By Kadiri Abdulrahman

TAJBank Ltd, one of Nigerias leading non-interest bank, has continued financial inclusion drive with the opening of a new, technology-powered branch in Wuse 2, Abuja.

According to a statement by the Managing Director of the bank, Mr Hamid Joda, the new branch brought TAJBanks growing branch network to 22 within its first two years of operation.

Joda said that the opening of the new branch aligned with the managements strategy of deepening financial inclusion by taking banking products and services to millions of unbanked and underserved populace in the grassroots.

The opening of the new branch is to continue with our strategy of ensuring that we take the TAJBank brand to all the nooks and crannies of the country.

He said it was aimed at addressing the service needs of its customers.

We understand that customers want to do business and sometimes need someone to give them that advisory service they yearn for which in turn will help to address their financial challenges, he said.
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Also Alhaji Tanko Gwamma, Chairman of TAJBanks Board of Directors, said the goal was to increase its visibility at the grassroots.

Gwamma said it was a demonstration of the commitment to continuously add socio-economic value to ordinary Nigerians.

According to him, Wuse 2 is one of the promising locations in the FCT where businesses are thriving.

The idea of opening a branch there is to ensure that customers do not suffer in their banking transactions.

TAJBank will not only give them real time service but also give them advice on how to grow their businesses, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that TAJBank recently announced its plan to launch Nigerias first private sector Sukuk offering under a N100 billion programme.

The bank also recorded a 433 per cent growth in Profit Before Tax (PBT) for the 2021 financial year, and significant growth in gross revenue, balance sheet and other performance assessment indicators. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

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Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

Paul Edeh, the proprietor, Naija Ratels FC, a women football league club, has urged the government to facilitate and ensure the availability of accurate database through a viable census.

This is contained in a statement he issued on Tuesday in Abuja, to mark the 2022 World Population Day, which is celebrated every July 11.

It was marked with a novelty match between his team and FCT selected side.

The match which was played at the Area 3 football pitch saw the FCT team featuring some female coaches and sports journalists.

The encounter ended 2-0 in favour of Naija Ratels FC.

The event also produced the Most Gorgeous Girl Nigeria, in the person of Queen Esther Abimbola, while Rukayyah Mikayal emerged as the first runner-up.

Edeh said that the country has a lot of people who pay lip service to weightier matters, and make things of little or no consequences a priority.

The novelty match is being used to appeal to Nigerians to take family planning seriously and good census will help the government plan effectively for the future of youths and effective economic planning.

You will agree with me that demography has not really been captured to the extent that it will give government the leverage to be able to plan how to manage the populace.

Indeed, we also know that there are some thematic areas in the gender violence, poverty, and so many others that needed attention.

So, the world population day held every 11th day of July gives us that opportunity to highlight the need for us to be able to have a viable census.

You will agree with me that the last time we had a census in Nigeria was in 2006; you can imagine the rate world population has grown.

So, we have come to say that there is the need for us to be able to know our population so that we will be able to plan and distribute our scare resources appropriately, Edeh said.

According to Edeh, the availability of resources will determine if the event will be sponsored on yearly basis.

We look forward to collaborating in future with the government, spirited Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Nigerians who will help us to continue to galvanise efforts in ensuring we have a tenable census.

We know that the government is planning one (census) for next year but we are also doubtful because 2023 is an election year and a new government coming on board may not seek to have that as its priority, thats why this years event is very important, he said.

Edeh stressed that accurate data will enable the government to plan and ensure wealth distribution. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Obike Ukoh

Source: NAN News

When Cynthia was raped by her abductors, who later released her, she knew she was in for more troubles. Missing her menstrual period for two months heightened her fears.

Testing positive for pregnancy broke her further.

She wasnt ready to swallow another bitter pill keeping the unwanted pregnancy from evil men.

The unpreparedness, stigmatisation and fear of the unknown got the larger part of the 35-year-old and her blood pressure became high. She thought of only one way to get out of her troubles termination of the pregnancy.

She unfortunately opted for a quack doctor to avoid shame but, alas, the unsafe abortion resulted in complications that took her life.

Sadly, Cynthia is among 14 per cent of Nigerian women who have died as a result of unsafe abortion.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), unsafe abortion is a leading but preventable cause of maternal deaths and morbidunsafe

It can lead to physical and mental health complications and social and financial burdens for women, communities and health systems.

Unsafe abortion, as defined by WHO, is a procedure for terminating an unintended pregnancy, carried out either by persons lacking the necessary skills or in an environment that does not conform to minimal medical standards or both.

Data from WHO shows that globally, 4.7 per cent to 13.2 per cent of annual maternal deaths can be attributed to unsafe abortion.

Every year, an estimated 287,000 maternal deaths occur globally to which Nigeria contributes 14 per cent. Unsafe abortion accounts for about 10 to 14 per cent of maternal morbidity and mortality in Nigeria.

In an effort to reduce preventable maternal deaths, Lagos State Government, on June 28, released a document entitled Guidelines on Termination of Pregnancy for Legal Indications.

The 40-page document modelled after the National Guidelines for Legal Indications (2018) prepared by the Federal Ministry of Health is designed to provide guidance to medical practitioners and other stakeholders on when it is lawful or unlawful to terminate a pregnancy.

According to Lagos State Government, the goal of the document is to serve as a tool for provision of safe termination of pregnancies within the legal framework in circumstances whereby continuation of such pregnancies threaten the lives or physical and/or mental health of women.

It hopes that the Guidelines will help to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality in Lagos and, by extension, Nigeria.

It notes that Nigeria has the second-largest burden of maternal mortality globally, after India, regretting that many of the deaths are of known causes and preventable.

According to the state, a neglected area of preventable maternal deaths is related to the provisions of the Nigerian Abortion Law.

It acknowledges that the Nigerian Abortion Law permits termination of pregnancy in circumstances where the continuation of pregnancy threatens the mothers life but unfortunately, no formal efforts have been made through the development of policy instruments, guidelines or tools to implement these provisions to save the lives of Nigerian women whose existence is threatened by continuation of their pregnancies.

It points out that induced abortion is illegal in Nigeria except when performed to save a womans life and that the penal code and the criminal code allow this exception, with specification of criminal penalties for non-compliance.

Lagos State had reviewed its abortion law in 2011 to extend the provisions to the mothers physical health.

Consequently, this Guidelines for Lagos State is intended to standardise practice and build the capacity of medical professionals in public and private facilities to identify pregnancies for which the law is intended so that ethical and safe management can be instituted.

The document provides information on subsisting Nigerian law on termination of pregnancy, Lagos State revised law 2011, a compendium of medical conditions and circumstances where the continuation of pregnancy endangers the womans life, and describes the step-by-step options for ethical and safe medical management.

It is envisaged that the enunciation, deployment and use of this Guidelines will preserve the lives of pregnant women from dying and assist those whose physical or mental health would be compromised with the continuation of their pregnancies, it says.

According to the state, medical conditions that may constitute a threat to the life and physical health of a pregnant woman and make her to benefit from safe legal termination of pregnancy include obstetric and gynaecological conditions such as genital tract cancers, severe fetal conditions or malformation not compatible with extrauterine life.

Other conditions are heart and vascular diseases, including uncontrolled hypertension in the first or second trimester, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia and pulmonary embolism.

Kidney diseases, cancers, blood diseases, autoimmune diseases, diabetes mellitus refractory to treatment or with organ failure, can pose a threat to the life and physical health of a pregnant woman.

Similarly, psychiatric and other mental disorders which include psychiatric disorders with suicidal ideation, severe depression with suicidal tendencies, which may occur in rape and incest, can constitute a threat to the life and physical health of a pregnant woman.

Lagos State believes that having guidelines on safe termination of pregnancy for legal indications is very important as no woman should lose her life or have her physical or mental health compromised from conditions that can be prevented or addressed.

It is in this regard that it is important to disseminate and implement the Guidelines as accepted by the Government of Lagos State to ensure that every woman in Lagos State gets the right care she deserves at the right time and place for safe termination of pregnancy for any legal indications, the government states in the document.

It highlights standards and best practices with regard to legal indications, pre and post procedure care, methods and monitoring.

At the launch of the document, Dr Olusegun Ogboye, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, had said that the document was for safe termination of pregnancies within the ambit of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

According to Ogboye, the document will provide evidence-based data and other information for health workers in public and private sectors with requisite skills to provide safe termination of pregnancy to reduce preventable deaths.

He gave the assurance that the document had undergone consultations with relevant technical stakeholders within the legal and health service context in the state and also with key opinion leaders in South-West Zone.

However, the state governments release of the Guidelines has been frowned at by some residents and religious groups.

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Martins, describes the release as legalising abortion through the backdoor.

Martins is worried that the Guidelines will create room for indiscriminate procurement of abortion.

He says it is untrue that all stakeholders were consulted in the process of drafting the Guidelines.

The issue of abortion touches very much on ethical and religious sensibilities, and religious bodies were not consulted.

Certainly millions of Catholics, who have always maintained their strong opposition to legalisation of abortion in any guise, were not consulted.

The baby in the womb is a person that is distinct from the mother though he is in the mothers womb; so, not even the mother has the right to kill him, talk less of the government purporting to give legal backing for their murder.

We need to continue to explore ways of providing support for women who find themselves in difficulty as a result of their pregnancies rather than thinking of aborting a child who is innocent of the difficulty that the mother may be going through.

Any attempt to terminate the life of an unborn child is tantamount to murder and should be treated as a capital offence, Martins argues.

The cleric advises that focus should be on proper enlightenment on human sexuality and collaboration, in order to support women who get pregnant without being ready for the pregnancy.

Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, Chief Medical Director, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and a contributor to the development of the Guidelines, clarifies that the document does not support indiscriminate and illegal procurement of abortion.

There are only two lawful grounds for therapeutic termination of pregnancy, and they are for preservation of a mothers life and preservation of the womans physical health.

We are not allowed to conduct pregnancy termination because someone says I dont want this baby; Im not ready for it or Im too young for it.

The guidelines make it clear to public and private hospitals in the state what is allowed under the legal ambit in Nigeria, Fabamwo, a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, explains.

On the implications of the Guidelines to the states maternal health indices, Fabamwo is convinced that it will reduce maternal mortality and morbidity arising from unsafe abortion, since therapeutic abortion will be conducted by specialists in obstetrics and gyneacology.

For Dr Tunji Akintade, a former Chairman, Association of Nigeria Private Medical Practitioners, the state government should be praised for coming up with the Guidelines which, he says, will improve maternal health.

He regrets that many women have died as a result of unsafe abortion.

Akintade is of the opinion that restricting access to safe abortions means will drive women into unsafe abortions, resulting in complications and, in some cases, deaths.

Over the years, medical practitioners have been scared of prosecution, even when the life of a woman, her baby or her mental health is threatened due to pregnancy; they feel so reluctant to do anything to save her.

Such a woman does not need to suffer based on a medical condition that got worse due to her pregnancy, and delay in providing medical intervention for such a woman can lead to death.

We need to remove prejudice when lives are at stake. More so, every pregnancy is not the same; some women might have it easy while some might not.

People should move beyond criticism and trying to force their religious beliefs on others, he argues.

Akintade points out that proper documentation of the process is emphasised on the Guidelines to check abuse.

In reaction to the condemnation of the release of the Guidelines in some quarters, the state Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on July 7, directed suspension of the implementation of the Guidelines.

In a statement released by the state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, the governor directed further sensitisation of key stakeholders and members of the public to ensure a clearer understanding of the objectives of the Guidelines.

According to him, the state ministry of health is seeking different methods to eliminate illegal abortions and ensure that a mother does not die at childbirth and disrupt an entire family unit.

The governor is worried that illegal abortions and high risk pregnancies leading to unresolvable complications, rank high among contributors to maternal mortality.

According to him, the focus of the Guidelines is on creating opportunities to reduce maternal mortality in line with existing laws.

In this regard, it became imperative to examine, in keeping with existing national and state laws and policies, if there are indeed justifications and medical reasons to offer abortion to a woman whose life is threatened by a pregnancy.

Sanwo-Olu says suspension of the implementation of the Guidelines will enable the state executive council to deliberate on the matter and ensure adequate public sensitisation and stakeholder engagement to reach a consensus required for a successful guideline development.

Analysts urge expedited deliberations, sensitisation and engagement of stakeholders to ensure timely resolution of any issues around the Guidelines and take desired actions that will save lives of more pregnant women. (NANFEATURES)

Source: NAN News

By Fabian Ekeruche, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

When the United Nations (UN) adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, it did not prefigure that a devastating COVID-19 pandemic will emerge few years later to become a clog in the wheel of global development.

The UN adopted 17 SDGs as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the 17 SDGs are integratedthey recognise that action in one area will affect outcomes in others, and that development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability.

UNDP says that countries have committed to prioritise progress for those whore furthest behind.

It believes that the SDGs, if well implemented, are designed to end poverty, hunger, AIDS, and discrimination against women and girls.

The creativity, knowhow, technology and financial resources from all of society is necessary to achieve the SDGs in every context, UNDP says.

Barely five years into the SDGs, the global community is hit by the pandemic, reversing the progress made globally.

Consequently, few people who managed to be pulled out of poverty in Africa have been put back into poverty.

The SDG No. 17 talks about partnerships, urging international cooperation from countries, continents, regional bodies to partner to ensure that the SDGs are met by 2030

It is for this reason that Sterling One Foundation initiated the African Social Impact Summit (ASIS) to gather worthy partners to deliberate on how to bring back Africa on the trajectory of global development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit, which is the brain child of Sterling One Foundation, will focus on Rethink, Rebuild, Recover: Accelerating Growth for the SDGS.

Speaking on the summit, The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sterling One Foundation, Mrs Olapeju Ibekwe, says that ASIS is a timely initiative and is a global convening of big public, private, and the third sectors for us to discuss how we can be viewed from what the pandemic has done for us.

Ibekwe says that the foundation and its partners will leverage the summit to ensure growth is accelerated towards the achievement of the SDGs across the continent and especially in Nigeria, as the largest economy in Africa.

We are going to be having not just panel discussions on critical sectors including health, education, climate action, gender equality, gender empowerment, and also youth development.

We are also going to be having a deal room because we intend to attract impact, investors actual money into excellent scalable solutions that address these critical issues from access to health care, access to education quality and to drive inclusion.

The CEO says the foundation is not working alone on this project, but its relying on SDG 17 to work with partners to ensure that the outcome of the summit is impactful and sustainable.

According to her, one of the major partners in the project is Sterling Bank.

She says that a two-day hybrid event, holding on July 13 and 14, 2022 in Abuja, is being executed in partnership with the United Nations Global Compact, Coca Cola Foundation, Impact Investors Foundation, VFD Group PLC and Sterling Bank.

She says that the summit is expected to bring together thousands of players working within the African development sector with a view to attracting impact investments into critical sectors across the continent.

Also speaking on the summit, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sterling Bank, Mr Abubakar Suleiman, says one of the efficient ways of putting an end to hunger is to create rural prosperity.

Suleiman says that hunger is a critical part of the SDGs, which demands commitment from partners if we are to put an end to it.

But youre not going to end hunger by supplying food to the poor.

Alleviating poverty is not how you end hunger.

You actually have to create prosperity. And specifically, you have to create rural prosperity, so that the people who are directly involved in agriculture becomes a lot more productive, Suleiman says.

For Chukwuebuka Emebinah, a representative of Impact Investors Foundation (IIF), one of the partners in the summit, the foundation is glad to be part of the ASIS conference.

Emebinah says that IEF is excited working with Sterling banks and Sterling One Foundation in achieving a goal of an African continent which is fully adapted to the SDGs.

So, we have talked about the SDG 17, which is all about partnership for the goals, and we are happy to be partners towards achieving the objective of this assistive service, Emebinah says.

He says Africa as a continent continues to grapple with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ravaging effect of climate challenge.

According to him, the impact of the war in Ukraine on food and fuel prices continues to affect Africa as a continent.

We at the Impact Investors Foundation are happy to support entrepreneurship in all its goals.

We have a focus on agriculture, health care and also the education sector. And of course, all of these will be thought through renewable energy sources and also climate friendly food processes, Emebinah says

Mrs Amaka Onyemelukwe, Director, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability at the Coca Cola Company, says that the company is delighted to be part of the summit.

Onyemelukwe says that the Coca Cola Company is very clear in achieving the SDGs, which has to be run on collective impacts.

So we believe in partnerships, I think our SDG 17 is portrayed as digital because for everything we do, we believe in doing it as a collective action.

We recognise that we dont have strengths in all the areas, and there is the need to come together to pull our resources together so that we can achieve the type of impacts that we need to be able to build sustainable communities.

Our mission as a company is very clear; refresh the world, make a difference.

And I think on the refresh the world part, we are undisputed beverage company, providing beverages for over 136 years now,Onyemelukwe says.

She says that the COY also believe that for us to continue to be sustainable, the communities where we live and work has to also be sustainable; and that is a driving force for everywhere we operate.

In her contribution, Soromidayo George, Chairman, United Nations Global Compact Network, Nigeria, says that there is the need to take care of the communities we live and work.

George says that the onus is also on us to see that we work to prosper the people living in those communities.

According to her, there is increasing rate of poverty all around us emanating from the COVID 19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

We cannot fold our hand in the face of all these. That is why we must rise to the challenge of helping the communities we live and work.

This is why we are such a strategic partner in this summit, George says.

She says that the UN Global Compact is the worlds largest collection of private businesses that drive sustainability.

Across the world, it is the private sector arm of the United Nations. And we are driving the SDGs and trying to get companies to embed the SDGs within their businesses.

We have a vast array of resources and tools to build the right kind of capabilities within businesses and weve been doing that.

Another partner, Efeturi Doghudje, Head Marketing and Corporate Communications for VFD Group PLC says the company is happy to join the summit as a partner.

Doghudje says that her group, sometime last year, made a critical decision to be part of the SDGs with focus on education and health.

We are also proud to be coming to the table to discuss some of these things that affect the continent and even cascade down and affect our country as well.

We are in the business of transforming lives.

So what better way to do that than to partner with an initiative that will help to change the continent of Africa and the peoples in it, Doghudje says.

In conclusion, the African Social Impact Summit, makes a big statement on how African countries can leverage partnerships, relying on the mandate of the SDGs to end poverty and increase prosperity in the continent.(NANFeatures)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vivian Ihechu

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has commended the Jennifer Etuh Foundation (JEF) for donating a specialist hospital and skills acquisition centre to Mallagum Kagoro community in Kaduna State.

Jonathan gave the commendation on Monday during the inauguration of the hospital, built by the foundation in memory of late Mrs Jennifer Ramatu Etuh, wife of the Chairman of JEF, Mr Thomas Etuh.

During the inauguration of the hospital, Jonathan who was represented by the former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, commended Etuh for keeping up with the dreams of his late wife.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jonathan has been partnering with the foundation after its inauguration two years ago.

The hospital, with about 50-bed capacity, would be managed by Bingham University.

The establishment of the hospital is part of the vision of late Mrs Jennifer Etuh to provide available, accessible and affordable world class healthcare services to women and children in areas where they are sited.

The hospital is sited on a 12-hectare land mass with outpatient department, three consulting rooms, pharmacy, antenatal, special care baby unit, intensive care unit, labour/delivery room, cervical cancer screening room, mammogram and others.

The skill acquisition centre has beauty salon, art and craft as well as catering tutorials for vocational trainings to be administered.

Jonathan said: By this project, you have touched the heart of humanity.

He said that the philanthropic work of the foundation would benefit the entire people of Kaduna and beyond.

The former president urged the managers of the facility to ensure that the hospital was affordable for the people to use.

Chairman of the Foundation, Mr Thomas Etuh, said the project was to fulfill the aspirations of his wifes legacies.

Etuh said it was the late wifes intention to establish hospitals in the six geopolitical zones for healthcare of women and children.

He said JEF first assignment was the establishment of a Medical Centre in Odu Ogboyega, Dekina LGA, Kogi State which was commissioned on Jan. 26, 2022, while the one inaugurated in Kaduna was the second.

Etuh said additional four hospitals would be established soon in Imo, Gombe, Osun and Cross River states.

The third hospital will be commissioned in Osun, on the 3rd anniversary of her death.

On his part, the Chief of Kagoro, Dr Ufuwai Bonel, commended the state government for permitting the construction of the hospital.

I believe that as the operations take off, the state government would complement that effort of the Foundation.

The community remains grateful to the land owners, who voluntarily gave their lands without asking for any compensation.

Earlier, Yakubu Mamman, the Resident Pastor of Lukeone17 Mission, Kaduna in a short exhortation, said Jennifer did not need to die but the impact of what was to come made it possible.

If we have 10 Ramatu Jennifer in Kaduna, government will rest, Mamman said. (NAN)()

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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Olajide Idowu

Mr Usman Alkali Baba, Inspector General of Police on Tuesday said 21,000 police officers would be deployed for the Osun July 16 governorship election.

Alkali Baba stated this in Osogbo at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Osun 2022 Governorship Election Stakeholders Meeting.

The IGP, however, said that the deployment was not to intimidate residents but to prevent miscreants from highjacking or disrupting the election process.

He said the deployed officers would provide security, protect the electorate, INEC personnel and materials before, during and after the election.

He said the officers deployed had already been trained and made aware of the rules of engagement, adding that the police remained apolitical and they were to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

In his address, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC National Chairman, said the commission was fully ready to conduct the Osun election.

According to him, the election materials have already been deployed to all the state INEC local government area offices.

Yakubu said sensitive materials would be delivered to the wards 24 hours to the election and the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) collection would still continue untill Thursday July 14, two days to the governorship election.

Giving the records on PVC collection in the state, Mahmood added that out of the 1,955,657 registered voters in Osun, 1,479,959 voters have collected their PVCs as of INEC record of Sunday July 10.

He said INEC would also be setting a record as Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) would also be deployed as ad hoc staff selected from NYSCcorps members) for the election, asking the electorate to cooperate and protect them.

He said that five INEC National Commissioners, 12 Resident Electoral Commissioners and other senior INEC officers would be in the state to support the Osun office to deliver a credible, free, fair and conclusive election. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Chioma Ugboma

Source: NAN News

It was not, however, a complaint galore as the pilgrims also gave the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria thumbs up in places where successes were recorded in the 2022 Hajj. These include areas of preparations for the Hajj where pilgrims recognised the quick interventions of the commission in making sure that recommendations and guidelines released as criteria to meet up for the operations by Saudi Arabia authorities became fruitful.

The Saudi Arabia ministry of Hajj and Umrah gave an unexpected notice for the commencement of the Hajj and this was largely due to the two years none performance occasioned by the coronavirus (COVID-19) health pandemic that led to the lockdown of the world. Though indications were given of the possible performance of the operations, the official decision was communicated to NAHCON barely three months for the number of seat allocated, price and accommodation arrangements. And to top it all, new rules that where not part of the Hajj operations were introduced by the Saudi authorities.

These include arrangements for payments to accepted companies through a new system that was abrupt and feeding of pilgrims in Arafat and Mina camps. In spite of all this, NAHCON was able to meet its obligations to intending pilgrims that have paid money two years ago and the new ones, especially those of the private tour operators.

The pilgrims also commended the rising to the task of the commission in ensuring that the emergency nature of the 2022 Hajj standards did not lead to lowering of standards in basic welfare of pilgrims; such as getting accommodation near the two Holy mosques in Madinah and Makkah. Many pilgrims got their Basic Travelling Allowance (BTA) in dollars even within the short notice for the exercise.

Pilgrims also lauded the fact that more than 90 per cent of pilgrims shortlisted for the operations were able to make it in spite of the odds of delayed or cancelled flights by some states pilgrims welfare boards at the initial stage of departures from Nigeria.

***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Aderonke Ojediran

A living room is a place in a home that is supposed to be for family time, bonding and watching television, but mens obsession for football lately is making the living room become a war zone between couples.

With their husbands eyes and souls glued to the television screen displaying a football match, would wives agree to share the attention of their men with football?

How do wives cope with husbands who are football fanatics? When a match is lost, how do wives cope with its effect on their husbands?

Football is a game which engages every soul interested in it, with its suspense, disappointments, shock, failure, success and at last, victory. Do wives accept to bear this cross?

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday spoke with some women in Lagos metropolis to get their feelings about this.

Mrs Theresa Adelusi, an agricultural engineer, and mother of four, said her husband loves football after God.

If you want to serve food to my husband when he is watching football, he will say no. He gives total attention to that football that he is watching. He doesnt give attention to anyone.

Adelusi said that the mood of the house depends on her husbands favorite club.

If Chelsea loses a match, the whole house will feel the impact. But if they win, ask for anything and he will give you.

Sometimes I wonder how rich he would be if he got paid for his dedication, and
my question, why should a happy moment in my household be determined by the result of a football team? she said.

Mrs Catherine Bamgbose, CEO, Tulips Beauty Glow and mother of one, said her husband gives much attention to football and hates being disturbed when watching football.

If you disturb my husband when watching a match, he doesnt mind, he switches his phone on and watches it online.

That is the only time I get to serve him any food of my choice and he doesnt pay enough attention to complain.

He loves football to the extent that he wont eat for hours if his favorite club, Barcelona, loses, she said.

According to Mrs Gloria Ndubuisi, a lawyer and a mother of four, her husband watches football with so much passion as if his life depends on it.

In the beginning of our marriage, it caused lots of problems. Sometimes, when theres power outage, he would fuel the generator with a part of the childrens school fees to watch a match and I will be bitter.

There was even a time he slapped our eldest daughter for changing the channel to Zee world. It was a horrible experience, she said.

Mrs Lynda Essien, a business woman and a mother of one, said her husband hates it when someone changes the channel while hes watching a football match.

My husband becomes moody when his favourite club, Manchester United, loses a match. But he comes around after some time, she said.

For Mrs Martha Orakwe, a teacher and a mother of six, her husbands weakest point is football.

My husbands Achilles heel is football. He is very collected and gentle but when it comes to football, I dont recognise him and get his attention anymore, she said.

Orakwe said that her husband not only watches a football match on television but also listens to the commentaries on radio,even while driving.

I remember a time my husbands favourite club Chelsea lost a match. He heard this from the commentary on radio and we almost had an accident that day, she said.

Mrs Funmi Adekunle, a businesswoman and mother of two, said that she had no choice but love football because of her husbands obsession for the game and to avoid conflict in her home.

My husband is more than a football lover. I decided to join him and be a football fan than to be fighting with him over the television remote, she said.

Adekunle advised wives to give up the fight over the remote or channels and join their husbands to watch and love the game.

Football is a game that binds people together. It brings together different nations, tribes, colour, races, and even religion. This is the same game that will bring your family together. she advised.

However, some men, in their reactions told NAN that watching football helped them ease their stress and temporarily makes them forget their daily challenges.

Mr Sola Adeleke, a civil servant, told NAN thatmost men watch football for excitement.

As a man, there are lots of challenges we face daily, but the thought of watching your club play brings excitement; I dont think men do this thing to spite their wives.

A match either at home or at bar with a chill drink relaxes the body, I stopped following a particular club because of several failures from them, so these days I just enjoy quality football and rest, he said.

Mr Ikenna Ofem, told NAN that the battle for television remote when he is watching his favourite club play, made him buy a dual view decoder.

With this, I can be in my room to watch my favourite sport channels without disturbance, while the rest of the family watch their favourite channels in the living room.

It was expensive getting another TV and running the whole package but it was worth it, it was almost becoming a tug of war in my household, he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

Source: NAN News

By Monday Ijeh

The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Usman Baba, has ordered the deployment of police team to Osun, ahead of the July 16 governorship election in the state.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this on Sunday in a statement he issued in Abuja.

He said the team would be headed by MrJohnson Kokumo, theDeputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID).

Adejobi saidKokumo, also the supervisory DIG for the South-West, would be assisted by four Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) during the election.

He said four Commissioners of Police (CPs), 15 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and 30 Assistant Commissioners of Police were also deployed for the exercise.

According to him, adequate police personnel of the rank of Chief Superintendents of Police and below have equally been deployed for the election.

He said Kokumo would oversee the implementation of the Operation Order evolved from the Election Security Threat Assessment.

Adejobi said the idea was to ensure a peaceful and conducive environment, devoid of violence for law abiding citizens to freely perform their civic responsibilities without molestation or intimidation.

He said other senior officers deployed would coordinate human and other operational deployments in the three senatorial districts, 30 local government areas and 3,753 polling units in the state.

Adejobi said the CP and Provost Marshall at the Force Headquarters, Mr Julius Alawari, had been temporarily deployed to Osun for the election and would be there until the conclusion of the exercise.

He said the CP in charge of Osun, Mr Olokode Olawale, had been temporarily moved to the Force Headquarters.

The police spokesman said the I-G would on Tuesday, meet with stakeholders in Osogbo, adding that the operational deployments were part of actions aimed at creating a conducive and enabling environment for the election.

He said the personnel deployed were drawn from the conventional police officers, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Forces personnel, Explosives Ordinance Disposal Unit (EOD), Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) and INTERPOL.

Adejobi said others were drawn from the Special Protection Unit (SPU), Police Airwing, Public Relations Department (FPRD) and the police medical team.

He said the personnel would be on ground to guarantee free, fair, credible and acceptable election.

According to him, five Armored Personnel Carriers for patrol, as well as three helicopters and six Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for aerial surveillance amongst other unique operational assets are also deployed.

He said the Nigeria Police Force was satisfactorily prepared for the election and reiterated the commitment of the Force to synergise with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders for the election.

Adejobi said the synergy was to protect democratic values, provide level playing field for all political actors, ensure adequate protection of voters, INEC officials, equipment, accredited observers and other key players.

He urged the electorate to be law-abiding and to comply with the restriction of movement order to be announced at the appropriate time.

The police spokesman enjoined the electorate to come out en masse to exercise their franchise, adding that adequate security had been emplaced to protect lives and property, before, during, and after the election. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chidinma Agu/Kingsley Kubeyinje

Source: NAN News

Tinubu and Shettima

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

A political support group, Tinubu Vanguard, has applauded the selection of Sen. Kashim Shettima as vice presidential candidate of The All Progressives Congress (APC).

Dr Benjamin Johnny, Director-General of the group, in a statement on Sunday, commended APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu for making a wise choice in Shettima, a former Governor of Borno.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu disclosed his choice of Shettima as running mate to newsmen on Sunday in Daura, while paying Sallah homage to President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to Johnny, the choice of Shettima is good news for the APC and Nigeria at large, considering his capacity and patriotic zeal.

We congratulate Shettima on his selection as vice presidential candidate of the APC ahead of the 2023 elections.

We appreciate Tinubu for making the right choice that can guarantee victory at the polls. Pairing him with Tinubu is an assurance of a greater Nigeria.

Shettima is known for his leadership qualities as displayed while serving as governor of Borno, and also for his intellectual capacity and patriotism, he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News