Gov. Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun has congratulated Nigerians on the nations 60th Independence Anniversary.

Oyetola in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, on Wednesday in Osogbo, called on the citizens to continue to live in love and apply dialogue at this challenging times to achieve the desired peace, unity, national integration and prosperity that we desire as a nation.

The governor lauded the nations ability to latch on its shared values and collective will to defeat and survive the vagaries of a civil war, political impasse, insecurity issues and economic upheavals in the past.

The fact that the country still stayed together was indicative of its capacity to waddle through the present challenges and achieve its vision and destiny.

Oyetola thanked the people of Osun for their love, understanding and cooperation, assuring them of the avowed resolve of government to continue to deliver peace, opportunities and prosperity at these challenging and austere times.

As we celebrate the 60th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria, I congratulate Mr President, Muhammadu Buhari, the Government and People of Nigeria.

Ours have been 60 years of opportunities, landmarks and challenges. But we have overcome the centrifugal forces of a civil war, political impasse, insecurity issues and economic upheavals through resilience, shared values and collective will as a people.

We have in the last 21 years shaken off political uncertainties and run unbroken democracy.

During these years, we have spoken as one people and given to ourselves self-government and nurtured the tenets of democracy.

We have, in the process, proved our mettle as a nation under the prevailing circumstances.

This should convince and encourage us that we have what it takes to survive our current challenges and come out stronger and better.

Going forward, we must live in love as one people under God and continue to always employ dialogue, especially at this challenging times, to achieve the peace, unity, national integration and prosperity that we desire as a nation.

Let us continue to find and employ new ways to talk and collaborate to build a strong, united, indivisible and prosperous Nigeria.

Osun, as part of the federating units of the nation, we shall continue to responsibly pursue ends that will achieve the vision and dream of our fatherland, the governor said.

Oyetola counselled the people to always be guided by the motto of the nation, Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress, at all times, saying those pillars would make the nation perform its responsibilities to the people and compete in a globalised world.

Source: NAN News

Gov. Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti State

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has donated N100million to the Borno Government.

A statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by NGF Head, Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo said the donation was made by the NGF Chairman and Governor of Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi.

It disclosed that Fayemi visited Maiduguri, to solidarise with Gov. Babagana Zulum onthe recent attacks on his convoy.

Fayemi handing over the cheque to Zulum said that Nigeria owes the Borno people a duty to end the insurgency and nip it in the bud.

He admonishedZulum to exercise caution in his activities in the state.

Fayemi recalled how Zulum attempted to dissuade them from visiting his state, said heinsisted that it was not just a duty but the most realistic thing to do because an attack against one is an attack against all.

Responding, Zulum appreciated the NGF for the kind gesture, saying it is not the amount of money, but the gesture behind that matters.

The governorpromised to be careful in the way he traverses his state.

Zulum said that he would not be deterred from pursuing his goals of emancipating his people saying, security and development are two sides of the same coin.

Fayemi was accompanied by the governor of Sokoto State and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum, Aminu Tambuwal; the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu.

Also on the team was the governor of Plateau and Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Simon Lalong.

Source: NAN News

The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and National Orientation Agency (NOA) have called for concerted efforts among Nigerians to end open defecation by 2025 through the building of toilet facilities.

The Minister, Mr Suleiman Adamu, and the Director-General of NOA, Dr Garba Abari, made the call on Wednesday during a one-day sensitisation campaign in Abakaliki.

The campaign is on Open-Defecation-Free Nigeria for Community Orientation and Mobilization Officers (COMOs) for the thirteen Local Government Areas of the state.

Adamu, who was represented by Mrs Chizoba Opara, the Acting National Coordinator for the Clean Nigeria: use the toilet campaign, said they embarked on the campaign to sensitise COMOs to enable them to come up with an action plan before the end of the exercise.

He also said that the ministry took advantage of NOAs wide reach to get to the urban and rural areas of the state to end the trend.

In this campaign, we expect states to come up with their road maps and targets to end open defecation.

These are sensitisation and awareness that we brought to states for them to understand that we need to be in the race together, Adamu said.

Abari, who was represented by the Deputy Director, NOA, Mrs Theresa Maduekwe, said that realising open defecation free nation by 2025 was possible, if individuals could get involved in the campaign.

He also encouraged the practice of hand washing and wash facilities to be in place, describing the practice as key to good health.

The open defecation free Nigeria 2025 is achievable when everybody is involved and start building toilets at homes and public places.

This practice affects us. Stop the act, build one and use the toilet, Abari said.

Meanwhile, the State Director of the agency, Dr Emma Abah, said that 47 million Nigerians practice open defecation.

Abah said that if nothing was done to end the trend in the next ten years, the number of people who practice the act would increase.

The adverse impact of open defecation can be judged from the fact that one gram of feaces of a person contains 10,000,000 viruses, 1,000,000 bacteria, 1,000 parasite cyst and 100 parasite egg and pathogens.

Our objective is to make the state open defecation free, Abah said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise featured training, technical and interactive sessions with COMOs.

Also, lectures were presented on the health impact of the practice, poor wash and objective of the programme, among others, by resource persons from the ministry and Ebonyi State Rural Water Sanitation Agency.

Source: NAN News

Flood ravaging a community

The Federal Ministry of Wa

ter Resources has commiserated with Bauchi and Jigawa state governments over the recent devastating floods, which led to the loss of lives and displacement of some residents.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in recent times, about 30 lives were lost, with an estimated 4,000 houses and farmlands destroyed due to flooding in the two states.

The Minister, Mr Suleiman Adamu, in a statement on Wednesday says the ministry has commenced an impact assessment of the flood sites to forestall further occurrence, pledging to work continuously towards finding lasting solution.

While attributing the sad incidence to impact of climate change on the environment, Adamu says there are no short-term measures to any hydrological phenomenon, saying the ministry will seek relief for those affected.

He says the ministry is liaising with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development with a view to stepping up relief efforts to aid victims of the floods.

I wish to assure those affected that through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources efforts under the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) Project and other specific Water Resources Management programmes, we will continue to work towards finding lasting reprieve.

I have today dispatched a team of experts from Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, National Water Resources Institute and Hadejia Jamaare River Basin Development Authority, to carry out an on- the- spot assessment of the disaster to enable us plan for long term solutions.

I have also had useful discussions with Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, representing Jigawa North-East, on short term measures to cushion the devastating effects of this flood incident on Hadejia and surrounding communities.

He will be furnishing my office with comprehensive details of the resettlement efforts underway, to enable my Ministry provide necessaryintervention, particularly related to potable water supply,sanitation and hygiene facilities for displaced communities.

I am also liaising with my counterpart, the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development with a view to stepping up relief efforts to aid victims of the flood, Adamu disclosed.

The Minister expressed his condolences to the governors of Jigawa and Bauchi states, His Highness, Emir of Hadejia and the entire affected communities in Hadejia Emirate and neighboring communities in Bauchi State.

He prayed for the repose of the souls of those who died in the incident, saying the Almighty Allah would grant them the fortitude to bear the colossal loss.

In May 2020, the 2020 Annual Flood Outlook, published by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, predicted that some parts of at least 128 LGAs in 28 states fall within the highly Probable Flood Risk areas.

Source: NAN News

Liverpools new signing Thiago tests positive for COVID-19

Liverpools new midfield signing Thiago Alcantara has tested positive for COVID-19 and is self-isolating with minor symptoms, the reigning English Premier League (EPL) champions said on Tuesday.

The Spaniard joined from Bayern Munich earlier this month and made his debut in their 2-0 win over Chelsea.

He has now been ruled out of their next two games after missing Mondays 3-1 victory over Arsenal at Anfield.

It is the choice of each individual whether they reveal publicly the outcome of a COVID-19 test, Liverpools first-team doctor Jim Moxon said in a statement.

We have followed all the protocols to the letter and Thiago is OK. He will be self-isolating now as per the guidelines and hopefully hell be back with us soon.

Liverpool will host Arsenal in the last 16 round of the English League Cup on Thursday and return to league action on Sunday with a trip to Aston Villa.

Spain manager Luis Enrique is due to announce his squad for this months matches with Portugal, Switzerland and Ukraine.

Source: NAN News

Fernando Verdasco

Spanish tennis player Fernando Verdasco has announced his intention to sue the French Open organisers after he was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a positive coronavirus test.

He has insisted the test was not accurate.

Verdasco, the world number 59, pulled out of the final Grand Slam of the year in Paris on Thursday after giving a positive test.

His withdrawal was along with five other players, including Canadas Milos Raonic and Switzerlands Belinda Bencic.

The 36-year-old Spaniard said he had tested positive in August without symptoms and had returned several negative tests before heading to Paris for the tournament.

Verdasco asked for another test but his request was turned down.

He has given a negative result since withdrawing.

Yes, evidently I want (to sue). No one can believe that a tournament such as Roland Garros can do this, it cannot be like this, he said on Tuesday.

This isnt about money, its about the damage that has been done to me personally and professionally.

The French Open did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bosnias Damir Dzumhur had previously announced his plans to sue the organisers after he was expelled from the tournament after his coach Petar Popovic tested positive.

Since Dzumhur and Verdasco were barred from competing, the organisers have appeared ready to give a second chance.

They said the local health authority ruled on Friday that a player could prove not being infected with a documented file approved by experts and would not be considered contagious.

Such a player therefore would not be ejected from the tournament.

Verdasco said the rule change had only made him more angry, adding he was not sure if he wanted to play again in 2020.

I dont know if Im going to play again this year or not, because I dont have any enthusiasm to play any more.

They (French Open organisers) do whatever they like, with no coherence and no respect, he added.

The rights of the players count for nothing. You can imagine my anger, its incredible. They showed a huge lack of respect to a player who has spent the last 16 years competing at Roland Garros.

And then the next day, after I have been left out of the draw, they change the rules and now you can do a second test. That was the final straw.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 test

The Zimbabwean Government announced on Tuesday that it will charge for COVID-19 tests done on travellers showing symptoms of the disease at ports of entry.

The measure is meant to allow the government to replenish laboratory commodities, Information Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, told a post-cabinet media briefing on Tuesday.

Zimbabwe will resume international flights on Thursday this week after a six-month suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Domestic flights resumed in the middle of this month.

The government has announced that all travellers to Zimbabwe will be required to have PCR COVID-19 clearance certificates issued by a recognised facility within 48 hours from the date of departure in line with WHO guidelines, among other health and safety regulations.

As a measure to guarantee the safety of travellers, Cabinet further resolved that in line with Statutory Instrument (216) (5) Section 8, which requires travellers showing COVID-19 symptoms, whether or not they have a COVID-19 free certificate to be tested.

A nominal fee of US be levied on travellers tested at ports of entry and that the proceeds be used to replenish laboratory commodities, Mutsvangwa said.

She said metered taxi operators have been allowed to resume services for the movement of tourists and citizens who are unable to use public transport.

The minister said security personnel will now be fully enforcing critical COVID-19 containment measures such as physical distancing and proper wearing of masks after the government has relaxed lockdown restrictions.

The country has recorded 7,816 COVID-19 cases, 6,112 recoveries and 228 deaths as on Monday. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Electricity transmission power line

By Constance Imasuen

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has directed the 11 Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to suspend the Sept. 1 tariff increase for 14 days.

The commissions suspension directive of the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) 2020 signed by Prof James Momoh, NERCs Chairman, was released on its web site on Wednesday.

NERC suspension followed a joint communique issued by the Federal Government and the labour unions.

The Federal Government agreed that the recent review in electricity tariffs would be suspended by the commission for a period of 14 days to further consultations and finalisation of negotiations between the parties.

The directive by NERC said that from Sept. 28 to Oct. 11 the DisCos must revert all charges to the tariff existing as of Aug. 31.

This means that for the next two weeks, electricity consumers having power above 12 hours who were affected by the over 100 per cent tariff hike would revert to their old charges.

It said as empowered by Section 33 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, EPSRA 2005, the Minister of Power, Engr. Sale Mamman can issue such directive to NERC.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and Mamman were among the team that had meeting with the labour unions. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

SGF and COVID-19 PTF Chairman Mr Boss Mustapha

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says no death was recorded in the last 24-hours, as the country recorded 187 new cases of COVID-19 in 12 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The NCDC made this known on its official twitter handle.

It added that Nigeria recorded a total of 58,647 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The centre said that Lagos State recorded most cases with 74, followed by Plateau and Rivers States recorded 25 each.

It said that in addition, Gombe and FCT recorded 19 new cases each.

Others are Osun-10, Kaduna-five, Borno-three, Ogun-two, Katsina-two, Nasarawa-one, Bayelsa-one, and Edo-one.

The NCDC stated that 47 patients have been treated and discharged in the last 24 hours.

It also added that there are 7,599 active cases across the country.

The centre said 49,937 patients have recovered and 1,111 have lost their lives. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Murdered Sweddish prime minister Olof Palme

A Swedish chief prosecutor on Wednesday said there were no grounds to reopen the preliminary investigation into the 1986 murder of Sweddish prime minister Olof Palme.

Lennart Gune had considered several appeals lodged against the June decision to close the long-running probe, but he did not find grounds to reverse the decision, a statement read.

Palme was gunned down in central Stockholm on Feb. 28, 1986, minutes after he and his wife, Lisbet, had left a cinema. He was 59.

The assassination shocked Sweden and triggered a huge manhunt.

However, the investigation was fraught with mistakes from the outset.

In June, Chief Prosecutor Krister Petersson named a deceased Swedish man as the chief suspect in Palmes murder.

Since the suspect was deceased he could not bring charges, meaning an end to the probe.

The suspect, identified as Stig Engstrom, died in June 2000.

Engstrom worked as a graphic designer at insurance company Skandia, which had offices adjacent to the murder scene.

He had worked late on the evening Palme was shot.

Petersson said several witnesses placed Engstrom at the scene, citing how he was dressed at the time.

Petersson said he could not offer details of Engtroms motive, but noted that he mixed in circles strongly critical of Palme.

No murder weapon has been found.

Investigators have considered numerous scenarios since 1986, and about 130 people have confessed to the crime.

Palmes late widow, Lisbet, picked out a petty criminal, Christer Pettersson, from a police line-up as the murderer. He was sentenced in 1989 to life in prison but was later acquitted on appeal. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News