A new report byUnited Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has shown Nigerias Human Development Index rising by two points and life expectancy also rising by eight years.

The report measured national achievements in Human Development Index in health, education and income/standard of living in 187 countries. Nigerias rising population, put at 190 million, appears to be a drag in the index computations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the HDI report showed that Nigerias HDI value for 2017 was 0.532. It was 0.530 in 2016. And it has shown a consistent increase since the measurement began in 2003. From that base year, when the HDI was estimated at 0.443, it has now increased to 0.532 in 2017, marking a 14.4 per cent over the period.

The countrys life expectancy at birth was also put at 53.9 years while between 1990 and 2017, Nigerias life expectancy at birth has increased by 8.0 years, the report showed.

But overall,Nigerias ranking did not change from 157th out of the 189 countries sampled.

There are other good news in the report. Years of schooling increased by one year and expected years of schooling increased by 3.3 years, according to the report.

Nigerias Gross National Income (GNI) per capita increased by about 87.4 percent between 1990 and 2017, the UNDP report showed.

The report put Nigerias population at 190.1 million in 2017 while the countrys projected population in 2030 is 264.1 million

Norway, Switzerland, Australia, Ireland and Germany led the ranking of 189 countries and territories in the latest HDI, and with the exceptions of 2007 and 2008, Norway has topped the HDI chart every year since 2001.

However, Niger, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Chad and Burundi have the lowest scores in the HDIs measurement of national achievements in health, education and income, with Niger at the lowest for several years.

A child born today in Norway could expect to live beyond 82 years old and spend almost 18 years in school while a child born in Niger could expect only to live to 60 and spend just five years in school.

The HDI criteria are designed to be broad enough to be inclusive of countries social, political and economic diversity while being indicative of a countrys quality of life.

Key regional development trends, as shown by the HDI and other human development indices, showed that Sub-Saharan Africa region has seen a 35 per cent growth in HDI since 1990.

Rwanda ranked highest country in the world with most women in parliament. The country has held the top spot since 2008 with the women holding more than half the seats in the parliament.

Out of the 189 countries for which the HDI is calculated, 59 countries are in the very high human development group and only 38 countries fall in the low HDI group.

While no African country is in the very high human development rank, six African countries are now in the high human development group. The countries are the small island nations ofSeychelles, 0.797 (62), Mauritius, 0.790 (65), Algeria, Algeria, 0.754(85) , Botswana, 0.717 (101), Libya, 0.706 (108) and Gabon, 0.702 (110). The surprise entry is Libya, despite the ravaging wars in the country.
Fourteen countries in the region are now in the medium human development group. They are South Africa, 113 (0.699), Egypt, 115 (0.696), Morocco, 123 (0.667), Cape Verde, 125 (0.654), Namibia, 129 (0.647), Congo, 137 (0.606).

Others are Ghana, 140 (0.592), Equatorial Guinea, 141 (0.591), Kenya, 142 (0.590), Sao Tome and Principe, 143 (0.589), Kingdom of e-Swatini, 144 (0.588), Zambia, 144 (0.588), Angola, 147 (0.581), and Cameroon, 151 (0.556).

In the low human development group, countries that ranked higher than Nigeria are: Tanzania, 154 (0.538) and Zimbabwe, 156 (0.535). Nigeria followed at 157 (0.532).

Nigeria was rated better than Senegal(164th, Ivory Coast 170th, Rwanda(158th), Lesotho(159th), Mauritania(159th), Madagascar(161st), Uganda(162nd), Benin(163rd), Togo(165th). Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Congo DR, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Liberia. Others rated lower to Nigeria are Mali, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Eritrea, Niger, Burundi, Chad, South Sudan, Central Africa Republic.

At 101 per 1,000 live births, Sub-Saharan Africas adolescent birth rate is more than twice the world average of 44 per 1,000 live births.

While Sub-Saharan Africas maternal mortality ratio is 549 deaths per 100,000 live births, some countries in the region such as Cape Verde have achieved a much lower rateof 42 deaths per 100,000 live births.

The UN said while health, education, and income levels have improved overall across the globe, wide inequalities both among and within countries, are casting a shadow on sustained human development.

While these statistics present a stark picture in themselves, they also speak to the tragedy of millions of individuals whose lives are affected by inequity and lost opportunities, neither of which are inevitable, said Achim Steiner, the Administrator of UNDP.

Inequality in all its forms and dimensions, between and within countries, limits peoples choices and opportunities, withholding progress, explained Selim Jahan, Director of the Human Development Report Office at UNDP.

Source: NAN

Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic made history on Saturday, scoring his 500th career goal in stunning fashion but it wasnt enough to lift the Los Angeles Galaxy to a win over Toronto FC.

The 36-year-old Ibrahimovic has always had a flair for the dramatic and he did just that in becoming the third active footballer to reach the milestone, joining Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The six-foot-five (1.95 metre) Ibrahimovic released a perfectly-timed roundhouse kick in the 43th minute that fooled goalkeeper Alex Bono for his 17th goal of the season.

The goal cut the deficit to 3-1 and sparked a three-goal Galaxy rally but the defending MLS champions would go on to win 5-3 in front of a crowd of 30,700 at BMO Field in Toronto.

I am happy for Toronto because they will be remembered as my 500th victim, said Ibrahimovic.

Ibrahimovic came into Saturdays game tied for second in MLS scoring.

I was close to the goal. It reminds me of a goal I did in Ajax, he said. It came from a cross and I turned around and I hit it. I was just trying to hit the goal and it went in.

Ibrahimovic scored 62 of his goals for Sweden with the rest coming while playing for Malmo FF, Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and now the Galaxy.

Jonathan Osorios 75th-minute go-ahead goal halted a three-goal Galaxy comeback and helped give Toronto some much needed points in their playoff push.

Jay Chapman added an insurance goal in stoppage time with a low shot to the corner.

It is an incredible achievement, said Galaxy coach Dominic Kinnear of Ibrahimovics goal. The guy is a great goal scorer and it is a memorable one for him for many reasons.

Asked if it was memorable one for the coach, Kinnear said, In about 10 years from now.

Source: NAN

Typhoon Mangkhut killed at least 25 people in the Philippines as it smashed homes and left behind torrents of floodwater, and is now on course to plough into Chinas coast.

The massive storm, considered this years strongest, left key agricultural areas on Luzon island underwater as its fierce winds tore trees from the ground and rains unleashed dozens of landslides.

Because communications and electricity were knocked out across much of the region where about five million people were in the typhoons direct path, officials are still assessing the human and material cost.

In the northern town of Baggao, the storm collapsed houses, tore off roofs and downed power lines. Some roads were cut off by landslides and many remained submerged.

Farms across Luzon, which produces a large portion of the nations rice and corn, were sitting under muddy floodwaters, their crops ruined just a month before harvest.

Were already poor and then this (storm) happened to us. We have lost hope, 40-year-old Mary Anne Baril, whose corn and rice crops were spoiled in the storm, told AFP.

We have no other means to survive, she said through tears.

More than 105,000 people fled their homes in the largely rural region.

An average of 20 typhoons and storms lash the Philippines each year, killing hundreds of people and leaving millions in near-perpetual poverty.

The dead included many killed in landslides, a girl who drowned and a security guard crushed by a falling wall. In addition to the 10 killed in the Philippines, a woman was swept out to sea in Taiwan.

The countrys deadliest storm on record is Super Typhoon Haiyan, which left more than 7,350 people dead or missing across the central Philippines in November 2013.

Mangkhut has weakened since blasting into the Philippine coast on Saturday, but was packing sustained winds of 175 kilometres per hour (110 miles per hour) as it hurtled toward Chinas heavily populated southern coast.

Rain and strong winds lashed Hong Kong Sunday morning as the storm approached.

The citys observatory warned that Mangkhut would pass 100 kilometres south of Hong Kong at around midday (0400 GMT) local time as it raised the storm alert to its highest level.

Water levels in the famous Victoria Harbour and fishing villages could surge by up to four metres, authorities said, and hundreds of residents have been evacuated to storm shelters as the observatory forecast severe flooding for low-lying areas.

Shop windows were taped up and the normally traffic-clogged streets were deserted as the storm drew nearer.

The government has warned people to stay indoors but some were strolling in the park or along the waterfront Sunday morning.

I went running this morning. I love fresh air and theres no one on the streets, no cars. On normal days we cant see this, said Hao Chen, 28, who lives in the neighbourhood of Tin Hau, on Hong Kong Island.

Some residents reported their buildings were swaying in the wind and parks were already strewn with broken branches by the early morning.

Source: NAN

A decade after she launched her fashion labe in New York, Victoria Beckham will exhibit at London Fashion Week for the first time on Sunday.

It will be a triumphant homecoming of sorts for a now widely-respected designer and entrepreneur.

The ex-Spice Girls singer oversees an empire comprising four clothing lines, more than 400 retail outlets in over 50 countries and offices in London and New York.

At the outset Beckham, a longtime fashionista, faced a daunting challenge: convincing a competitive and demanding industry that she could make a lasting impression on fickle fashion fans.

Many saw her as just another example of a celebrity wanting to have a fashion range with no formal fashion training, Andrew Groves, a professor of fashion design at the University of Westminster, told AFP.

Through hard work and determination, she has proved those early critics wrong.

In the space of a decade, Beckham, 44, has ventured into accessories, expanded sales internationally and online and multiplied collaborations with the likes of Reebok, Target and Estee Lauder.

Her style has also evolved, from the chic classicism that marked her first steps into haute couture to the more daring cuts and vibrant colours neon orange, mint green, lilac of more recent offerings.

Its been an incredible journey, even when things can be challenging. Ive had to learn incredibly quickly, she told The Daily Telegraph newspaper recently.

She claims the secret of her success is a tireless work ethic and the support of her family football superstar husband David and their four children.

Beckham was blunt about the ambition for her brand to get bigger and bigger, in a 2013 interview with The New York Times Magazine.

That came a step closer in 2017 with the formation of her Victoria Beckham Limited (VBL) company thanks to a 30 million ($39 million, 34 million euros) injection from private equity firm NEO Investment Partners.

It valued the brand at 100 million, according to Business of Fashion magazine.

However, VBL will look to reduce its losses, which reached 8.5 million at the end of 2016 nearly double the previous year, according to its most recent financial results.

Running deficits of that volume is not unique in this industry and not necessarily a sign that she is any the less credible, Naomi Braithwaite, a fashion marketing and branding lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, told AFP.

It takes a time to build a brand and she is competing with labels that have a very long established history.

Fashion professor Andrew Groves says Beckham has what it takes to last for many years as a medium-sized brand

Groves added that Beckham has all the right elements to last for many years as a medium-sized designer brand.

He noted her stated desire to build an empire hints at the overriding desire to continue to defy the early doubters.

As for the Spice Girls, the most famous girlband in history has reformed for a 13-date tour in 2019 but without Posh Spice, who has drawn a line under her first life as a pop star, according to British media.

British Vogue magazine featured Beckham surrounded by her children on its October cover under the headline fashion gets real.

Thats what Im doing now, she told the magazine.

Source: NAN

Olympic champion Beckie Scott resigned from the World Anti-Doping Agency(WADA) committee which recommended ending Russias drug suspension on Saturday as the global watchdog defended its handling of the case.

Scott, one of six members of WADAs compliance review committee, stepped down a day after it emerged the panel had given a green light for the sanction against the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) to be lifted at a board meeting in the Seychelles on September 20.

WADAs disclosure of the committees decision on Friday drew criticism from athletes and other testing bodies who claim Russian authorities have not met set benchmarks necessary for readmission.

The WADA decision also came after a leaked document earlier this week which showed that the committee had initially recommended leaving the ban in place at next weeks meeting.

Scotts resignation, which was reported by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the BBC, appears to highlight tensions within WADA over the decision.

Scott will retain her role as the head of WADAs athletes committee, reports said.

The RUSADA has been suspended by WADA since 2015, when the global agency revealed a vast, Russian state-supported doping scandal to cheat at the 2014 Winter Olympics, and for years beforehand.

WADAs apparent U-turn on Friday was condemned by US Anti-Doping Agency chief Travis Tygart.

Frankly, it stinks to high heaven, Tygart said, demanding WADA release all relevant correspondence regarding the issue.

Today, WADA has unequivocally told the world the type of organization it is: one that supports the desires of a handful of sports administrators over the rights of millions of clean athletes.

WADA on Friday said its compliance committee was recommending lifting the suspension after reviewing a letter from the Russian Ministry of Sport.

This letter sufficiently acknowledged the issues identified in Russia, therefore fulfilling the first of the two outstanding criteria of RUSADAs Roadmap to Compliance, WADA said.

It said Russia had also agreed to provide access to data and samples in its Moscow laboratory to WADA via an independent expert.

However in a separate statement issued on Saturday, WADA suggested lifting of the sanction next week was not a foregone conclusion.

It said Russia still needed to provide data from the drug-tainted Moscow laboratory at the centre of the scandal within a set time frame.

If the CRCs recommendation is approved by the WADA ExCo on 20 September, RUSADA will be declared compliant, WADA said.

However, for the avoidance of doubt, the second condition demands that WADA receives a copy of the former Moscow Laboratorys database and the raw data via an independent expert within a strict time limit to be determined by the ExCo.

If this is not met in full, then the CRC will recommend to the ExCo that RUSADA is, once again, declared non-compliant.

Source: NAN

People living in communities on the floodplains, especially in Niger, Edo, Jigawa, Anambra and Bayelsa state should be prepared to experience another round of flooding.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has warned that there will be more flooding in the coming days and people should be evacuated from the areas prone to the flood.

This, according to the agency, is because of the rising water levels in River Niger and Benue.

The identified states were all hit by floods last week with about 70 deaths reported, hundreds of homes submerged, and thousands displaced.

The Director-General of NEMA, Mr. Mustapha Maihaja, warned that the situation could get worse as water inflow into River Niger and River Benue is so huge that both rivers can only accommodate less than two meters of water before they will overflow their banks into nearby communities.

To prevent further loss of lives, the agency called for the evacuation of people living in communities on the floodplains.

Meanwhile, the Director of Search and Rescue at NEMA, Air Commodore Akugbe Iyamu, said the agency had placed all disaster units across the country on red alert to avoid any catastrophic disaster in the country.

He said this in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital when a team from NEMA paid a visit to the 222 Batalion, Sobi Military Cantonment, Ilorin and 303 Medium Airlift Group of the Nigeria Air Force.

The visit is part of efforts to ensure that prompt actions are taken by the Air Force immediately they receive a distress call from any part of the country where people are trapped.

On Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari had delegated authority to the NEMA DG to declare a national disaster if the anticipated flooding becomes a reality in parts of the country.

The Presidents directive was contained in a letter entitled Situation Report on the River Flood Along the Banks of Rivers Benue and Niger, which was signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.

It gave Delegation of authority to the Director-General of NEMA to activate the Disaster Response Units of the military for possible search and rescue missions.

The President also gave the NEMA DG authorisation for the procurement and proportionate stocking of relief materials and health-related items up to N3billion to provide for the needs of possible victims.

Also, President Muhammadu Buhari has instructed the NEMA boss to provide him with regular updates.

The Presidents directive follows a warning by NEMA and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) that Rivers Benue and Niger had almost reached levels that resulted in flooding in 2012, which led to the loss of lives and destruction of property.

Source: NAN

The Nigerian Army, including the Air Force, are partnering with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for better coordination and effective management of disasters.

The Director General of the agency, Mr. Mustapha Maihaja, said it was important to assess the level of readiness in disaster management in view of the challenges in the change of climate.

He said that the essence of the assessment visit was to deplore all facilities to ensure Nigerians are safe as 12 states have been placed on red alert due to the rising water level which had reached 10.66cm, a delicate threshold, which may still increase.

Maihaja who was represented said both the Army and the Air Force detachment 671 and 81 battalions at Letmuck barracks in Ibadan expressed concern over the consistent rise in water level in flood-prone areas of the country.

He called on all hands to be on deck to avoid the loss of more lives.

The NEMA boss stated that there are four stages of disaster management, namely preparation, risk reduction, rescue and relief, adding the situation is presently at the risk reduction stage.

He said that six teams have been constituted across the country to visit all vulnerable areas towards evacuating affected Nigerians to a safe place prepared for such.

Representing the Chief of Defense Staff, Rear Admiral Dolapo Kolawole, Director Search and Rescue, Defence headquarters, said the team was in Ibadan to assess the capability gaps in providing assistance for disaster management and response.

Earlier, Wing Commander Peter Garba, Acting Commander, NAF detachment, and acting commanding officer, 81 battalions, Captain Clement Jangfa both expressed their readiness to collaborate with NEMA.

They highlighted some of their challenges to include inadequate manpower, utility vehicles, and other logistical problems which must be tackled for effective disaster management.

Source: NAN

In an effort to comprehensively tackle transnational organised crime, Kenya has resolved to collaborate with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).

This Cabinet Secretary for Interior, Dr. Fred Matiangi, said in Nairobi during a meeting with Interpol secretary general Jrgen Stock, that Kenya desire to collaborate with the worlds largest international police organization to build an unassailable cyber environment, ahead of the launch of the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS).

He reiterated President Uhuru Kenyattas support to Interpol as Kenya seeks to root out all criminal networks, which pose serious threats to national and international security.

Were aware that cybercrime is real in this digital era, but we are taking all measures to remain ahead of the criminals, Dr. Matiangi said, and exuded confidence that the data which will be collected during the upcoming digital registration exercise will be secured.

The Cabinet Secretary also revealed that Kenya is working with various anti-money laundering agencies across the globe to identify sources and destinations of proceeds of crime.

Most economic crimes are linked to fraudulent travel papers, but we are relentless in this fight. Apart from streamlining our immigration laws, were also in hot pursuit of wanted fugitives to bring them to justice in line with the international criminal law, he added.

Meanwhile, Stock recognized Kenya as an important partner in the global regime against terrorism and transnational organized crime, and said Interpol will step up its contribution in this drive in terms of skills and resources.

He disclosed that a mega-project that will serve as one of Interpols global early warning systems is underway in Nairobi.

Kenya hosts the Interpol Bureau for Eastern Africa, which covers 13 countries, and the project will expand Africas technical ability to counter major security threats.

Source:

Source: NAN

The embattled Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has finally resigned after much pressure.

Although no official statement has been released on the issue, reliable sources confirmed her resignation on Friday.

The 51-year-old former minister is reported to have resigned following pressure arising from her questionable NYSC discharge certificate.

In November 2015, Adeosun was appointed Nigeria’s Minister of Finance by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Kemi was born in 1967 in London, England to Nigerian parents from Ogun State.

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of East London and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Financial Management from the University of London.

She qualified as a Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales in 1994 and she was qualified for NYSC exemption on return to Nigeria after clocking above 30 years of age.

The story has been out there that Adeosun forged her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate.

Although she was above 30 when she returned to Nigeria, she was not qualified to obtain an exemption because she got her first degree when she was in her 20s.

The fake exemption certificate that she obtained through a third party was what caused her fall.

She initially ignored the forgery report, but her handlers later explained that she was not guilty.

They painted those digging into the story as mischief-makers who wanted to pull down a woman of substance.

The NYSC headquarters also came up with a terse statement that she indeed applied for an exemption and that it was looking into the matter.

Some citizens had dragged her to the Federal High Court in Abuja which has fixed October 8 to hear the suit asking it to sack her from office.

The Chief Judge of the high court, Justice Abdul Abdu-Kafarati, assigned the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/712/2018, to Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu for expeditious hearing.

The suit was filed by a Mr. Francis Obalim, a lawyer who approached the court, praying for an order quashing and setting aside Mrs. Adeosun’s appointment as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,

Her appointment, he said, circumvented the condition precedent and in contravention of mandatory Sections 12, 13 and 14 of the NYSC Act which is an integral part of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The news of her resignation burst the social media, recording more than 15,000 tweets one hour after.

Dr. Joe Abah‏Verified account @DrJoeAbah tweeted: “I have just received, with sadness, news that Kemi Adeosun has resigned. She is a talented, courageous woman who drove a lot of important reforms as Minister of Finance. However, the NYSC saga had made her position untenable & the situation was only going to go from bad to worse.’’

Some people have praised her as one of the few Nigerians that have dared to resign from office.

Kemi Ariyo‏ @d_problemsolver also tweeted: “If truly Kemi Adeosun has resigned, she earns my respect.

“This is the first time in the history of Nigeria a minister or a leader will take a bold step to write a resignation letter because of forgery allegation.’’

In his tweet, Niyi Balogun‏ @ng_niyi said: “Just shows how dirty the labyrinth of power can get. Great talent though. Wish Kemi Adeosun best!’’

With Kemi Adeosun’s reported resignation, it’s safe to declare that Nigeria’s journalist of the year is definitely our own @abdulfagge, for revealing her forgery and how she was being exploited by NASS. And allow me to famz that he’s my former co-worker. #ProudFriendsCommunity 😀

— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) September 14, 2018

A Kubwa Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Friday ordered the remand of 45-year-old Joseph Ave, who told the court that a 14-year-old girl is his girlfriend.

Ave was docked on a three-count charge bordering on abduction, gross act of indecency and causing public nuisance, offences he admitted committing.

The defendant confessed that on several occasions, he had carnal knowledge of the minor, whom he said he intended to marry and even informed the father.

The judge, Abdulwahab Mohammed, who ordered the remand of Ave in prison, adjourned the case until Oct. 8 for conviction and sentencing.

The prosecutor, Babajide Olanipekun, had told the court that Ave deceived and took the minor away from her parents since Aug. 25.

The prosecutor said that the defendant moved her from one location to another.

He said that Ave had carnal knowledge of the minor on several occasions in an indecent manner.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 272, 285 and 198 of the Penal Code.

‎The defence counsel, Moses Ugwummadu, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, adding that Ave admitted committing the offences instead of wasting the time of the court.