As Nigeria joins other countries to celebrate the 2018 World Blood Donor Day, WBDD, the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole,said regular blood donation improves the cardiovascular system.

Adewole reeled out the benefits of blood donation at a press briefing to celebrate the day and to thank all voluntary and unpaid blood donors in the country.

He enumerated some of the health benefits of voluntary blood donations as improvement of the overall cardiovascular health and can lower the risk of severe cardiovascular issues including stroke by 33 percent. Other benefits include likelihood of living longer, rarely suffering from anemia at old age, even as a donor has the opportunity to undertake free health screening and a mini blood test before every donation at National Blood Transfusion Service centres.

Also,repeated blood donation enhances the production of new blood cells.

The 2018 WBDDhas as theme: “Blood donation as an action of solidarity’’ with a slogan: ‘’Be there for someone else’’.

The minister said it provides the opportunity to express gratitude to voluntary and unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood, as well as to raise awareness on the need for unceasing blood donations.

The minister added that transfusion of blood and blood products has been of tremendous help in saving millions of lives, adding that it plays essential life-saving roles in maternal and child care, as well as during emergency response to man-made or natural disasters.

Adewoleemphasised that Nigeria’s estimated blood need is about 1.8 million units of blood per annum, but national data indicates that voluntary donation accounts for only 10 percent of our blood collection.

Family replacement donations, as well as commercial donations account for 30 and 60 percent respectively.

The Regional Director, World Health Organisation, WHO, Dr. MashidiscoMoeti, who was represented by Dr. HamzatOmotayo, said the day offers an opportunity to thank voluntary and unpaid donors for their life-saving gestures and to motivate other people who have never given blood to begin to do so, particularly young people.

He noted that in Nigeria, the demand for blood transfusion is still on the rise, adding that NBTS record shows that there is a gap of 500,000 blood units to meet the blood needs of Nigerians considering our population.

‘‘Blood transfusion saves lives and primarily it doesn’t cost anything to save somebody that is suffering from life threatening conditions to live longer.’’

Nigerian Pilot reports that WBDD is celebrated every year on June 14 to celebrate voluntary and unpaid blood donors and to also encourage others to do so to save the lives of those suffering from life threatening conditions.

OLOROGUN TalebTebite is a former member of the Delta State House of Assembly.He represented Ughelli South Constituency between 2007-2015 and hails from Okpare town in Olomu Kingdom. In this interview with Chris Eriyamremu he spoke on the plethora of awards given to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his ambition.

Sir, what is your opinion on the plethora of awards by different media houses and organisations on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa over his developmental strides in Delta State?
The series of award being awarded to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa are rightly deserved and they will spur him to do more because governance is about the development of the people. Just walk around the state and you will see that Okowa really wants to better the lot of Deltans. As a politician I took time to drive round the state and found out that almost all the riverine communities have standard roads, major streets and towns are all tarred. What Roadwell Contracting Nigeria Limited is doing in the riverine area is something else, look at Oporoza township roads and Okerenkoko road projects, it is wonderful. Is it what Obakpor Engineering Nigeria Limited is doing on the land, my brother, all I have to say is to thank the governor for a job well done. You need to go round and see for yourself what he is doing. It is not just by talking, I saw them with my eyes and I am saying it the way it is. Kudos must be given to the commissioner for works and others who are doing everything possible for their boss to succeed.

Do you think the governor deserves the awards?
He deserves the awards based on his performances which you can see everywhere in the state. I will never align myself to those that specialize in tarnishing peoples’ names. I can boldly say that Governor Okowa has performed above 90 percent. I can tell you from a vantage position that he has done well.

Why is it that you are always commending the governor on pages of newspapers and others?
I do it because this governor is a performer. A man that has done all that,is still doing more and you are asking me why I am singing his praise. I can go to any length to sing his praises. There is nothing wrong for me to commend his developmental strides. I do not want to join issues with people that are anti-developmental.
This governor means well for his people, I and the good people of Ughelli South Local Government Area will forever remain grateful to the administration of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa. So, I am singing his praises based on the development on ground which you can see everywhere in the state.
Has the governor also thrived in the area of human capital development, especially in youth empowerment and employment?
If there is any government that has employed more youths in Nigeria, I will say it is the Delta State Government. When he came in as governor, he initiated YAGEP and STEP which has engaged over 10,000 youths in various skills. I can attest to that in my own local government area where several people were engaged. Are we talking about Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, and the civil service? The reports are there and he is doing more.

Can you mention some of the things he has done for the people of Ughelli South Local Government Area?
He has done a lot for my people, especially in the areas of infrastructure, education and others. They are there for you to see.
What is your response to the clamour by majority of your constituents that you should go for third term?
It gives me joy when people say OlorogunTalebTebite, we want you again. What else do you want me to say rather than to thank God for my modest way of living. I stand for my people and if these same people are saying that they want me, what else will I say than yes to their clarion call for me to run for a third term. I seek development and progress for my people because we are in a democratic era. And for you to enjoy democracy, you must have to do things on ground for your people. That is why I say yes! Despite the fact that they said I have performed creditably, I feel that there is the need to do more for them.

As a former two term member of the Delta State House of Assembly, what can you boast of that you have done for the people?

There are a lot of them. Don’t forget that it was during my tenure that former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan completed Olomu Bridge that is so strategic and economic driven. It links two kingdoms and other neighbouring communities. So you can see that in Ughelli South Local Government Area, we have one of the best bridges you can ever think of. If you look at other areas in the council, there are solar powered street lights and water projects for people to have access to potable water and the upgrade of 2.5KVA electricity project at Ovwor which was awarded to Obakpor Engineering Company and it completed it. They are projects meant to improve on the lives of the people of UghelliSouth.
In the area of education, Model School at Ososu-UrhieCommunity was completed.Renovation of classroom blocks at Etako Primary School, Okpare, and other communities were all completed. There are other uncountable projects that I cannot mention here now.
As a former lawmaker in the state and country, what do you think can be done to curb the present insecurity in the country?
The herdsmen and Boko Haram issues are being handled by the military and other security agents. I want to leave that for them, but if you must kill to live, you have death waiting for you at your doorstep.
What is your message to the people of Ughelli South Local Government Area as we approach the 2019 election?
They should expect more good things from me if elected. Remember that the dividends of democracy have no end, better things will surely come to them.

Ahead of the 2019 election, the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, recently, held a two-day training workshop on political broadcast regulation in Enugu.

Speaking during the training workshop with the theme, ‘Media Coverage of 2015 Elections: Challenges, Regulatory Framework and the Way Forward for a More Democratic Society’ which also marked his second year in office, Director-General of the commission, MallamIs’haqModibboKawu, reiterated the need to regulate broadcasting in the country ahead of the 2019 elections with retrospect to the unfortunate experience gathered from political broadcasts in 2015.

“As we introspect on the 2019 elections before us, we must retrospect to 2015 in the process of our introspection. We are heading for 2019, but many of the frightening symptoms of 2015 are already looming large, with the reality of hate speech, fake news and utterly abusive languages, and the most unscrupulous attitude in political broadcasting in Nigeria.”

Kawu also expressed dismay that Nigerians have quickly forgotten how polarized the country was and the crisis that almost ravaged it during the 2015 elections.He noted that members of the media and its observers are however, clamoring for prudence and collaborative efforts to be put into political broadcasting lest the atmosphere of the forthcoming 2019 elections could mar the country through insightful broadcasts, just as he added that his two years in office have been dedicated to ensuring that all political reports conform with the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.

“I think many of us did not take on board any self-critical lessons from that period; or have forgotten how polarized the country was and the dangers that faced us all. Many discerning observers of the media in general, and of broadcasting in particular, are already afraid and they are saying that unless all of us, and especially broadcasters sit up, political broadcasting in 2019 will be even more intolerant and abusive of the fundamental ethics and values of broadcasting than what we witnessed in 2015.

‘‘I have traversed round the country attending to issues of abuse of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, especially on political broadcasting or otherwise, trying to make our colleagues walk the straight and narrow path of fidelity to the letters and spirit of the code.”

He also berated the infractions and violations of the NBC code caused by political broadcasts from reports made available to him, as he made reference to the tension roused by recent party primaries in the country, even as he frowned at broadcasters, accusing them of compromise with parties.

Kawustressed that rather than act as umpires, they align with paymasters which is against broadcasting, thereby heating up the polity, but assured that as a lead broadcast regulator, NBC would not tolerate any broadcast that will lead to chaos within the country.

“I receive reports of various infractions and violations arising from political broadcasts. I am sure many of our colleagues monitored the tension and desperation that characterized the recent political party primaries. On the other hand, some of you are already showing signs of partisanship. Rather than act as umpires, we have thrown our hat and hearts into the ring, we are deliberately or inadvertently heating up the polity.”

Birthdays, wedding anniversaries, commemorations, heroes’ day, remembrance days etc are rituals that dot man’s life since time immemorial. These are days whose effect cannot be underestimated. They pep people up, fire their energies once more for a greater commitment to a cause and so forth. Can we over-emphasize the significance of the month of Ramadan to our Muslim brothers and sisters? Perhaps without Easter, there would be no Christianity. These periods are so important that we all look forward to them. Let me seize this opportunity to wish our Muslim brethren bountiful Allah’s blessings on the occasion of the Ramadan.

As a people and a country, we are awash with so many days that are important to us. We know of October 1, May 27 being Children’s Day, and most recently for about two decades now the anniversary of our hard won democracy, May 29. We hear speeches from our country’s presidents. This year’s own was taken by President Muhammadu Buhari. A flash back to history would remind us that there were independence days that were low-key, like in the days of Babangida and Abacha. In those low-keyed days nobody would broadcast anything. It was understandable. They came to power through the gun and it was up to them to tell us anything. But this time around we voted for Buhari, therefore it behooves on him to address us as a people.

For the sake of scrutiny and alternate analysis, this year’s Democracy Day speech would be treated objectively for proper perspective. For once we know that the Buhari-led government is worth the siren they blow around which is probably the main reason they collected power from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. At the instance, we are concerned with the president’s speech. Never heard anything so banal and boring like a primary school pupil’s composition passage. For the sake of time and space, we shall only look at what could pass as its strong points.

In paragraph two of the speech, the president said his government is committed to a new era of justice and prosperity. That sounds like a policy thrust of Lee Kwan Yew, Mahatma Ghandi and Abraham Lincoln combined, sugar-coated justice and prosperity. Three years down the line, in the stead it has been flagrant disregard to court orders and rule of law. Need we mention cases? On prosperity, let us rather take a walk to the market.

In paragraph three, he claimed that Boko Haram has relinquished large swathes of land that they held. No doubt, but bombings have continued unabated. Killer herdsmen have now widened the franchise of slaughtering Nigerians nationwide unlike Boko Haram who concentrated in the North-East. Paragraph four continued to imbue on the defeat of Boko Haram and the rescue of those they held captive. In this case, the government is only celebrating itself. It wants us to celebrate in spite of the remainder of the Chibok girls, Leah Sharibu, mass kidnapping of travelers across the country. With this gale of celebration, it means it has done so much and therefore Leah and co should fend for themselves, Poor us!

Paragraph seven is turbid with so many things lumped together: ‘kidnappings, herdsmen and farmers clashes being addressed and the identified culprits and their sponsors shall face the full wrath of the law. All the tiers of government are presently engaged to restore peaceful coexistence….’ We know herdsmen and farmers clashes are not being addressed. As at the time that this address was given by President Buhari, Plateau State is recording these clashes after mass burials in Benue State not too long ago. The antidote the president gave on this matter was that farmers should learn to live in peace with killer herdsmen and the upbraiding of farmers by the minister of defence who adduced that herders kill out of provocation. The Inspector-General of Police, IGP, called it a communal clash and the most recent suggestion by the minister of defence that anti-grazing laws be suspended. That was the much that was being done to settle the clashes to the best of our knowledge. When T.Y Danjuma complained of wanton killings in the country, government was angry as if they are partners in progress, herdsmen knowing that government was angry with Danjuma visited his hometown to oblige it.

At any rate we know that the local government tier is not capable of doing anything and so they could not have contributed to peaceful coexistence. States are so weak they are on life support; bail out drugs and the security apparatus is not with them. None of them is capable of settling farmers-herders clash. The federal government who has the constitutional duty to prevent crisis is so burdensome that herders continue their killing spree unhindered. For once, we insist on the restructuring of the country and the attendant true federalism so that farmers and herdsmen can key into local but effective laws of their locality.

We again know that government does not intend to identify those sponsoring and benefitting from the insurgency. How did we know? President Buhari once threatened to reveal the names of those behind the insurgency, meaning he knows them and would only go to the police at his pleasure and not for the sake of the country. When will the person we voted as president be roused to reveal the names of those sponsoring and benefitting from insurgency? We are hoping fervently to hear from him.

In paragraph 11, he said ‘…Nigerians and the international community have begun to applaud….determination to fight corruption’. This government plays the ostrich too much. Transparency International in its last report lauded the last government as it stated that corruption is deepening in Buhari’s government. Nigerians can tell it in another version: the country has never been so corrupt. As 2019 gets closer those for Buhari are free even if they stole the Central Bank, but those against him like Gabriel Suswam, Ibrahim Shema and Jonah Jang, among others are slammed with corruption charges. Senators who speak against Buhari are called to answer to criminal charges. EFCC is kept busy for anti-Buhari elements. Governors Nyesom Wike and Ayo Fayose are ignored in spite of inviting the EFFC to help recover state resources from the campaign coordinator of Buhari and gubernatorial candidate of the APC in Ekiti State respectively. Woe betide Fayemi if he was anti-Buhari! We shall never support acts of corruption from anti-Buhari elements. But the question is, should everyone do like the lily-livered others who have jumped to Buhari so that we don’t see the need for EFCC again? Lucky them!

Nigerians are not suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. We don’t have memory loss or cognitive decline. Paragraph 12 is not original. TSA is not his policy. During Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s time, there was public outcry of hardship in the land. Some Nigerians accused the government then of impoverishing the country. Since TSA was going to stop government wastage, he felt he was going to bring it to full force at a convenient time. In truth, some agencies were already being used as a pilot scheme. Immediately Buhari came to power he proclaimed TSA into full force and did that which Goodluck refrained from doing for the sake of the masses. For example, the same TSA and the increase in fuel pump price. After his INEC victory, Buhari did almost all and promises to do more no matter how the masses are inflicted with pain, a typical case of surgery without anesthetics.

The initiative to remove ghost workers from government payroll has been a long time battle of several governments in the past. The main financial instrument to checkmate that, IPPIS, was initiated by Obasanjo and consolidated by Goodluck Jonathan, a grandest institutional wipe out of corruption that cannot be equaled, or even thought of by the President Buhari regime. Granted, Buhari came to continue the process because all governments want to cut cost of governance. At any rate, the present government has exceeded the ghost workers thing to appoint dead people into government boards and parastatals.

In paragraph 18, the PDP had a better result no doubt. The current president of African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, reached that position because of the international adulation on the Agricultural revolution of the then government. In fact, all the PDP regimes had had a huge success in Agriculture. This present government is doing less on a success that had already started. The farmers/herders clash is impacting negatively on Agriculture. The herdsmen are constantly releasing war songs and war dances across villages and farmlands; everybody is afraid to go to farm now. The surest index to show that Agriculture has taken a downturn is the hunger in the land. Now police treat cases of stolen mould of eba and okro soup as if we were struck by drought for a decade.

The whole of paragraph 20 talked about empowering poor Nigerians. Under this regime, Nigeria reached the ignominious infamy of having the highest population of the poor on planet earth! This is a government insisting they brought justice and prosperity. This empowerment item is primarily the mandate of National Directorate of Employment. So far successive administrations had grappled with trying to provide non-white collar jobs to Nigerians. It has always been a far cry from expectation. One of the latent expectations of Nigerians is that an APC government headed by President Buhari would empower them. It even promised some stipends to the very poor. They have failed in providing the needed push. Granted they provided ₦5,000.00 as something to people and also a 2-year quasi employment scheme called N-power. It is all political gimmicks. These very actions by the government is neither here nor there. It is like saying they invested heavily on education with our students more often at home due to strike by academic and non-academic staff. The empowerment program, N-power, and the ₦5,000.00 stipend is on but microscopic to be referred to.

Paragraphs 21-23 talked about power generation. The present modest achievement is as a result of the fruition of investments from the past governments. At any rate, right now, there is no ‘NEPA light’ in Nigeria. The present government during their campaign promised to provide adequate electricity within six months of coming to power. Apparently we are still in six months in the life of the administration, we think.

In paragraph 24, the president mentioned transportation, reforms, equipment, Bilateral Air Services, etc. This is big news. Bilateral Air Services with whom? What is it anyway? Good as it may be, the present government should be wary of big things like launching satellite in space to monitor wind speed in the environment. Let them come down to our level. Bilateral things! high sounding language. Does it bring down the cost of yams or restore peace in Benue, Zamfara, etc.?

In paragraph 25, he also talked about ‘…compliance policies…routine international audit’,big language like in paragraph 24.

Contrary to its claim in paragraph 26, this government has not achieved giant strides in transport infrastructure in all the geopolitical zones in the country, period, instead Rotimi Amaechi was quoted to have given accolades to the Jonathan government in its achievements especially in the rail sector. In paragraph 32, the president said, ‘it is pertinent to also make mention of the immeasurable contributions of the Nigerian woman to national development and advancement of democracy, over the last three years. The government and people appreciate you all as mothers of our great country’.

Nigerian women are the fulcrum of the country no doubt. However, this government has no program appreciating the women. With the high cost of foodstuffs and near collapse of the health sector, women and children bear the brunt the most. Palpable insecurity soon makes wives widowed and children orphaned. Go find out the population in our IDP camps. It is an abode for the helpless women and children. It tells a grandeur story how much this government appreciates women. Who wrote this speech for Mr. President?

In paragraph 34, ‘…hitch free elections…’. That sounds like a promise for peaceful elections. We are aware of the ‘peaceful’ APC congress elections nationwide. It was so peaceful that a lot of people lost their lives, parallel congresses everywhere, spate of resignations, Imo state being a comedy of errors, court actions and the dry bones of nPDP coming back to life. Nemo dat quo, nemo dat habet. Nigerians be watchful. 2019 election might go the way of APC congresses. What you don’t have, you cannot give.

The ‘Not too young to run bill’ mentioned in paragraph 35 is not an executive bill of the government. It is the idea of the former government that was excised from its constitutional conference document. It was dusted by the National Assembly and signed by Buhari into law. The present government is notorious for appointing octogenarians into its organs. They signed what they don’t believe in.

National Coordinator and Chairperson, Central Working Committee, All African Women, AAFW, Mrs. Rosemary Effiong, has called for women participation in political leadership, economic development and peace building.

At apress briefing on Gender Pre-Summit in Abuja, the AAFW chairperson said women’s political participation is being recognized internationally as an important measure forthe status of women in any particular country, hence in recent years, their participation in politics and decision-making has received attention across the world.

According to her, “The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW, an international treaty adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is often described as the international bill of rights for women’’.
She, however, lamented that women remain seriously underrepresented in decision-making positions, despite the fact that more than half percent of the world’s population are women.

“They (women) lack access to political decision making as compared to their male counterpart at all levels of governance. So, women’s equal participation in decision-making and politics is not only a demand for simple justice, but also a necessary pre-requisite for their interests to be taken into account in the political process.
“Nonetheless, poverty, access to financial resources and unemployment are some of the challenges affecting women.”

Mrs. Effiongsaid the overall objective of the gender pre-summit is to bring together key actors in the gender equality and women’s empowerment arena to update and discuss critical developments in the field, assess the extent of implementation of commitments, especially the Declaration on 2015 Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development Towards Africa’s Agenda 2063, as well as the Mid-Term Review of the African Women’s Decade.

“Throughout history we see examples of terrible abuses against women and children. Over 1.1 million children were killed during the Holocaust to the many women and children raped or killed during the Rwandan Genocide and now the IDP camps in Nigeria.

“Women who survive these atrocities often have to live with the vivid and terrifying images of rape, war and death for the rest of their lives. They also suffer from sexually transmitted diseases, stigmatization and sometimes unwanted pregnancies.
“They are faced with the daunting task of keeping families together after displacement, providing food, clothing and shelter in what is in most instances, destroyed infrastructure for their children and families.

“The summit will stimulate dialogue, feature rich structured panel discussions, one-on-one interviews and breakout sessions. It will be a great platform to amplify the voice of African women and for cross fertilization of ideas leading towards a greater vision for Africa’s future,” she added.

Francis Duru, a popular Nollywood actor,said “they should be given the chance to have a voice in every aspect of life, legally, politically, economically.”
According to him, there is the need for woman to stand tall in peace building, also they have a divine virtue from God let them be allowed to work and have a voice in every aspect of life’’.

Senator Ahmed Makarfi, former Governor of Kaduna State and immediate past Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, has joined the race to contest the nation’s presidency in 2019.

He made it known to newsmen today in kaduna

Details later

The raging herdsmen menace is the handiwork of those who want President Muhammadu Buhari out of power, Senator Abubakar Girei has said.

Girei posited that Bugari’s enemies are behind the herdsmen’s deadly attacks with a view to demarket the president ahead of the 2019 elections. According to him the same truck played out when Boko Haram was used against former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Girei a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and Vice Chairman of the Arewa Consultative, who stated this in an interview with the Nigerian Pilot, says hef remains a proud member of the new Peoples Democratic Party, a bloc which merged in the alliance that formed the ruling APC.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is facing a similar situation experienced by former President Goodluck Jonathan whose administration was overwhelmed by Boko Haram insurgency, sponsored by opponents, the same way the farmer herdersmen,
kidnapping and other criminality, was being sponsored by Buhari’s opponents.

The aim of these elements whom he described as political enemies of President Muhammadu Buhari is to stop him from retaining power in 2019 because of the administration’s war on corruption and what he
(Buhari) could do to them.

He said “But for some of the challenges which have recently emerged, we all know where they are coming from. We know they are coming from the opposition, those who looted and carted away our commonwealth and those who lost out in 2015, who are afraid that justice will catch up with them, are using their looted funds to plunge the country into chaos. They want to make sure at all cost that Buhari does not return in 2019, so that they don’t go to jail. It is this group that is making allegations against the government that it has not performed.”

Girei however noted that both President Muhammadu Buhari and his predecessor have failed to nip insecurity in the country by unmasking their sponsors.
He however maintained that he does not see President Buhari going the way of Jonathan by losing the 2019 election because the opposition is still in disarray.

“But what I can tell you, is, it is almost similar. Even the
Boko-haram, we have said it, was sponsored. Boko Haram was sponsored.

“Why has the government failed to identify those behind Boko-haram?
“And why is it now, also unable to find those sponsors of the herdsmen, the cattle-rustlers, the kidnappers. All these shows the failure of government, both past and present.

“There’s no doubt, these are challenges, but that does not mean Buhari has not taken measures to contain Boko-haram insurgencies. Because he has actually almost wiped out Boko-haram. He must be given that credit.

“These are new manifestations of the challenges, that
they are also sponsored by his political opponents, one can even say political enemies. They want to safeguard their loots which they will never do as long as President Buhari remains in power.

“They must get them, confiscate their stolen assets and then make them face justice”, he stated.

He also cautioned the congregation of the opposition led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as “Third force” to be weary of the former President whom he said “remains the greatest threat to our democracy and our nation”

A deadly clash by two rival cult groups has resulted to the death of an unidentified man at Alapere in Ketu, near Lagos.

Nigerian pilot crime correspondent learnt that the incident took place at Modupe Street, off Kazeem Street in Alapere late on June 17.

A resident of the area, who claimed to have witnessed the fight told our reporter that the cultists came from a nearby street, describing the area as a hotbed of cultist activities.

Our reporter learnt that the Alapere cult war has been on for more than three years, resulting to the death of no fewer than eight people within the period.

The source, who pleaded not to be identified, named the rival cults as members of Eiye and Aye confraternity.

“These cultists are always at war with each other, shooting guns at night all the time.

“Kazeem, Aminu and Akampson Streets near the transformer at Alapere are notorious for cult activities,” the source said.

The spokesman for the Lagos Police Command, Mr Chike Oti, confirmed the development, saying that the dead man was stabbed to death.

Oti said that the identity of the dead man was not yet known.

He said, however, that the body had been removed by policemen from the Alapere Division and deposited at a mortuary.

The spokesman said that no arrest had been made on the development. (NAN)

Chelsea Football Club On Monday, June 18, blasted Moses, Mikel’s poor performance in Nigeria’s 2-0 loss to Croatia in their Group D opening game on Saturday, June 16.

The England Football club, questioned Nigeria’s uninspiring display, while noting that their former player, Mikel failed to threaten the Croatia in his No 10 role.

There have been calls that Mikel should be deployed in the same position he used to play for Chelsea when Nigeria tackle Iceland on Friday.

Chelsea wrote on the official website, ”Victor Moses became the first Chelsea player to suffer defeat at Russia 2018 when a lackluster display from Nigeria resulted in defeat by Croatia.

”Moses started on the left of the Nigeria line-up but soon moved into an attacking position on the right and took most set-pieces, but he and his team-mates, who included John Mikel Obi in the no. 10 position, rarely threatened.”

Moses was on for the duration of the encounter while another Chelsea player, Kenneth Omeruo was on the bench.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has fixed June 26 for the 2018 admission policy meeting to kick-start the admission process into the nation’s tertiary institutions.

Dr Fabian Benjamin, the JAMB Head of Media and Information, made this known to our correspondent on Monday in Lagos.

Benjamin said; “The main reason for the meeting is to define all modalities for admission of qualified candidates into the nation’s tertiary institutions for the 2018/2019 academic session.

“The board has concluded arrangements for this year’s admission policy meeting with all stakeholders in the education sector.

“This kind of meeting is to give room for contributions as well as ensure fairness and equity in the conduct of the 2018/2019 admission process.

“We are expecting in attendance all heads of tertiary institutions across the country.

“We shall be convening this meeting, for the first time, in the South-West, Osun precisely.

“All the South-West governors have been invited coupled with other critical stakeholders.

“To ensure that there is no misrepresentation of facts or information, there will be a live coverage of the meeting on NTA from 11:30a.m. to 1:30p.m, so that Nigerians can follow the proceedings,” he said.

Benjamin said that in addition, Nigerians would also be able to get first-hand information on how the admission would be conducted, especially the requirements needed.

He assured Nigerians that the board would continue to ensure it brought on board innovations and reforms that would give the candidates an edge over admission process challenges.

“Our determined objective is to ensure that every prospective candidate is treated fairly and equally under a transparent platform.

“We will also continue to strive to open up the space for healthy competition.

“As it was done in 2017, this year’s admission process will also be conducted through the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS).

“This system eliminates all human interference in the admission exercise, where candidates are selected purely on the basis of defined criteria,” Benjamin said. (NAN)

Mother of three, Mrs Ijeoma Eze-Ezirike has reportedly bathed her housemaid, a 10-year-old orphan, Onyinye Nwaogu, with hot pepper after beating her because she went with her madam’s children to the house of the children’s class teacher.
According to eyewitness reports, the incidence took place at No. 1 Timileyin Avenue, Jikwoyi, Phase 1 Extension, a suburb in Abuja, on Thursday afternoon after Mrs Eze-Ezirike, who sells provisions at Karu market, returned home and found out that her housemaid had taken her children out to watch television at the teacher’s house behind their compound.
According to the teacher, Miss Dorcas, Onyinye had brought the kids to watch television in her house and left, but she was surprised when her madam brought her back and started beating her with planks, hit her head on a concrete wall and the girl passed out.
“Concerned neighbours who have gathered because of the girl’s cry pleaded Eze-Ezirike not to kill the little girl and told her the consequence of what she was doing to the child. We revived the little girl and her madam took her home but after a while, we heard Onyinye crying and shouting for mercy from a distance; we had to rush to the house,” Dorcas recounted.
According to a neighbour who pleaded anonymity, he witnessed the violence meted out by Mrs Eze-Ezirike as she continued beating the girl with planks under the rain.
“We had to rush out to rescue the girl from her grip and warned her to leave the child alone and she took the child home in disguise of going to treat her wounds and suddenly, from a distance we heard Onyinye screaming for mercy. On getting to Eze-Ezerike’s flat, she had stripped the little girl naked and bathed her with hot pepper from head to toe, including her eyes and vagina.”
Another neighbour, Mrs Rita Williams, who leaves close to Mrs Eze-Ezerike, said they were always woken up every morning from the cry of Onyinye, who wakes up as early as 5.30am most times in the cold and is the last to go to bed from house chores.
She said she had on several occasions pleaded with Mrs Eze-Ezerike to return Onyinye back to where she brought her from instead of killing her with beatings every day.
She said that on one occasion, Onyinye almost went blind after her madam had beaten her to a pulp and when she approached her to know what happened, it almost resulted into a fight between her and onyinye’s madam.
When Nigerian Pilot visited Jikwoyi Police Station, the IPO in charge, Mrs Ana, confirmed the incident, saying that onyinye suffered injuries from the beating and pepper bath she received from her madam.
She said onyinye was taken to the hospital for treatment because of the bruises she sustained and the pepper her madam put in her vagina, but after much pleading by Mrs Eze-Ezerike and her husband, the girl was released to the couple.

Nigeria Air force on Monday,June 18, deployed two helicopters to 207 Quick Response Group Air Force Base in Zamfara state to curb terrorism and insecurity.

Nigerian Pilot, reports that the Nigeria Air Force recently commissioned two helipads at the 207 Quick Response Air Force Base in Gusau. The deployment was made to support personnel operation in the fight against army bandits and terrorism in the state.

Also more personnel were deployed from the Army, Air Force, Police and Department of State Security Service (DSS).

The development came when the state Governor expressed concern with the activities of security agencies in the state.

Speaking while receiving the helicopters, the Commander of the 207 Quick Response Group, Captain Caleb Olayera expressed assurance that the state would witness change.

Olayera said with the helicopters in the Command, criminals would be trace and dealt with.

Chief Government Ekpemupolo, better known as Tompolo, Former militant leader, has denied rumours that he has joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Tompolo who spoke through Paul Bebenimibo – his media adviser and consultant,described the report as untrue.

He said, “I am not a politician.

“How can one who does not belong to a political party defect from one political party to another?

“Tompolo is not a politician. He is just a political activist. He doesn’t belong to any political party please,” Bebenimibo said.

Recall that last month, Tompolo reportedly joined key leaders of various camps of ex-agitators in the Niger Delta, to pledge to work with the Federal Government to ensure peace and stability in the region.

The other leaders that met with the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo, in Lagos, included: Chief Bibopre Ajube, aka General Shoot-at-Sight; Victor Ben, alias Boyloaf and HRH Ateke Tom, among other

Dr. Bukola Saraki, Senate President and Eight other senators, will on Tuesday, June 19, embark on a three-day parliamentary visit to Russia, aimed at deepening legislative best practices and further strengthening the relationship between both countries.

During the visit, Saraki is expected to address the Federation Council of the Federal Russian Federation (Senate of Russia), and hold meetings with its chairperson of the Federation Council, Ms. Valentina Matviyenko, Chairman of the State Duma, Mr. Vyacheslav Volodin, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Mr. Mikhail Bogdanov, to exchange views on issues of the Nigerian-Russian cooperation.

Senators will also hold side meetings with corresponding committees of the Federation Council of Russia.

Senators on the delegation include Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio; Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Olusola Adeyeye; Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu; Chairman, Senate Committee on Air Force, Senator Duro Faseyi; Chairman, Senate Committee on Sports and Youth, Senator Obinna Ogba; and the Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ibrahim A. Danbaba.

The delegation is expected back in the country on June 22, 2018.

Pandemonium broke out at the early hours of today at the government own specialists hospital in lokoja, kogi state as one Dr. Chukudibe Rosemary collapsed and died, while one doctor Idris Nuhu with three nurses and a ward attendant collapsed and relapsed to coma, as they were on their duty post at the hospital.

The incident which claimed the life of Dr. Rosemary and others that were hospitalized may not be unconnected with non payment of their salaries for months.

“She died as a result of lack of money to by her drugs as she was not paid March salary when others were paid last Thursday, and for somebody who has not been paid since February and have been missing her drugs since,it will not be difficult to understand the complications that set in during the night” said a Nurse who craved for anonymity in the hospital yesterday.

It was gathered that her name and that of Dr.Nuhu and many others that were lying helplessly in the hospital were not paid their March salary for no reason.

It was further learnt that the deceased doctor, Chukudibe Rosemary who was among the pioneers staff of the hospital and the Head Of Department of Internal Medicine was admitted on Sunday evening in the hospital after she collapsed from a heart related disease.

It was said her situation became complicated around 2.am on Sunday, and by early morning of today, she packed up to eternity.

Shortly after Dr Rosemary died another, Dr Idris Nuhu and three Nurses and attendant who worked in the same ward with her slumped simultaneously and relapsed to coma; they are currently on admission at the Maternity ward in the hospital.

Nigerian pilot visited the state specialist hospital today, but could not ascertain the names of the nurses as they have been heavily sedated and under close watch of fellow Nurses.

Speaking on the issue, Dr Moses Adaudi,the Secretary, Association of Resident Doctors, Kogi state specialist hospital unit who confirmed the incident said that the death of the Doctor was as a result of lack of functional equipment in the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital where she could have been treated when her condition became complicated.

“There was no oxygen spanner to place her on oxygen ,even when she was to undergo some tests,there was no money to carry out the test”, he said.

He therefore called on the state government to make the welfare of civil servants especially the health workers a top priority.

Nurses who spoke on condition of annonimity said that Dr Rosemary was a well loved, thorough bred professional whose death had created a very big vacuum that will be difficult to fill.

A source in the hospital said that all the three Nurses have been on duty since Saturday morning and have been exhausted due to workloads which had increased in the last two months because of the strike of Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU.

According to source , the condition of service is appalling as one nurse is made to attend to over 30 patients against the international standard of one nurse to four patients.

The Chief Medical Director Dr. Ehalaye Bolorunduro confirmed the incident but said the management is on top of the situation.

It could be recalled that the chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees ( NULGE ) Olamaboro LGA, Comrade Godwin Sule (AKA) Ghadafi collapsed and died in his office last Friday over a complications that was facilitated by non payment of salary.

Senator Kabir Marafa, Chairman Senate Joint Committees on Petroleum Resources, has declared his intentions to contest for the governorship seat of Zamfara State in 2019.

Marafa, who represents Zamfara Central Senatorial district in the Senate, made his intention to vie for the governorship race public when the newly elected executive of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state paid him a Sallah visit at his Yandoton-daji residence in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.

Marafa, in a statement in Abuja, further said he will soon officially declare his intention to contest for the governorship race at an occasion to be held in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, and is expected to be witnessed by all political stakeholders in the state.

He told the party executives that following the numerous calls across the 14 local government areas of the state, he has decided to join the governorship race.

Marafa promised that if elected, he will fight corruption, injustice and provide the much needed leadership to stimulate growth and development of the state.

While commending Governor Abdul Aziz Yari for admitting his failure to provide the needed leadership to tackle the security challenges facing the state, he said he would use all the resources at his disposal to combat banditry in the state, if elected.

“If we provide security, our people will return to their homes and farmlands to do what they know best, farming. If given the needed support, we in Zamfara can feed the country with the enormous resources Allah has blessed us with,” he said.

Marafa also pledged to review the state legal system to make it conform with the true teachings of Islam for the benefit of all.

Although the qualification of the Nigeria senior national team, the Super Eagles hangs on the balance following their 2-0 lost to Croatia on Saturday in the ongoing world cup, but the duo of Captain Mikel Obi and midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo says Eagles can still make progress to the knockout stage of the competition.

Mikel said the has to go back to the drawing board to spot out areas the team got it wrong and try to make the necessary ament before the crucial encounter against Iceland on Friday.An own-goal from Etebo and a penalty from Luka Modric helped Croatia secure the three maximum points as take.

Mikel said the team acknowledged the situation their found themselves and must therefore work hard to improve ahead of their clash with Iceland on Friday.

“We have to play better. I think we can play better, we can do better,” Mikel

Also reacting to the team’s lost to Croatia, Oghenekaro Etebo said in Russia on Sunday that the match was a very difficult and a disappointing one even as he maintaimed that the technical crew and the players will have to work hard to correct all the mistakes noticed in the match against Croatia with a view to correcting them.

“I don’t know what to say. It is a game of football.We worked on set pieces since the most goals scored against us during friendlies came from set pieces against Iceland, Nigerians should expect the best the way you always want”, Says Etebo.

Super Eagles will be up against World Cup debutants Iceland on Friday June 22nd.

Rooted to the bottom of Group D, a victory over Iceland in their next game will brighten their hope of qualification to the round of 16. Although displeased with Eagles loss to Croatia. Victor Moses alongside John Ogu, and Kelechi Iheanacho have taken to the socal media to express their optimism ahead of their tie on Friday.

“Disappointed with the result last night but we win together and lose together and will dust ourselves down and be ready to fight again. We are working hard to put things right.
“Lose or Win, we will still keep learning and Working hard. Very disappointing result, but we are hoping for a better result on Friday,’’Ogu said.

“It was an honour to represent my country in the opening game of the World Cup. We will fight on and continue to do our country proud,” Etebo hinted.
Results

Russia 5 – 0 Saudi Arabia
Egypt 0 – 1 Uruguay
Morocco 0 – 1 Iran
Portugal 3 – 3 Spain
France 2 – 1 Australia
Argentina 1 – 1 Iceland
Peru 0 – 1 Denmark
Croatia 2 – 0 Nigeria
C/Rico 0 – 1 Serbia
Brazil 1 – 1 Switzerland
Germany 0 – 1 Mexico
Sweden 1 – 0 South Korea
Belgium – Panama
Tunisia – England

Today’s Matches

Colombia vs Japan
Poland vs Senegal
Russia vs Egypt

Following the disqualification of 19 aspirants by the All Progressives Congress, APC, Appeal Committee headed by the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, the National Working Committee, NWC, is expected to review the report of the committee in the next two days.

Controversy had trailed the decision of the Appeal Committee as some members of the party had accused Governor Okorocha of using his position to settle scores with some of his opponents, especially those from the South-East.

Okorocha, while addressing journalists during the panel’s sitting on Saturday, said petitions were received against national organising secretary, national women leader and other positions except that of the national chairman and national secretary.

“So far, we have about 18 petitions before us and we have 19 persons that did not make it at the screening level. These are the things we are looking at to see the merit or otherwise of their claims.

“If there is anybody who has been screened and there is a petition against him, we have the power to uphold his qualification or disqualify him based on the merits of the petition.

“Of course, we have petitions against other positions except that of the national chairman and national secretary. However, there is a general petition as to whether members of the NWC can be judges in their own case having supervised the congresses and now coming to present themselves for election. We are also looking at that.”

Though Governor Okorocha had declared that the issue of disqualification of aspirants has been closed, it was gathered that the party’s NWC will take a final decision on the fate of the aspirants to avoid miscarriage of justice.

The NWC is expected to come up with the final list of aspirants that will participate in the June 23 national convention.