dont think it is necessary, Ahmed said.

Other Muslim residents who spoke to DW also rejected the suggestion. I dont find anything wrong with Muslims waking up at dawn and using the megaphone to call their people to come worship their god because we have Christian churches who use megaphones as well and they also preach at dawn, said Nora Nsiah.

Another Accra resident, Kevin Pratt, also dismissed Frimpong-Boatengs suggestion: Not everyone is on social media, and not everyone is as literate as he is. The Muslim call to prayer is traditionally supposed to reach as far as possible, Habiba Ali added.

The government has signalled it ultimately intends to enforce laws in order to quiet things down in Ghana.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has long warned of the harmful impact exposure to environmental noise may have on public health.

It lists cardiovascular disease, sleep disturbances and cognitive impairment among some of the short and long-term problems people could develop.

Source: NAN

In this article, we look at howestrogenandmenopauseaffect the skin, and whether rashes are related to these hormonal changes:

Estrogen plays a vital role in keeping the skin young, elastic, and healthy. Estrogen helps the skin by:

*Stimulating the production of oil, collagen, and other substances involved in skin health.

*Promoting wound healing.

*Reducing inflammatory skin disorders during pregnancy or periods of high estrogen.

*Possibly protecting against mortality from melanoma and other skin cancers.

*Providing some protection against sun damage.

While decreasing estrogen levels do have an impact on a persons skin, there are many other factors involved in skin health. These factors can include:

*sun exposure or damage
*dehydration
*smoking
*fat redistribution
*genetics

There is no evidence to suggest that menopause is linked to a specific type of rash. However, as a woman approaches menopause, the body becomes significantly more sensitive to changes in temperature, particularly heat.

During and before menopause, a woman may suddenly feel hot and sweaty, causing her face to become flushed or red. These are known as hot flashes, and they can be mild or severe enough to interfere with daily life.

Decreased estrogen levels can cause the skin to become itchy, sensitive, or irritated. Women may also notice that they are more sensitive to itchy fabrics, soaps, or beauty products. Scratching at itchy skin can causehivesand rashes.

A woman who has a rash should consider switching to natural or fragrance-free products to reduce irritation andinflammation. If rashes become especially problematic, she should see a dermatologist for further advice.

The decline in estrogen and other hormones can cause changes in a womans hair, causing it to thin or fall out.

During menopause, women may also notice that hair begins to grow on their face where it had not previously grown. This can include under the chin, along the jawline, or on the upper lip.

Women have many options for dealing with unwanted facial hair. Waxing and shaving are easy at-home options. A dermatologist can provide other options, such as laser treatment or hair removal cream.

As estrogen levels fall, it can cause the skin to get thinner and more delicate, meaning it is more easily damaged. Thinning skin can even lead to more frequent and noticeable bruising.

It is essential to use an SPF 30 sunscreen every day, even when not spending a lot of time in the sun. While sunscreen cannot treat thinning skin, it can prevent it from getting worse.

A woman should see her dermatologist if thin skin presents a serious problem with tearing or injury. The doctor may be able to suggest medical treatments that can help manage the problem.

In addition to thinning skin, women in perimenopause or menopause are more likely to have issues with dry or flaky skin.

This is because estrogen helps the skin to hold on to water, keeping it soft and moist. Without estrogen, the skin is prone to drying out.

To prevent dry skin, people can use a gentler cleanser, as traditional soaps can be particularly drying for older women. Moisturizing right after showering or bathing is best.

People should avoid using exfoliants or other strong products because they can be particularly damaging to delicate or dry skin.

Age spots are a common complaint of menopausal women. This is usually a sign of sun damage that has occurred throughout a womans lifetime.

Wearing sunscreen consistently and from an early age is the best way to prevent age spots and skin cancer developing later in life.

Some types of skin cancer can look like an age spot, so it is essential to see a dermatologist regularly. The risk of skin cancer increases with age and sun exposure.

Skin changes are a common complaint among women during or approaching menopause.
While these issues are the result of normal hormonal changes, there are a few things that women can do to help prevent them from happening or getting worse. Simple steps include:

*Using moisturizer: An oil-free moisturizer can help to keep skin thick and soft.

*Choose something gentle and free from perfumes or dyes to minimize the risk of irritation.

*Wearing sunscreen every day: Regular use of sunscreen can help prevent skin damage from sun exposure.

*Taking sun protection seriously: In addition to wearing sunscreen, wear hats, sunglasses, and other protective clothing to keep the skin covered up while exposed to the sun.

: It is important for women to see a dermatologist every year. In addition to screening forcanceror other suspicious marks, it is also a great opportunity to ask questions about problems or concerns about the skin.

While there is no evidence that menopause can cause a rash, it is common for women to experience reddening and irritation of the skin during a hot flash. This is usually short-lived and will resolve once the hot flash goes away.

Avoiding skin irritants, applying sunscreen daily, and seeing a dermatologist can help women manage or prevent some of the other skin conditions associated with menopause.

*This article by Nicole Galan was culled from

Source: NAN