By Emmanuel Mogbede

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the prompt release of the Dapchi schoolgirls as another demonstration of the political will of President Muhammadu Buhari to secure lives of Nigerians.

Malam Bolaji Abudullahi, APC National Publicity Secretary, said this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday while expressing delight over the return of the girl by their abductors.

The APC is extremely delighted with the news of the return of the schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Science Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, by Boko Haram.

With this prompt release of the Dapchi girls, the APC government has demonstrated how government should respond to such situations.

If the immediate past Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration had responded with the similar alacrity, the Chibok schoolgirls would have been released or rescued, he said.

The APC spokesman noted that instead of giving the situation the urgency it deserved, the PDP wasted several weeks wallowing in denial and conspiracy theories.

This, he said, left the APC government with no choice than to rescue many of the girls and rehabilitate them when it came to power in 2015.

Abudullahi assured Nigerians that the APC-led Federal Government was committed to securing the release of the remaining Chibok schoolgirls still held in captivity by Boko Haram.

The spokesman added that government would ultimately rehabilitate and reunite the girls with their families and loved ones when they were eventually rescued.

He expressed confidence that the reforms that the government had embarked on, would improve the capacity and efficiency of security agencies to prevent the kidnap of children by terrorists.

This, he said, would also diminish the ability of terrorist to carry out attacks on soft targets.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Boko Haram today, returned 105 kidnapped Dapchi school girls in nine vehicles same way they took them away on Feb. 19.

Source: NAN

Bayern Munichs goal poacher, Robert Lewandowski is set to force his way out of the club in the summer and join Real Madrid.

The Poland international is desperate for a new challenge and hired super-agent Pini Zahavi who has met with potential clubs in the recent months.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the 29-year-old will sign a two-year contract with Madrid, picking up a healthy wage bump with the option of extending the deal for a further year.

Despite agreeing personal terms with Real Madrid, Bayern Munich are still resisting transfer talk involving their star goal scorer.

The Bayern forward is still under contract at the club until the summer of 2021 and will have to persuade the Bundesliga giants to let him leave in the summer.

Lewandowski who has won five German league title in his eight years in Germany has scored 142 goals in just 184 appearances for Bayern Munich.

The Polish skipper is attracted by the fact that he will be spearheading Real Madrids attack force if he signs since the current striker Karim Benzema is set to be sold by the Spanish giants after awful season.

Reports said Manchester United and Chelsea are also interested in adding the striker in their squads but his agent met with Jose Angel Sanchez and agreed with the Real Madrid terms

Source: NAN

President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe says the country will hold its first presidential and parliamentary elections in July after the long ruler of former president Robert Mugabe.

He made the announcement after meeting with the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday night.

.The polls will be the first major test of the new leader, who took power in November after a de facto military coup forced the 94-year-old Mugabe to resign.

They will also be the first without Mugabes name on the ballot since independence from Britain in 1980.

As a nation, party and government, we are looking forward to very peaceful, transparent and harmonised elections in July this year, Mnangagwa sid

Mnangagwa, 75, said the elections would be free of the violence that gripped previous polls and which was one of the reasons for strained relations between Zimbabwe and the West.

I have already invited all political parties in Zimbabwe to a roundtable where we all commit ourselves to non-violence, he added.

Mnanaggwa will have to announce a date in an official notice. He has said he would invite Western observers, who had been banned under Mugabes rule.

The state-owned weekly Sunday Mail said a European Union pre-election team was expected in Harare on Monday.

The EU head of mission in Zimbabwe, Phillipe Van Damme, told the paper it would meet the president, political party leaders, and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

Mugabe, in his first comments since he stepped down, said last week that Mnangagwas rule was illegitimate and a disgrace.

source/uk.reuters.com/article/uk-zimbabwe-politics/president-says-zimbabwe-to-hold-elections-in-july-idUKKBN1GU0GM?rpc=401

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun, on Monday declared that the forthcoming July 14, 2018 Ekiti governorship election is a litmus test for the party, ahead of the general election in 2019.

He said the party must therefore work very hard to win the state.

Oyegun made the remark in Ado-Ekiti during the kick-off of fresh membership registration drive of the APC in Ekiti.

According to him, the party will deploy every available resources to win the election and promised all the 33 APC governorship aspirants that the party would conduct a free, fair and credible primary in the state.

He debunked the possibility of delegates list padding and other fraudulent practices that could vitiate the outcome of the May 5 primary.

He also assured that the national secretariat of the party did not have any favourite among the aspirants as being insinuated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State Chairman of APC, Chief Jide Awe, reportedly in hiding over an alleged murder case, made a surprise appearance at the event.

NAN reports that the Ekiti State Government had been after Awe, over his alleged complicity in the murder of Juliana Adewunmi and Ayo Jeje, who were killed in Erinjiyan Ekiti on May 30, 2014 during the administration of Dr Kayode Fayemi.

Oyegun hinted that the delegates list to conduct the primary had been compiled and would be made available to aspirants with good financial standing for verification.

We will work hard to ensure that Ekiti returns to the progressives fold after the July 14 election.

Though, we are in power at the centre, that doesnt mean we should not work hard.

President Muhammadu Buhari, as you know, will not rig or compromise or subvert the will of the electorate, so we must work hard to deserve the victory that will come to us, he said.

NAN reports that Oyegun had earlier on arrival made a stop-over at the party secretariat where he flagged-off the new membership registration exercise.

Oyegun was received by party chieftains, including the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Segun Oni and members of the State Working Committee.

Other aspirants at the event included Sen. Gbenga Aluko, Sen. Ayo Arise, Wole Oluyede, Wole Oluleye, Capt. Sunday Adebomi, Bimbo Daramola, Dr Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, Victor Kolade, Mr Kola Alabi, Mr Diran Adesua, Dr Bayo Oriire and Femi Bamisile.

Others like Mr Opeyemi Bamidele, Sen. Babafemi Ojudu and Mr.Bamidele Faparusi sent representatives.

We have got your demands and we are giving you assurances that there will be no imposition and that the primary shall be free, fair and credible

To all the aspirants, you must not campaign as if there wont be tomorrow. Dont campaign in a way that breeds enmity. I learnt that you are above 30, but the large number shouldnt be a source of problem.

Let me say this clearly, anybody who wants to fly the flag of our party must maintain decorum. We shall be fair to you as much as possible because there cant be peace when justice is denied

We must not also have bad losers, you must work with whomever the electors pick as their candidate during the primary.

All aspirants must ensure that there is no division before and after the primary. We are also barring members of SWC from joining the bandwagon of campaign for any of the aspirants, because this can cause further division, he stated.

Oyegun said the choice of Ekiti to flag off the programme was strategic, saying this conveyed a vivid and strong message of love for the people of the state, especially with regards to the July poll.

I am happy with APC in Ekiti with the level of mobilisation from our aspirants. You have shown that you are desirous to join the progressives fold. We didnt choose Ekiti for the flag off of this programme by accident

We have decided that this election is one that we will particularly work hard and leave no stone unturned, because to us it is a must-win election, he said

Source: NAN

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

The Senate on Tuesday adjourned its plenary in honour of late in Abuja.

The resolution of the Senate to adjourn its plenary followed a motion moved by the Leader of the Senate Ahmed Lawan.

Presenting the motion, Lawan said that the nation had indeed lost a lawmaker who fought for the development of democracy in the country.

On the 17th of this month, Saturday we woke up to a very sad news of the death of our friend, our brother and our colleague, very distinguished senator Ali Wakili, Lawan said.

Mr president this is sad for not only this senate. Not only his senatorial district that he represented but for his entire country and the development of democracy in Nigeria

It is tradition that when this kind of divine incident happens and we lose a colleague in the senate or house of representatives we normally observe one-minute silence in the honour of the departed but also adjourn plenary and suspend activities in the national assembly in honour of the deceased. May his soul rest in peace.

On his part, Senate President Bukola Saraki said a special valedictory session would be held in Wakilis honour on Wednesday.

Thereafter senate was adjourned to Wednesday when a valedictory session will be held in honour of Wakili.

It is the tradition of both houses to adjourn its next day of plenary following the death of any serving member of the National Assembly.

Source: NAN

There are indications that a device that exploded early Tuesday at a FedEx ground distribution facility in Texas, injuring one person, is linked to a string of bombings that have rocked the states capital this month, federal officials said.

Schertz Police Lt. Manny Casastold Fox News thata medium-sized box was on the conveyor belt when the explosion occurred.

Casas said a woman was treated for a possible sound injury and was released. He said the blast happened shortly after midnight.

Schertz police couldnt immediately confirm what was in the package, but law enforcement officialssaidthe medium-sized package contained metal shrapnel and nails and was headed to Austin when it exploded on a conveyor track.

The blast drew a large response from state, local and federal law enforcement agencies. Federal agents told the Associated Press the package is likely linked to attacks in Austin.

The ATFs Houston office said it responded to the scene in Schertz.

Schertz is located 22 miles east of San Antonio and 73 miles south of Austin.

The blast comes a day after authorities in Austin said a serial bomber is likely responsible for four explosions in Austin this month, the latest of which injured two people Sunday night after they crossed a trip wire possibly made with fishing line.

Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said at a news conference Monday that although the Sunday night bomb was linked to the three previous blasts, the latest bomb showed more sophistication as opposed to the previous three incidents, which involved package bombs left on peoples doorsteps.

Read more:

Source: NAN

Pope Francis will wash the feet of 12 inmates at Romes central prison during a Holy Week ritual meant to show his willingness to serve others.

The Vatican said Tuesday that Francis will meet March 29 with inmates at the Regina Coeli prison, including those in the special protected wing where sexual predators are housed.

Francis has made the Holy Thursday ritual a hallmark of his papacy, part of his insistence that the Catholic Church must go to the margins of society to serve.

His decision five years ago to celebrate his first foot-washing ceremony at a Rome youth detention center raised eyebrows among conservatives after he washed the feet of women and Muslims as well.

source:https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/pope-to-perform-holy-thursday-foot-wash-rite-at-rome-prison/

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Russias President Vladimir Putin to use his re-election to promote international peace and stability.

Putin, whose country is having some sour relations with the West over the invasion of Crimea and the poisoning of a former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, with a nerve agent, won a resounding re-election for a fourth term on Sunday.

President Buhari in a letter extended sincere congratulations to him.

Buhari said Putins success for the fourth time in the election is a clear testimony of the confidence Russians have in his leadership.

He also urged his Russian counterpart to see this victory as a base to continue to promote international peace and stability.

President Buhari assured President Putin of Nigerias commitment to a stronger and mutually beneficial relations with the Russian Federation under your watch.

He said he looked forward to continue working with the Russian leader to strengthen our defence, trade and technical partnerships as well as promotion of private sector participation in all sectors of our economies.

Source: NAN

By Anita Eboigbe

In a bid to curb the rising wave of scam on the social networking platform Instagram, users who usually shop on the platform have taken to an anonymously run account Scamburst to review pages of vendors and verify their authenticity.

The account @scamburstng has been trending on various social media platforms for helping shoppers check scam pages to discover those that would likely be scam pages.

Instagram, which is regarded by communication experts as one of the biggest online shopping platforms because of its picture and video content sharing nature, have faced threats from scam pages recently.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a business motivation group, @abujabusiness, comprising mostly female entrepreneurs in Abuja, recently raised concerns over influx of scam pages on the social media.

It stated, there has been several complaints of an influx of scam pages on the social media platform, which has reduced customer trust on the platform.

Some of the Instagram shoppers who spoke to NAN said that Scamburst, has helped them distinguish between scam vendors and real ones using subtle pointers.

Other respondents praised the initiative, adding that has rejuvenated the flair for online shopping by assisting shoppers to identify scam pages.

A shopper, Zainab Abimbola told NAN that `Scamburst would further help in reassuring buyers especially those who have been swindled in the past.

It was becoming really hard to trust Instagram vendors, but with Scamburst, I send several pages to be checked and authentic pages are selected for me, she said.

Another shopper, Andrew Goke said that the page has saved him a lot of money as he had been scam severally by vendors on Instagram.

I had given up on Instagram vendors, they have duped me severally. At least with a page that detects scam, it is easy to go to them for referral, he said.

According to the handlers of Scamburst, it has put up fresh and notorious scam pages on its Instagram handle so that shoppers can be on the lookout.

They said, Sometimes what the shoppers see on the Instagram page of the seller is not what he or she gets at the end of the day.

So there is already an issue of trust and people are scared of Instagram shopping; vendors have been trying to combat the problem on their own but it is limited.

By popular demand, we help shoppers review pages and certify that the vendor is sincere; this way, the Instagram shopping space is becoming safe again, Scamburst said.

The page handlers listed several factors to look out for when identifying scam pages including request for too much information from the customer.

They include use of too many hashtags, too-good-to-be-true deals, frequent discount offers and over flooding of stock pictures as red flags to spot in Instagram scam pages.

Source: NAN

By Okeoghene Akubuike

As the world marks the 2018 World Oral Health Day, Dr Seye Logede,Vice-Chairman, Dental Association of Nigeria, Abuja Chapter,says the general attitude of Nigerians to oral health has significantly improved unlike in times past.

Logede who is a Principal Dental Officer in theOral Diagnosis Unit of the National Hospital, Abuja, told our correspondent on Tuesday in Abuja that the use of social media contributed to the success recorded.

He said that poor dental health could affect a persons general health and well-being as the mouth is the gateway to the body.

According to him, contrary to what people think, there is nothing happening in the body that does not have symptoms or indications in the mouth.

The dentist explained that poor oral hygiene could also affect the psychological well-being of a person and make one lose self-confidence.

Your total psychological well-being is affected when you have bad oral hygiene; you would not be able to speak or smile in public and people will find it unpleasant talking with you.

He also said that a person with poor oral health would find eating food and taking cold or hot drinks unpleasant.
When your teeth and gum are in poor condition, you can no longer enjoy your food; if you take cold or hot drinks, your teeth will scream aloud.

Logede advised that every human being should see a dentist every six months at most while for, children as soon as they start to have teeth.

He, however, said children born with any congenital malformation affecting the mouth should see the dentist from birth.

On the theme of the celebration which is Say Ahh: Think Mouth, Think Health, he said, To be candid, the attitude of Nigerians to oral health is improving unlike a few years ago that people did not bother with their oral health.

If you are anaemic or have some underlying health conditions, there is a way it shows in the mouth.

The dentist, therefore, advised members of the public to also brush twice a day, first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

He also said that people should try to avoid eating between meals.

People should try to reduce their snacking habit, take a lot of fluids and see their dentists every six months.

NAN reports that the World Dental Foundation launched the World Oral Health Day in 2002 and it is being celebrated on March 20 yearly.

The celebration is aimed at creating awareness on the prevention and control of oral disease.

Source: NAN