By Gabriel Agbeja

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted thundery and cloudy weather conditions from Saturday to Monday.

NiMets weather outlook released on Friday in Abuja stated that cloudy conditions still prevailed across the country.

According to it, a few thunderstorms and rains are observed over parts of the North Central and South East.

For Saturday, cloudy conditions with possibilities of overnight thunderstorms are envisaged over southern Yobe, Gombe, and Bauchi in the morning.

Later in the day, few thunderstorms are anticipated over Yola, Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi, Zaria, Gusau, southern Borno and southern Kano.

Central cities are expected to be cloudy with prospects of light thunderstorms over Jos axis during the morning.

There are chances of thunderstorms over high grounds of the region in the afternoon and evening periods, it said.

NiMet predicted a cloudy morning over the south with slim chances of rains over some coastal cities such as Lagos, Ijebu-Ode and Calabar.

The agency further predicted the southern region to experience rains during the afternoon and evening periods.

For Sunday, cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine are expected over the north during the morning hours.

Pockets of thunderstorms are likely over northern region during the afternoon/evening hours. Central cities should anticipate cloudy morning.

Later in the day, most areas over the region will be cloudy with prospects of a few thunderstorms over the high ground areas of the region, it said.

According to it, the South West inland areas will be cloudy, while some South East inland and coastal cities such as Enugu, Abakaliki and Benin will experience morning thunderstorms and rains.

NiMet forecast thunderstorms and rains activities over most parts of the southern region in the afternoon and evening periods.

For Monday, the north will experience much cloudiness during morning hours with chances of thunderstorms envisaged over Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba states.

The northeastern region is likely to experience light thunderstorms during afternoon and evening hours.

Few thunderstorms are anticipated over some central cities such as Makurdi and Lokoja during the morning, leaving other places under cloudy skies.

Later in the day, thunderstorms are anticipated over most places in the region.

Residents of the South East along with the coastal cities are expected to experience morning thunderstorms and rains.

There are prospects of thunderstorms over the entire south in the afternoon and evening periods, it said.

Source: NAN News

By Oluwafunke Ishola/Florence Onuegbu

The Lagos State Government has announced the recovery and discharge of 98 more novel coronavirus patients.

The patients have tested negative twice for the virus.

The state Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who made the disclosure in a statement on Friday, said that a total of 1,283 patients had been successfully managed and discharged in the state.

Good people of Lagos, today, 98 fully recovered COVID-19 Lagos patients: 71 males and 27 females, were discharged from our isolation facilities to reunite with the society.

The patients: 23 from Onikan, 17 from Gbagada, 14 from Agidingbi, one from Paelon Centre (an accredited private facility), four from Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital, 17 from Eti-Osa (LandMark) and 22 from LUTH Isolation Centre, were discharged, having fully recovered and tested negative to COVID-19.

With this, the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases that have been successfully managed and discharged in Lagos has risen to 1,283, the COVID-19 incident commander said.

Source: NAN News

The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice will, on Monday, deliver judgement as it resumes suspended court proceedings, following precautions taken to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A statement issued by the court, on Friday, said the judgement would be delivered by a panel of three justices, led by President of the Court, Hon. Justice Edward Asante.

In the suit no ECW/CCJ/APP/33/17/SUPP, filed on Sept. 8, 2017, one Dr Rose Mbatomon Ako issuing five defendants for illegal eviction from her official residence.

The five defendants in the suit are the West African Monetary Agency (WAMA); the Director-General, the Chairman, Committee of Governors of the Central Banks of ECOWAS Member States; Attorney General of the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Republic of Sierra Leone.

Ako,the plaintiff and former employee of WAMA, alleged that followingthe wrongful termination of her appointment, the first and second defendants unlawfully and illegally evicted her from official residence and seized her personal belongings.

According to her, this rendered her an internally displaced person.

She averred that although the court had, in an earlier judgement ECW/CCJ/JUD/01/13 to her suit ECW/CCJ/APP/15/11, awarded compensation in her favour, it was silent on some reliefs she sought for, particularly one that related to the recovery of her personal belongings.

She is, therefore, seeking among others, orders of the court declaring that the first and seconddefendants enjoy limited diplomatic immunity and liable, contrary to their argument.

Ako is also praying the court to mandate the first and second defendants to execute the judgment of a High Court of Sierra Leone, which awarded her damages.

She wants the court to compel the defendants to pay special damages estimated at ,552 and punitive damages in the sum of ,000, and a mandatory injunction compelling the defendants to release her properties.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the ECOWAS court had on May 13, issued a practice direction on electronic case management and virtual court session to enable it to resume judicial functions and deliver timely justice in line with its mandate.

Source: NAN News

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 pandemic says the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, remains one of the red spots where community spread of the virus is prevalent.

The Chairman of PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, made this known on Friday, while receiving a donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worth N10 million from Rotary District 9125.

Mustapha was represented by the Permanent Secretary (General Services Office), Mr Olusegun Adekunle.

He said that 20 local government areas currently contributed 60 per cent of the COVID-19 cases in the country.

The PTF chairman listed the affected areas to include: Mainland, Abuja Municipal, Mushin, Eti-Osa, Tarauni, Katsina, Alimosho, Maiduguri, Kosofe and Dutse.

Others were Ikeja, Nassarawa, Oshodi/Isolo, Apapa, Amuwo Odofin, Oredo, Bauchi, Lagos Island, Surulere and Ado Odo/Ota.

Mustapha blamed the rising community spread of the pandemic to poor level of compliance with the precautionary measures at the community level.

He, therefore, appealed to the group, led by its Governor, Victor Onukhugwa, to take the COVID-19 pandemic awareness campaign to the communities.

We want to sensitise Nigerians on the dangers of this development.

We urge Rotary to help us take the awareness further. The risk management team is available to share strategy with the organisation, Mustapha said.

The SGF further warned that the ravaging effect of COVID-19 pandemic was there for everyone to see, including the impact on both governance and the economy.

It is for us to strategise for a new way of life. A good number of staff have not been at work for the past four months. The impact of this in the economy is glaring.

The fatality rate is quite high. We keep telling Nigerians that please these are not just numbers, but brothers, sisters and colleagues that have passed on.

Some groups and clubs have been trying hard for us to control this. The resources needed to fight the virus are enormous, Mustapha said.

He further lauded Rotary District 9125 for the donation, saying that some of the items had become scarce commodity due to global demand.

We acknowledge that the donations are useful. The items are being chased globally, even, if you have resources you might not get them.

The donation is gratifying because hundreds of medical personnel have been infected, perhaps due to lack of the kits.

They will be used judiciously and it will be accounted for. We received this items with gratitude.

We must form a chain and therefore, we cannot afford to have a weak link in the chain, he further said.

In his remarks, Onukwugha congratulated Nigeria for being certified polio free country.

He said that the club had donated materials to the less privileged and vulnerable groups since the outbreak of the pandemic.

According to him, we have come here with PPE to donate to what you have. We are happy that we have provided these items.

Beyond this, we are keen to ensure that Nigeria is COVID-19 free. We have people in the field doing advocacy.

Before COVID-19, we have been advocating handwashing, he said.

NAN reports that the items donated included sterile hand gloves, latex examination gloves, face masks with shield, surgical face masks, N95 face masks and KN95 facemasks.

Others were disposable theatre gowns, waterproof aprons, safety goggles, theatre caps, shoe covers, hand sanitisers, Infrared thermometers and 9V batteries for thermometers.

Source: NAN News

By Ibukun Emiola

Oyo State Government said it had rescued a seven-year-old girl who had been a victim of physical abuse, torture and assault by her father.

Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Faosat Sanni, in a statement in Ibadan on Friday, described the incident as an inhuman treatment meted out to an innocent child.

Sanni stated that the father was arrested in Ibadan following a report made available to the Ministrys Rapid Response Rescue Team on Sexual, Gender-Based Violence and Child Abuse

Sanni said: We received a report of the incident through a social media handle of someone living in that community on our Rapid Response Rescue Team media platform.

The report said that the father of the young girl, who resides in Bodija, Ibadan, allegedly abused and inflicted injuries on his seven years old daughter who as a result, has scars and bruises all over her body.

It was also reported that the father, who works as a security man with an undisclosed outfit, constantly torture the child for reasons yet to be explained.

We also learnt that the mother of the child has travelled to their village in Akwa Ibom to give birth to another child and left the seven-year-old with her father who subjected the girl to abuse.

He instructed the poor girl to always tell anyone who asked about the marks and bruises on her body that she fell, as a cover-up story to his evil act.

The child has been taken to Oni and Sons Children Hospital at Ring Road, Ibadan, for medical examination and treatment, while the ministry has also made adequate provision for alternative care and support for the child.

We are also on contact tracing of the wife to get details about the family.

She added that child abuse in any form was against the will of God and humanity, stressing that it was an act that hurts children and negatively impacts on their development and wellbeing.

Sanni reiterated the zero tolerance of Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration to all forms of sexual and gender-based violence.

The commissioner further assured that all hands were on deck to fight and deal with perpetrators as extant laws were being reviewed to bring perpetrators of such evil acts into justice, irrespective of their background or status.

Source: NAN News

Gov. Of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde

Gov. Seyi Makinde has inaugurated N1 billion Oyo State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development Scheme, as part of interventions targeted at stimulating economy of the state.

Makinde said the scheme was part of the states post-COVID-19 economic recovery plans.

The governor, while carrying out the symbolic presentation of cheques to some of the beneficiaries, said the scheme would not only stimulate the economy of the state but create more jobs for its teeming youths and make owners of MSME to be self-reliant.

He urged all beneficiaries to make judicious use of the loan by abstaining from ventures and activities that could ruin their businesses.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Olarinde Olakunle, Ruth Adeniji and Taofeeq Oladimeji were among the beneficiaries that received N2.5 million, N3 million and N3 million, respectively.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Olakunle appreciated the Makinde-led administration for deeming it fit to provide them the loan and promised that the loan would be used judiciously.

Source: NAN News

The Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) in Ogun said one person died while two others sustained injuries in an accident at Oju-Ore, Idiroko Road, Ota.

Adekunle Ajibade, TRACE Area Commander, Sango-Ota, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ota that the accident occurred in Lombardy area at about 3.00 p.m.

He said the accident involved a Man Diesel truck with registration number XA733MGU, a Bajaj motorcycle marked TTN377WJ and a passerby who suddenly crossed the road.

Ajibade said the accident occurred when a pedestrian suddenly crossed the road while the motorcycle operator was trying to overtake the truck.

He said the motorcyclist rammed into the truck while trying to avoid the pedestrian and died instantly, while the two passengers on the bike sustained various degrees of injuries

Incidentally, the two passengers at the back of the motorcycle jumped over the bike, and thus escaped being hit. But they sustained various degrees of injuries.

The corpse of the motorcyclist have been deposited at the morgue of Ifo General Hospital, while the survivors are receiving treatment at the same hospital, the official said.

Ajibade advised motorists, including motorbike operators, to be careful while on the highway to avoid unnecessary loss of lives. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji

Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, says practicing Yoga could provide a multidimensional solution to coronavirus (COVID-19).

The prime minsiter explained that it helps open the lungs, understands the immune system and unites body and soul.

Modi ,made this known in a video message which was made available by the Indian High Commission in Abuja in commemoration of the 2020 International Day of Yoga themed: Yoga at home.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the United Nations set aside June 21 to celebrate yoga, a physical, mental and spiritual exercise which originated from India.

According to Modi, Yoga offers something for everyone, it enables strong minds and healthy bodies and a practice that would be a focus and more popular in preventive health care post COVD-19 pandemic.

I am happy to note the growing popularity of Yoga in the last few years, especially among the youths.

We are marking the Sixth Yoga day in extraordinary times. Usually, Yoga day is about public events, and mass participation, but this day, yoga day goes indoors.

The theme of this year is Yoga at home and Yoga with family.

The world is fighting a pandemic on monumental scale but yoga provides multidimensional solutions to the multiple challenges COVID-19 has brought.

Yoga gives you the opportunity to know your immune system better and put in extra efforts needed.

Yoga has the potential to cater to our mental, physical and psychological challenges, it put to test how one can live in challenging times, Yoga offers something for everyone, it enables strong minds and healthy bodies.

In the post COVID era, the focus on preventive health care will get stronger and that is why I am confident that Yoga will even more popular.

The COVID-19 pandemic may have reduced our mobility but it should not affect our enthusiasm which is Yoga.

Respecting the present international situation, let us mark the Sixth international day of Yoga from our homes, with our families and let us follow all forms of social distancing, Modi said.

Indias High Commissioner to Nigeria, Abhay Thakur also reiterated the benefits of yoga to individuals health and a holistic approach beyond physical exercise that helps one discovers his/herself.

Thakur said that yoga was part of the solution from todays problems and just like the new norm of the COVID-19 pandemic like observing digital meetings at home, yoga can be practiced at home observing social distancing.

He said that the High Commission is pleased to have observed Yoga day with necessary precautions of physical distancing and really spreading out and reaching out to people at home.

Celebrating and practicing Yoga is even more relevant in this very challenging and difficult time of the pandemic of COVID-19.

As the Ambassador, I will like to share that more than anything else, we tend to look at Yoga, cultural activities as a particular concept but Yoga is truly universal in todays times, it basically means union.

It is union with the self, union with the almighty, union with all your fellow compatriots and the most important message is let us look within.

Analysing every movement of your body is like being your own doctor. Those in the medical profession would understand how brains functions, how muscle functions, how lung functions and how you breath.

It is important that each of us also appreciates this in a holistic manner and this is more than what Yoga teaches us.

If I know exactly how my lungs function or how my body operates,I know how I can relax so that my entire wellbeing improves.

The universal message is even more relevant in todays times, it would serve us well especially as we are short of health facilities.

From the most developed countries in Europe, the Americas, developing countries like Nigeria and India,Thakur said.

Mr Basant Ram, a Yoga therapist in a lecture said that the health benefits of yoga should not be taken for granted, stating that yoga is beyond a physical activity, but a practice that nourishes the soul.

He said that yoga is also less expensive to practice and as an activity that complies with the stay at home order and social distancing.

From this pandemic, everyone is locked down in a house. Before now, when people exercise, they use supportive equipments, go to the gyms but Yoga requires just you and yourself.

Yoga helps us preempts the disease, we start experiencing some low energies then it affects the mind and the body so you are able to detect the disease before it manifests in the body, Ram said.

Source: NAN News

GM products

By Okeoghene Akubuike

The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), has assured Nigerians of its commitment to ensure proper regulation of imported Genetically Modified (GM) products .

Dr Rufus Ebegba, NBMA Director-General, who gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Friday in Abuja, said Nigeria would not become a dumping ground for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

Ebegba said the agency would ensure that the socio-economic consequences of modern biotechnology use and handling of GMOs and GM products were guarded against.

One of our legacies is that we have built confidence in the practice of modern biotechnology, use and handling of GMOs and GM products.

The agency will continue to ensure the proper regulation of imported GM products.

Other African countries look up to Nigeria for leadership in biosafety issues, so we cannot fail.

He said Nigeria would continue to reaffirm its commitment to the principles of international Agreements and Treaties to Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Cartagena Protocol and Biosafety (CPB).

Ebegba, however, said one of the challenges of the agency was inadequate public awareness,which had resulted in lack of public understanding of the concept of biosafety and its potential benefit to national growth.

The NBMA boss added that anti-GMOs lobbyists and anti-GM movement were on the increase, aggressively misinforming and misleading stakeholders.

Misrepresentation of the agencys mandate and activities by third party influences has led to misguided perception of the mandate and activities of the agency and continuous attacks by some activists, the director-general said.

He further said that increased and prompt appropriation of funds would help increase the pace of work of the agency as well as improve its overall performance.

Ebegba said the agencys new focus would be on routine biosafety surveillance and risk assessment; capacity building for staff and stakeholders; development of national policy on biosecurity and national biosecurity emergency response strategy.

There will be continuous inspection and monitoring of GM facilities as well as survey of GMOs and their products in circulation to ensure biosafety compliance.

Organisation of trainings and enlightenment programmes on emerging biotechnology, such as gene drive, gene editing, gene sequencing and biosecurity as well as mainstreaming same into national agenda, he added.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

The evacuees checking in before their departure from the Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey, on Saturday evening

The Federal Government on Friday evacuated 356 stranded Nigerians from Dubai and Pakistan alongside four Pakistani in line with the new protocols for evacuation.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, disclosed this via his verified Twitter handle @GeoffreyOnyeama.

Eventually, 56 Nigerians and 4 Pakistanis were safely evacuated from Islamabad to Abuja on a chartered aircraft operated by TARCO AVIATION Co. Ltd.

An Emirates flight from UAE conveying about 300 Nigerians is expected to land at about 3.55 p.m from Dubai, Onyeama twitted.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new protocol for evacuation requires all returnees to undergo the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing within 72 hours.

They are also expected to go into the 14-day self isolation.

Source: NAN News