New research by an international team has found that the sun and solar system were formed over a short time span of 200,000 years according to a U.S. federal research lab.

The reported finding published on Monday, showed that the collapse of a large cloud of gas and dust, which led to the formation of the solar system, happened very quickly, according to Greg Brennecka, a cosmochemist at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).

If we scale this all to a human lifespan, the solar systems formation would compare to pregnancy lasting about 12 hours instead of nine months, he said.

Although astronomers have estimated that it possibly took about 1-2 million years to collapse a cloud and start a star, this study is the pioneer that provides data on our own solar system.

The oldest dated solids in the solar system are calcium aluminum rich inclusions (CAIs), providing a direct record of solar system formation.

The majority of CAIs formed 4.567 billion years ago, over a period of around 40,000 to 200,000 years.

The scientists, who observed that the inclusions have formed within the time span of cloud collapse, were able to pinpoint which astronomical phase the CAIs formation recorded in the solar systems formation, and ultimately how quickly the solar-system material accreted.

Located in California, the LLNL was established in 1952 to meet urgent national security needs of the United States by advancing nuclear weapons science and technology. The lab also carries out projects in various fields including physical and life sciences.(Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

NYSC

By Abbas Bamalli

Hajiya Aisha Tata, the NYSC coordinator in Kano State says two new corps members out of the 826 posted to the state have tested positive for COVID-19..

The coordinator said this on Monday while briefing newsmen afterthe swearing-in of the 2020 Batch B Stream lA corps members.

She said the corps members were tested immediately upon arrival at the orientation camp and that they were taken for to relevant facilities for further medical investigation.

She said that 826 Corps members posted to the State have undergone screening on COVID-19 before they were allowed access to the camp promises.

As you have seen, we have provided all the necessary prevention facilities and ensured that all the corps members used them.

We have also ensured comprehensive fumigation to ensure that the camp remainsa clean environment for the corps members, she said.

In his message to the ceremony, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje called on the corps members to remain calm, and participate in all activities with open minds.

My fellow compatriots, the orientation course was purposely designed to provide you with the requisite training for a better understanding and knowledge about the scheme, about your new environment and about the people you are going to be staying with after the orientation course.

I implore you to be guided by the sense of duty and discipline that saw you through your various academic programmes.

You are enjoined to shun all acts that may jeopardise harmonious relationships existing between the corps members and their host communities, he said.

He reiterated his administrations commitment to continue to identify with NYSC programmes and support it to realise the purpose for which it was set up.

Ganduje assured the corps members of their security, safety and welfare throughout their one- year stay in the state.

The governor was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Youths and Sports Development, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the oath of allegiance was administered on the corps members by Chief Magistrate Jibril Muhammad.

Of the 826 corps members deployed in Kano State, 387 are females, while 439 are males. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 test

More than eight months after the emergence of the novel Coronavirus in Nigeria, many people no longer observe the safety measures put in place by authorities to keep safe.

Since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was announced on Feb. 27, 2020, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), along with the Federal Ministry of Health and other stakeholders, evolved measures to check the spread of the virus.

The centre, therefore, while following directives of the World Health Organisation (WHO), recommended the use of face mask, frequent washing of hands, social distancing, respiratory hygiene and stopped large gatherings as basic safety measures.

Even though Nigerians had observed the measures, especially during the lockdown that followed the announcement of the pandemic as global emergency and to check its spread, many are gradually dropping their guard.

A check by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja saw many residents moving about without wearing a face mask, while some even doubt the existence of the pandemic in the first place and others just carry a face mask in their bags just in case.

Chief Ugochukwu Nnam, the President of Initiative for Leadership Development and Change (ILDC), an Abuja-based NGO, told NAN that while many resident had stopped observing the COVID-19 protocols, others doubt the existence of the Coronavirus.

Nnam, who decried the unsafe attitude, added that many people in the FCT dont care; even in Churches and gatherings, they dont wear face masks, while some wear the mask on their chins instead of the face.

I wonder if they really know the dangers of this pandemic; I wonder if they know that countries like Germany have entered into another phase of lockdown.

As for me and my family, we use our face masks, I gave hand sanitisers to all my children as they go to school, I ensure they wash hands regularly even in their school through a steady reminder to their teachers.

Mrs Ogechi Osuoha, a teacher, called for intensive advocacy to change the perception of people about COVID-19, especially in markets.

Osuoha, who emphasised the imperatives of sensitisation and awareness to contain community spread, said that the carelessness of some market women could trigger another phase of community infection.

Many women in the market dont use face masks and do not wash their hands or use hand sanitisers or wear hand gloves like they did at the heat of the pandemic before or after selling their wares.

Mr Nurudeen Ahmed, a resident, attributed the attitude to ignorance and some sort of cultural beliefs.

Ahmed said that he had at a time doubted the existence of the pandemic until he saw those that died of the disease.

Honestly, I used to live my life freely without protection until I heard of a person I know very well that died of symptoms and complications from the disease in Spain.

Mr Nelson Udunna, a laboratory scientist, said that the pandemic was real and capable of wiping out communities.

Udunna said that he had cultivated the culture of washing his hands more than four times a day, as well as protecting his nose and mouth with face mask whenever he mingled with other people.

He decried the manner some persons threw caution to the wind by not observing the safety rules.

He said I went to the Nyanya orange market in Abuja, I discovered that it was only me and two other persons that wore face masks. I was shocked.

Mr Peter Nzeli, a trader also in Nyanya, Abuja, said COVID-19 is a thing of the past, I have not
seen or heard of someone who died from the virus again. Do we still have the virus in this country?, I dont think so.

Mr Emmanuel Ekechukwu, a businesman in Wuse, Abuja, said it had been long since he wore a face mask, adding that most times, he put the face mask in his pocket in case he was forced to wear it like in banks and some offices.

However, Mr Simon Abel, another businesman in Wuse, said he always obey the COVID-19 guidelines because he had seen someone who suffered from the virus.

According to him, he lost his uncle to COVID-19 in Italy.

He, therefore, cautioned residents, especially commercial drivers to observe the rules by wearing face mask and observing social distance, and encourage their passengers to do same.

Mrs Rita Okoro, a civil servant living in Garki, Abuja, said I wear face mask once in a while because of my health condition. I also keep a distance with others when in public and always carry my hand sanitiser.

In some Churches at Mpape, Abuja, NAN also observed that people no longer wash their hands at the designated points, nor use the hand sanitisers and do not wear the face mask.

When asked why they dont observe the COVID-19 protocols, a worshipper, Mr Osas Osagie, said that the believe is that COVID-19 has gone.

According to Osagie, at the pronouncement of the protective measures earlier by government, 100 per cent of members obeyed, but now believe that the virus has gone.

Another resident of Mpape, Abuja, Miss Alice Ijeh, said that the virus was not real, adding that everything about it was a rumour. Nobody had been pronounced dead in Mpape through the virus for me to believe, even when everybody knows that Mpape is a crowded area.

I dont believe that the virus really exist, how many people have you heard of that died of the virus in Mpape here, even though Mpape is a crowded area, there is nothing like Coronavirus, she said.

The story is the same in the Apo area of the FCT, as many defy the COVID-19 protocols and move about as if the global health emergency is over.

Some residents said the non-compliance is due to poor enforcement and sanctions by authorities, while others say they believe in the efficacy of herbal treatment for the disease.

Malam Usman Aminu, a taxi driver, said when the disease surfaced some months back, you dare not go out without a face mask or even take more than two passengers at the back seat of a vehicle and one in the front seat because you will be arrested and fined.

But now, nobody even cares if you carry more passengers or whether or not they put on face mask.

Mrs Rose Emmanuel, a food vendor in the Apo area of the FCT, said some customers come to eat without putting on face mask but I cannot ask them to leave or force them to wear one because it will be difficult for them to eat wearing one and I will be left with food and with no customers.

However, I make sure they wash their hands at the entrance and leave the windows and door opened to enable ventilation inside the shop.

On his part, Mr Andrew Ezekiel, a civil servant, said people now have access to the medications used in isolation centres to treat infected persons, while others use herbs.

He added that some people who tested positive and got cured made public the medications they took, so most people who have symptoms, rather than go for test, just decide on their own to self-medicate.

Others have now adopted daily consumption of garlic, ginger and lemon if they have any symptoms, he said.

At the Apo Resettlement area in the FCT, there was high compliance with the guidelines in some places, partial in some places and non-compliance in other places.

NAN observed high compliance on wearing of face masks at the Shoprite Supermarket, Apo Resettlement, while a small percentage are not wearing or wearing it on the jaw.

Some of the residents, customers and passengers who spoke with NAN on condition of anonymity admitted that COVID-19 is real but that they are tired of wearing face mask.

A male security officer working at Shoprite said I believe COVID-19 is real and I wear my face mask but it is just that I am tired of wearing it. I am not wearing now so that I can receive fresh air.

A female customer, seen adjusting her face mask on her jaw, told NAN that I try to wear my face mask but it is not easy to wear it always, it is choking, that is why I am wearing it like this to get fresh air.

However, at St. Charles Lwanga Parish Catholic Church, Apo Resettlement, on Sunday, there was high compliance of wearing face mask in the Church, although some parishioners did not wear it.

A female parishioner, who had her face mask on, told NAN that she tried to comply with the COVID-19 protocol by wearing mask always, especially in public places.

I am committed to wearing face mask to Church; it is part of my Christian obligations to obey the authority- the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and it is for my own good to keep safe.

NAN also observed that an announcement was made at the Church, encouraging parishioners to wear face mask in Church.

Meanwhile, there was non-compliance of wearing face mask by Keke Napep drivers and motor bike riders at Kabusa junction close to Apo Mechanic village.

According to a rider, he wears his face mask because of dust not COVID-19, saying I dont believe there is COVID-19 in Nigeria.

Similarly, a Pet trader at Zone C, Apo Resettlement Estate, said there is no COVID-19 again in Nigeria. There is no need for me to wear face mask.

Mr Felix Uche, the St. Gabriel Catholic Church Chaplain, Durumi, Abuja, who was one of the few seen putting on a mask on Sunday, said we must be careful. We must remain vigilant. We mustnt drop our guard.

As reverend fathers, pastors and bishops, we need to tell our congregations to remain safe to stay alive.

Clerics must protect the well-being of their congregations. Everyone must play their part and remain vigilant and take proper precautions.

Pastor Timothy Dogara said that most Nigerians think that because they were no longer in lockdown, they were free from the danger of the virus.

Mrs Sarah Aziz of Grace Church, Apo, Abuja, said that the Church observed physical distance but worshipers could take off their masks during service.

She said like during praise and worship, you dont expect people to have their mask on. Truly the discomfort is something else.

Some other Churches which comply with the COVID-19 protocols included the Family Worship Centre, Living Faith Church, Durumi and the Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

Meanwhile, NCDC had stated that till date, 65,148 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, 61,073 patients discharged and 1,163 deaths recorded in 36 states of the federation and the FCT.

It also disclosed that there were 2,912 active cases across the country.

The agency, therefore, advised Nigerians to continue to observe the COVID-19 protocols to stay safe, stressing that the Coronavirus pandemic was not over yet.

Wear a face mask properly; avoid large gatherings, maintain physical distance from others.

Lets work together to protect ourselves and our country, the centre stressed.

Source: NAN News

Captain of the victorious Lintex Polo team lifting the COAS Cup, alongside the Rep. of COAS, Maj. Gen. Haruna Momoh, the Deputy Chief of Policy and Programmes and Amb. Sani Bala, the Chairman, Guards Polo Club, Abuja

By Victor Okoye

Maj. Gen. Haruna Momoh, the Deputy Chief of Policy and Programmes at the Nigerian Army Headquarters says the Army plans to re-invigorate and revive its full-time participation in the game of polo.

Momoh said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, while representing the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai at the ground breaking ceremony for a proposed club house for the Guards Polo Club.

The ceremony took place on the side lines of the ongoing 11 edition of the Nigeria National Carnival Polo tournament in Abuja, in which the Nigerian Army polo team is playing alongside over 28 other teams.

NAN reports that a special cup known as the COAS Cup was also instituted at the club in this years edition in honour of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai.

Abuja-based Lintex polo team emerged winners of the COAS Cup after defeating Hon. Ahmed Wadada-led Keffi Ponies 6 goals to 3 goals on Saturday.

Momoh, who doubles as Director, Staff duties, said the game of polo had always been the exclusive preserve of the army, adding that its interest had, however, waned as soon as civilians also became interested and got involved.

The Army owns polo. The game was introduced into the country in 1904 by British colonial military officers and is a game the Nigerian army has always driven. We, however, kind of relaxed when the civil populace became interested in the game.

But good a thing the current COAS has decided and rightly so, to reinvigorate and revive the Nigerian armys full time participation in the game and thats why we are here today, he said.

Momoh expressed appreciation to the COAS for his initiative and achievements so far, saying that the Army was looking forward to achieving greater things in the sport.

I have always passed here but I never knew there was anything like this until I entered today and its all the handiwork of the current COAS for which we must appreciate him, he said, adding, We are also looking forward to greater things happening in the game of polo as far as the Army is concerned.

As you can see, there are a lots of developments taking place. We have the Nigerian army team here, who have gone through series of trainings both locally and abroad.

We recently took part in some matches in South Africa and Morocco. We are also currently building the headquarters of the Nigerian Army Polo Association (NAPA) here at the Guards Polo Club, which was inaugurated in January by the COAS.

We also have the Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Ltd. We have horses being groomed there. So, these are some of the developments currently going on, Momoh said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Tony Oli, Chairman of Anambra Sports Development Commission (ASDC)

By Chimezie Anaso

Mr Toni Oli, Chairman, Anambra Sports Development Commission (ASDC), says 225 athletes are in camp ahead of the National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Edo from Dec. 3 to Dec. 17.

Oli told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Awka that the state hoped to surpass its previous records at similar outings.

He said the early preparations were to enable Anambra contingent to surpass previous record of five gold, 11 silver and 13 bronze medals which placed the state in the 16th position on the overall medals table at the last edition in Abuja.

The commissions chairman said the athletes would be camped in three sites; Rojenny Stadium Oba, Otuocha Township Stadium, Aguleri, and Bishop Obiefuna Retreat Centre, Awka.

He said that camping the athletes which includes 50 officials would last till Dec. 3 when the contingent would depart for Benin, the Edo capital.

He said the states target was to ensure that the success in Abuja was consolidated upon, assuring the people of Anambra that the athletes would be supplied all their needs to excel at the Games, tagged Edo 2020.

We are working to better our last performance which was five gold, 11 silver and 13 bronze, he said.

Oli said that the COVID-19 lockdown affected sports activities in the state negatively just like in other states.

He noted that apart from the Nigeria Police Games, which held in February, other state events like Academic Football Competition, Community Shield, Security Games and School Sports did not hold.

He, however, praised the athletes for keeping fit individually in spite of the ban on sports, especially the contact games during the lockdown.

Oli urged sports administrators and officials to be fair and ensure that the best emerged in the competitions so that Nigerian athletes would have better chance at the global stage.

Officiating should be fair, there should not be the desire to have some persons or states win instead of the best and that is why we have problems outside the country.

There was a case where an Anambra athlete was made to come second after clearly beating his opponents but the same boy went ahead to give Nigeria a bronze medal at continental level, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Former England and Liverpool goalkeeper Ray Clemence has died aged 72, the Football Association (FA) in England said on Sunday.

Clemence, who played 61 times for England, began his professional career with Scunthorpe United before joining Liverpool and he made over 450 appearances in 14 years at Anfield.

He was part of the dominant Liverpool side of the 1970s, winning three European Cups, five English top-flight league titles and two UEFA Cups.

Clemences last appearance for Liverpool came in their 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in the 1981 European Cup final.

From there he joined Tottenham Hotspur and added another UEFA Cup and FA Cup to his trophy cabinet.

After fighting so hard, for such a long time, hes now at peace and in no more pain, his family said in a statement.

The family will like to say a huge thank you for all the love and support that hes received over the years. He was loved so much by us all and he will never be forgotten.

Clemence became the first goalkeeper to captain England since Frank Swift when he took the armband in a friendly against Brazil in 1981.

Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s Clemence vied for the England number one jersey with Peter Shilton who ended up with 125 caps to his name.

Im absolutely devastated to be told of the sad news that Ray Clemence has just passed away, Shilton said on Twitter.

We were rivals but good friends. Ray was a brilliant goalkeeper with a terrific sense of humour. I will miss him a great deal as weve kept (being) friends long after retiring. RIP my friend.

After his retirement as a player, Clemence held coaching positions with England and Spurs.

So sad to say goodbye to a true legend, a brilliant goalkeeper and my great England goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence, former England and Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman wrote on Twitter.

Former England and Liverpool goalkeeper David James said: Im deeply saddened to hear the passing of Ray Clemence.

Clem was my coach with England for more than a decade. A lovely man with a wicked left foot, I had a poster of him on my bedroom wall as a kid.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Britains Lewis Hamilton choked back the tears as he won a record-equalling seventh Formula One world championship on Sunday and became the most successful driver in the sports history.

The Mercedes ace put on a masterclass in wet and slippery conditionsHamilton takes seventh Formula One world title in style to take a record-stretching 94th career win at a rollercoaster of a Turkish Grand Prix.

He secured the title with three races to spare.

Only Ferrari great Michael Schumacher has seven titles to his name, a number once thought unlikely ever to be matched, but most of the Germans records have passed to Hamilton.

So complete was Hamiltons domination that he lapped sole rival and teammate Valtteri Bottas with 12 laps to go on a nightmare afternoon for the spinning Finn who finished 14th.

Hamilton already had more race wins, pole positions and podium finishes than anyone in the history of the sport.

But, in spite of starting a season-low sixth, the 35-year-old was determined to add to the tally.

Thank you so much guysthats for all the kids out there who dream the impossible. You can do it too man, I believe in you guys, he whooped over the radio after taking the chequered flag.

The Briton finished a massive 31.6 seconds clear of Racing Points second-placed Mexican Sergio Perez in a race run behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Seven is just unimaginable but when you work with such a great group of people and you really trust each other, there is just no end to what (you) can do together, said Hamilton, who has yet to sign a new deal for 2021.

I feel like Im only just getting started.

Hamilton was congratulated after parking up by Perez, who still has no seat for 2021, and Ferraris Sebastian Vettel who completed the podium in a race full of spins and changes of lead.

I told him that it was very special for us because we can witness history being made today, said Vettel, a four-times world champion with Red Bull and on the podium for the first time this year.

There is no doubt Lewis is the greatest in terms of what he has achieved.

Bottas, who said over the radio four laps from the end that he wished the race was already finished, also went across to extend his hand.

Mercedes had already won the constructors championship for a seventh year in a row, an unprecedented feat.

While Perez started third and eked out his tyres, Canadian team mate Lance Stroll saw his dreams of a first win disappear after leading from his first pole position.

He finished ninth, the slide down the order starting when he pitted on lap 37.

Ferraris Charles Leclerc took fourth place, after passing Perez on the last lap but then sliding wide, with Spaniard Carlos Sainz fifth for McLaren and Red Bulls Max Verstappen sixth.

Red Bulls Alexander Albon was seventh with Lando Norris eighth for McLaren and taking a bonus point for the fastest lap. Australian Daniel Ricciardo was 10th for Renault.

Hamilton said there was a point where he thought the race was slipping away from him.

Even as the leaden skies and constant threat of rain added to the sense of uncertainty, he kept believing.

When the team suggested he pit for fresh tyres towards the end, given the safety of his lead and the amount of laps done on the worn intermediates, he over-ruled them.

I lost a world championship in the pit-lane. I learned my lesson from 2007, thats for sure. I felt like I really had it under control and I was going to deal with the rain if it dropped, said the former McLaren driver.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Nigeria Police logo

By Oladapo Udom

The Lagos State Police Command, on Sunday, carried out simultaneous raids on areas believed to be harbouring criminals and hoodlums, across the 14 area commands in the state.

The commands Public Relations Officer, SP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement issued in Lagos, said that 720 suspects were arrested, with various weapons and substances suspected to be Indian hemp and cocaine.

In its bid to solidify the security architecture of the state, the Lagos Command re-launched its anti crime strategies to curb crimes and criminality across the state.

In the swift operations, police operatives arrested 720 suspects with incriminating items, including locally-made guns, cartridges, charms and substances suspected to be Indian hemp and cocaine.

Also, some items suspected to have been looted from various shopping outlets within the state during the recent EndSARS violence were found within the suspected criminals, he said.

Adejobi said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Hakeem Odumosu, had earlier warned and directed police officers and men to move against lawlessness and criminality in the state.
Odumosu affirmed the zeal of the command to sustain the operations, even beyond the yuletide season.

The police chief commended the officers and men of the command for the successful operations, while he urged them to be at alert for more operations across the state, the police spokesman said.

Adejobi said that Odumosu had also directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of SCID, Panti to commence discreet investigation on the arrested suspects for immediate prosecution.

Odumosu urged those whose items were looted during the recent EndSARS violence to come up for claims of their items, with prove of ownership, Adejobi said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Godwin Obaseki

Igbaugba Ehigimetor

The security situation in Benin, the Edo capital, has taken a turn for the worse following a jump in cases of kidnapping, armed robbery and cult-related killings, NAN checks have revealed.i

The upsurge in the crimes was first noticed since the #ENDSARS protests that led to the release of no fewer than 1900 from two Correctional Centres, burning of at least eight police stations and the looting of their armouries by hoodlums.

Night life in the capital city, in the meantime, has since ground to a halt as incidences of kidnappings and armed robbery have escalated.

NAN reports that while residents of the capital city were still reeling from the high crime rate, cult related killings, mostly linked to clashes between rival Vikings and Aye confraternities, have only heightened the fears of the residents in different parts of Benin.

The tally from the cult related killings indicated that no fewer than 30 people were killed within the past week, with three others similarly killed on Sunday by suspected cultists in the city.

Two of the bodies were discovered at Urohra Junction, one by pipeline junction in Eyaen. and on Saturday, two bodies were found around Uselu, while Evidence Street by Isihor accounted for three others.

Before then, several people lost their lives in different parts of the city, including Idogbo, Y-Junction, Nomayo, Three House all along Sokponba Road, Ogida Barracks, Siluko road, Costain area in New Benin, Aduwawa near Oando filling station, Upper Mission, near Ewa Road junction, Cherubim and Seraphim area of Upper Mission.

Meanwhile, the police are soliciting for information from the public that would help them recover stolen arms and ammunition from the police stations that were looted, trashed or burnt in the state.

When contacted, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Babatunde Kokumo, said the attack on police facilities, burning of police stations and patrol vehicles during the EndSARS protests, that turned violent, had affected their operations.

He, however, assured that the police will gradually resume work at their duty posts to check crime and criminality in the state.
According to him, in Upper Sokponba in Ikpoba-Okha axis, three police facilities were burnt down displacing the DPOs and other police officers in these divisions.

These officers now report at the state command headquarters, we now send them on patrol from there so you should expect some hitches, but we will continue to work and get things right.

The EndSARS protests, which were hijacked by hoodlums, has actually impacted negatively on police operations and unleashed attacks on police facilities, he said.

How do you expect, where 200 inmates escaped, for things to be normal? Kokumo asked, saying, We were doing our best to arrest the criminals in Edo before the jail break and we are equally trying our best now to see that the escapees are re-arrested and brought to book.

He urged the media to cooperate with and appreciate the efforts of the Police, especially now that they are expected to stem the tide of crime, whereas they lacked operational vehicles, arms and ammunition. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Antswen

The Police Command in Benue, on Sunday, said that a middle-aged man, simply identified as Nicodemus, has set himself and his girlfriend ablaze in Makurdi.

The commands Spokesperson, DSP Catherine Anene, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi that Nicodemus died on the spot, while the girlfriend, also identified as Shiminenge, died later at the Benue State Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.

Anene explained that Nicodemus committed the act at his girlfriends residence on Inkipi Street, High-Level area of Makurdi on Saturday evening.

She said that an argument had ensued between them, adding, however, that the cause of the argument was unknown.

The police spokesperson, said that Nicodemus had locked himself and the lady in her room before setting the room ablaze.

According to an eyewitness, there was an argument between them which we are yet to find out.

We understand that Nicodemus, while coming to Shiminenges house, came along with fuel.

He used the fuel to set himself and the lady ablaze after locking the house from inside, the police spokesperson said.

A neighbour of Shiminenge told NAN correspondent that Nicodemus had abandoned his wife and kids for the lady and that trouble ensued when the lady told him of her plan to marry someone else.

Nicodemus was not happy with the lady over her decision to leave him for another man.

He had earlier abandoned his wife and kids for Shiminenge. So, he couldnt bear the disappointment, the neighbor, who preferred anonymity, said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila

By Bolaji Buhari

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has urged Nigerians not to relax in taking the necessary precautions against COVID-19.

Gbajabiamila made the call while speaking at the opening of a two-day training programme he organised for some health workers on Sunday in Lagis.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the training programme is Improving Patients Outcome Through Ethical Conduct And Professionalism.

He said the COVID-19 pandemic was still very much around and posed existential threats, urging Nigerians to continue to observe all the prescribed COVID-19 protocols.

Gbajabiamila, who described as a cheering news the recent announcement that a COVID-19 vaccine had been developed , called on Nigerians not stop observing the guidelines as the vaccine was not yet readily available.

We are all delighted and inspired by the news that a vaccine is at hand to bring the global nightmare to an end.

Yet ,we must recognise and continue to act in a way that we are still far from the time when the vaccine is perfect and is readily available all over the world, he said.

The speaker said the effects of the pandemic had been devastating to families, communities and countries.

He commended health workers all over the world for their efforts in fighting the disease and saving humanity.

Gbajabiamila said health workers in Nigeria also gave a good account of themselves in helping to fight the pandemic and curb its spread.

He urged government at all levels to make the training and retraining of health workers, as well as their welfare a priority to motivate them to deliver more.

The speaker said the House of Representatives was committed to increased budgetary allocation to the sector for better healthcare delivery.

Gbajabiamila explained that he organised the training to build the capacity of health workers and support the health sector in the state.

He called on stakeholders to always support the capacity development of health workers.

The Speaker commended the Lagos State Government for some of its interventions in the health sector.

He said to further support the government he would build a multi-storey hospital in Surulere and hand it over to the state government.

The Speaker, who represents Surulere in the House of Representatives, said he was passionate about the area and would continue to do his best to impact positively on the lives of the residents.

In his speech, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, praised Gbajabiamila for the training programme, saying the gesture showed he was passionate about healthcare delivery in the state.

He said the state government was committed to improving healthcare delivery.

For us in Lagos, we will continue to see health delivery as an important pillar in our T.H.E.M.E agenda, he said.

Sanwo-olu said the state would continue to increase its yearly budget for health.

He said the government would continue to do its best to raise the bar on healthcare delivery.

Speaking, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora, also commended Gbajabiamila for the programme, saying it would impact positively on the health sector.

He described training and retraining of health workers as essential to improving healthcare delivery.

Mamora said the Federal Government was committed to the training of health workers to boost sectoral capacity.

He said the theme of the training was apt as ethical conduct and the pursuit of professionalism in the health were key to improving patients wellbeing.

The minister urged health workers to continue to show empathy and commitment in the service of humanity. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Ayo Fayose, Former Governor of Ekiti state

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated a former Governor of Ekiti, Chief Ayodele Fayose, as he attained the age of 60 years.

The party, in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan, described Fayose as a courageous statesman.

The PDP said that Fayose had over the years demonstrated an uncommon commitment and zeal towards the unity, stability and development Nigeria.

It added that the former governor had also demonstrated an uncommon commitment and zeal in fighting for the rights, liberty and welfare of the common man, pointing out that this was in line with the manifesto and ideals of the party.

Unarguably, Chief Fayose is a fearless and very forthright leader whose outspokenness for justice, equality and fairness is well known.

Indeed, Osokomoles (Fayoses) sense of duty, particularly during his tenure as Governor of Ekiti State, where his exceptional transparency, accessibility, humility in service and love for his people propelled him to deliver an unprecedented development of Ekiti State, the PDP said.

According to the party, Ekiti witnessed an unprecedented development in all spheres when Fayose was the helmsman.

The PDP prayed God to grant Fayose many more years to continue in his statesmanship and selfless service to Nigeria and humanity. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Women farmers in Nigeria

No fewer than 80 women agri-preneurs in Ekiti have benefited from a N1.6 million grant provided under the Federal Governments Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises grant, as part of its vision of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.

Dr. Umar Radda, Director General, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria, (SMEDAN), restated the commitment of the present administration to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next four years.

Radda, who was speaking on Sunday at the closing ceremony of the training of participants of the SMEDANs Women in Self Employment Programme, (WISE-P) in Ado-Ekiti, said that the training was aimed at raising the capacity of the participants to enable them utilize the funds effectively.

The DG of SMEDAN, who was represented by the agencys Director of Agric-business Development and Extension, Dr Robert Owaiye, noted that globally, MSMEs are recognized as engines of socio-economic transformation, as they offered opportunities to drive jobs and wealth creation, as well as income re-distribution within the society.

The WISE-P training and empowerment component is one the instruments available to SMEDAN to meet its mandate.

The focus is on providing capacity building, (inclusive of entrepreneurship and vocational training) with associated empowerment grants to existing women agri-preneurs.

This will procure for them the required mind-set and financial enablement, as well as place their businesses on the needed sound footing for impact in terms of pride, profit and diversification.

This is part of President Buharis vision of raising 100 million persons out of poverty over the next four years, Radda said.

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN), reports that the DG, who explained that beneficiaries had been grouped into seven cooperative societies, with a grant of N230,000 each, urged beneficiaries to use the money judiciously.

Also speaking, the Ekiti state Commissioner for Trade and Investments, Chief Muyiwa Olumilua,reiterated the commitment of the state governor Kayode Fayemi to partner with SMEDAN and other agencies, to raise the standards of living of the citizens.

Participants at the training, Mrs Ruth Oladoja and Mrs Omoyeni Palmer, who spoke separately with newsmen, assured of equitable distribution and judicious use of the grants in order to contribute their own quota to the development of the economy.

Present at the occasion were the representative of NIRSAL Micro Finance Bank in Ekiti, Mr Dele Ayobami, and the SMEDAN Manager in Ekiti. Mr Ayomide Ilesanmi. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

AfDB building

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and partners have agreed to strengthen their commitment to gender equality.

The agreement is on the theme: Development Banks as Actors for Change towards Gender Equality.

AfDB Director for Gender, Women and Civil Society, Vanessa Moungar, joined high-level representatives from global financial institutions and UN Women in signing a joint declaration on gender equality.

The declaration was one highlight of a Finance in Common Summit panel hosted virtually by the French Development Agency, Agence Franaise de Dveloppement (AFD), during the Paris Peace Forum on 12 November, the bank says.

Panel organizers said gender inequality costs sub-Saharan Africa million each year.

Moungar and other panelists addressed the critical role and impact of public-private development banks in achieving gender equality for inclusive economic growth.

She said to change the status quo, the AfDB is taking the lead in accelerating efforts to address gender inequality and drive inclusive economic transformation for women across Africa.

It is doing this through mainstreaming gender in its operations as well as targeted initiatives, all supported by evidence-backed policy dialogue.

If women can participate in the continents economic growth and transform their livelihoods, Africas economies will be transformed, she said.

Moungar said that the Bank is investing in empowering women entrepreneurs through it Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) programme.

It is designed to tackle the challenges women in business face, from access to finance and training to the lack of an enabling environment.

Meral Murathan, Executive Vice President of the Turkey-based investment and development bank, TSKB, said her organization is mainstreaming gender approach to increase impact at the grassroots level.

We believe development bank actors hold the key to drive the gender equality and equity agenda, she further added.

Seblewongel Deneke Negussie, Gender and Social Specialist at Green Climate Fund, told the audience that the organization only considers funding proposals that include consistent gender analysis.

GFC also considers, assessment, action plan, and gender-responsive policies in project design and implementation.

It also views women as key drivers to build back better, resilient communities

The meeting recognised that the COVID-19 pandemics impact on women had widened gender inequality around the world.

To address these and other pandemic-related challenges, the AfDB Group launched a billion COVID-19 Rapid Response Facility (CRF) in April 2020.

It provides a fast, flexible and effective financing mechanism to help African governments and the private sector.

Representatives from The Green Climate Fund said the Funds gender action plan and funding policies for development banks had set a strong commitment to linking gender equality with climate change. (PANA/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Nurses

By Justina Auta

Dr Ramatu Shuaibu, Consultant Endocrinologist, National Hospital, Abuja (NHA) has called for improved funding and training of nurses to help in the management of diabetes and reduce death rates caused by the condition.

She made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on the occasion of the World Diabetes Day (WDD), which has The Nurse and Diabetes as the 2020 theme.

Annually celebrated on Nov. 14 to raise global awareness and promote the importance of taking coordinated actions to confront diabetes as a critical global health issue, WDD is also aimed at prevention, complications and care for people living with the condition.

The WHO website defines diabetes as a chronic, metabolic disease characterised by elevated levels of blood glucose (or blood sugar), which leads over time to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.

The report also says about 422 million people worldwide live with diabetes, with majority of them in low-and middle-income countries, and 1.6 million deaths are directly attributed to diabetes each year.

Shuaibu, who said that about 2.8 million Nigerian adults suffer from diabetes, added that a substantial percentage of the work force was affected.

According to her, the COVID-19 pandemic has also exposed people with the condition to higher risk and difficulties in accessing treatment.

She, therefore, urged persons living with diabetes to seek prompt medical attention and to abide by the rules and regulations of managing it so as to live a normal and complication-free life.

The consultant said that the choice of the 2020 theme, The Nurse and Diabetes, was apt and emphasised the crucial role nurses played in supporting people living with diabetes.

She added that nurses have an important role to play in the management of diabetes through education and counselling, which included medical nutrition therapy, foot care, self monitoring of blood glucose and how to manage hypoglycaemia.

There is the need for special skills to perform these roles. Educating patients makes a huge difference in their prognosis.

Nurses can be encouraged by stakeholders in diabetes management by identifying specific roles for them in managing patients.

She, therefore, urged government to implement diabetes prevention programmes, diabetes-centred education in health institutions and in public institutions to reduce deaths from the condition.

The endocrinologist also stressed the need for the National Health Insurance Scheme to include the management of diabetes into areas it cover, and encouraged other healthcare facilities to improve ontreatment to patients in hospitals.

Shuaibu also advised the public to adopt healthy lifestyle, exercise more, eat healthy foods in the right proportions, hydrate adequately and get a lot of sleep to prevent diabetes. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

FOMWAN

By Justina Auta

The Federation of Muslim Womens Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN) has urged women survivors of rape and other physical violence to speak out to reduce the impunity enjoyed by some perpetrators.

The National Leader (Amira) of the group, Dr Halima Jibril, made the call when members of the association, the Women Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN), the Nigeria Girls Guide and the UNWomen paid a courtesy visit to the Sapeyi of Garki in the FCT.

Jibril said that the visit was part of the Risk Communication and Community Engagement Project (RCCE) supported by UNWomen and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs being implemented by FOMWAN, WOWICAN and Nigeria Girls Guide in 20 local government areas across 10 states of the federation.

She explained that 10,000 women would be empowered through a non-conditional cash transfer in response to the ravages of COVID-19, which had led to deaths, unemployment and increase in violence against women and girls.

The FOMWAN leader said there is a culture of silence, especially among women, particularly in the North. Women are afraid to say their daughters are raped because of the stigma attached to it.

There is also the fear that such a girl might not get a good man to marry her.

When you look at the issue of rape, you cannot quantify the level of damage done to the survivor and her family; the psychological trauma, the medical implication, the effect of the abuse and how it robs the survivor of her dignity as a woman.

Survivors must speak out to get redress and get the culprit handed over for legal procedure than to keep quite, because keeping quite may encourage the perpetrator to do more, believing that he can always go unpunished.

She, therefore, appealed to community leaders to promote adherence to COVID-19 guidelines, promote education, support women empowerment, while assuring that the strategies were to eliminate all forms of Gender Based Violence (GBV), support survivors and ensure prosecution of perpetrators according to the law.

She also called on the traditional rulers to explore structures and culture that protect women and girls againstGBV, as well as re-examine practices that do not promote the wellbeing and dignity of women.

Ms Comfort Lamptey, the UNWomen Country Representative to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), said that the project would improve the economic wellbeing of women, particularly the vulnerable ones.

Lamptey, who was represented by the UNWomen Programme Officer, Mrs Patience Ekechukwu, reiterated the commitment of the UN system toward supporting governments to eliminate violence against women and girls.

The Sapeyi of Garki, Alhaji Usman Ngakupi, commended the efforts of government and development partners toward supporting and alleviating poverty through implementation of programmes that would improve the status of the people.

The traditional ruler appealed to the people to instill morals in their children and emphasised his councils commitment toward curbing the menace of GBV in the community, while ensuring that perpetrators would be dealt with according to the law.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the delegates had earlier visited the Gomo of Kuje and some association leaders to canvass for support in the execution of the war against GBV project. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Court symbol

A Malian jihadist leader of the Katiba of Ansar dine du Sud, Souleymane Keita, and two other men, all accused of terrorism, were sentenced to death on Friday by the Bamako Court of Assizes, according to judicial source.

A dozen men were also sentenced to death in absentia.

They are accused of preaching jihad in southern Mali and on the border between Cte dIvoire and Burkina Faso.

During the trial, Keita acknowledged the facts and expressed no regret for his actions. I do not regret anything because our fight is against the secularism of the Malian state. If I have the possibility, I will start again, he said bluntly.

I am not a terrorist; I am leading the jihad at the border between Mali, Burkina Faso and Cte dIvoire, in the name of Ansar Dine, he said.

Concerning his links with his accomplices, Souleymane explained that he had approached them to mount large-scale operations.

His two accomplices, Boubacar Sawadogo, 51, and Moussa Maga, 33, belong to the branch of Ansar Dine in Burkina Faso, their country of origin, he explained.

Keita, in his 60s, was accused of having, since 2012, fought in Konna, in the region of Mopti, in central Mali, attacked and ransacked the military camp of Missni and the town of Fakola, in the region of Sikasso, southern Mali.

Fighting alongside the Tuareg jihadist Malian leader, Iyad Ag Ghaly, in northern Mali, at the very beginning of the independence and Islamist rebellions in 2012, Souleymane created, after the French military intervention in January 2013, his Katiba, which is financially supported by Ansar Dine in the South, his home area. (PANA/NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

Kenyan doctors have issued a three-week strike notice, accusing the government of failing to provide them with adequate protective gear in the fight against coronavirus.

Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) on Sunday said they will go on strike unless their plight is addressed.

The Union said over the last eight months, it has continuously engaged all relevant government ministries to no avail.

They engaged parastatals and council of governors, the legislature and followed all relevant channels in employment and labour relations in a bid to address the plight of frontline healthcare workers.

The union had put the industrial action off the table but now we have been forced to review our options, said Chibanzi Mwachonda, the unions Secretary-General.

He faulted the government for failing to address their plight, leading to the deaths of at least 30 medical workers, including 10 senior specialists.

Not even court orders would dampen their resolve to fight for their rights, Mwachonda said.

Coronavirus pandemic has claimed 20 more lives in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health said on Sunday, bringing to 139 the number virus fatalities this week.

It also pushed the number of those who have succumbed to the virus since March to 1,269.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said 972 people had tested positive raising cases reported since March to 70,245.

Our cumulative tests are now 789,952, the Cabinet Secretary said while announcing that he had convened a special meeting to discuss the surge in infections and fatalities. (PANA/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu

By EricJames Ochigbo

Rep. Toby Okechukwu, Deputy Minority Leader, House of Representatives, has urged the Federal Government to immediately reopen the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for ease of transport during the forthcoming festive period.

Okechukwu, representing Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency in Enugu State also called on the government to reactivate the remaining air facilities to allow international flight operations.

According to him, this call becomes expedient ahead of the Yuletide when Nigerians will like to come home from every part of the world.

He said in a statement in Abuja that multiple stopovers would expose people to more risks than a direct flight to their destinations in a time of pandemic.

The lawmaker said there was no economic wisdom in keeping the airport shut from international operations after investing over N10 billion to upgrade it.

The Christmas and New Year are the periods when our international airports are most socially and economically relevant to both Nigerians at home and in Diaspora.

The opportunity cost of keeping these airports shut from international operations can be quite high.

It ranges from higher risk of contracting COVID-19 through multiple stopovers to the issues of more man-hours, security risks, and auto crashes associated with compelling more people than necessary to travel by roads, he said.

The lawmaker urged the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTF) and the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), to take necessary steps to restore full international operations in such airports.

There is no peculiar health risks that should warrant the continued restriction of any international air facility from full operations at this time.

The PTF and Ministry of Aviation should, therefore, do all that is necessary to ensure that this is achieved so that Nigerians will not have to suffer unnecessarily.

Enough provisions has also been made in the budget; in any case, they can always approach the parliament, should they need more support, as we are always ready to assist, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Women farmers in Nigeria

By Itohan Abara-Laserian

An agritech focussed company,Farmcrowdy Limited (FC), says it is committed to impact 25,000 farmers across Nigeria through its Structured Financing of N5.7 billion.

Mr Oluwakotanmi Ojo, the Chief Financial Officer and Business Leader, FC Structured Finance, made this known at the firms fourth year anniversary in Lagos.

Ojo said 90 per cent of farmers in the country could not access loan facilities as a result of their inability to meet the criteria of commercial banks.

According to him, this is a threat to food security and sufficiency in the country.

Ojo said: Some of the challenges facing the farmers include: lack of information, high interest rates, lack of access to funds, among others.

Farmcrowdy Structured Finance has created a business solution to help farmers with access to loan, provide affordable interest rate facilities, farmers inclusion, market access ease, equipment and third party collaboration for farmers.

We want to impact farmers with the lowest single digit interest loans with the raise of N5.7 billion to finance 25,000 farmers nationwide.

We have currently cultivated 17,000 acres of lands.

This will enhance production of farmers and adequately lower the prices of food, he said.

Also, Mr Christopher Abiodun, a Co-Founder and Chief Lead of the Technology and Data arm, said the firm had built tools and platforms to support the agriculture sector.

According to Abiodun, the tools will help farmers predict yields, profits, and identify markets, among others.

He said: We have built input disbursement apps, farmers app, Farmcrowdy trader and e-commerce platforms.

We are committed to impacting farmers lives, and livelihoods positively, he said.

Commenting, Obiajuru Luya, the Business Leader of Farmcrowdy Aggregation, said that the model was to ease farmers access to urban markets and adequately reduce the effects of middlemen in the value chain.

Luya said that this model was to use a tech-powered network of agro commodity aggregation centres (102 centres in eight states) to aggregate some fresh commodities, from farmers to end buyers, and processors.

According to her, this model will also help farmers with the provision of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).

In her remarks, Mrs Linda Obi, a Business Leader of Farmcrowdy Foods, said that it was an integrated fresh food supply ecosystem with over 800 customers, and over three thousands orders recorded in the pilot 22 weeks.

Obi said that customers were provided with traceable, high-end quality and fresh foods when they purchase from the Farmcrowdy Foods app.

Contributing, Onyeka Akuma, Founder of Farmcrowdy, said that the firm was borne out of the need to help Nigerias 38 million small-scale farmers to get access to funding, technical knowledge, and expertise they need to sell their produce.

Akuma said that about 90 per cent of the farmers were facing the challenged of how to get their foods to the market.

He recalled the challenges faced in the first year, saying that the firm began to gain international and funding attention to raise enough money for farmers in poultry, cassava and others.

According to him, the crowd funding company had to see to the challenge of farmers in getting funds to support their businesses and make marginal profits.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Farmcrowdy, prioritises empowerment of smallholder farmers, also officially rolled out its Farmcrowdy Foods, Farmcrowdy Technology/Data, Farmcrowdy Aggregation, Farmcrowdy Insurance and Farmcrowdy Marketing. (NAN)

Source: NAN News