Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja from London after a 10 working day vacation in London.

The presidential plane conveying Buhari and few of his aides landed at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 6.38p.m.

Buhari was received at the airport by Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, Service Chiefs and the Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari.

Others at the airport to welcome the president included cabinet ministers, the acting chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and members of the presidential media team.

“President @MBuhari returns to Abuja from the UK, after a 10 working day vacation,” said Bashir Ahmad, Buhari’s new media aide, in a statement posted on Twitter.

The return of the president has put to rest the social media report that he had extended his vacation in London.

Buhari on Aug. 3 commenced the holiday and transmitted a letter to the President of the Senate and the Speaker, House of Representatives to that effect in compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.

While the president was in London, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo acted on his behalf in line with the constitution.

“President @MBuhari returns to Abuja from the UK, after a 10 working day vacation,” said Bashir Ahmad, Buhari’s new media aide, in a statement posted on Twitter.

Marcos Alonso's late strike settled a chaotic classic in Chelsea's favour after Arsenal fought back from two goals down and threatened to earn a point at Stamford Bridge.

Maurizio Sarri's side built that advantage inside the first 20 minutes after Pedro turned in Alonso's cross and Alvaro Morata added another seconds after Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang blazed over from close range.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan wasted a similar opportunity before pulling one back with a low shot that Chelsea's new £71m keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga should have saved before Alex Iwobi put the Gunners on level terms.

Aubameyang and Iwobi missed further chances before half-time before Chelsea controlled the second half, Alonso sweeping in substitute Eden Hazard's cross nine minutes from time to make it successive wins for Sarri and two defeats for new Arsenal manager Unai Emery.

This was a heavyweight Premier League clash for the managerial newcomers Maurizio Sarri and Unai Emery - and they were provided with plenty of food for thought after an engrossing 90 minutes.

Emery is perpetual motion in his technical area, pacing it constantly from almost the first minute, a blur of gesticulations and dramatic effect with cajoling and encouragement throughout.

The Spaniard is still trying to put his imprint on this Arsenal team after the end of Arsene Wenger's 22-year reign and he is very obviously a hands-on figure.

It is also clear from the manner in which Arsenal got back into the game - even though they ended defeated - that his new players are fighting for their manager.

Sarri, dressed casually in a t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms, was far less animated than Emery but was still keen to get his message across and it is already clear he is determined to repeat the brand of attacking play that made his reputation as he makes his mark at Stamford Bridge.

These two experienced managers will add plenty of character and colour to the Premier League's A-list cast of managers - and both will have much to keep them occupied.

Source: BBC

Former Secretary General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Laureate Kofi Annan passed away at the age of 80 on Saturday, the Geneva-based Kofi Annan Foundation announced.

"It is with immense sadness that the Annan family and the Kofi Annan Foundation announce that Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Laureate, passed away peacefully on Saturday 18th August after a short illness," the Foundation said in a statement issued Saturday.

A diplomat source said that Annan died in a Swiss hospital, and his wife Nane and their children Ama, Kojo and Nina were by his side during his last days.

Born on April 9 of 1938 in Ghana, Kofi Annan served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1997 to December 2006. He and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize.

He was the founder and chairman of the Kofi Annan Foundation, as well as chairman of The Elders, an international organization founded by Nelson Mandela.

Xiaomi’s feet were only half of the size of an adult’s thumb when she was born at 24 weeks at Southwest Hospital in Chongqing on March 30, tipping the scale at just 585 grams.

Her chances of survival were very slim.

But after three months of treatment, the baby was finally discharged from the Intensive Care Unit to the normal ward this week, weighing nearly two kilograms, making her one of the smallest surviving babies in the world.

Her mother Chen Xia，31，and father Cao Lanwei，37，used Assisted Reproductive Technology at the same hospital. Chen’s water broke much earlier than expected. She was sent to the hospital and delivered the baby by herself.

“The baby was so tiny, as big as a medium-sized water bottle,” recalled Yan Ling, the pediatric head nurse.

“She couldn’t breathe by herself and her skin was transparent, as thin as a piece of paper.”

So the medical staff gave the baby a nickname: Xiaomi, which means “a grain of rice” in Chinese.

“I am so afraid of hurting her when taking care of my baby,” the mother said. “She is still so fragile.”

The father was confident his daughter can grow healthy after the early struggles.

The smallest surviving baby ever is believed to be Emilia Grabarczyk. She was born in Witten, Germany in 2015, weighing only 0.22 kg.

A recent online video from Weifang, East China's Shandong province, has attracted web users' attention. It shows a shocking scene of a man saving a boy falling from a fifth floor window by grabbing him in midair.

With no adult at home, the 2-year-old child crawled out of the window to the air conditioning unit and was seen by neighbors.

Hearing cries and shouts outside, Liu Yangming and his father ran out of their home and found the boy in immediate danger, dangling from the air conditioning unit beneath the fifth-floor window.

Yang rushed into the building and knocked the door of residents who live downstairs, hoping to break into one's flat to approach the kid at risk. Luckily, residents of one household on the first floor were home and let Yang and his father in.

Yang climbed over the window and stood on the narrow, short cement board protruding below it, ready to catch the boy. At the moment the boy fell, the father, leaning out the window, made a first attempt to grasp him but failed. Almost at the same time, Yang succeeded in stopping him from plunging to the ground by grabbing one of his legs and lifting him up. This happened in the span of a few seconds.

People nearby were shocked at the scene and concerned for the child. Once the boy was rescued, they gave a sigh of relief.

Yang's heroic action won praise from the neighborhood and thumb-ups from many netizens, as the rescue was recorded by one onlooker's phone and posted online.

Looking across Africa, I see leaders who are so fixated on gaining power and ravenously seeking to hold on to it without making much meaningful impact on the people or nation they are governing. Plus the elections that brought them into power are rarely free from various forms of electoral malpractices. That seems to be a sharp contrast to what we have on the other side of the divide, the West, where leaders keep making moves to ensure that their nations remain relevant among the comity of nations. Most of these states are under democratic rule as are the league of African nations.

Let’s spare these leaders for a moment: coming down to the basics [and bringing it to where it really started]; democracy without the people will surely cease to be what it has been set out to be. But what becomes when the people fail to play their part in a morally acceptable manner? That said, I will like to cast our mind back to the events that preceded last month’s gubernatorial election in Ekiti where the process was more of PVC auction – thanks to the top political parties represented in the election. All it took to sway PVC holders to cast their votes was between N3,000-N5,000 – talk about people mortgaging their future on ‘a platter of pottage’.

How did we get here?

Wrong question, you may say considering the fact that at no point had our electoral process been liberated from such malady. The Ekiti situation might have come in another dimension but it definitely served as a reminder of how votes have become ‘a piece of bread’ in the commodity market called polling station when elections are at hand. The medium of exchange could be different from time to time – money, 1kg of rice, recharge cards…you name it – but the M.O remains unchanged. However, should the power seekers lack the decorum to act right, ought not the electorates – the PVC merchants to be specific – subscribe to good conscience and allow sanctity prevail from their end?

The consequence

I wonder if it ever registered on the mind of the electorate [who are into auctioning their PVCs] that a vote sold is a right cheaply given away. Whenever right is traded, it becomes hard for the masses to hold public office holders accountable for their actions – especially when they fail to deliver. And the truth is that there seems to be an unwritten code/law guiding how things subsequently turn out in this kind of event. Will those who had been paid for their vote ever have the moral standing to speak against their elected leaders at the very moment things start going awry? - Maybe they would with a seared conscience. More so, a pay-to-vote stance goes to show that corruption is not only being fed by political dignitaries but also encouraged by citizens who end up getting the leaders they ‘deserve’.

Democracy ought to be sustained in fairness with elections devoid of manipulation and/or undue merchandise but with people continually engaging in morally derisive activities without being call to order for ethics to prevail, one will not be wrong to ask: is democracy under siege in our land? The question rings out even louder when one considers other government actions that infringe on the right of the people – a topic for another day, probably.

A leader of the Peoples Democratic Party and businessman, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu said he will retire from politics once Atiku Abubakar becomes Nigeria’s president.

Iwuanyanwu, who will be 76 on 4 September, declared his support for the presidential aspiration of former Vice President of Nigeria.

Chief Iwuanyanwu in company of other leaders of the PDP in Imo State received Atiku in Owerri during his visit to the state in continuation of his nationwide consultations with PDP stakeholders across the country.

“Atiku’s political journey has come a long way and he is particularly cut out for the demands of the time at this juncture in Nigeria’s political history. I will only retire finally after Atiku is installed. Atiku is an intelligent leader and he is the only one who can be fair to the Ibos,” Iwuanyanwu said.

Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and governorship aspirant in Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha said that Atiku will be the best president Nigeria will have in 2019.

Atiku, in company of a delegation led by the Director General of his presidential campaign organization and former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, visited Owerri for a meeting with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in Imo State in continuation of his nationwide consultations.

While welcoming Atiku into the state, the former deputy Speaker noted that “Atiku is well prepared to be president of Nigeria and he remains the best president Nigeria will have in 2019.”

After a close door private meeting with Chief Iwuanyanwu, Atiku proceeded to the PDP secretariat in Owerri where he met with the State Executive Council led by the state’s party chairman, Barrister Charles Ezekwem.

In his remarks, Atiku commends the warm welcome he and his entourage received from supporters in Imo State.

He said that his aspiration to become president in 2019 is borne out of his belief that Nigeria deserves a more competent leadership.

“Today our country is at a critical condition. The economy is not working as expected and millions of jobs have been lost. There is so much division everywhere and we need a leadership that can unite the country.

“If I secure the ticket of our great party and subsequently elected president, I am ready to listen to and appreciate the feelings from every part of the country. These are the challenges we face today and I am very humbled by the endorsement from leading party members from this state to my aspirations and I am even more determined in this mission to restore the country to prosperity and unity,” Atiku said.

Source: NAN

Amb. James Barka, former Acting Governor of Adamawa has denied the recent reports of his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Barka, who is also a serving member of the Presidential Committee on the North East Initiative (PCNI), made this clarification while briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.
Barka said that he did not defect from the APC and he was not contemplating doing so as he blamed some media organisations and social media for the “Fake News’’ and misinformation.

He said that he remained committed to working under the APC-led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in his change agenda.

“I am staying in APC because I believe in the transformation agenda of President Buhari and for me to contemplate to leave APC, I must be an insane person.

“Some members of the PDP led by the Adamawa State Chairman paid me a courtesy call to seek my return to my former party, the PDP.

“ I categorically told them that I was a bonafide member of the APC and I am not contemplating leaving the APC.

“ I have gone across to my followers, sent them text messages and on social media that I am still a member of the APC and as such all my followers should remain.

“The President has done excellent and I cannot see why I should defect to a party that showed so much impunity to me and my followers in 2014.

“I am committed to APC and I will remain in APC,’’ Barka said.

Barka, however, noted that his decision to remain in the APC was not because he was currently serving as a member of the PCNI.

He said that in 2014, he resigned his appointment as an Ambassador because he was leaving the PDP and so, he was not remaining in the APC for fear of dismissal.

Barka reiterated that he was still a member of the APC because he believes in the change agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari, which has built infrastructure and provided the basic amenities for Nigerians.

He said that the present administration has recorded a lot of dividends of democracy and Nigerians would continue to see more dividends of democracy under the present government.

Tragedy has struck in Arizona U.S. after a father decided to take care of a situation his own way by killing a man who attempted to enter a bathroom stall where his daughter was.

Police say Melvin Harris III faces a second-degree murder charge in the beating death of Leon Leevon Armstrong, AZFamily.com reports.

Harris was taken into custody earlier this month after the deadly encounter at a QuikTrip convenience store in Phoenix involving his 16-year-old daughter.

The 40-year-old was waiting in the parking lot to pick up his daughter and two friends when Armstrong approached him asking for money. Harris gave him some change and Armstrong went into the store.

Harris daughter came out of the store and told her father that a man tried to enter her bathroom stall by violently shaking the door, police said. She said she told the employees who alerted the security guard.

She then identified Armstrong as the alleged harasser when she spotted him walking out of the store.

Possibly thinking not enough was being done, Harris approached the security guard and told him to take care of the situation, or he would do it himself. The guard said the incident was being handled.

The protective father, however, confronted Armstrong about the incident and then attacked him, authorities said.

Witnesses told police Harris repeatedly stomped, punched and kicked the man.

Harris fled the scene. Armstrong was taken to the hospital where he later died. He suffered brain swelling, a nasal fracture and loss of oxygen.

Harris was arrested at his home. He later admitted he struck Armstrong in the face, but claims he didnt throw the first punch, the report stated.

He also denied hitting Armstrong when he was on the ground.

Harris fiancee, Diana Jackson, told AZFamily.com that Harris was protecting his daughter.

Im not mad at him. I dont feel like he did anything wrong. I love him. He did what he was supposed to do for our kid.

You cannot tell someone theyre wrong for protecting their children.

I would have done the same thing. I dont feel bad at all for his actions. I feel bad that the man ended up dying in the process. I do, Jackson told the station.

Jackson said its unfair her fianc is being treated as a criminal for protecting his child.

Armstrong reportedly also had a criminal history that included shoplifting, trespassing and obstructing justice.

Source: NAN

The troops of 1 Division Nigerian Army Kaduna on Thursday said it had eliminated five bandit and recover arms in Birnin Gawri local Government areas in Kaduna State.

The Deputy Director Army Public Relations 1 divisions Nigerian Army, Col. Muhammad Dole, made the disclosure in a press statement in Kaduna.

Dole said the troops of the Division, under Operation WHIRL PUNCH, responded to a distress call about an armed robbery along Birnin GwariFuntua road.

While on pursuit of the armed robbers, they were ambushed by suspected bandits. However, they fought their way and overpowered the bandits, who hastily withdrew into Kwuyambana forest in Zamfara State.

He said during the pursuit of the bandits in the forest, the bodies of five bandits were found.

Among the eliminated bandits was a notorious bandit from Zamfara identified as Sani Danbuzuwa.

Regrettably, we lost one soldier and two were injured. The wounded soldiers were evacuated and they are responding to treatment at the military hospital in Kaduna.

After thorough searched of the ambush area, the following items were recovered: 1 x AK47 rifle, 3 magazines, 87 rounds of 7.62mm (special) 1 G3 rifle, 4 magazines, 61 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO).

He also disclosed that a wanted kidnapper and expert in negotiations for ransom, called Yinusa Suleiman, from Sambuwa village was apprehended by troops on Aug. 14.

He is currently assisting the security operatives in further investigations, he said.

Dole restated the troops commitment to ensuring security and safe passage to all commuters along highways of KadunaAbuja and KadunaBirnin Gwari roads as well as the adjoining towns and villages.

Source: NAN

The trade volume between India and Nigeria hit 12 billion dollars between April 2017 to March 2018, Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Nagabhushana Reddy, has said.

Reddy said this while speaking with newsmen at a flag hoisting ceremony to mark the 72nd Independence of India in Abuja on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the trade figures between both countries as at January 2018 was 10 billion dollars.

In 2015, the volume of trade between both countries was and fell to .

The high commissioner, however, said that the current figures represented a 26 per cent increase from the previous financial year.

Looking at the bilateral relations, our financial year is from April last year to March this year. We have been able to register 12 billion dollars of bilateral trade which marks an increase of 26 per cent from the previous year.

He reiterated that Nigeria remained one of Indias major exporter of crude oil, adding that both countries were exploring other areas of bilateral relations.

We are looking at bringing more Indian companies here and looking at not just a buyer-seller arrangement but to do more investments.

As of today, Indian companies have invested about 10 billion dollars and I think there are about 135 Indian companies in Nigeria.

I can mention that Indian investments are in the field of pharmaceuticals, electrical manufacturing, assembly lines for automobiles particularly agricultural related.

The envoy said that 2018 also marked 60 years of diplomatic relations between both countries adding that several programmes were being organised to harness various areas of cooperation.

Reddy said that the upcoming India-West Africa conclave was one of such programmes being organised to bring together chambers of commerce business people and policy makers.

We will be inviting all the 15 West African countries at the trade ministers level to review existing arrangements and to see how we can harness the complementarities that exist between our two regions.

With a number of planned events we are looking at within the year, I am very confident that we will be able to take the already existing strategic partnership that India has with Nigeria to the next high level.

He added that the recently announced 10 guiding principles for deepening Indias engagement with Africa would foster future relations with Nigeria in line with the Federal Governments economic growth plan.

In November 1958, India established the diplomatic house in Lagos; that that was the beginning of our journey.

Our prime minister has initiated the 10 guiding principles of India and our prime ministers drive is to see that we can support your national efforts, to merge with your economic growth plan and national priorities.

We would like to bring about a transformation in our engagement which is mutually beneficial.

Furthermore, the envoy said that India had trained about 8000 African nationals since 2015, in various capacity building programmes with more than 500 Nigerian officials benefiting from the training opportunities.

He further reiterated the Indian Governments commitment to stronger relations with Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

Source: NAN

The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, is currently presiding over the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa.

The presence of services chiefs, the National Security Adviser and the Inspector-General of Police suggests that security may be top on the agenda being discussed at the Thursday meeting.

In attendance are the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Turkur Buratai, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice-Marsall Sadiq Abubakar, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris and the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Mungono (Rtd).

No fewer than 12 state governors are also attending the meeting.

They include Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State, Willie Obiano of Anambra State, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, David Umahi of Ebonyi State, Abubakar Bello of Niger State and Godwin Obaseki of Edo State.

Others are the Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State, Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State and Simon Lalong of Plateau State.

Among Deputy Governors attending the meeting are Cecilia Ezeilo of Enugu State, Benson Abounu of Benue State and Ude Oko Chukwu of Abia State.

Also in attendance are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun.

Quite a good number of persons love the savoury taste they get from eating a well-bred fish but the reality is that not everyone has the time and/or know-how to make such available. Hence, for those who dare to bridge the gap, there’s a profit-making avenue.

Having said that, we delve into the discourse of the day, which is on starting fish-farming business.

For the lack of data, we may not be able pointedly state the exact amount of money realized by fish farmers but one thing is certain; the business is a lucrative one that is capable of raking in hundreds of thousands [as profit] on a monthly basis. And talking about the fish species that generates much profit in this part of the world, we can’t but bring catfish into the picture.

The market for catfish is really blossoming and that of tilapia only comes at a distant second. Catfish thrives well in our climate, and is best choice when one considers maturation period whereupon harvest time beckons – catfish takes between 4 – 6 months to reach maturity while for tilapia, it’s 5 – 7 months

So, what do you need to start fish-farming business?

• A good location: With the choice of fish [you desire to culture] already sorted out, the next thing to do is to look out for an operational base; a good location where you can situate the pond. You will need to consider factors such as accessibility and resource availability before settling for a particular spot.

• Pond construction: There are different types of pond available for breeding fish. Some fish farmers like to simulate the natural habitat of the fish thereby they have a pond dug around the spot that have been selected. If you’re however starting the business on a small scale, you can go for a plastic tank or have an artisan construct a makeshift culture tank for you using tarpaulin and wood. Concrete pond and fiberglass (culture) tank are other options. A pond with a dimension of 10ft X 8ft X 5ft should be sufficient enough to accommodate a thousand fish juveniles.

• Water supply: The saying that ‘water is life’ is best described in the lifecycle of a fish. Therefore, anyone hoping to make good gains in fish farming should know that constant water supply is a luxury that cannot be substituted for anything else. It then follows that a borehole should be drilled close to the pond to address the need for steady supply of water. Additionally, you should get a water reservoir [in form of an overhead tank] linked to the culturing tank.

• Fish juveniles: After you must have had everything ready, you will need to get fish juveniles or fingerlings [of good quality] to introduce into the pond and culture until they maturity. A thousand catfish juveniles will cost between N25,000 – N35,000 depending on the age.

• Fish feeds: While laying out the budget for a fish-farming venture, you should be careful to set apart a good sum of money for feeding cost as this alone takes up a large chunk of the expenditure – say 50% of the budget. Fish feeds are of different types; there are the natural ones [whereby you have worms, phyto plankton, aquatic plants and so on] and also feeds that have been commercially prepared to help fish grow in a healthy manner – without any complication.

The last thing you will have to do is a personal research. You should acquire information/knowledge from those who have been in the (fish-farming) business; look up facts from the internet or you could even sign up for a course in this particular area as you aim to breed nutritious fish stock and grow your business.

Fish Farming: Know the Terms
As you aim to start your fish farming business, there are aquaculture terms worth taking note of, and this is why we are reeling out the following list:

• Pisciculture: The activity that revolves round breeding fish species in ponds or culture tanks for commercial purpose.

• Fish hatchery: A place specially set up for the purpose of breeding, hatching and rearing fish through the developmental stages – from larvae to yearling.

• Culture tank: A facility for housing fish stock that is being reared. It can be used to complement the fish pond in some occasions.

• Brood stock: This refers to the group of mature fish that are kept for the purpose of reproduction. This helps to ensure that there is a regular supply of a particular fish species

• Fry: A fish that is in its developmental stage, and about one or two week(s) old – right after surpassing the larval stage. Be minded that the time gap between developmental stages varies from one fish species to another.

• Fingerling: This defines a fish in its first 3 weeks to 4 months of development. In other words, fish that have advanced past the ‘fry’ stage.

• Juvenile: Used to define the stage stretching from the period in which the fish is regarded as a fry/fingerling down to its reproductive age. A fish in this stage is often so called – juvenile – though the word ‘juvenile’ is sometimes used interchangeably with fingerling.

• Yearling: Simply put; a fish that has completed one year of its development.

• Fish meal: Specially formulated food used in feeding the fish stock that is being reared. It is usually available in powder or pellet form.

• Phytoplankton: These are minute plants [that are invisible to the naked eyes], and they serve as food to fish [as well as other aquatic forms]. They are often regarded as algae.

• Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR): This is the ratio of food intake (of the fish) to the weight gained over time. It can be used as a measure of the growth rate of the fish.

• Water quality: This encompasses properties [of water] such as water temperature, pH, mineral contents, etc. that make the water sustainable for the growth of the fish.

• Water pH: The degree of acidity or alkalinity of the water. The best pH for culturing fish is between 6.5 and 7.5 (pH level).

• Water turbidity: This relates to the extent to which water becomes cloudy or loses its transparency. The more turbid water becomes, the more difficult it is for light to penetrate and this could eventually have a negative effect on the oxygen intake of the fish. Water turbidity can be spiked by the presence of excessive solid particles from fish wastes, left-over fish meal and so on.

• Dissolved Oxygen: This is the amount of oxygen molecules (in solution) available in the water at a given point in time. Low or high amount of dissolved oxygen can be detrimental to the growth and/or health of the fish.

To many all over the world, rice is a staple that satisfactorily fills the belly and provides the needed energy to go about the daily routine. So much so that its (excessive) intake has seen dieticians and health practitioners urging that caution should not be thrown to the wind as we seek to feed ourselves.

Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that not all rice strains are the same, and that rice has got load of benefits to deliver to anyone who eats right. It is in view of this that I have chosen to discuss five incredible benefits that can be derived from eating rice with you in this write-up. It is generally known that rice, being a good source of carbohydrate, provides us with energy at a constant rate.

Besides this however, there are some other healthful advantages that most persons do not seem to have come to terms with and some of these, are thus highlighted below:

• Blood pressure regulation: Indirectly, rice can be very helpful in controlling blood pressure; this is basically down to the fact that it is low in fat and sodium. Sodium has been implicated in a number of cardiovascular dysfunction and high blood pressure cases as it could cause the constriction of the veins and arteries. So, rice – brown rice in particular – should be included in the diet of those susceptible to high blood pressure; it is good for the health of the heart in general.

• Prevention of cancer
  Brown rice/local rice varieties like ofada and Abakaliki rice have been found to be very rich in fiber thus offering some protection against cancer. Again, the high antioxidant contents – phenols and flavonoids – of the rice further make it very potent in fighting off the harmful effects of free radicals.

• Boosts the functioning/health of the nervous system
  Rice strains such as Basmati and brown rice contain high amount of thiamine (that is, vitamin B1) which is essential in the enzymatic synthesis of neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters help in ensuring that the brain functions properly; improving one’s memory and concentration, and also preventing neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.

• Improves skin health
  Owing to the antioxidant property of certain varieties of rice – though white rice has been virtually bereft of this in the course of processing – the health of the skin can get some nourishment. Consuming a bowl of rice could be what you need to keep premature ageing/wrinkles and acne at bay; red rice and brown rice will serve you well in this regard. More so, the topical application of rice water is recommended for anyone who wishes to keep a healthy skin.
• Promotes digestion and metabolism
  The high fiber content of rice goes a long way in promoting digestion and warding off constipation as bowel movement is boosted. Furthermore, rice contains vitamins and minerals that are highly effective in sustaining metabolic activities in the human body; with this, the proper functioning of various organs is also enhanced.

Nigeria’s midfielder Victor Moses has announced a stunning decision to quit international football, choosing his club Chelsea over answering duty calls from Nigeria.

Moses, who is just 27, announced his decision on Wednesday on his Instagram page.

He said he made this decision to focus on his club career and family.

Moses was part of the Nigerian squad to the 2018 World Cup in Russia and paid pivotal role in Nigeria’s victory over Iceland at the Group stage.

He was born in Lagos on 12 December 1990 and his parents later took him to Kaduna. After surviving a religious riot, in which his parents were killed, he was taken to England, where he has had a flourishing football career.

He represented England at youth tournaments, playing for the Under-16, Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21, but he thereafter opted to play for Nigeria.

He began his professional career in the Championship with Crystal Palace, before his performances caught the eye of Wigan Athletic, where he made his Premier League debut in 2010.

After two years, his game had improved to the extent that European champions Chelsea were interested, and he signed for them in the summer of 2012.

Despite ten goals in all competitions during his first season, he spent his second season on loan to Liverpool, his third on loan at Stoke City and his fourth on loan at West Ham United.

He has been capped more than 20 times for Nigeria since his debut in 2012 and was part of the winning squad at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, as well as the campaign in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

I would like to announce that after much thought I have made the decision to retire from playing international football. I have experienced some of the best moments of my life wearing the Super Eagles shirt and have memories with me that will last a lifetime. Nothing will ever compete to what it felt like to represent Nigeria on behalf of our country. However I feel that now is the right time to step away in order to be able to focus fully on club career and my young family as well as to allow the next generation of Super Eagles stars the opportunity to step up and to flourish. We are blessed as a nation to have so many exciting young players coming through and now is their time. There are so many highlights that stand out for me over the years; from making my debut, to playing in two World Cups and being a part of the team to win the African Nations Cup for first time for our nation since 1994 being just a few of them. I have already spoken to the manager by telephone and would like to say thank you to him and his staff, the NFF and all of my teammates for all of their support over the years. Most importantly I would like to say thank you to the Nigerian people for believing in me and supporting me over the years. It’s meant the world to me and my family and I will always be a proud Nigerian supporting the team. Thank you for the memories and good luck to the team for the future 🇳🇬

A post shared by Victor Moses (@victormoses) on Aug 15, 2018 at 8:16am PDT

Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has directed investigations into the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) following persistent allegations bordering on human rights violations.

This is even as he has directed the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to immediately overhaul the management and activities of the squad.

In a statement signed by Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity (Office of the Vice President), Osinbajo said that a new SARS that is intelligence driven should emerge from the process.

He also directed the National Human Rights Commission to set up a panel to investigate the alleged unlawful activities of SARS.

Following persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that border on allegations of human rights violations, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to, with immediate effect, overhaul the management and activities of SARS and ensure that any Unit that will emerge from the process, will be intelligence-driven and restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery and kidnapping, and apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences, and nothing more.

The Acting President has also directed the IGP to ensure that all operatives in the emerging Unit conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to International Human Rights Law and the constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects. The operatives should also bear proper identification anytime they are on duty.

The Acting President has directed the National Human Rights Commission to set up a Special Panel that will conduct an investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of SARS in order to afford members of the general public the opportunity to present their grievances with a view to ensuring redress, it read.

The social media especially twitter has been awash with posts by some Nigerians, alleging human rights violations by SARS and calling on the federal government to END SARS.

On twitter, the hashtag trended for several months.

Source: NAN

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has ordered an immediate re-organisation of the polices Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The Acting President gave the order following persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS)

The allegations border on human rights violations.

Osinbajo ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to, with immediate effect, overhaul the management and activities of SARS.

The IGP, according to a statement by Mr Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Office of the Acting President, would ensure that any Unit that will emerge from the process, will be intelligence-driven.

Such unit, he said, should be restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery and kidnapping, and apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences, and nothing more.

The Acting President has also directed the IGP to ensure that all operatives in the emerging Unit conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to International Human Rights Law and the constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects.

The operatives should also bear proper identification anytime they are on duty.

Meanwhile, the Acting President has directed the National Human Rights Commission to set up a Special Panel that will conduct an investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of SARS in order to afford members of the general public the opportunity to present their grievances with a view to ensuring redress.

Actionaid Nigeria, an NGO, has urged the media to effectively discharge its watchdog responsibility by holding leaders accountable to their obligations to the people in the implementation of policies, programmes and projects.

The organisations consultant, Mr Tunde Aremu, made the call at a media training on Mobilising Civil Society Support for the Implementation of African Governance Architecture (AGA) and African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ACDEG was adopted in 2007 at the 8th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government.

Nigeria ratified the document in January 2012 with 44 other member-states as signatories in 2012.

Aremus lecture was entitled Understanding the Articles and Provisions of ACDEG and its Relevance to the Nigerian Democracy.

He said that the charter seeks to promote adherence by each state party to the universal values and principles of democracy and respect for human rights among other global standard best practices.

It also seeks to promote and enhance adherence to the principle of the rule of law premised upon respect for constitutional order in the political arrangements of the state parties amidst other objectives.

The challenge, however, is that Nigeria is yet to implement the charter and that is where the media comes in.

As journalists, you are the only profession that the constitution gave a responsibility to, and that is to monitor the government and hold it accountable to its responsibilities, as expressly stated in section 22.

You are to act as the watchdog of the society and ensure that the government implements policies it signed up to, especially the ACDEG and AGA charter.

Aremu, therefore, urged the media to examine the provisions of the charter and ensure that the government discharged its responsibility by implementing the provisions of the charter.

He said that journalists needed to highlight the socio-economic challenges confronting the people in their reportage as well as interrogate government policies and programmes with a view to engendering development and improving general well-being.

Similarly in her presentation, Mrs Nkechi Okoronkwo, Acting Editor-in-Chief, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), underscored the importance of investigative journalism in order to uncover, present and publish reports on facts that people try to hide.

Okoronkwo, in her lecture on Fundamentals of Investigative Journalism said that the job of journalists was to let people know about the happenings in the society around them.

She said that journalists do this by finding facts on governments, companies and criminals and informing their readers or listeners accordingly.

In many other cases, governments, companies, organisations and individuals try to hide decisions or events which affect other people.

Such stories border on selfish motives such as corruption, compromise, misappropriation, underhand dealings, abuse, breaking the law etc.

People have a right to know about the society in which they live;they have a right to know about decisions which may affect them, even if people in power want to keep them secret.

Okoronkwo said that people in power, whether in government, the world of commerce, or any other group in the society could abuse that power.

She said that they could also be corrupt, steal money, break laws and do all sorts of things which harm other people or they might just be incompetent and unable to do their jobs properly.

She said that such people would usually try to keep this knowledge secret so it behoves journalists to try to expose such abuses.

She said that in view if the role of the media, it had a duty to watch how well people in power performed their jobs, especially those who had been elected to public office.

Okoronkwo, therefore, urged journalists to constantly ask whether such people were keeping their election promises, adding that politicians and others who failed in their promises should be exposed.

She urged the media to be diligent in its duty, respect the ethics of the profession, fact-check their reports and present only the truth to the public.

According to her, when the media is up to its task, the government will sit up, the rule of law will be upheld, policies would be implemented and the nation will be better off.

Source: NAN

Chief Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, has appealed to commercial banks to reduce their lending rates to farmers to spur the development of agriculture in Nigeria.

The minister made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja at a three-day conference on: Feed the Future Nigeria Agricultural Policy Project organised by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Abuja.

Ogbeh says the high interest rate being charged by commercial banks on loans to farmers is inimical to the growth and development of agriculture.

The minister pointed out that the government was committed to encourage youths participation in agriculture.

Ogbeh said some Nigerian youths had signified their interest to go back to the farm but the banks lending rate had become a cog in the wheel of actualising their decisions.

According to him, there is no way the interest rate of between 25 to 29 per cent could grow the economy and no farmer could survive the high interest rate.

Some banks are saying that the lowest they can give is 25 per cent interest on their loans and no farmer can survive with this rate.

The banks do not give consideration to the gestation period before they start the charges, this is a big challenge.

Nigerias banks interest rates have been viewed as one of the highest in the world.

There is no farmer that could survive the high interest rates, something needs to be done because it poses a big threat to food security and development of agriculture.

The minister said government was committed to the development of agriculture as part of the determination to feed the growing population.

To this end, the Federal Government was determined to provide more mechanized farming inputs to farmers in the country to boost food production, he said.

The minister said government was committed to encourage youths to venture into modernizing agriculture by using mechanized farming inputs such as machines for planting, spraying, tilling and harvesting among others.

Also, Prof. Titus Awokuse, Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Economy, Michigan State University, U.S. said the university and the department had worked in partnership with research and teaching institutions in West Africa for 50 years.

Awokuse, who is the Chairman of the occasion, said the institution would continue to work towards the development of agriculture in Nigeria and African countries.

Dr George Mavrotas, Chief of the project, Head of IFPRI Nigeria Office, noted that IFPRI work centres around six strategic research areas with gender as cross cutting theme.

According to him, IFPRI is working to ensure sustainable food production by enhancing groundwater governance, promoting healthy food system, improving markets and trade, building resilience and strengthening institutions and governance.

Mavrotas said IFPRI would always do its best to ensure adequate policy for the development of the Nigerian agriculture.

He said this had become imperative because through adequate policies and research programme, food systems could be strengthened to better serve the interest of smallholder farmers and the poor consumers.

Participants at the conference were drawn from various sectors of agriculture to deliberate on food security, nutrition challenges, food system transformation, and climate change among others.

Source: NAN

A statement by Femi Adesina, President Buhari media adviser, slammed the report as fake news and chided the paper linked with former governor of Delta state, James Ibori, for embarrassing itself by abandoning good journalism.

The newspaper can surely do better, Adesina advised.

Under the headline, Pressure mounts on Buhari not to seek re-election, the fiction parading as news claims that foreign powers, including the European Union, United States of America, United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia, are putting pressure on President Buhari not to seek re-election, due to some concocted reasons.

We thought fake news was the sole preserve of the social media in this season. Alas, a traditional medium has caught the bug. Obviously, the author of the story just got a brain wave, or got procured by anti-democratic elements, and then penned the mischief.

If there are quarters in which President Buhari is held in very high esteem, and the work he is doing for Nigeria highly lauded, it is in the countries mentioned. Some of them are equally bastions of democracy, and will not interfere in the democratic affairs of a sovereign country. The newspaper should simply tell its story to the marines.

President Buhari is not a flippant or frivolous individual. He gave deep thought to the prospect, before announcing his bid for a second term in office. It is only those who fear that their goose would be cooked, if they meet with him at the polls, that are trying to dissuade him from running by all means, including sponsored newspaper stories.

By saying it got feelers that President Buhari may opt out of the 2019 presidential election, Daily Independent embarrassed itself, and all those who love good journalism. The newspaper can surely do better.

Source: NAN