Court Symbol

An Ile-Tuntun Customary Court in Ibadan on Friday dissolved a 17-year-old marriage between a businesswoman, Dasola Fogabi and her estranged husband, Saheed over threat to life.

Delivering judgment, Chief Henry Agbaje, president of the court dissolved the union in the interest of peace.

He awarded custody of the three children to Fogabi and ordered the respondent to pay N15,000 as the childrens monthly feeding allowance.

The arbitrator also ordered him to be responsible for their education.

Earlier, Fogabi said: the man I married 17 years ago is threatening to end my life here on earth. I lost all my money because of his fraudulent lifestyle.

My lord, Saheed, collected money from his customers fraudulently and promised to supply them plywood without doing so.

To avoid arrest and litigation, I paid back the people he collected money from. I no longer have the economic power to do business because I am in a huge debt mess because of him.

Lately, Saheed is threatening to kill me if I dont continue to give him money, she alleged.

Saheed, was not in court.

The court bailiff said that Saheed was duly served hearing notices. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

U.S. President, Donald Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump has abandoned his plans to deliver a speech at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in person, the White House Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, said.

Meadows added that Trump would address participants of the 75th Session of the UNGA in a televised format.

The current session of the UNGA started on Tuesday and will last until Sept. 30.

The week of the high-level General Debate will be held from Sept. 22 to Sept. 29.

As many as 119 heads of state and 54 heads of government will address the session.

In mid-August, Trump told reporters that he was thinking about going directly to the UN to do the speech.

Theis one of the six principal organs of the UN, serving as the main deliberative, policy-making, and representative organ of the UN. (Sputnik/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Housing project

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

Some Nigerians have commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)s new initiative to build affordable homes and create thousands of jobs for Nigerians.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the apex bank recently unveiled a framework for the implementation of Family Homes Financing Initiative to fast track the deployment of 300,000 homes across the country.

The financing initiative will support the Federal Governments Economic Sustainability programme to fast track the deployment of 300,000 homes in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

Mr Abbas Ibrahim, a Pharmacist said that the initiative, if effectively implemented would go a long way to bridge housing deficit, especially in urban areas.

He urged the CBN to ensure that the initiative was not hijacked by a section of the elites, who might not allow the masses benefit from it

I am particularly happy about this initiative.

The way I understand it is making decent home ownership affordable to ordinary Nigerians as well as create jobs in the housing sector.

I urge the CBN to ensure the laudable initiative is implemented without compromise, he said.

Mr Raji Adebayo, an economist and a civil servant, commended the initiative as a sure path to poverty reduction and employment generation.

I saw the report about CBNs framework for family home financing initiative and I was particularly impressed.

Apart from generating affordable homes and thousands of employment, it will equally support local content development in the housing sector.

The fact that 90 per cent of the materials for the construction component of the initiative will be sourced locally is cheering, he said.

Mrs Mojisola Olaniyi, a business woman also commended the idea of home ownership financing by the Federal Government.

She, however, urged the CBN to ensure that its collaboration with a private developer did not make the houses unaffordable to the masses.

I learnt that the initiative is to support the Federal Governments Economic Sustainability programme to fast track the deployment of 300,000 homesacross the country.

It is a good initiative but the CBN and other government agencies involved should drive the process to the end and not allow the private developer set prohibitive cost to the homes when completed.

NAN reports that the CBN in its website:, said that the initiative would generate about 1.5 million jobs in the process.

It said the introduction of mass housing was key economic activities with potential to create significant number of jobs rapidly. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

An ilegal refinery

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence Headquarters says military has intensified its aggressive fight against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, bunkering, economic saboteurs and other criminal activities in the country.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, said this while giving weekly update on the operations of Armed Forces of Nigeria on Friday in Abuja.

Enenche said that between Sept. 12 and Sept. 17 , the military arrested seven suspected oil thieves, discovered barrels of stolen crude oil and destroyed numbers of illegal refineries in the South- South and South West zones.

According to him, within the period under review, Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER patrol team in the South South located and immobilised an illegal refining site at Mudukiri Creek, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers.

The site had a metal reservoir laden with an estimated 150,000 litres of illegally refined AGO.

In the same vein, Forward Operating Base BONNY patrol team discovered and dismantled an illegal refining site in Ataba, Andoni LGA of Rivers.

The team discovered eight metal storage tanks and four dugout pits laden with about 1,289.45 barrels of product suspected to be stolen crude oil,he said.

He said that Nigerian Navy Ship JUBILEE clearance operation team acting on credible intelligence on a suspected pirates and sea robbers camp at Otoyo, Akwa-Ibom, raided the camp.

He said that the patrol team with superior power dislodged and deactivated the camp in the area.

The team recovered one AK 47 rifle with two magazines, two Pump Action Rifles, 20 rounds of 7.62 and 39mm ammunition, one Fishing Gun, one Tecno phone, a bag of hard drugs, one diving face mask and one hand held metal detector.

Between Sept. 12 and Sept. 17, Forward Operating Base IBAKA patrol team around Utan Inyata Creek arrested two suspects and two small-sized wooden boats laden with 165 bags of 50kg of foreign parboiled rice suspected to be smuggled from the Republic of Cameroon,he said.

According to him, the items and suspects are currently in custody of the Base and will be handed over to Nigeria Customs Service Component of Operation SWIFT RESPONSE for further action.

Also, within the period under review, Forward Operating Base IBAKA patrol team arrested five suspects with 45 drums of products suspected to be Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

The suspects and items are currently in custody and will be handed over to NSCDC Uyo Command for further necessary action, he said.

He explained that Troops of Operation AWATSE in the South West zone, also intensified the fight against pipeline vandals, economic saboteurs and other criminal elements in the area.

According to him, on Sept 11, Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT handed over MT SEA SUPPLY and her crew to NIMASA after proper documentation in line with the existing Standard Operating Procedure.

He recalled that the vessel and her crew members were arrested on July 31 for sailing without obtaining requisite documents.

On Sept. 12, the patrol team of Forward Operating Base IGBOKODA immobilized three illegal refineries containing 30,000 litres of illegally refined AGO at Agbelemsema Zion 2.

The location is a border community between Ese Odo Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo and Warri North LGA in Delta.

Troops have continued to dominate the general area with clearance and aggressive patrols while maintaining surveillance to rid the area of pipeline vandals and other economic saboteurs, he said.

He expressed the Military High Command commendation to all the gallant troops of the Armed Forces and personnel of other security agencies involved in various operations across the country for their commitment, determination and dedication.

He encouraged the troops to remain firm and decisive in curtailing the activities of all criminal elements in the country.

Members of the general public are hereby assured that the Armed Forces of Nigeria working with other security agencies will continue to tackle the security challenges and will ensure that normalcy is attained in all the geo-political zones of the Country.

He, therefore, solicited for the support of the public in providing credible information to assist the militarys operations, (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Angry JOHESU members

By Maureen Ojinaka

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) strike has paralysed health services at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH Ituku- Ozalla near Enugu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who monitored the situation, observed that some wards in the hospital were without patients as many of them were alleged to have been moved to private hospitals for medical attention.

The Head Public Relations Officer (PRO) of UNTH, Mr Cyril Keleze,told NAN that the health workers strike had crippled activities in the hospital except for essential services.

Kekeze said that the doctors were in the hospital to attend to patients since the nurses were on strike.

He said that the JOHESU strike was a warning strike, which would end on Sunday mid-night as all health workers were expected to resume work on Sept. 21.

Some of the patients, who were still on admission,said they came from other states and could not easily vacate the hospital to private hospitals due to financial difficulties.

Mrs Chidimma Okpara, whose mother had been on admission, said it was difficult for her to raise the money she spent in bringing her mother to UNTH as she could not take her to any other hospital rather would remain in UNTH till the strike was over.

We came from Imo, it was not easy for me financially to bring my mother here, so talking about going to another hospital is out of my plan, Okpara lamented.

Mr Kalu Ukoha, a patient said he believed that the strike would soon be over soon, adding that going to a private hospital would be a waste of money.

A staff of the Accounts Department in the hospital, Mrs Nneka Dim said the strike had affected health services, research and training in UNTH, adding that onlydoctors were on duty. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

DPR Officials

By Victor Adeoti

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has warned Independent Petroleum Marketers (IPMAN) in Osun against exploiting motorists in the sales of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

Mr Olusegun Daboh, the DPR Operations Controller in the state, gave the warning on Friday in Osogbo when he received the newly elected IPMAN Executives.

Daboh said the department would continue to monitor all filling stations in the state to ensure that they dispense accurately.

The controller said any marketer caught under-dispensing product would have their filling stations sealed, and pay N100, 000 as fine on each pump discovered to be under-dispensing product.

He described as disheartening the way some independent marketers engage in sharp practices, adding that the DPR would not relent in its surveillance operations in the state.

Daboh, however, assured them of necessary support to succeed and advised them to always abide by all precautionary regulations.

Also speaking, Mr Femi Ogunmuyiwa, DPR Heads of Operations, appealed to the marketers to always train their attendants on safety practices.

Ogunmuyiwa noted that some of the attendants lack requisite knowledge on safety procedure involved in the sales of oil and gas.

Earlier, Alhaji Bukola Mati, the IPMAN Chairman, solicited for the support of DPR for the new executives and the association at large.

Mati said support of the DPR was necessary for their business to thrive. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 Vaccine Research

China is conducting clinical trials of 11 vaccines against the coronavirus disease, four of which are in phase 3, the countrys Science and Technology Minister Wang Zhigang said on Friday.

At the moment, 11 vaccines have entered the phase of clinical trials, four of them are already in phase 3, Wang said while speaking at the Zhongguancun forum in Beijing.

According to the minister, Chinese researchers focused on the development of five types of COVID-19 vaccine at once.

The vaccines are a recombinant protein subunit vaccine, an inactivated vaccine, an adenoviral vector-based vaccine, a nucleic acid-based vaccine, and a live attenuated influenza vaccine.

The COVID-19 epidemic continues to spread around the world, it has not yet been taken under full control, and with the arrival of the autumn-winter season, there is still a possibility of a return to what it was initially.

The situation in the prevention and control of the epidemic remains serious.

The virus knows no boundaries, we need to join forces, provide each other with assistance and support in order to overcome difficulties together, Wang said.

One of the Chinese vaccines is being developed by China National Biotec Group, which said earlier in September that around 50,000 people from several countries were participating in Phase 3 clinical trials.

Another vaccine, which is also in Phase 3 of the trials, was created by Sinovac, which is testing the vaccine in several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Brazil and Indonesia.

Similarly, China is leading in the development of a vaccine against COVID-19 and thus Beijing does not need to steal vaccine-related data from other countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Friday,

Wang said this while commenting on media reports claiming that Chinese hackers had allegedly stolen data on coronavirus vaccine development from Spain.

Earlier in the day, El Pais newspaper reported, citing sources informed about cyberattacks, that hackers from China had allegedly stolen information from Spanish centres working on coronavirus vaccine.

According to the publication, cyberattacks targeting research centres were carried out from several countries, mostly from Russia and China, and in the case of Spain, it is known that the hackers had acted precisely from China.

China strongly opposes and fights against all forms of cyberattacks and cybercrime, and this position is clear and unchanging.

I would also like to add that China is one of the world leaders in [anti-coronavirus] vaccine research and development.

We do not see any need for any illegal means to obtain a vaccine, Wang said.

According to the spokesman, cyberattacks are the common enemy of all countries, and China hopes that other countries will not draw so many reckless and irresponsible conclusions if they do not have any evidence.

At the same time, Spanish scientists are now working on dozens of vaccines against COVID-19, with none of them having entered the clinical trial stage yet. (Sputnik/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Peter Abah and Denis Idara Mr/Miss Nigeria International 2019/2020 edition

By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu

The Bredance and Crusader Limited (BCL), Organiser of Mr and Miss Nigeria International (MMNI), on Thursday announced that 32 contestants made the list in the just concluded online voting for the 2020/2021 pageant.

Mr Bredan Isikak, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BCL, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the 32 shortlisted recorded high votes out of 50 registered contestants.

NAN reports that the pageant tagged The Rebirth Edition 2020 would feature contestants for the MMNI and Mr and Miss International Africa (MMIA).

Mr Isikak said that the shortlisted contestants had been briefed of the development, to enable them begin preparation for the contest scheduled for last quarter of the year.

The selection process for this years MMNI was done online and by voting due to the COVID-19 Pandemic lockdown and restriction orders which qualified 32 out of 50 contestants.

They have all been anxious to know their scores which we just released to them, so this information will help them to start necessary preparations for the contest.

Although, no date has been fixed for the event but we are proposing between October and November because the reign is 2020/2021, while other arrangements are in progress, Bredan added.

Meanwhile, he said that South Africa, Ghana and Gambia had shown interest to participate in the event, adding that they were optimistic that international flights would fully resume operations.

According to him, no fewer than 10 African countries registered for the event prior to the COVID-19 lock down but only three have communicated their interest to participate to the organisers.

As we speak, we have four countries showing interest, though we are expecting others to confirm their participation because they registered earlier, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Sunday Dare

By Muhyideen Jimoh

Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare says contact sports will soon resume in the country under strict protocols as recommended by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

The minister disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja after the unveiling of the National Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Hub (BredHub).

He said the ministry was working closely with the PTF to ensure contact sports resumes in the country under strict COVID-19 protocols.

As we see gradual opening up of different sector of the economy, we have prepared a post COVID-19 protocols.

We hope in the next two weeks, contact sports will return subject to the strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocols, he said.

Dare stressed that the ministry will be properly guided as various sporting events gradually returns to the country following the ban as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are going to be properly guided on the National Sports Festival as we are working with the PTF, Health ministry, NCDC.

We have sent a team to the National Sports Council.

We hope that before the end of this year, we can have the national sports festival, of course with some modifications, it can be staggered, he said.

On the resumption of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), he maintained that club sides who have not met with the regulations set will not partake in the coming season.

He said any club that does not have N200m in its account wont be allowed to play in the NPFL alongside other conditions.

Very clearly we have decided that since the Federal Executive Council have classified sports as a business, there are certain steps that must be taken to make sure the entire co-system keys into that business model.

One of the first steps is the fact that our domestic league must run as a business and to do that you must have regulations, financial control.

There is a new enforcement regime for our domestic league as they must have a minimum of N200m in their account to show they can take care of their players, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

SGF and COVID-19 PTF Chairman Mr Boss Mustapha

Nigerias COVID-19 curve is flattening, Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha has said.

Mustapha made this on Thursday in Abuja at the 66th joint national briefing of the task force.

was established by President Muhammadu Buhari on March 9, 2020, to coordinate and oversee Nigerias multi-sectoral inter-governmental efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Lookingback at our National Response, using science, data and experience from other countries, we cannot but say that tremendous progress has been made and that we are beginning to notice that the curve is flattening.

Source: NAN News