UPDATED: Lagos records first case of Coronavirus in Nigeria

The Ministry of Health in Lagos State has confirmed its first case of the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), incidentally the first in Nigeria and in West Africa since the outbreak in China in January 2020.

This was contained in a statement released Friday morning by the state Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi.

It is the second confirmed case in Africa following one recently recorded in Algeria in North Africa.

The novel virus is fast spreading, having been reported in over 20 countries across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and lately in Africa.

Like the case confirmed in Algeria, the victim, an Italian traveller, arrived in Nigeria on Tuesday from Milan on a business trip.

The victim used the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos.

The victim whose name was not identified is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.

The Lagos State Government said it has reported it to the Federal Ministry of Health.

The statement from the government read, “The case is an Italian citizen who entered Nigeria on the 25th of February from Milan, Italy for a brief business visit.

“He fell ill on the 26th February and was transferred to Lagos State Biosecurity Facilities for isolation and testing. COVID-19 infection was confirmed by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, part of the Laboratory Network of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

“The patient is clinically stable, with no serious symptoms, and is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.”

The state government said it is working with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and other preparedness groups to ensure the case is effectively managed out of circulation.

The Senate had yesterday berated the Federal Government for not doing enough to screen passengers coming into the country from the nation’s airports and seaports.

The PUNCH had also reported that the Federal Government recently released N386million to two health agencies to strengthen Coronavirus preparedness in Nigeria.

Criminals smuggling rice into Nigeria with caskets, gas cylinders – Customs

The Nigeria Customs Service says ingenuity deployed by criminals or smugglers has made it possible for contraband items to come into the country.

The Customs’ Public Relations Officer, Mr Joseph Attah, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday.

Attah explained that there were so many factors responsible for the entrance of smuggled items into the country in spite of efforts to stop them by the service.

He said most smugglers use unapproved routes to bring in their contraband goods into the country while some conceal the items in a manner that they might be lucky to escape arrest by the customs operatives.

“People often ask where were customs operatives when contraband goods entered the country without being stopped.

“We have seen a situation where rice is smuggled using gas cylinders or a situation where a spare tyre is used. The tyre is perforated and rice is loaded inside and when you open the booth you see what is supposed to be a tyre.

“If you do not have a tip-off, you are not likely to know that inside that spare tyre are 10 or 15 mudus (measures) of foreign rice.

“Another circumstance, smugglers use casket that is used to carry a corpse to either smuggle rice or petrol. They sometimes load petro in jerry cans and put it inside a casket, wrapped in such a way that you think is carrying a dead body.

“A situation like this, if you don’t have intelligence, you wouldn’t know. For instance, without a tip-off, it is unlikely as a human being to accost a vehicle carrying the casket with a supposed dead body and request for such to be opened.

He added that smugglers’ actions were meant to sabotage the economy and the security of the country and assured Nigerians that the service was determined and committed to checking that.

Attah disclosed that customs had fortified its strategies and intelligence to check the activities of smugglers in the country.

Source: https://punchng.com/criminals-smuggling-rice-into-nigeria-with-caskets-gas-cylinders-customs/ 

Meaning Of Ash Wednesday And Why Anglicans Celebrate It

The aim of this article is to explain why the Anglican Church celebrate ash Wednesday. Most times, Pentecostal churches tend to condemn and speak against almost every practice of the Orthodox Church. But I hope this article will be meaningful and in turn convince as many as possible, but for the doubting Thomas’s, I do not know what else to do. I can only talk of Anglican because of my Anglican background, but I will not be able to talk much about Catholics and other orthodox churches. Although they all celebrate this event, yet I will not be able to place the exact reason why they do it.

Ash Wednesday is celebrated in the Anglican Church to mark the beginning of lent. Lent is a period of fasting and prayer which is observed by all Anglicans worldwide. It is celebrated once in a year and it terminates with the celebration of Easter. The lenting period for the Anglican Church lasts for a period of 40 days but ash Wednesday is celebrated 46 days to Easter. The fasting lasts for 40 days because the number 40 is a unique number. Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights and Moses also fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. Thus the Anglican Church fasts for 40 days. Many other churches fast for as long as they can or as short as they can. For example, RCCG fasted for 100 straight days in 2017 and 50 straight days in 2018, yet in July, they will also embark on another fasting for 30 days to complete 80 days fasting. Some other churches fast for the first 7 days of every year, some fast the last 7 days of every year, yet others fix their fast within the year. Islam fast 30 days to their sallah. Thus, the subject of fasting is not a new thing; neither did it originate from the Anglican Church. The lenting period occurs at a calculated time. As earlier stated, ash Wednesday occurs 46 days to Easter. The Anglican church do not fast on Sundays and as such, this lenting period lasts for 7 week (46 days) minus 6 Sundays in which no fasting is done. It is expected that every Anglican join in this yearly and spiritual exercise.

There are basically two major reasons why the church still celebrates Ash Wednesday which I am here to highlight.

The first reason why we still celebrate Ash Wednesday is because it is a sign of genuine repentance, sober reflection and sorrow. Dating back to the Old Testament, we see that ash was used severally on different occasions to mourn or bewail issues like; pronounced judgement, sorrow of heart, remorse and repentance. Perhaps, the following scripture references would throw more light. Job.42v6, Esther.4v1-3, 2Samuel.13v19, Jeremiah.6v26.25v34, Daniel.9v3. Jonah.3v6, Matthew.11v21, Luke.10v13. These few verses show us that ashes are been used basically as a sign of repentance and Jesus confirmed it validity as we see in Matthew and Luke. For this reason, the lenting period starts with the Ash Wednesday to show that the season is a season of sober reflection. It is a season of genuine repentance which ushers us to fast and pray, calling on the Lord Most High with a pure heart and a holy hand.

The second reason why Ash Wednesday is celebrated in the Anglican Communion is to remind us who we are. No matter the extent of our greatness and achievement, it a sad news to know that we are just ash and dust. This is why in a typical Anglican burial scenario, you will see or hear the following lines, “earth to earth, dust to dust, ash to ash”. With these statements, the grave of the dead person is covered. Therefore, we must constantly remind ourselves whom we are and not go about thinking that we are what we are not. With this in mind, it will help every Christian worldwide to understand the more that we are all ash and one day we will return back to ash while the soul returns to God.

Do We Just Pick Up Ash From Anywhere
This is another important question that i will not fail to answer. Do we pick up ash from anywhere, since ash do not have its types? The answer is NO. We do not just use any kind of ash for this celebration. We get a palm frond, burn it and use that ash for the celebration. Palm frond is selected because when Jesus went triumphantly into Jerusalem, the people got palm frond and st it om the ground for His ass to walk on it. For this reason, the Anglican church use the ash gotten from palm frond.

May God help us so that this celebration will not just be to fulfill all righteousness. One of the major reason why it seems as if Christianity is losing its value day by day is because some of those things which were instituted our Christian fathers are now been abused and carried out just to fulfill all righteousness. So if you are looking for the reason behind the ash Wednesday, then I have done a little justice to it. If you love this article and you believe its content, then go ahead and share it to all and sundry.

Source:  http://www.christianityupdate.com/blog/meaning-ash-wednesday-anglicans-celebrate/

"Flog them Very Well"—Nigerians React as Soldiers Flog SARS Officials Who Shot Hausa Traders In Ogun

There were reports that operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force allegedly shot two Hausa traders in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

However, A new video has emerged suggesting that no fewer than two Hausa men have lost their lives during the chase by the SARS operatives.

The video captured the moment some men suspected to be men of the security operative were captured by some soldiers.

The video, which was posted by Instablog9ja, showed how the soldiers flogged the SARS operatives before whisking them away.

Meanwhile, Many Nigerians have been reacting to the latest incidence, with them telling the soldiers to flog them very well.

Below are some of the reactions by Nigerians on Social media

Drop your comments below, follow me for updates and share with your friends.

Coronavirus: Chloroquine yields positive data in Covid-19 trial

Early data from clinical trials being performed in China has revealed that chloroquine phosphate could help treat the new coronavirus disease, Covid-19.

China National Center for Biotechnology Development deputy head Sun Yanrong said that chloroquine, an anti-malarial medication, was selected after several screening rounds of thousands of existing drugs.

Xinhua reported that the drug is undergoing clinical trials in more than ten hospitals in Beijing, Guangdong province, and Hunan province.

Chloroquine data from Covid-19 trials

Data from the drug’s studies showed ‘certain curative effect’ with ‘fairly good efficacy’.

According to Sun, patients treated with chloroquine demonstrated a better drop in fever, improvement of lung CT images, and required a shorter time to recover compared to parallel groups.

The percentage of patients with negative viral nucleic acid tests was also higher with the anti-malarial drug.

Chloroquine has so far showed no obvious serious adverse reactions in the more than 100 participants in the trials.

The China National Center for Biotechnology Development head Zhang Xinmin said that chloroquine is one of the three drugs that have a promising profile against the new coronavirus, reported China Daily.

The remaining two drugs are anti-flu medicine favipiravir and Gilead’s investigational anti-viral candidate remdesivir.

Favipiravir is currently in a 70-patient trial in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, while remdesivir is under evaluation at more than ten medical institutions in Wuhan.

WSJ noted that remdesivir’s trials are progressing slower than expected due to the lack of eligible coronavirus patients. Around 200 of the trial’s target of 700 participants have been enrolled after ten days.

Source: Opera.com

Nigerians React As Nigerian Senate Passed The Bill To Create Agency For Repentant Boko Haram

Wednesday Feb 20, 2020

image source: Google

According to the report gathered earlier this morning, the Nigerian Senate has heard a bill calling for the creation of an agency to deradicalise and reintegrate repentant terrorists into the country.

This news is currently causing uproar amongst users online who thinks it doesnt seem right for the Senate to pass a bill for terrorist who are meant to be fought and exterminated.

According to a twitter user @olumide_tolu

"Whoever foots this bill should be arrested that person is part of those funding boko haram why should a terrorist be giving a repentance agancy what about the families of those killed."

A tweet from @emmaikumeh ·

"😁😁😁😁 we are finished in this country.. What's wrong with people? I don't blame them, the feed fat on our resources, that's why they can introduce such nonsense bill"

Source: opera.com

New Keke Maruwa Leaves Lagosians Jubulating

Following Lagos State’s Government Ban on the use of Keke (Tricycle) and Okada (Motorcycle), life has been difficult for Lagosians. Going about daily chores has become quite difficult. The much talked about and dreaded Lagos State traffic intensified and got even worse.

Lagos State Citizens made several appeals and request to the Lagos State Government, a deaf ear was given. Things got worse that the fastest means of transportation was trekking. Social media was agog of pictures of Lagos State citizens trekking.

The Lagos State Government gave a statement to explain that decision was not deliberate to hurt anyone or its citizens, that it was done to curb the rate of accidents and insecurity.

As human are, we would always have to find a way to adapt. Such measure of adaptation was seen in the streets of Ikeja. Mini buses that appear to be restructured from Keke (Tricycle). It was a wonder to behold and very creative.

How Buhari, Other Northern Leaders are Aiding the Growth of Poverty in the Region

The recent world bank report that the northern part of Nigeria shared 87 percent of the country’s poverty is a threat to national development. The growing poverty is a result of the leadership defect in the region. This poverty, in turn, has seasoned the growth of banditry, terrorism and other insecurity challenges confronting the country.

As much as the masses in the north remain the casualty, the lack of visionary leaders should be faulted for the woes. This epidemic has turned the region into a place of a tragedy that hardly produces any good news. The most unfortunate is that the northern figures constituted the larger part of the Nigerian federal bureaucracy. Yet, the north remains a case of the bigger the head, the bigger the headache.

The north constituted a larger portion of the country’s federal distributed revenue, having the 19 states of the 36 states. The north is also blessed with fertile land and solid minerals. Presently, the north is one of the dismal places to live on earth, it is not friendly for investment, peace and human existence. It has a landmass covered 711,828 square kilometers of Nigeria’s total of 932,762 sq km, an almost two-third of the Nigerian land that has not been properly utilized.

One of the northern leaders, Yakubu Dogara, former speaker of the Nigerian House of Representative recently commented on the leadership failure in the north. He posited that the insecurity in the north is a corresponding factor that is foreseen, created and sustained by the leadership ideal. He says “exposed as a lie, an empty ideology used to satiate greed instead of addressing social inequality and injustice.”

Inability to Create and Sustain Progressive Policies

One of the ways the northern leaders have contributed to the growth of poverty in the region that is now a national threat is their inability to create and sustain progressive policies in the region. Despite producing the highest number of heads of states and presidents in the country’s history and having the highest number of governors, they have failed to create policies that can enhance development and reduce poverty. 

Two presidents from the south, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan took some steps during their times but the northern leaders did not sustain it. Obasanjo inaugurated the Child Rights Act that is meant to provide free education for children and shun child marriage. Unfortunately, most northern states are yet to domesticate the Child Rights Act. 

Jonathan, on the other hand, instituted 165 almajiri schools which are to eradicate the exploited child beggars that are roaming the streets of the north, all in the name of acquiring Quranic knowledge. The almajiri children are estimated to be 8.5 million in number. Sadly, the incumbent president, President Muhammadu Buhari, who also doubled as one of the northern elders and leaders has ignored Jonathan’s policy on the almajiri and no viable alternative in place yet. 

Politicization of Religion

One other way that the leaders have contributed to the growth of poverty in the northern region is their continuous politicization of religion for them to acquire political power. They have failed to realize that the 21st-century economy is driven by knowledge where any self-employment can rarely be sustained by illiteracy. 

Rather than focusing on infrastructure, education, health, and job opportunities, the northern leaders decided to fully launch Sharia law in the region. Since the introduction of the Sharia Law, there has been an increase in poverty, criminality, and the spread of Islamic extremism. A region that has been known for peace is now a hell on earth where the youth and females are engaging in substance abuse, terrorism, and banditry. 

According to the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mohammed Abdallah, most of the 6,833 people the agency arrested in 2018 for drug abuse were from the north, this includes females. Unfortunately, the northern governors since 1999 often deploy their resources to fund religious activities and traditional rulers rather than investing in education and other development agenda.

It is, therefore, necessary for the northern leaders and elders to admit their errors and start taking steps in solving the escalated problems. If you failed to give education to the children of the poor, you risk the life of your children you have sent to school soon.

Source: Opera.com

It Is Not Over Until It Is Over

Report 

Everything that has a beginning must surely have an end. HIS201 last class was held today 20th of February 2020 inside the ALH. The lecturer was heartily welcomed by students as there was joy and jubilations in the Arts Lecture Hall (ALH) due to the fact that it was the last lecture for the course. The lecture was attended by Students of History and International Studies, Social Studies, History Education and students of various departments who registered for the course. The lecture was very interactive and students participated enthusiastically. 

The lecturer had earlier gave instructions on 19th February 2020 that every student must take personal decision whether to do as assignment or class task. He stated thus: 

1. Draw the map of pre-colonial Nigeria identifying the peoples/lands and linguistic groups.

2. Draw the map of modern Nigeria identifying the states and ethnic groups

In the beginning the lecturer, Dr. Solomon gave the introduction on leadership and it's qualities and also discussed and juxtaposed the changes in cultural map of pre-colonial and modern Nigeria. 

Later he called group leaders to share their experience (pains, gains and recommendations) as group leaders in the course of their group work. Also, he gave room to group members to evaluate the leadership style of their leaders.

EXCERPTS FROM GROUP LEADERS 

"There will surely be challenges but to overcome such challenges as a leader, you have to be autocratic, diplomatic and democratic respectively as situations demand"

Diplomat Taofeek

"My group members are nice although we had challenges too. I had it in mind that everybody can't be the same so, I tried as much as possible to get everyone involved in the course of the work"

Diplomat Great 

"I will like to implore all group leaders to be tolerant, patient and quintessential. Group members should also be cooperative and supportive"

Diplomat Idrees

From the participants it was a very good learning experience, the lecture helped them in their understanding the concept of leadership. It also aroused the need for tolerance, cooperation and diligence from leaders and their followers.

"IT IS NOT OVER UNTIL IT IS OVER" 

EXCERPT BY AASA (001)

February 20, 2020 

Kwara in dilemma As Saraki arrive enormously

I wholeheartedly celebrate you,

Distinguished Abubakar Bukola Saraki CON.

• The Indefatigable Champion of Nigerian Democracy.

• An Emblematic Paradigm.

• The Mover and Shaker of Nigerian Politics.

• The Fearless Captain of a Successful Legislative Assembly.

• A Professor Of Political Administration and Man Management.

• The Emerging Tiger of the 21st Century.

• An Icon of Hope.

• The National Calculator of the PDP.

• The Future of a Progressive Nigeria.

• A Democrat of High Repute.

• The First Among Equals. Keep Living. And come back soon, Leader To whom it may concern...

Keep hating us because we unconditionally love and are genuinely loyal to him.

Source: Opera.com

With the way you banged me all night long so shall they bang your children and not pay them

This is a whatsapp conversation between a boy and a girl, it all started when the boy bolaji invited the girl for a hookup, and they agreed that he will pay her the sum of 15k after having sex with her.

So after the whole thing its time for the guy to pay her the amount they bargained on, the guy transfered fake alert to her.

So when she gets to know it was already late, then she chatted the guy up on Whatsapp telling him to pay her, her money, she even said the guy borrowed 2k from her promising her that he will transfer everything together

So the guy got angry saying, she ate fish 2 plates, he bought 2 packet of condom, she drank 2 bottles origin 1k, And they both enjoyed themselves

See screenshots below

So who is at fault? Who is to be blamed? Is the guy right for what he did?

Source: Opera.Com

Insecurity: I Thought Jonathan Was Incompetent Until Buhari Came To Power – Ahmad Gumi

Ahmad Gumi, a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, has noted that he thought former president, Goodluck Jonathan was not competent enough to handle the security situation in the country, until Muhammadu Buhari took over power.

Gumi, who was a vocal critic of Jonathan when he was in power, expressed concern over the escalating security situation in the north, as Boko Haram continue to kill people freely, while the Buhari administration continues to free so-called repentant terrorists captured by soldiers.

The preacher, who is now a more vocal critic of Buhari administration, stated that he had thought Jonathan was unable to end Nigeria’s security woes during his administration, but he is now convinced that Muhammadu is much worse.

He said the bIoodshed under Buhari is more than doubled of what occurred under Jonathan, saying he does not see any reason why Buhari should continue to rule the country.

He therefore advised the president to resign from his position.

He said: “I blamed Jonathan with bIood in his hand because Boko Haram were putting b*mbs everywhere and government was not doing enough.

“Anybody kiIIed under your regime, you are responsible for that bIood. If you have done your best, I can say yes, Allah can forgive you. But if you are relaxed, no; Allah will not forgive you. So it is the same thing now.

“The bIoodshed now is more than, combined together, the bIoodshed during Jonathan’s regime. So now you judge yourselves to be fair. Our religion is a religion of fairness.

“During Jonathan’s time when the bIood was flowing too much — mosques and churches and streets, I said let him resign because I could see he could not handle the bIood flow.

“He could not handle it. I said please resign with immediate effect because you cannot handle the kiIIing of innocent people.

“That is why I called for his resignation and government newspaper and others published it. Is that possible today?

“Now more bIood is shed from negligence, from sleeping, from laziness, from I-dont-care.

“If I am true to myself, as I called for the resignation of Jonathan, I should call for the resignation of President Buhari, and with immediate effect! And government paper should carried it also, if there is truth.

“As bad as Jonathan was, he was more democratic and had given people freedom to speak — even against him. You could see when he saw there was problem, he relinquished power, saying ‘I don’t want bIood to be shed.

“This man (Jonathan) build for us nine universities in the North, more than 150 Almajiri schools. Even this railway from Abuja to Kaduna. He has done a lot of things. But I was charging him because bIood; bIood is the most expensive thing in life.

“There was nothing I have not said (against Jonathan). He should be impeached, he should resign, he was divisive.

“So now I have one of two options. If I can not tell my own brother what I have told this man, then I should take an aeroplane from Abuja to Jonathan and say please forgive me for castigating you in public.

“I rather seek his apology or castigate the president too. One of the two, there is no three. We have been patient with this government. If it is another, wallahi it would have been more than this.

“People are dy ng, everyday. Yesterday somebody was kidna ped. People are suffering, and nobody can say it because they have taken over out throats because they don’t want to hear something bad against the man.

“Buhari is full of mistakes. Full of mistakes! He is human being like anybody. And I swear to God that there are many people here in the North that can perform better than him. Better!”

Source: Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah 

Nigerian Newspapers: Top 10 Headlines Today Wednesday, February 19th, 2020

Nigerian Newspapers Headlines

Good day, and welcome to the Concise News roundup of the top 10 Nigerian newspapers headlines for today Wednesday, February 19th, 2020.

1. I Strongly Believe Coronavirus Is Caused By Corruption, Says EFCC’s Magu

Acting chairman of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has identified corruption as the cause of the deadly coronavirus. The EFCC boss made this known at the passing out parade of 281 cadets of the EFCC Detective Inspector Course-5, at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, on Tuesday.

2. SGF Mustapha Speaks On Buhari Sacking Service Chiefs

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari will not sack his service chiefs, Concise News reports. Mustapha made this known while addressing journalists after a book presentation by Samuel Salifu, former General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN), in Abuja on Tuesday. According to him, it is premature to sack the service chiefs because of Nigeria’s growing insecurity, adding that the situation requires “everyone to be on board.”

3. US Visa: What Nigerians Must Know About Travel Ban – America

The United States has declared that the visa ban placed on Nigeria was a temporary measure that could be lifted if the Nigerian government meets certain conditions. But clarifying the ban during a visit to Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, in Abuja on Tuesday, the US ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Leonard, said that students visa were not included.

4. Imo Governorship: Supreme Court Fixes New Date To Hear Ihedioha’s Appeal

The Supreme Court has adjourned till March 2 for hearing of Emeka Ihedioha’s appeal seeking a review of the judgment nullifying his election as governor of Imo state. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Ihedioha, are praying the court to, among others, reverse its judgment on January 14 this year, which sacked Ihedioha and replaced him with Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

5. PDP Speaks On Power Tussle Between Monguno, Abba Kyari

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has blamed President Muhammadu Buhari for the rift between the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), and the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, Abba Kyari. Monguno, in a memo dated December 9, 2019, accused Kyari of hijacking the coordination of security leadership by meeting with the nation’s service chiefs.

6. Supreme Court Adjourns Till March 2 Review Of Zamfara Judgment

The Supreme Court has rescheduled the hearing for March 2, in the motion by the Abdul’aziz Yari faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State for a review of the court’s May 24, 2019 judgment. Recall the apex court had blocked the participation of candidates of the APC in the last elections in the state.

7. We Were Targets Of Auno Killings – CAN Chairman Ayokunle

The national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said that they were the major targets of recent attack on Auno, a village near Maiduguri, the Borno state capital. This was made known by the national president of CAN Samsom Ayokunle who said his team visited Maiduguri, last week but escaped the attack.

8. Imo Governorship: Soyinka Speaks On Monitoring Supreme Court Ruling

Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka Tuesday denied being a member of any team monitoring the review of Supreme Court’s judgment that sacked Emeka Ihedioha as governor of Imo state. The apex court had, on 14 January, removed Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and declared Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the 2019 governorship election.

9. Aso Rock Villa Assistant Director Killed At Home

Laetitia Naankang Dagan, an Assistant Director attached to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, has been killed. It was learned that she was killed in her apartment in Galadimawa late Monday night. Reacting to Dagan’s death, the Permanent Secretary, State House, Jalal Arabi, said it was “a painful loss, not only to her immediate family but also the entire State House.”

10. Champions League: Liverpool Lose At Atletico Madrid

Holders Liverpool lost 1-0 to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday in a UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg clash in Madrid. Saul Niguez’s early strike gave Atletico an aggregate lead going into the second leg of their tie at Anfield.

That’s the roundup of the top 10 Nigerian newspapers headlines this morning. 

Source: Concise News

Questions to ask those who believe there is no God

A Lecturer in a University while Teaching said there is no God and this Happened

Why on earth will anyone say there is no God?

If you believe like what that lecturer said while teaching that there is no God, please you need to tell me the following:

1. The location of the pillars that hold the earth;

2. The amount you can pay for the air you breath in everyday;

3. The reason why your legs have not worn out despite the distance your              trekked in your life;

4. Why an alarm you set can wake you up but the same alarm cannot wake the dead man up;

5. Why there is light and darkness;

6. Why there is dry and rainy seasons;

7. What is manufacturing the blood in your body system;

8. Why a woman needs to carry a pregnancy for nine months;

9. Who programmed a week to seven days, a month to be 28, 29, 30 and 31 days and a year 365 or 366 days;

10. Why scientists have not been able to create breath of life and blood that will run through their robots to make living; ….

If you can tell me all these answers, then and truly that lecturer was right.

Psalms 14 ( New Kings Version)

[1]The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.

A lecturer in a university while teaching said to his students in the course of the lecture he was delivering that there is no God, as he was still teaching, his mobile phone rang, he picked it up and he was told by the caller that his house was on fire, the lecturer shouted aloud – oh God…

His smart students quickly asked him, which God are you now calling?

You see, it is only a fool that will say in his heart that there is no God.

Don’t be a fool indulging in ungodly acts thereby saying in actions and acts that there is no God.

From Petakus desk

Champions League: Atletico beat Liverpool, Haaland scores brace in Dortmund win

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - ROUND OF 16 - 1ST LEG 

Erling Braut Haaland continued his remarkable scoring form this season with two more goals to give Borussia Dortmund the advantage over Paris St-Germain in their Champions League last-16 tie.

The 18-year-old Norwegian showed two distinct sides of his impressive game with his two second-half strikes - the first a predatory finish after Raphael Guerreiro's shot was blocked and the second a thunderbolt from 25 yards.

They took his tally for the season to a stunning 39 goals in only 29 appearances, and 11 in seven since joining Dortmund in January.

In between the two Haaland goals, Neymar briefly drew the visitors level, slotting in a low Kylian Mbappe cross on his return following four matches out with a rib injury.

But he was outshone by Haaland, who gave the German side the result their positive display deserved and a narrow lead to take to Paris for the second leg on Wednesday 11 March.

Atletico have never lost a match in which Saul Niguez has scored - played 37, won 33, drawn 4 

Elsewhere, Liverpool's defence of their Champions League title hangs in the balance after Saul Niguez's early strike gave Atletico Madrid an aggregate lead going into the second leg at Anfield. 

The Reds were given a dose of their own medicine as Atletico harried and hassled throughout and limited them to just two clear chances.

Those opportunities fell to Mohamed Salah, who headed wide, and Jordan Henderson, whose hooked shot just missed Jan Oblak's far post.

Klopp replaced Sadio Mane and Salah with Divock Origi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain but neither made an impact.

Two-time finalists Atletico, who have been on a poor run of form, held on to a fourth-minute lead given to them by Saul. The Spanish midfielder turned sharply to fire home after a corner came off the boot of Fabinho.

The return leg is on Wednesday, 11 March. 

Buhari named Nigeria's Best President - See lists of achievements

Presidency lists 64 achievements of Buhari

The Presidency released 64 achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari in the agricultural sector.

Buhari’s aide, Lauretta Onochie disclosed this in a statement titled ‘Sixty Four Achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari in Agricultural Sector’, made available on her Facebook page.

The statement read: 

“1) The anti-corruption drive of Mr. President put to a halt the exogenous leakages in the Agricultural sector to encourage, empower, and enhance the locally made farm produce thereby increasing our internally generated revenue (IGR) index and foreign exchange capacity and reserve to over $45 Billion in cash and bonds.

2) President Buhari initiated the Home Grown Feeding Programme which is designed to put an end to importation and market monopoly of farm produce that can be grown here in our country which is a pilot vehicle to sustainable economic, agricultural, academic and job creation across the length and breadth of our nation.

3) Under President Buhari, the Standing Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee on Zero-Reject of Agricultural Commodities and Produce / Non-oil Exports in Nigeria was inaugurated.

4) Under the Buhari-led administration, Nigeria has benefitted from 13.1billion Euros honeybee project.

5) The Buhari administration has commenced steps improving the standards of Nigeria’s agricultural exports to align with global standards due to the rejection of our produce at the EU Border Controls.

6) Under President Buhari, Standards and Quality Control measures have been developed in.

7) Under President Buhari administration at the end of 2016, agricultural goods as share of total trade got N212.73bn and 4.02 per cent and Agricultural goods exports were 2.7 per cent higher in Q4 2016 than Q3 2016.

8.) Under the Buhari-led administration, Sesame seeds contributed N6.46billion to Agricultural product exports in the fourth quarter of 2016.

9) In the fourth quarter of 2016, Frozen shrimps and prawns chipped in N4.4billion to Agricultural product exports under PMB’s administration.

10) Under President Buhari administration in the fourth quarter of 2016, Flour and meals of soya beans contributed N2.59billion to agricultural product exports

11) Under President Buhari administration in the fourth quarter of 2016, cashew nuts in shell contributed N0.95billion to Agricultural product exports with the Buhari-led administration.

12) Crude palm kernel accounted for N0.62 billion of the total Agricultural exports under the President Buhari administration in the fourth quarter of 2016.

13) Under the President Buhari administration the agricultural universities coordinating agency is being revitalised as stipulated in the enabling Act which will work closely with the Nigerian University Commission and development partners to re-focus the universities of agriculture in the country.

14) The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises (LIFE) programme was initiated by the Buhari Administration and it is aimed at bringing life back to rural communities through the empowerment of youth, women and other vulnerable groups across the country.

15) Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises (LIFE) Programme initiated by the President Buhari administration is geared towards promoting community-based on-farm and off-farm business activities as a model for job and wealth creation amongst unemployed youth and women in rural and suburban households.

16) Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises (LIFE) Programmes under President Buhari are expected to establish 150,000 cooperatives nationwide under commodity value chain groups.

17) Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises (LIFE) programme under President Buhari will establish and operate up to 1,000 cottage industries in the country, and ultimately engage about 1,995,500 youth and 997,500 women for enhanced productivity.

18) Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises (LIFE) programme under President Buhari would add about 5,965,000 metric tons of foods to the national food store.

19) Anchor Borrowers’ Programme is an intervention of the Buhari administration aimed at fast-tracking access of rural farmers to finance productivity.

20) The Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) of the Central Bank of Nigeria under the Buhari-led administration has made available N82billion in funding to 350,000 farmers of rice, wheat, maize, cotton, cassava, poultry, soy beans and groundnut; who have cultivated about 400,000 hectares of land.

21) The Buhari-led administration has made provision of agricultural credit for financing the production of rice, wheat, ginger, maize and soybeans in Kebbi, Niger, Kaduna, Kano, Enugu, Benue, Zamfara, Anambra and Kwara States.

22) The Anchor Borrower’s Programme (ABP) under Buhari’s administration has provided quantum of money for dry season farming in 2015, wet season rice and wheat farming in 2016 and is currently supporting the 2016 dry season farming in many states.

23) The President Buhari administration has commenced the use of National Soil Map Data, with the promotion of the use of soil-specific fertilizer formulations and application in prescribed dosages based on soil types following the conduct of soil mapping/test to enhance agricultural production and productivity.

24) Under President Buhari administration a resurrected interest in agriculture has awakened among small holder farmers.

25) Under the Buhari-led administration, Nigeria’s fertilizer market is growing.

26) The President Buhari administration has signed an agreement with the Government of Morocco for the supply of fertilizer raw materials on concessionary terms to boost local blending to facilitate making soil and crop-specific fertilizer blends available and accessible to smallholder Nigeria farmers.

27) The Ministry of Agriculture under President Buhari is facilitating the timely access of farmers to appropriate quality seeds.

28) The President Buhari administration has facilitated seed trading locally and internationally through the application of regionally agreed principles and rules.

29) The enabling environment for private investment in the seed industry has been created by the Buhari-led administration.

30) Under President Buhari, the National Irrigation Policy and Strategy has been developed and focuses on the need to overcome the irrigation challenges and put available irrigation facilities in the country into effective use.

31) The PMB Administration has assessed the status of infrastructure in all the 12 River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) hence, commenced immediate and effective use of the facilities for commercial farming.

32) Under President Buhari, the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has been strengthened for improved delivery of services through consolidation and recapitalisation in collaboration with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to ensure loan disbursement at a single digit interest regime in the agricultural sector as obtainable in developed and emerging economies.

33) The President Buhari administration has approved the restructuring, re-capitalising and repositioning of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA).

34) The Buhari administration has secured the approval of a grant of $1.1 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the restructuring of the Bank of Agriculture, aimed at staff training to strengthen service delivery.

35) The President Buhari administration has embarked on the re-validation of the claims of agro- dealers and input suppliers under the 2014 wet and 2014/2015 dry seasons to ensure that genuine claims are paid by the government.

36) The President Buhari administration has facilitated the payment of the sum of N20 billion, as part of the debts owed agro-dealers while efforts are on to fully settle the outstanding liabilities.

37) The President Buhari administration has established a N50 billion mechanisation fund to facilitate the second phase of Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprise (AEHE) to roll-out 6,000 tractors and 13,000 harvest and post-harvest equipment units across the country.

38) With the Buhari-led administration, Tractors and Implements were rolled out in Ilorin and Abuja on January 12, 2016, to support targeted commodity value chains.

39) The rising spate of hostilities and attendant insecurity arising from clashes between crop farmers and nomadic herdsmen has raised serious concern within the government. Accordingly, the PMB administration has commenced efforts towards resolution of pastoralists-farmers conflicts through the provision of 55,000 hectares of land by 11 states as part of the 5,000 hectares each expected from the 19 northern states for the development of pasture/paddocks grazing reserves.

40) The Buhari administration has established 40 large scale rice processing plants and 18 High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCGF) plants with a stake commitment of China EXIM (85 per cent) and Nigeria Bank of Industry (BoI) (15 per cent) through concessional credit facilities of US$383,140,375.60 for the rice mills and US$143,722,202.40 for the HQCF Plants.

41) The President Buhari administration through the Ministry of Agriculture is embarking on a programme of distribution of rice mills, of ten tons per day capacity, 20 tons a day, 40 tons a day, 50 tons and a few 100 tons. Collectively between them, the capacity for rice milling will be close to 3,000 tons a day nationwide. That is expected to close the gap between paddy availability and mills to process it.

42) The President Buhari administration has established 10 large scale rice processing plants and 6 High Quality Cassava Flour plants to be owned and operated by the private sector and would be funded by the Special Rice Processing Intervention Fund and the WB Assisted Agricultural Development Policy Operation [AgDPO] Funds.

43) Through President Buhari administration, Real GDP in agriculture grew by 4.11 per cent in the year 2016, and this growth rate was higher than that recorded in 2015 of 3.72 per cent.

44) Under Buhari’s administration as captured by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), there was a continuing strong growth in Agriculture (especially Crop Production) in the Q4 of 2016.

45) Agriculture contributed 21.26 per cent to nominal GDP in the Q4 of 2016 and the sector grew by 6.45 per cent year-on-year under President Buhari administration.

46) In the Buhari-led administration, the contribution of Agriculture to overall GDP in real terms was 25.49 per cent in the quarter under review, higher than its share of 24.18 per cent in the corresponding quarter of 2015.

47) The Ministry of Agriculture under President Buhari administration also provided 2283 bags of industrial salt to hides and skin dealers in 12 targeted states.

48) The President Buhari administration placed ban on rice importation and that has saved Nigeria an average of $5 Million daily.

49) The growing success story on agriculture in Buhari’s Administration has prompted more youths to commence full production in agriculture.

50) More than 7 million Nigerians are actively employed in agriculture under the Buhari Government’s diversification agenda and the Ministry of Agriculture is working to ensure that Agriculture will offer 20 million jobs in the nearest future.

51) Nigeria’s milled rice production has increased by about 60 percent, from 2.5 million MT in 2015, to 4 million MT in 2017 under the President Buhari administration.

52) The Buhari-led administration set up the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) to deliver commercially significant quantities of affordable and high quality fertilizer to the Nigerian farmer at the right time

53) The Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) under the President Buhari administration has resulted in the revitalization of 14 blending plants across the country, with a total installed capacity in excess of 2 million MT.

54) The Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) under the President Buhari administration has resulted in benefits which will include annual savings of US$200 million in foreign exchange, and N60 billion annually in budgetary provisions for Fertilizer subsidies.

55) Under President Buhari administration, the current cumulative in terms of IGR generated through Agriculture since the fall in price of crude globally has placed agriculture as the best alternative for creating wealth and increasing our National Foreign Reserve to an all-time high.

56) Nigeria’s economy has since bounced back after the recession of 2015/2016 and has continued to grow back as the strongest stabilizing economy in Africa under Buhari-led administration.

57) Through the Buhari-led administration, agriculture is already ripe to be the next green oil and global gold the world has ever seen and the green-rush will lead all roads to Nigeria.

58) Buhari-led Administration has revived 11 moribund plants with a combined capacity of over two million metric tonnes.

59) In 2017 under the President Buhari administration, Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) delivered 10 million 50kg bags(500,000MT) of NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer at a price of N5,500 in time for the wet season which is down from the price of N9,000 per 50kg bag in 2016, a 40% reduction in price.

60) Under President Buhari administration there is a higher patronage for the country’s rail network due to movement of raw materials and finished goods.

61) Under President Buhari administration, the bag-making sector of the economy was boosted, with over 10million packaging bags produced exclusively for Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI).

62) The Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) has been able to create 60,000 direct jobs and even a higher number of indirect jobs under the Buhari-led administration.

63) The Buhari-led administration has cut down on imports of agricultural products in order to enable self-sufficiency in food production and consumption.

64) Under President Buhari administration, The Green Alternative (TGA) was initiated, a major policy thrust to build an agri-business economy capable of delivering sustained prosperity by meeting domestic food security goals, generate exports, support sustainable income and job.”

Source: Opera. Com