By Abiodun Lawal

The Federal Government has directed Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) to immediately start fixing the bad portions of the Ososa River bridges on the Sagamu-Benin Expressway.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Monday by Mr Ahmed Umar, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Commander in Ogun.

He explained that the measure was to reduce motorists vulnerability of plunging into the river.

Umar with some of his officers; the Federal Comptroller of Works in Ogun, Mr Bakare Umar and a representative of RCC had earlier conducted an assessment tour of the threefaulty bridges on Ososa River.

He said that the tour was sequel to a crash that claimed four lives there last Wednesday.

The Federal Comptroller of Works has directed the management of RCC to begin immediate palliative works on the bridges as agreed to reduce motorists vulnerability to traffic injuries and deaths there.

One of such moves is the temporary placement of movable concrete barriers at the edges of the bridges to create a better motoring environment and prevent vehicles from free fall into the river in the event of crashes.

A good number of concrete barriers are being placed on the edges of the bridges by a team of engineers from RCC at the moment.

Traffic has been temporarily diverted for a seamless palliative exercise, he said.

The sector commander advised motorists to exercise caution while approaching the Ososa bridges, saying that the FRSC traffic control operatives from Ijebu Ode were there to control traffic.(

Source: NAN News

The police and military officers arrested the offenders at the La Venti Lounge and Kitchen, about 12 km northeast of the capital Kampala, Patrick Onyango, Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, told Xinhua on Monday.

Bars and clubs are not supposed to open and operate, said Onyango.

However, the partygoers defied the restrictions and began enjoying themselves without practicing social distancing.

This could be a breeding ground for the spread of the virus.

We had to come in order to prevent a further spread of the virus, he said.

He also said that the suspects currently detained at Najjera and Kiira police stations are waiting to be arraigned in courts over violation of presidential directives and Ministry of Health guidelines on COVID-19.

They will be charged with doing acts that are likely to cause the spread of infectious disease, said Onyango.

Bans on public gatherings and a night curfew are in place in the east African country as part of measures to curb the spread of the virus.

So far, Uganda has reported 1,115 COVID-19 cases, with 975 recoveries and two deaths since the first case was reported on March 21, according to the health ministry. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu

By Funmilayo Adeyemi
Secondary schools in the country are to reopen as from August 4, for exit classes only.

Mr Ben Goong, Director, Press and Public Relation, Federal Ministry of Education, made this known in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Monday.

Goong said that students would have two weeks within which to prepare for the West African Examinations (WAEC) which would commence from August 17.

He said these were the unanimous decisions reached at a virtual consultative meeting between the Federal Ministry of Education, Honourable Commissioners of Education of the 36 states, the Nigerian Union of Teachers, (NUT), the proprietors of private schools, and chief executives of examination bodies.

He noted that it was agreed that the exit classes should resume immediately after the Sallah break, from August 4 to enable them prepare for the WAEC examinations scheduled to commence from August 17, 2020.

He said that the meeting also resolved that a passionate appeal be made to the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and public spirited Nigerians for assistance to schools across the country to enable them fast track the preparations for safe reopening as agreed.

Another meeting is to be convened on Tuesday between the Federal Ministry of Education and chief executives of examination bodies namely, NECO, NABTEB and NBAIS to harmonise their examination dates.

This date will be conveyed to stakeholders expeditiously by the Federal Ministry of Education.

Source: NAN News

Pregnant Woman,

Hundreds of Nigerian women die every day of complications arising from unsafe abortions, an international NGO, Ipas, says.

Country Director of Ipas (Nigeria), Mr Lucky Palmer, said this on Sunday at a three-day Media Training for Journalists on Womens Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights/Global Gag Rule, in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

Palmer also disclosed that every eight minutes, a woman in a developing country died from such complications, adding that the figures were drawn from only those who visited hospitals for medical attention.

According to the Ipas representative in Nigeria, of the 85 million women who get pregnant annually, 40 million of them usually end up having abortions, with developing countries accounting for 98 per cent of the unsafe abortions.

He also said Africa and Latin America accounted for the highest number of unsafe abortions globally.

Palmer expressed sadness that Nigeria was yet to reform restrictive domestic laws and policies that placed women and girls health and lives at risk; as well as preventing them from exercising rights that the government had committed to under the international law.

The IPAs country representative added that in 2012 alone, 1.25 million Nigerian women had an abortion, doubling the number estimated in 1996.

He emphasised that unless urgent steps were taken, the number would keep increasing because only 16 per cent of all women of reproductive age were using any contraceptives, and just 11 per cent using modern methods.

That results in almost 10 million unintended pregnancies, of which more than half end in an induced abortion, he said.

The country director attributed this worrying global health challenge to the Global Gag Rule, noting that the training of journalists to help with awareness and advocacy, was one of the ways the organisation was exploring to tackle the issue.

He said a big burden was on the media to work closely with relevant organisations in curbing the menace.

Palmer urged the media to liaise with relevant agencies in advocating for the enforcement of laws and domestication of Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, to promote womens sexual rights and health, create awareness, as well as educate the public on consequences of unsafe abortions.

Speaking on International Commitments to Womens Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, one of the workshop facilitators, Mrs Doris Ikpeze, said womens health was more than a health policy, it was an issue of human right which was constantly being violated by bad policies and laws, weak institutions and societal norms.

Ikpeze said that this was in spite of the ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol) of 2004 by Nigeria.

She said Nigeria had, by ratifying the protocol, effectively pledged to protect the rights of women and girls and guarantee their rights to sexual and reproductive health.

According to her, the protocol urges all ratifying countries to protect the reproductive rights of women by authorising medical abortion in cases of sexual assault, rape, incest, and where the continued pregnancy endangers the mental and physical health of the mother, or the life of the mother or the foetus.

Source: NAN News

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Government announced plans to set up an e-commerce hub for farmers and producers to process produce in hygienic condition for export.

The State Acting Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya said this during the inspection tour of venues of the Eko City Farmers Market, Ileya Edition, at St. Georges Primary School, Falomo, Lagos and Opebi Primary School, Opebi.

Olusanya said that the proposed hub would be located in a central location where all the certification of produce would take place.

She said that the ministry was trying to connect with the Ministry of Science and Technology to develop an app-tech hub to encourage the youth to actually bring innovative solution in the agric space.

We are trying to set up hubs or platforms where we will be able to get our producers to come together and be able to produce in sanitary and hygienic condition for export opportunities.

We will get organisations like SON, NAFDAC to do a sort of assessment on the items produced for us to be able to export.

Essentially, we want to be able to make it easier for our producers to be able to produce in a way that they do not have to go through many channels to certify their products.

We want to make our certification take place in one location and then they can easily export, the acting commissioner said.

She said the state government was also trying to create an enabling environment for agric business and producers to ensure the ease of the doing business in the state.

When you talk about app-tech and e-commerce, I think we have a platform for that in the Eko City Farmers Market, which is supposed to connect the producers to the consumers and whosoever wants to buy along any value chain that exists already.

We know that there are several other platforms as well, like oja.ng and we have food.ng and a lot of platforms exist already to try to connect producers to the consumers.

I believe we are doing that and you can come to the Ministry of Agriculture if you need any resources, if you need any help and support, we are willing and glad to do that.

We have the agric-business department which actually has the mandate to be able to do farmer linkages to consumers, to farmers, to even the export community and to other stakeholders across the value chain. I believe that platform has been set up already, she said.

Olusanya said that the ministry would hold a virtual stakeholders engagement in August to find out activities in the agric space, challenges and how to mitigate them.

In August, we will be having our stakeholders engagement virtual, just to try to see what is ongoing with terrain in the agric space and to be able to see whatever challenges they have and how we can mitigate all and be able to offer solutions to them.

I believe in app-tech space, yes a lot will be done, a lot still need to be done.

We are also trying to connect to the our sister Ministry, which is the Ministry of Science and Technology to develop an app-tech hub to encourage the youth to actually bring innovative solution in the agric space, so we believe we are doing that.

Also, we have the Lagos State Entrepreneurship Programme (LAP), in Araga, we will be commencing with the next batch in August and part of their syllabus is the e-commerce section, just to try to encourage them that it is not just about physical interaction between yourself and the consumer or whosoever is buying.

It is to ensure that they can also setup e-commerce platforms, they can sell regardless of the time or the situation, Olusanya said.

Also speaking, Mr Gbolahan Yishau, member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Eti Osa Local Government, said that the state government had done a lot during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was still on.

Yishau said the state government was ensuring that food got to the residents, which was why the Eko city farmers market was established.

On my part, what we have done is to empower people so that they can have the capacity to shop and buy whatever they need in their homes.

So, we brought vouchers to augment whatever they might have to come to the market with or even those who have nothing to shop with would be able to buy things.

The farmers are also happy because we have created additional market for people to buy from them.
I think it is a very good initiative, especially with the festivities coming up next week, so people can have food on their table, which is a core thing during this pandemic.

We have already given out some vouchers; in the morning, about 1000 people were given N1000 voucher and we are going to do more, he said.

Similarly, the Executive Chairman, Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area, Mr. Francis Oke, lauded the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Oke said the market would ease the pressure of going to the open market to shop for their needs during the festival.
He said the market would be held for five days in the LCDA in order to give more people, more farmers, and producers opportunity to showcase their produce.

This market is good for people that are preparing for the Ileya festival so that they can come here and buy whatever produce they want.

At least, to reduce the stress and tension from our people from buying farm produce for the ileya festival.

I have discussed with the Acting Commissioner that personally in Onigbongbo LCDA, we want a week long programme, not just one day, and luckily for us, the Commissioner agreed that we should have it till Friday, August 31, he said.

Source: NAN News

Sen. Hadi Sirika, Minister of Aviation

The Federal Government has approved the full resumption of 14 airports in the country for domestic operations from July 8 to July 24.

The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, made the announcement in his official Twitter handle, @hadisirika, on Sunday.

Sirika pointed out that the inspection on the airports had been completed.

Glad to announce that the following airports are open for full domestic operations, hence ministerial approvals in and out of them is not required.

These include private and charter operations. We will keep you informed on the other airports in due course, please, he said.

The affected airports, according to him, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano; Port Harcourt International Airport; Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, Victor Attah Airport, Uyo.

Others are Maiduguri Airport, Margaret Ekpo Airport, Calabar, Kaduna Airport, Yola Airport, Sultan Abubakar Airport, Sokoto; Birnin Kebbi Airport, Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos and Benin Airport.

Sirika said that approval for the resumption of domestic flight operations was given for each of the airports at different dates from July 8 to July 24.

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has visited the wounded soldiers receiving treatment at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Kaduna.

The COAS also served the soldiers sumptuous meal.

Buratai said the visit was part of his effort to encourage the personnel who were wounded while fighting in various theatres of operation in the North East and North West.

He said his decision to visit the wounded troops was borne out of the recognition of their efforts in tackling the menace of insurgency and in defence of their fatherland.

He added that the troops had also exhibited true spirit of professional soldiers, adding that they had made great impact in the defence of their country.

Buratai also stated that welfare of personnel both on the field and barracks remained paramount to the Nigerian army under his leadership, assuring that all issues affecting their welfare and wellbeing would be addressed.

He also assured the soldiers that all cases requiring special attention outside the country would be properly taken care of.

He promised that efforts would be made to provide the necessary equipment for the hospital to be able to handle all cases locally.

According to him, Nigerian army has established and upgraded reference hospitals across the various geo-political zones to meet the medical needs of its troops undertaking operations across the country.

I am very happy to see you having met some of you on the field and due to your courage, determination and loyalty, you were there ready to sacrifice and you were wounded but you are here in very high mood.

This is a true spirit of a gallant and professional soldier and I am very proud of you all.

I am very happy that you made the impact that several of our colleagues and indeed Nigerians are now living in peace though relative but I assure you that it is much more better now than it was five or four years back.

I have been thoroughly briefed on some of your challenges especially about the follow up treatment of some of you abroad as well as the need for recreational facilities here.

I assure you that all these will be addressed very soon, he said.

The COAS also promised to arrange special programmes for the recuperating troops in form of skill acquisition while recuperating until they are fit to rejoin active military operations.

He assured them that the fight against terrorism and banditry in parts of the country were being carried out effectively.

He also assured the troops that new equipment and platforms had been procured for the war against insurgency and banditry in order to effectively tackle the challenges.

Earlier, the Acting Medical Director of the Hospital, Col. P.O Aburume, expressed appreciation for the visit, saying it was a morale and confidence booster for the soldiers.

Also, one of the wounded soldiers, Maj. D.M Dede, thanked the Chief of Army Staff for the gesture, saying the visit was morale booster for them to recover and return to the war front to complete their mission.

Dede also commended the hospital for the adequate attention being given them, adding that the hospital was well equipped to meet their health needs.

You have served them food like this in the front line and because of your exemplary leadership, you still followed us here to be with us and we appreciate this, he said.

Similarly, Isah Yahaya, a Warrant Officer, said he could not wait to fully recover and return to the battle front to complete the task of eliminating the Boko haram terrorists.

While commending the commitment of Buratai to their welfare, Yahaya called on him to look into his promotion that was not granted him and other colleagues.

According to him, our welfare is well catered for here and the medical care is 100 per cent and we are very happy to see you here.

I am very much ready to go back to the mission area and fight the terrorists, he said.

Source: NAN News

President Nicols Maduro of Venezuela

By Lizzy Okoji
Ambassador of Venezuela to Nigeria, David Caraballo has called on the United Nations to intervene in the alleged human rights violation against citizens of Venezuela to uphold its sovereignty.

Caraballo made the call in Abuja during the commemoration of the 209th Independence of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the 237th birthday of Simon Bolivar, Liberator of Venezuela.

He alleged that some of the Human Rights violation against Venezuela includes the U.S. interference in its Constitution, imposition of the economic coercive measures and looting of Venezuelas funds and resources.

The envoy said Venezuela was trusting on the multilateral mechanisms of the UN to preserve its democracy, independence, sovereignty and constitution which has been under threat from the U.S.

Today we are celebrating with the Diplomatic Corp, with the Solidarity Movement, with the students for the spanish language and other friends.

From the Independence until today, we are supporting and fighting against the unilateral coercive measure, and the Venezuelan people are working together.

Working to defeat all the threats, all the aggressive actions against our independence and against our sovereignty.

For more than five years ago when President Obama declared and signed an executive order saying that Venezuela is a threat for the internal security of the USA.

And after Obama, with Trump, there have been unilateral coercive measures where they blocked and freeze the funds of Venezuelas banks institutions in different European and American banks.

Presently, the bank of London has more than 53 tones of reserve of gold of Venezuela, they froze this amount and they do not recognize the legitime government of Venezuela.

They have stolen more than 7 billion dollars in different accounts in different countries, properties of Venezuela, Caraballo said.

Caraballo said Venezuelas President, Nicolas Maduro had instructed the countrys Ministry of Foreign Affairs to press the complaints in the International Criminal Court against the U.S. government.

The envoy said that Venezuela would use its position in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to defend the abuses from the U.S. and other countries.

We believe in the multilateral mechanism to solve these situations and also we have enough capacity to increase our economy capacity in the size of the country.

Our participation in the Human Right Council is very important to defend the Human Rights abuses and also victims of Human Rights abuses from the USA.

And also in the framework of the United Nations conventions or international law, not only in this position but also the United Nations General Assembly in the mechanisms like the Non Aligment Movement.

We have the chairmanship of the Non-Alignment Movement. Venezuela believe in the multilateralism, in the solidarity, we believe in the capacity of diplomacy to solve the problems, he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Venezuela Embassy in Abuja marked the Independence in a low key in accordance with COVID-19 safety precautions with limited guests observing physical distancing.

The event also showcased a video of the history of Afro-descendants, highlighting how important Africa is to Venezuela.

It also showcased various investment opportunities and tourist areas of interest for Africans and Nigerians to key into.

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 updates by NCDC

The health agency said that this brought to 59, the total number of laboratories in the country.

Source: NAN News

Gov. Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti State

By Ariwodola Idowu

Ekiti State Government has announced introduction of new education policy to accommodate teaching of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), from primary schools.

The new development was made known in a statement in Ado Ekiti by the Commissioner for Information, Chief Muyiwa Olumilua.

He said that the policy was part of decisions taken late Friday at a virtual meeting of the State Executive Council, presided over by Gov. Kayode Fayemi.

According to him, the Executive Council approved the development of an Information and Communication Technology (ICT), policy in education for both primary and secondary schools in Ekiti State.

This is in furtherance of one of the major pillars of the Fayemi-led administration, which is the Knowledge Economy

The Policy was approved to fulfill the quest to commence ICT education right from our basic schools in Ekiti and to embrace a structured approach in building a robust, scalable and sustainable ICT culture.

The need to ensure that global practices are put in place so that teaching/leaning will deliver and produce world class products cannot be overemphasised, he said.

Olumilua further explained that the step would boost ICT know-how among the citizens and expand the scope of knowledge for more opportunities in the global community.

The Commissioner said the proposed policy would also cover six thematic areas which include: human capital development, infrastructure, awareness and communication, governance, financing, as well as monitoring and evaluation.

He said council also approved the memorandum on the Establishment of Ekiti State Institute of Local Government Studies Bill, 2020.

The bill is to make a Law to provide for the establishment of the Institute of Local Government Studies, in Ilawe-Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti South West LGA.

He said that establishment of the institute was for students and civil servants to obtain training in Local Government Studies, Vocational Studies, Community Development and Social Work, ICT, and other relevant courses.

Besides, he said, council approved a memorandum on the review of Laws of Ekiti State, 2012 (Vol. 3

By Sani Idris

Three hundred and seventy three cadets graduated from the Direct Short Service Course 25 at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry in Jaji, Kaduna State.

The Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi, who supervised the passing out parade, charged the cadets to be loyal to the country and the military authorities.

Magashi, who was represented by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, said that loyalty of the officers would help inthe fight against criminality and banditry in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the cadets, comprising serving and non-serving personnel, graduated in different fields in an intensive training that lasted for six months.

The new officers were conferred with ranks of lieutenant by the CDS.

Magashi also charged the officers to brace up for service to their fatherland, advising them to be ready at all times to contribute their quota to the defence of the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

He also charged them to demonstrate discipline and shun every form of misconduct in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.

As professional officers ofthe Nigerian Army, each and every one of you has roles to play, based on your expertise and previous experiences in curtailing the countrys security challenges.

As junior leaders, you will be confronted with various challenges. The Nigerian Army expects you to add value to the system by being innovative and providing objective leadership to the men that will be placed under your watch.

I wish to make it clear to the passing-out cadets that the Nigerian Armed Forces have zero tolerance for indiscipline and unprofessional conduct.

You are expected to exhibit complete and absolute loyalty to the president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Nigeria as provided in the constitution and the oath of allegiance which will be administered to you.

You are also expected to be guided by existing regulations in your personal and professional conducts.

I need to advise you that any act of disloyalty, disobedience to constituted authority, insubordination and other unprofessional conduct will attract appropriate sanctions.

Magashi also admonished the newly-commissioned officers to understand and abide by the extant condition of service of the armed forces, assuring them that they would be exposed to further training.

He said that the entry of the new officers into the armed forces was significant, considering the security challenges the country was facing.

According to him, the cadets are entering into the army at a period when Nigeria is consolidating on the gains of years of confronting various security challenges.

The Nigerian Army, in conjunction with the other services and other security agencies, has been engaged in intensive combat against terrorist groups, especially in the North-East.

We are involved in various operations in various parts of the country, especially the North-West, North-Central and the South West geo-political zone.

Magashi commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his continuous support to the armed forces, stating that the successes of the military in various operations would not have been possible without the unrelenting support of the president.

He also commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, for his resilience, dedication and doggedness in providing leadership to the Nigerian Army.

According to him, the Nigerian Army has demonstrated outstanding professionalism in all its operations and in improving the welfare of officers and men.

Source: NAN News

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi

By Dorcas Elusogbon

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, says the country will overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, as Ife Kingdom celebrates Osun Festival.

The monarch said this while playing host to Osun devotees in his palace as the ancient city celebrated the Osun festival on Saturday.

Ogunwusi, who admitted that the pandemic was still ravaging the country, urged Nigerians to always observe laid down precautionary measures and avoid circulation of fake news.

Unlike the way we used to have it in Ife, we were forced to restrict this celebration which is a major festival in Ife.

Our restriction made us to ensure that we dont create more problems while trying to solve the one at hand.

Osun festival as the world knows is the celebration of water and we all know that water is life.

Were using this instance to reconnect with our creator through nature to cleanse the world, and especially to end the pandemic.

We are remembering our ancestors and it is unfair to call us idol worshipers, he said.

The Osun Government was represented at the event by Mrs Sola Duro-Ladipo, Director of Field Research, Festival and Documentation, Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Other dignitaries also graced the occasion which was held in adherence to COVID-19 precautionary measures.

Source: NAN News

Police IG Mohammed Adamu

By Ramatu Garba

The Police Command in Kano State says it has begun investigations into the death of a 22-year-old jilted lover, Ashiru Danrimi, who allegedly committed suicide.

The spokesman of the Command, Mr Abdullahi Haruna, a DSP, confirmed the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Sunday.

Haruna alleged that Danrimi committed suicide on Thursday, after a failed romance, at Danrimi Quarters in Kumbotso Local Government Area of the state.

He said the Command on July 23, at about 9:00 p.m. received report from one Musa Sani of Danrimi Quarters, indicating that a jilted lover had committed suicide after his girlfriend (nameswithheld) dumped him for another man.

That his 22-year-old son, Ashiru Musa stabbed himself with a knife because he did not marry his lover.

On receiving information we quickly deployed our men to the scene of the incident to rescue the victim.

The victim was confirmed dead at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, he said.

According to him, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Habu Ahmad, has ordered thorough investigation into the matter. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

OPM Free Hospital in Port Harcourt, Rivers State

By Emmanuel Afonne

The management of Omega Power Ministries (OPM), free specialist hospital says about 1,775 babies have been delivered in its facilities located in Port Harcourt, Rivers, and Ohanku community in Abia.

A statement issued on Sunday by the OPM Public Relation Officer (PRO), Mr Gogo-Ogute Isaiah, said that 549 of the deliveries were recorded in their hospital in Rivers, while 1,226 were recorded in Abia.

Isaiah quoted the Director of the hospital Dr Enighe Ugboma, as saying that the babies delivered in Rivers were delivered by 527 mothers.

Ugboma who was speaking on the one year anniversary of the hospital in Rivers, noted that 1,179 women registered for antenatal in the last 12 months.

She stated that the OPM hospital in Abia which was established in 2012 had 1,226 deliveries since inception.

We have a total of 1,775 births in Rivers and Abia, including four set of twins. About 1,711 are here for antenatal.

As at July 19, 2020, 646 pregnant women are still undergoing free antenatal care services, expected to deliver soonest.

More pregnant mothers will undergo free antenatal care services, as the Church depends solely on the members and intending members tithes and offerings to bankroll the administrative cost of the hospital and medical expenses of the beneficiaries, the statement quoted Ugboma as saying.

One of the beneficiaries Mrs Vivian Okechukwu who was delivered of her baby through cesarean session in the free hospital in Port Harcourt, Rivers, commended the founder for his charity.

I was not charged anything; it was completely free, she said.

Founder of OPM, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere said the vision of the free specialist hospital was conceived to reduce the rate of maternal mortality in the country.

He said the vision was also conceived to assist the less privileged in the society to deliver the babies without facing any financial difficulty.

Chinyere was also quoted as saying that the free hospitals are for Christians, Muslims and other religions in the country. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Firefighters battle fire in Portugal

More than 700 firefighters, on Sunday, battled a wildfire sweeping across part of central Portugal, with strong winds complicating efforts to tackle the blaze.

The wildfire has been raging in the municipality of Oleiros since Saturday afternoon.

But it has now spread to two neighbouring municipalities and has already forced the precautionary evacuation of several people.

A 21-year-old firefighter died in a road accident on Saturday evening while fighting the fire and six others were injured.

I would like to send a word of solidarity, encouragement and thanks to the firefighters for the work they do for Portugal and for all of us, Prime Minister Antonio Costa said in a statement.

Luis Belo Costa, commander from the Castelo Branco district, where the affected municipalities are located, told a news conference on Sunday that several houses were at risk as the fire raged near isolated villages.

There were houses hit by the flames, Belo Costa said, adding it was still too early to say how long it would take to bring the fire under control.

People were evacuated but most have already returned to their homes.

The fires are small compared with a massive fire that hit the region in June 2017, killing 66 people and injuring more than 250.

European Union data shows that Portugal is one of the blocs worst-hit countries by fires every year.

One of the root causes of its frequent wildfires is that parts of the countrys interior are deserted as people have left to live in cities or abroad.

Also, the job of clearing trees and bushes is ignored, creating a fire risk. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Train on Abuja-Kaduna route

By Lucy Ogalue

The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has declared its facilities and environs a no-mask no-entry zone in preparation for resumption of operations on July 29.

Mr Pascal Nnorli, Manager, Abuja-Kaduna train service told newsmen that the corporation has put measures in place to ensure passengers obeyed all COVID-19 guiedlines on the trains.

We are 85 per cent ready because we know a day like that will come.

If you pass through our station at idu today, you will see a demo of what we intend to do in all the stations.

You can see the social distancing marked at strategic locations.Now we have a definite date for resumption, we will complete them in all the passenger stations.

Again, the first thing we are going to do is to decontaminate all our running stock, because we have parked them for a while, almost four months now and also decontaminate our stations and our offices .

You can see on board we have selected the seats that are going to be used, for the business class we are reducing the number by half.

Each ro have four and we are carrying two, for the economy, each roll has five, there will be one empty seat in between two passengers.

And again, we have declared all railway environment and facilities no mask no entry environment, Nnorli added.

The manager said the station was expecting a Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) with eight coaches and two heads, which would be used for express train.

He said that the full compliments of the additional stocks, would go a long way to assuage the problem of teaming passengers.

He noted that the influx of passengers would be determined after the resumption of operations as some passengers would be skeptical to travel by train.

On managing passenger influx, Nnorli said measures were already in place to ensure social distancing was maintained.

He said security personnels around the station had also been increased to enforce compliance of the rules.

This is about life and death, it doesnt know big man, middle man or small man, so anybody who is not willing to comply to those protocols we have set, please dont come to our station.

When passengers obey simply rules of stop here, till the next passenger before you moves, we have developed a strategy.

We dont intend to apply force but instead of one person to come and kill 5000 persons, we apply force, we are not going to compromise on that, the manager added.

He also commended the nearest coaches deployed to the station, saying it is an improvement from the former. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Dr Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health

By Nyisom Fiyigon Dore
Stakeholders at a Media Training for Journalists in Keffi, Nasarawa State, on Sunday called for collective efforts in promoting womens sexual and reproductive health due to rising sexual violence in the country.

The ongoing three-day workshop on womens sexual and reproductive health, organised by IPAS, an international NGO, is also aimed at studying the Global Gag Rule (GGR), and its implications and consequences on the health of the Nigerian woman.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the GGR is a U.S. policy that prevents NGOs that receive American global health funds from using such monies to provide abortion services and counselling or referrals regarding abortion.

The policy also prohibits such organisations from advocating for abortion law reforms in their country or conduct public campaigns on abortion access, but does not however, prohibit counselling or referrals in the cases of rape, incest or life endangerment; and does not apply to humanitarian funding.

The stakeholders expressed worry that the lives of millions of Nigerian women, who would want to avoid pregnancy, but lacked access to modern contraception, were at risk.

Delivering a paper on GGR and its impact on womens sexual health, Dr Abiola Afolabi, of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), said it was limiting women from legally accessing abortion, further taking away their right to make informed choices about their future.

Afolabi said it was time to apply creativity in dealing with the issue of sexual violence.

She called for concerted efforts in addressing the issue by opposing the GGR, holding government accountable to increase the countrys health budget, and making available information on the implication of failure to address the issue, as well as support decriminalisation of abortion.

In a paper entitled Burden of Maternal Deaths from Unsafe Abortion in Nigeria, the Country Director of Ipas (Nigeria), Mr Lucky Palmer, said every eight minutes, a woman in a developing country was dying of complications from unsafe abortion.

Palmer said these figures were only from those who sought medical help from hospitals, adding that an estimated 212,000 women were treated in health facilities for complications from induced abortion.

In addition, an estimated 285,000 women had complications from unsafe abortion serious enough to require treatment in health facilities, but did not obtain the care they needed, the Ipas representative in Nigeria said.

According to him, these figures suggest that unsafe abortion has become a major contributor to the countrys high levels of maternal death, ill health and disability.

He therefore, said all hands must be on deck to ensure that every woman was given an opportunity to live by making exceptions to the GGR and the provision of safe maternal healthcare.

Source: NAN News

Train on Abuja-Kaduna route

By Lucy Nwachukwu

Gov. Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State says security is not an issue on the Abuja-Kaduna rail service but that of people obeying the Federal Governments Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidelines.

El-Rufai made this disclosure while briefing newsmen on Saturday at the testing running operation trip of the Nigeria Railways Corporation (NRC) in Kaduna.

The train is secure, the train is well protected, even the Abuja-Kaduna highway is well protected, and there has not been a kidnapping case there since October last year.

So, Im not worried about security. What I want to appeal to people that will use the train is to ensure that they keep physical distancing, wash their hands as the COVID-19 is still very much around.

Infections are rising and the fastest way to get it is a congested train.

So we must be very careful, we must not insist on going on the train if it is up to the capacity and everyone must wear his face mask before entering the train, throughout the train ride and after.

That is what I will appeal to everyone because this disease is still with us, we have not reached the peak and when we reach the peak it comes down and there is likely to be a second wave, he said.

The governor lauded the Federal Government and the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, for their efforts in the operation of the railway service.

He said:We requested the Federal Government to suspend the train services at the time of the onset of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but we believe now that it is time to resume the train services.

And we had written a request weeks ago, when we relaxed the lockdown.

We have been briefed on all the measures that the Federal Government has put in place to ensure physical distancing, hygiene, sanitary observance to protect everyone and we are looking forward to this.

We are also grateful that the number of frequency for the train have been increased because more and more people will use the train to go to Abuja and from Abuja to Kaduna.

On the increased fares, El-Rufai said it was appropriate to increase fares.

According to him, the fares were too low and that is what have led to the racketiering.

If you come to buy the tickets, you cant get it, you have to buy it from a middle man and its twice the price.

So why shouldnt the government capture that. So it is quite right and I fully support the decision by the Federal Government to increase the fares.

Infact the fares should even be slightly higher than this to make it difficult for middle men to come in between.

But I have also appealed to the Nigerian Railway Corporation and the Minister to computerise and make electronic the purchase of the tickets, to cut out middle men, the governor added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Dbanj

By Emmanuel Afonne

The Nigeria Police have cleared popular Nigerian singer and songwriter Dbanj, of the rape allegations leveled against him by a twitter user Miss Seyitan Babatayo.

This was contained in a report signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Umar Sanda on behalf of Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigations Department, Force Headquarters, and obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Saturday.

It would be recalled that the allegation led to strong social and media controversy with several declarations of the innocence of the singer by his fans and admirers coming up against those who believed Babatayo was telling the truth.

Dbanj had claimed that there was no truth in the allegation and blamed it on the handiwork of his enemies who he alleged were out to destroy his hard earned reputation.

The musician subsequently instituted a N1.5 Billion defamation lawsuit against Babatayo in spite of the support she got from prominent women rights group.

However, the report by the police investigation unit did not find any substantial evidence to prove that Dbanj committed the act, and that Babatayo had withdrawn the petition filed against Dbanj.

This is a case of indecent assault on female, rape, intimidation and threat to life reported by Seyitan Babatayo through a petition letter dated June 5, 2020 by the Law firm of Ojoge, Omileye and Partners against Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo a.k.a Dbanj.

The petition is to the Inspector-General of Police which was endorsed to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police FCID for investigation and further referred to the ACP SEB/PEPF for investigation and report.

The fact of this case is that on Dec. 30, 2018, Mr Franklin Amudo who was a manager to the suspect invited the complainant Seyitan to an all white party at Eko Atlantic in Lagos, where the suspect performed as a guest music artiste.

The complainant alleged that Dbanj had sex with her against her wish but in view of the foregoing facts, investigation was discontinued as there was no substantial evidence to prove the allegation of rape against the suspect, the report read in parts.

Meanwhile, Babatayo has denied statement that she reached out to Human Rights Activist and #ENDSARS advocate, Mr Segun Awosanya, a.k.a Segalink, asking for his intervention in the rape case.

Babatayo urged her supporters especially STER, a non-governmental organisation to act with honesty in the matter even as she expressed appreciation for the groups support so far.

Awosanya had equally demanded for an apology following a statement from the nongovernmental organization that he was contacted by Babatayo on the matter.

He described the allegation as deliberate and mischievous falsehood intended to malign his person and reputation.

I demand a retraction of the groups statement and the issuing of an apology within the next 24 hours or a law suit will follow, Awosanya said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The Defence Headquarters says the troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces in different theatres of operation across North East, North West and North Central have eliminated several terrorists and bandits in the last one week.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this at a news conference on the operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria from July 17 to July 23 on Friday in Abuja.

In the North-west zone, Enenche said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji and Sahel Sanity have continued with the aggressive clearance operation against the armed bandits.

He said that troops of Operation Sahel Sanity in Shimfida village of Jibia LGA of Katsina State neutralized 17 armed bandits within the week under review.

According to him, troops recovered five AK 47 rifles and 152 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition during the operation, adding that the troops suffered three casualties.

He said that the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji had on July 20 neutralised several armed bandits in Kagara Forest of Zamfara after receipt of credible intelligence.

Also, within the week under review, troops of Operation Sahel Sanity arrested eight bandits in Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara states.

In the North-Central zone, troops conducted several ambushes, raids, clearance and air operations at various locations which resulted in appreciable successes for the period under review.

Notably, troops of Sectors 2 and 4 of Operation Whirl Stroke, on July 16, carried out a raid operation on a suspected kidnappers hideout at Tomayin village in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Troops had contact with the bandits and neutralized the ring leader, one Zwa Ikyegh while others escaped with various degrees of gun shots wounds.

Troops also rescued 32 kidnapped victims, some of whom had been in captivity for over a month.

Accordingly, all the rescued kidnapped victims were reunited with their families in different communities in Logo, he said.

Enenche stated that the troops also recovered one AK 47 rifle, one AK 47 magazine, six locally made rifles, one locally made pistol, one magazine, 22 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, amongst other items while the hideout was also destroyed.

He added that several Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) projects under Defence Headquarters led operations were inaugurated in Operations Whirl Stroke and Safe Corridor areas of responsibility.

The projects, according to him, include boles in Guma Local Government Area of Benue.

He added that one block of five classrooms renovated in Kpasho village and a borehole each at Nkindero village in Irigwe and Gagaule village a Fulani community, all in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau were also provided.

In the North-East, Enenche said the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole destroyed Boko Haram/ISWAP camp and killed their commanders/leaders and other fighters within the week.

He added that the Air Task Force launched coordinated air offensives on terrorists camp at Ngwuri Gana Village, along Gulumba Gana Kumshe axis in the Northern part of Borno.

According to him, the massive air strikes led to the destruction of the terrorists camp while several terrorists were neutralized.

Between July 17 and 20, the Land Component of Operation Lafiya Dole successfully conducted intelligence-based clearance operations that dealt devastating blows on the BHT/ISWAP terrorist elements in some parts of the North East.

The operations led to the neutralization of six BHT members attempting to cross from the Cameroon Border towards Sambisa Axis in Borno.

Caches of arms and ammunition and other items were recovered, while several insurgents surrendered.

Recall that earlier this month 8 BHT/ISWAP commanders/leaders were killed by our gallant troops at Damasak.

Furthermore, on July 20, troops of Army Super Camp 1 while on routine patrol along Maiduguri-Damboa were attacked by Boko Haram Terrorists.

However the gallant troops, supported by ATF platforms providing Close Air Support, neutralized several terrorists and destroyed four of their gun trucks, he said.

Enenche said the Military High Command had commended all the gallant troops of the Armed Forces and personnel of other security agencies involved in various operations across the country for their doggedness and commitment.

They are hereby encouraged to remain resolute and decisive in curtailing the activities of all criminal elements in the country.

Members of the general public are equally reassured that the Nigerian Military will continue to tackle the security challenges to ensure that normalcy is attained in all the geo-political zones of the country, he said.

Source: NAN News