Dr Emeka Ogah, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA), has confirmed the death of one its consultants, Dr Canice Ebirim on Tuesday during the Super Eagles and Argentina match.

Ogah told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday that reports reaching him suggested that Ebirim died within the period of the match.

The CMD said that he received the news of his death at about 9 p.m. while the match was ongoing.

Ogah said that a friend of the deceased informed him that Ebirim started behaving funny within that period.

Ebirims friend said that the deceased started moving suspiciously and solicited for assistance which made him intervene and took him (Ebirim) to the hospital.

Efforts made to revive him at our hospital proved abortive as he died but we would liaise with his family to conduct an autopsy.

We are surprised at his death because he consulted at the hospital on Tuesdays. We have to wait till autopsy is conducted to draw further conclusions, he said.

A friend of the deceased, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that he (Ebirim) resided in Owerri with his family and only visited FETHA during his clinic days.

He was a dedicated and lively fellow who will surely be missed by his family, friends and associates, he said.

Source: NAN

The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki on Wednesday visited Plateau state to commensurate with the government and people of the state over the wanton massacre of over 86 people in some communities on Saturday.

Saraki who had just concluded a , proceeded to Plateau along with some members of the National Assembly leadership.

A visibly sad Saraki who had totally condemned the unwarranted killing in the state, reiterated that words could not express the magnitude of pain the killing had brought, stressing that it was a loss to the entire nation.

Saraki who was accompanied by some members of the National Assembly leadership and was received by Governor Simon Lalong, conveyed the sympathy of the National Assembly to the government and people of Plateau state and to all Nigerians.

Here are five key things Saraki told the people of Plateau as well as all Nigerians:

1. WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE THIS PAIN THIS IS A LOSS TO THE ENTIRE NATION
   On behalf of the entire National Assembly, let me convey my deepest sympathy for the unfortunate and sad incident that occurred in Plateau State this weekend that claimed many innocent lives. This is not only a loss to Plateau State, but to the entire nation. Although the National Assembly is currently not in session, when we resume next week, this is one of the prime issues that will be up for discussion. However, we thought it necessary to come here personally to meet with the people of Plateau State to commiserate with the families because words cannot really describe this kind of pain.

2. THE ENTIRE NATION STANDS WITH PLATEAU STATE
   Our prayer to Almighty God is to grant the affected families the fortitude to bare these losses. At this time as well, I also pray to God to give His Excellency, the Governor, the courage to be able to manage this challenge and bring solace to a lot of people. This is a very difficult time for Plateau State. However, I want to reassure you that the entire country is with you and the entire National Assembly stands with you.

WE MET WITH THE PRESIDENT WE WILL COLLABORATE WITH THE EXECUTIVE TO FORESTALL FUTURE OCCURRENCES LIKE THIS
We were late in coming here because both myself and the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives sought an appointment with Mr. President on the killings that occurred here to see how we would come together to see what could be done to forestall and prevent future occurrences like this and provide relief and support for all those that have been affected. This is our paramount responsibility. Whatever that needs to be done, must be done.

3. PERPETRATORS MUST BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE
   We must also ensure that all those who are responsible for these killings must account for it. It is part of providing succour and ensuring the peace. You cannot bring back the lives, but finding and prosecuting the perpetrators will go a long way in helping to calm people and ease the pain that they are going through.Therefore, yet again, we call on our Security Agents to ensure that they find the perpetrators that have done this and make them accountable.

4. NOBODY WINS THESE KILLINGS SET US BACK AS A NATION
   Let me use this opportunity to appeal to everyone, to the entire people of Plateau State: Nobody wins from this. Nobody. These killings from today sets the clock back many years, therefore, I want to appeal to the entire people of Plateau State, the elderly, the young, the men and the women, to ensure that we work towards peace.

5. WE MUST ALL WORK TOWARDS PEACE
   Working towards peace is not only the responsibility of the Governor or the traditional rulers in the state. It is incumbent on everyone. Working towards peace is not Simon Lalongs problem alone. Let me also commend the State Governor on the measures that he has taken thus far. It has not been easy we all know the history however, I urge you to stay strong and stay committed and be just. When you are fair and just, the Almighty God will guide you right. Let us all continue to do our best to ensure that this does not become a religious or a political issue.

Source: NAN

Plans are in the offing by the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to increase punitive measures to drivers who flout traffic regulations.

The Director of VIO in the FCT, Mr Bodinga Wadata told our correspondent on Wednesday that the measure has become necessary as FCT drivers disobey traffic laws with reckless abandon.

He said the greatest challenge facing the agency was how to tackle the continued disobedience to traffic regulations by motorists.

This ranges from excessive speed, breaking of traffic light, driving without drivers license and driving vehicles with worn-out parts among others.

This attitude and other variables have limited the management of the sector.

Knowing the mental state of the drivers and status of the vehicles matter a lot, he said.

He said many motorists intentionally flouted traffic rules and regulations without recompense to the penalties.

Wadata also said that most of the drivers had violently confronted VIO officers when cautioned, adding that arrangements were on to increase the punitive measures against lawless drivers.

He also warned handlers of tricycles and motorcycles as well as and unpainted taxi operators to desist from plying routes they were not allowed to operate.

Wadata, therefore, urged commuters to stop patronising tricycles, motorcycles and unpainted taxi operators to break the agency set regulations.

He said that that the patronage had encourage operators concerned to ply routes they were not expected to ply.

If the public stop patronising them, we will naturally flush them out of the banned routes, Wadata said.

Source: NAN

The United Global Resolve for Peace (UGRFP), an NGO, says it will convene a national summit over the recurrent killings across the country.

Mr Olaseni Shalom, UGRFPs Executive Director, in statement on Wednesday in Abuja, said that the recent killings in Plateau State called for sober reflections.

He said that the plethora of death and resultant crisis in the country questioned the nations commitment to the realisation of its millennial aspirations as stated in its 2020 Goals.

Shalom said that communal crisis must be interpreted beyond fault lines to a much more national scope.

The threat to peace in any one region in Nigeria is a threat to peace in all parts of Nigeria.

There has, perhaps in the history of this nation, never been a greater need to reflect on the issues that lead to such killings and proffer ways to avoid it repetition.

We, at UGRFP, have summarily resolved to stand in the gap and facilitate the platform for constructive discussions and resolutions to finding applicable solutions and palliatives to crisis such as the Jos massacre.

It is this abiding imperative that informs our decision to put together an all-encompassing SUMMIT, Shalom said.

He said that the objectives of the summit are among other things to create a forum for national discourse on the recurrent killings in the country; to bring disputing groups/parties to the table of discourse and to address, without reserve, the persistent issues that premeditate fatal internecine clashes.

Others are to address the issue of jungle justice and its wider implication on nationhood and to find, through exhaustive discourse, the way forward on issues of conflicts in Nigeria and make valid recommendations to stakeholders on how to best arrest the massacres.

Shalom conveyed the groups deepest condolences to the affected families and states in the dastardly killings in Benue, Plateau, Zamafara among others.

Source: NAN

Alhaji Abdullahi Alhassan, acting Rector, Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, Nasarawa State, on Wednesday said the institution was giving priority attention to training of its students to create job opportunities for self reliance

Alhassan stated this at a news conference for the Combined 9th Convocation Ceremony of the institution scheduled to hold on June, 30, at Taal Sport Complex in Nasarawa.

He emphasised that the polytechnic was poised toward effective production and convocation of quality students in different fields of academic enterprise, to make its graduates relevant, self sustaining and employers of labour.

According to him, a total of 23,128 graduates will be awarded Higher National Diploma (HND), National Diploma (ND) and Polytechnic Diploma (PD), at the convocation ceremony.

Among these, 270 graduated with distinction; 4,882 with Upper credit; 12,304 with lower credit and 5, 672 with pass, he said.

The rector said that the institution had been producing best polytechnic graduates in the country since its inception in 1983, adding that the product of the institution were contributing immensely to the economic development of the country.

He said the institution would continue to train people to acquire technical and vocation skills needed for the economic and social development of Nigeria in the fields of Agriculture, industry and commerce.

The Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, is today among the top ranking polytechnics in Nigeria.

This is factual because of the availability of astute and intellectual human resources as well as the quality of graduates and under-graduates and research breakthrough recorded by the institution over the years.

Our focus since establishment has been toward achieving the polytechnic objective and also tailored toward our mission of moulding students to become disciplined, skilled and innovative for self actualisation and national development.

Alhassan, therefore, expressed determination of his administration to further develop the institution by sustaining, consolidation on infrastructure and human capital development.

This, according to him, will guarantee the provision of enabling environment for research, teaching and learning and ensure full accreditation of all programmes being run bythe institution.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that four distinguished Nigerians who have excelled in their various fields of endeavour will be conferred with the Fellowship of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, (FFPN).

The awards recipients are: Gov. Tanko Al-Makura, Alhaji Buba Ahmed, former Minister of Sports, High Chief Ikechi Emenike, a philanthropist and Sen. Abubakar Sodangi.

Source: NAN

Argentina great Diego Maradona appeared to need help to walk after watching his national team dramatically beat Nigeria to survive in the World Cup, according to a video clip posted on Twitter.

Argentine media, including newspaper La Nacion, said Maradona was treated for low blood pressure in the stadium and was able to leave normally shortly afterwards.
In the video posted by Fernando Schwartz, a well-known sports journalist in Mexico, a man can be seen helping Maradona to stay on his feet as he was led away from his seat overlooking the pitch and into an adjacent room.

A photograph also posted on Twitter appeared to show two medical staff attending to Maradona.

Earlier, he had been captured by television cameras flicking his middle fingers toward the crowd and celebrating wildly as Argentina beat Nigeria 2-1 with the winner coming minutes before the South Americans would have been eliminated from the finals.

The Argentine website of sports broadcaster ESPN said Maradona was taken to hospital. But other Argentine media described the incident as only a scare.
A spokesman for World Cup organizers FIFA said Maradona had left the stadium but could not provide further comment.
A spokesman for Argentina’s football association could not immediately be reached.

Maradona, who led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title, has battled cocaine addiction in the past. In 2015, he underwent a gastric bypass operation.

Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe has been granted an administrative bail after five days in DSS custody.

The Special Adviser to Abaribe on Media, Mr Uche Awom, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said Abaribe, who is the Chairman of the South East Senators Forum, was released at about 6.32 p.m.

Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe walked to freedom after five days in the DSS gulag.

Abaribe who was granted administrative bail was released to his lawyers led by Chukwuma Machukwu Ume (SAN).

Speaking at the premises of the DSS facility in Abuja, Ume thanked Nigerians for standing up against the wrongs done to Nigerian democracy with the arrest of Sen. Abaribe, he said.

Awom quoted Ume as saying the collective calls and demand for his release have shown the great spirit of Nigerians for justice.

Senator Abaribe was reportedly arrested and taken into custody by the Department of State Security Service(DSS) on June 22 in Abuja.

However, reasons for his arrest were not made public.

The lawmaker was surety to leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB), Mr Nnamdi Kanu, who is reportedly at large.

Source: NAN

Ethiopia rolled out the red carpet for Eritreas top diplomat on Tuesday as the two nations took the next step in a historic initiative aimed at ending decades of conflict and hostility.

The thaw between the foes who fought a bitter border war 20 years ago comes after an olive branch was dramatically offered by new Ethiopian prime minister, Abiy Ahmed.

As Eritreas top diplomat Osman Saleh and presidential adviser Yemane Gebreab landed at Addis Ababas airport, Abiy was there to greet them, leading the pair along a red carpet past traditional dancers, local celebrities and a brass band.

The welcome included Ethiopian culture and sports personalities, among them legendary long-distance runner Haile Gebrselassie.

The relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea is about more than the border. When we make peace, it will benefit all of east Africa, Ethiopias foreign affairs spokesman Meles Alem said at the airport.

The meeting comes just three days after a blast at a rally attended by Abiy a sign, analysts say, of the risks the 42-year-old prime minister has taken with a programme that embraces the biggest reforms, at home and abroad, in a generation.

Earlier this month, Abiy said he would abide by a 2002 ruling, issued by a United Nations-backed commission, and withdraw from contested territory, including Badme, a town claimed by both sides.

Last week, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki responded, saying he would dispatch a delegation to gauge current developments directly and in depth as well as to chart out a plan for continuous future action.

He stopped short of calling it a peace delegation but an official visit alone marks a dramatic shift in relations long mired in suspicion and bloody hostility.

The last time Ethiopian and Eritrean troops fought head-on was just two years ago, with each side claiming victory in response to what they said was the others aggression.

But just five years later, a new border war erupted between the two countries, killing around 80,000 people before it ended in a stalemate in 2000.

Ethiopia ignored a subsequent ruling that it should withdraw from territory awarded to Eritrea.

Since then, a tense standoff has persisted with both maintaining a war footing, shots occasionally fired and with each side backing the others rebels.

The apparent detente in recent weeks has raised hopes of a normalisation of relations that might boost regional trade and ease tensions.

Their long cold war has stymied economic development, frozen political relations and helped justify domestic repression.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed security chiefs in the country to remain vigilant and ensure the protection of lives and property in the country.

The president gave the directive in Jos, Plateau, on Tuesday at an interactive session with stakeholders in the aftermath of the recent killings in some communities in the state.
Buhari urged traditional and community leaders to complement government efforts by persuading their constituencies to tolerate one another for peace and unity in the country.

I will continue to pressurise members of the law enforcement agencies directly under me by the Constitution as the Commander-in Chief. About eight days ago, we had five hours security meeting of the service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police.

What happened here in Jos is very bad. The question of leadership, from your household to whatever you are, is justice. The bottom line is justice.

That is why wherever I go, I will always appeal to the leadership of the communities, the law enforcement agencies to always have control of their constituencies, he said.
While condemning the latest clashes in Plateau, which left scores dead, Buhari, who was accompanied to the meeting by Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau and his counterparts from Kebbi and Niger States, condoled with the affected families, the Government and people of the state.

The president, who also wished those injured a speedy recovery, used the interactive session to appeal to Nigerians to avoid inflammatory utterances that endanger peace or promote conflicts.

He said: Whatever is being given to the media, we have to be very responsible about it.

Take for instance the situation in Benue. The Benue subsistence farmer knows that the Nigerian cattle herder that he knows doesnt carry nothing more than a stick, occasionally sometimes something to cut grass to feed his cattle.

But the present herder, I am told, carries AK47 and people are even blaming me for not talking to them because maybe (they say) I look like one of them.

There is some injustice in these aspersions.

According to him, many Nigerians still acknowledge that despite the security challenges, the All Progressives Congress-led administration has made notable successes in the security sector.

Lalong had earlier blamed parties in the conflict in the state for reneging on their agreement to maintain peace, leading to the recent upsurge in violence, after nearly three years of calm and normalcy.

We are concerned as a State that the sophisticated weapons used in these attacks, from the evidences on the ground and the narrations of victims, are not those conventional to our environment for self-defence but reflective of a terrorist invasion.

It, therefore, demands a justified response like that which was undertaken to address the Boko Haram insurgency, he said.

The governor also requested that given the number of villages completely ravaged in the violence, the Federal Government should establish an Emergency Special Intervention Fund to help reconstruct the destroyed communities.

Buhari also carefully listened to the presentations and recommendations made by Alhaji Nura Abdullahi, State Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), and Mrs Florence Jambol, a representative of the Berom community in Plateau, on engendering peace in the communities.

The interactive session was attended by traditional rulers, community and religious leaders, representatives of youths, women and trade union groups, security chiefs and some top government officials.

Source: NAN

Queen Elizabeth Tuesday night presented three Nigerians, Hauwa Ojeifo, Isaac Ezirim and Kennedy Ekezie-Joseph from Nigeria with a Queens Young Leaders Award at a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London.

The awards were in honour of the work they are doing to transform lives in their communities.

The Queen was joined at the Award ceremony by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in recognising their success.

The Queens Young Leaders Awards programme, now in its fourth and final year, celebrates the achievements of some of the most exciting young change-makers from across the Commonwealth. This years cohort from 38 Commonwealth countries are finding solutions to global issues such as climate change, food scarcity, gender-based violence, mental health, and access to education.

Guests including David Beckham OBE, Sir Lenny Henry CBE, Nicola Adams OBE, Neelam Gill, Caspar Lee, Tina Daheley, Ore Oduba and Chairman of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, Sir John Major, joined Award winners at Buckingham Palace to congratulate them on their remarkable achievements.

The Duke of Sussex, who was recently named a Commonwealth Youth Ambassador said: In this rapidly changing world, it is heartening to meet so many inspiring young people gathered here today, who have already stepped up as leaders and improved the lives of so many people across the Commonwealth. You are the hope and optimism the world needs and we will all do whatever we can to support you in it.

David Beckham OBE said: Im so proud to be here with the Queens Young Leaders tonight. Its really inspiring to meet these hardworking young people, who continue to dedicate their time and energy to helping other people live a better life. Hearing their stories and the sacrifices theyve made is a real honour and I feel very privileged to celebrate with them today.

Isaac received his Award for the work he is doing to teach coding to teenagers in low-income areas, founding Teens Can Code which is currently training 200 teenagers how to build web and mobile applications using the same tools that are used by professionals in the tech industry.

Hauwa received her award for the work she is doing to tackle the stigma around mental health, running a womens support group called She Writes Women, which focuses on mental health support and outreach among some of the most vulnerable people in the community.

Kennedy received his Award for the work he is doing to promote womens rights in Nigeria, founding the Calabar Youth Council for Womens Rights (CYCWR), which supports the rights of women in the areas of female genital mutilation (FGM), domestic abuse, forced child marriage and access to education for girls

Isaac Ezirim, 28, said: I am extremely honoured and thankful to Her Majesty The Queen for this prestigious Award in recognition of the work I am doing in Nigeria. These are moments of utmost happiness for me and the communities I serve. Its been such an amazing experience being here in the UK and meeting all of the other Award winners. Being part of the Queens Young Leaders family is exciting and I cant wait to take this to the next level.

Hauwa Ojeifo, 26, said: It is a rare privilege to receive an Award from Her Majesty The Queen for the work I am doing in mental health in Nigeria. It has been a completely transformative experience being here in the UK getting mentored by world leaders, trained and engaging in top level meetings with some of the most powerful and influential change makers of our time. Perhaps the most humbling part is being part of a network of fellow young leaders across the Commonwealth whose knowledge and resource base is far reaching. I cant wait to see what we do with these valuable connections in the future.

Kennedy Ekezie-Joseph, 20, said: I am honoured to be a recipient of the final ever Queens Young Leaders Award from Her Majesty The Queen. As a budding global leader, this Award is a huge responsibility for me moving forward to continue to live up to this Award and leverage all the opportunities it presents to develop my society. I have been able to meet other Award winners and learn about the incredible work they are doing across the Commonwealth. I have learned so much from the Residential Programme in the UK and I am sure that it is only just the beginning.

As a Queens Young Leader, Hauwa, Isaac and Kennedy have gained access to bespoke mentoring and training through the University of Cambridges Institute of Continuing Education, designed to develop their leadership skills further and ensure they are best placed to lead the way in the future to tackle some of the worlds most pressing issues.

Sir John Major, Chairman of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust said:

I extend my warmest congratulations to all the 2018 Queens Young Leaders. Together with our Award Winners from the last three years, they complete a unique, 240-strong cohort of Young Leaders from all across the Commonwealth. This is such an invaluable resource for the Commonwealth that The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust will be launching a legacy fund, to ensure that our support and encouragement to our Young Leaders will continue beyond the lifetime of the Trust.

Each and every one of our 240 Young Leaders is a remarkable and exceptional young person, who I have no doubt will play an important role in shaping our future world. It has been an absolute privilege and delight to get to know them.

The now complete Queens Young Leaders network forms a unique, dedicated and powerful group of young people from 53 Commonwealth countries who will connect, collaborate and change lives together for years to come. To further support them in their future endeavours, a 200,000 Legacy Fund has been created. It will be open to all 240 Queens Young Leaders and 282 highly commended runners-up to apply for grants that will help elevate their work and enable them to work together to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing the Commonwealth.

Source: NAN