Senator Sirika Hadi, the Minister for Aviation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has stated that issuance of visas by the United Arab Emirates(UAE) will commence on Thursday, October 8th, 2020.
The prerequisite for traveling includes a return ticket and hotel bookings. Others are PCR test which must be negative prior to flight departure and a valid health insurance that can be paid via a travel agency or airlines.
See below the communication he released via his Twitter handle
Nigerians can now start planning their much awaited vacations and business trips.
The founder of Sotitobire Miracle Centre, Akure, Ondo State, has been sentenced to life imprisonment over his involvement in the disappearance of Gold Kolawole, a toddler, in his church.
Prophet Babatunde was jailed on Tuesday by Justice Olusegun Odusola of the Ondo State High Court, Akure.
Gold was one-year-old at that time of his disappearance from the church in Akure. He went missing on November 10 during a Sunday service after his mother, Modupe Kolawole, dropped him at the children’s unit of the church.
The prophet was jailed alongside six other defendants including Omodara Olayinka, Margaret Oyebola, Grace Ogunjobi, Egunjobi Motunrayo, Esther Kayode and Peter Anjorin.
Justice Odusola condemned in strong terms the complicity, compromise and lackadaisical attitude of the Ondo State Police command after Kolawole went missing, an incident that led to the burning of the church.
Prophet Babatunde was arrested on December 10, 2019 by the Department of the State Services following a petition by parents of the missing child.
Mercy Eke, the winner of big brother NAIJA season 4 took to her Instagram page to celebrate 1 year anniversary of her big win. Ever since her success of winning BBN season 4, she has been involved in so many deals and businesses. Her achievement so far has been obvious to fans via her social media platforms.
She wrote the following on her Instagram page;
“It has really been a year. A whole 365 days have passed and it feels so surreal. On this day, we changed the narrative.”
Men of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a 47-year-old security man, Adamu Ibrahim, for allegedly hiring area boys to rob his employer.
However, the area boys, Ajibola Yusuf and Bakare Ifakayode, leaked the information to the police.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Sunday.
Oyeyemi explained that Ibrahim was a guard attached to the Inspiration Filling Station at Matogun, Agbado, in the Ifo Local Government Area of the state.
According to Oyeyemi, the two area boys reported at the Agbado divisional headquarters that they received a phone call from the suspect that the manager of the filling station would be leaving the station around 8pm with huge sums of money running into N3m.
He said, “They reported further that the suspect, who described the manager and his motorcycle to them, instructed them to ambush, rob him of the money and kill him so that nobody would trace the incident to them.
They stated further that the suspect believed that being area boys, they would be useful for him to realise his devilish plan. But they said though they are area boys, they are not armed robbers.
“Upon the information, the DPO Agbado division, SP Kehinde kuranga, asked them to continue playing along with the suspect, while he detailed his detectives to be on his trail.
“The suspect continued calling the duo and giving them the description of the manager and the route he would be passing through, when the police swooped on him and got him arrested.
Initially, he denied planning any robbery with anybody, but when confronted with his supposed accomplices, he owned up to the crime.
“On further interrogation, he confessed to the police that the two people he contracted resembled those who had earlier robbed the same station years ago and that was the reason he thought he could confide in them to carry out another robbery which he would benefit from.”
The PPRO, however, said the state Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, had ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation.
He said the commissioner appealed to members of the public, especially business owners, to always do background checks on anyone they wanted to employ in order not to employ criminals.
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a special salary scale and new retirement age for teachers. The president’s gesture, which was announced Monday, by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, was in commemoration of the World Teachers Day. The president increased the number of service years for the teachers from 35 to 40.
Over the years, Nigerian teachers have continued to agitate amongst others, an increase in their retirement age, welfare, and salaries. Buhari, at the 2020 World Teachers Day celebration in Abuja, explained that the implementation of the new teachers’ salary scheme was to encourage the teachers in delivering better services.
I have never been on a train in Nigeria and I hope to board one someday. However, when I heard a story narrated to me by an “ex corper” , I began to have a rethink. I hope the present administration finds a lasting solution to the obvious dangers in this mode of transportation system.
It actually ought to be the best mode of transportation with comfort, less traffic , itch free movement and a kind of mind blowing experience. I like trains but this story is the complete opposite of what I dream for in Nigeria. The story starting from the next paragraph reflects the experience of an “ex corper” during his service year in the northern part of Nigeria as narrated by him.
This time around , I was alone on the train without a friend. I boarded the train and got on the first class coach . It was a perfect time to get on the train as it wasn’t a festive period. The train was not overloaded and nobody was on top of the train as I experienced few months ago. As soon as the train began to move, I noticed it wasn’t in a good condition because of the unusual sound and slow movement. Most passengers did not give these signs any attention because they believed there were engineers and technicians on-board as well.
It was around 12 a.m. when the train needed to be refilled with fuel and have maintenance check done before proceeding on the journey. Then exactly 2.30 a.m., I decided to get a drink from the bar. Upon returning to my seat, I overheard some of the engineers discussing how they intend to manage getting the train to the next terminus.
The driver however began to make the train move fast because of the delay we encountered earlier while taking off. Unfortunately, some of the coaches loaded with goods got disengaged immediately the driver applied the break, there was a momentum ( collision) , when the detached coaches began to hit other coaches. As a result of this, the train stopped moving . A lot of us sustained injury as many were asleep at that time, they began to nurse their injuries.
There were a number of casualties , although not many and thankfully, no fatal injury was sustained. We were in the middle of an unknown place for several hours , the engineers and technicians began to proffer solutions to the problem, trying their possible best to ensure the train moved again. At about 5 a.m. in the morning, they agreed on a plan to solve the problem and decided to leave behind some coaches containing goods.
Fortunately, the train was ignited and it responded. We got on-board again to continue our journey. As we kept moving , the day got brighter and the sun began to rise. I couldn’t help but think that if anything happened again, at least we would be able to see our surroundings clearly in case of any danger. Of course the train wasn’t still in a good condition, it was still moving at a slow pace.
We eventually got to a sandy area where sand had covered part of the railway track. At that point, the train couldn’t move anymore. We had no choice as many of us got down the train , while we split up. Some of us started clearing the track while others pushed the train in order to move past that point, as the engine was weak. Fortunately, the train responded again and we moved ahead till we reached our final destination!
“After that terrifying experience, I stopped boarding trains. I realised that the risk I tried to avoid while travelling by road was even more alarming on rails.”
US president, Donald Trump, was rushed to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday night to be treated for Covid-19 after announcing on his social media handles that he had contracted the deadly disease.
The hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, is the United States’ biggest military medical center that cares for the wounded, ill and injured from global conflicts. It has close to 7,000 staff workers taking care of those who are hospitalized.
The hospital is located nine miles from the White House in Washington, DC and has 244 beds and 50 intensive care unit beds.
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Friday ;
“Trump would be spending a “few days” in the hospital’s presidential suite”.
The suite, known as Ward 71, is equipped to allow the president of the United States to keep up with his official duties even while in the hospital.
The suite which is around 3,000 square feet includes bedroom-type areas, living rooms with couches, a doctor’s office, conference room, office space and a dining room.
According to USA Today, the presidential suite is one of six special patient rooms reserved for high-ranking military officers and members of the White House cabinet.
The White House controls the entire presidential suite unlike other parts of the hospital controlled by Walter Reed administrators and the Defense Department.
If the White House doctor can’t treat something specifically, the medical center has prescreened specialists whose background checks are already available to the president.
Trump’s chief of staff has his own office space in the suite. The White House doctor has sleeping quarters there, so they could be constantly there while Trump is constantly being treated 24/7.
If Trump’s condition worsens, he will have to transfer power to Vice President Mike Pence using the 25th amendment .
With just 5 weeks to the election, such a scenario will dramatically upset the US presidential election.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo- Olu, called off the ceremonial Independence Day parades yesterday and opted for a low-key commemoration of the nation’s 60th Independence anniversary. The governor, however, created a simple but memorable commemorative event for selected school children to give them the understanding of the significance of the anniversary. Sanwo-Olu, who was joined by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, hosted 60 primary school pupils drawn from various localities across Lagos for a noholds- barred conversation about the Independence Day.
The event was held at the State House in Marina – a short distance from the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), where the instrument of independence was handed over to Nigeria’s founding fathers on 1st October, 1960. The event tagged: “Nigeria’s Future Diamonds”, was organised with an objective to inspire patriotism among children and to give them orientation on civic duties required towards building the nation of their dreams.
The pupils listened with rapt attention, as Sanwo-Olu delved into the history, taking them on an elaborate lecture on the nation’s pre-independence struggles and the roles played by each of the Nigeria’s founding fathers who fought for country’s freedom from colonialists.
The governor told them that each stanza of the national anthem was a reminder to every citizen to sustain the vision of a united and prosperous Nigeria, stressing that the collective labour of the nation’s past heroes would be in vain if future leaders failed to uphold the values. He said: “Today makes it 60 years when our country, Nigeria, became independent from colonial rule.
The freedom we are enjoying today did not come by accident; it was made possible by the collective efforts and labour of the likes of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello of blessed memory, and Chief Anthony Enahoro, among many others. They were the ones who negotiated with the British and liberated us from colonial rule in 1960.
The award winning nollywood actress whose new movie titled, “fate of Alakada” , was shown in cinemas across Nigeria yesterday, made a statement. She said ,”My fear is gone”.
My fear is gone…
October 1 is a memorable day for me. It brings memories of happiness and sadness. I am happy because it’s my dad’s birthday and sad because he is late.
Recall the movie , “Alakada” was her major breakthrough , as it was really accepted by her fans . She released the first and second movie series of Alakada, ” Alakada 1″ in 2009 and “Alakada 2” in 2013. “Alakada reloaded” , which is the third movie production of the Alakada series was released in 2017. Again this year , Toyin Abraham has released the new Alakada series , “fate of Alakada” , yesterday in all cinemas across Nigeria.
However, it has been disclosed that a huge number of fans turned out to watch her new movie. This did not come as a surprise to us though, Toyin Abraham is known to have such a huge number of fan base and support. Moreover, she is a fantastic actress. More wins Toyin Abraham.
Some officers of the Lagos State Police Command on Thursday attacked a photojournalist with The PUNCH, Olukayode Jaiyeola.
Jaiyeola, who was part of journalists covering an October 1 protest in the state, was brutalised at the Maryland area of Lagos.
The incident happened around 12 noon when a policeman, Innocent Adadu, hit Jaiyeola’s head with a baton. Jaiyeola’s colleague and PUNCH reporter, Deji Lambo, who was at the scene, said Adadu hit Jaiyeola with such force that the photojournalist collapsed immediately, with blood gushing out of his injured skull.
Nawa ooo
He said Adadu tried to flee into a police vehicle after attacking Jaiyeola but “I grabbed his shirt, insisting that he had injured a journalist.”
Lambo said, “Adadu’s colleagues also tried to shield their own and whisked him into a police vehicle. They also pushed Jaiye into the same vehicle.”
He said Jaiyeola was taken to the Police Clinic in Ikeja, the state capital, where his injured head was stitched. Jaiyeola’s camera was also seized by police officers during the encounter.
The PUNCH had earlier reported that hundreds of protesters stormed the streets of Lagos on Thursday to express their displeasure over bad governance in Nigeria.
The protesters, mostly youths, lamented that 60 years after the country gained independence from Britain and over 20 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, Nigeria’s socio-economic development has been mired by bad leadership which has denied the masses from enjoying the gains of a sovereign state.
The demonstration, which started around 9.30 am, saw the protesters gathering around Ojota, from where they marched to the Maryland area of the state.
The protesters, who are members of the Coalition for Revolution codenamed #RevolutionNow, were seen chanting songs of solidarity.
They later dispersed when security operatives arrested over 30 of them
circa 11th century onwards – Formation of city states, kingdoms and empires, including Hausa kingdoms and Borno dynasty in north, Oyo and Benin kingdoms in south.
16-18th centuries – Slave trade sees Nigerians forcibly sent to the Americas.
1809 – Islamic Sokoto caliphate is founded in north. 1850s – British establish presence around Lagos.
1861-1914 – Britain consolidates its hold over what it calls the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria, governs through local leaders.
1922 – Part of former German colony Kamerun is added to Nigeria under League of Nations mandate.
1960 – Independence, with Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa leading a coalition government.
1966 January – Mr Balewa killed in coup. Maj-Gen Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi forms military government.
1966 July – General Ironsi killed in counter-coup, replaced by Lieutenant-Colonel Yakubu Gowon. Biafran war
1967 – Three eastern states secede as the Republic of Biafra, sparking three-year civil war.
1975 – General Gowon overthrown by Brigadier Murtala Ramat Mohammed, who begins process of moving federal capital to Abuja.
1976 – General Mohammed assassinated in failed coup attempt. Replaced by his deputy, Lt-Gene Olusegun Obasanjo, who helps introduce US-style presidential constitution.
1979 – Elections bring Alhaji Shehu Shagari to power.
1983 August-September – President Shagari re-elected amid accusations of irregularities.
1983 December – Maj-Gen Muhammad Buhari seizes power in bloodless coup.
1985 – Ibrahim Babangida seizes power in bloodless coup, curtails political activity.
1993 June – Military annuls elections when preliminary results show victory by Chief Moshood Abiola.
Abacha years 1993 November – Gen Sani Abacha seizes power, suppresses opposition.
1994 – Moshood Abiola arrested after proclaiming himself president.
1995 – Ken Saro-Wiwa, writer and campaigner against oil industry damage to his Ogoni homeland, is executed following a hasty trial. In protest, European Union imposes sanctions until 1998, Commonwealth suspends Nigeria’s membership until 1998.
1998 – Gen Sani Abacha dies and is succeeded by Maj-Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar. Moshood Abiola dies in custody a month later.
1999 – Parliamentary and presidential elections. Olusegun Obasanjo sworn in as president.
2000 – Adoption of Islamic Sharia law by several northern states in the face of opposition from Christians. Tension over the issue results in hundreds of deaths in clashes between Christians and Muslims.
2001 – Tribal war in Benue State, in eastern-central Nigeria, displaces thousands of people. Troops sent to quash the fighting kill more than 200 unarmed civilians, apparently in retaliation for the abduction and murder of 19 soldiers.
2002 February – Some 100 people are killed in Lagos in clashes between Hausas from mainly-Islamic north and Yorubas from predominantly-Christian southwest.
2002 November – More than 200 people die in four days of rioting stoked by Muslim fury over the planned Miss World beauty pageant in Kaduna in December. The event is relocated to Britain.
2003 12 April – First legislative elections since end of military rule in 1999. Polling marked by delays, allegations of ballot-rigging. President Obasanjo’s People’s Democratic Party wins parliamentary majority. Obasanjo re-elected
2003 19 April – First civilian-run presidential elections since end of military rule. Olusegun Obasanjo elected for second term despite EU observers reporting “serious irregularities”.
2003 September – Nigeria’s first satellite, NigeriaSat-1, launched by Russian rocket.
2004 May – State of emergency is declared in the central Plateau State after more than 200 Muslims are killed in Yelwa in attacks by Christian militia; revenge attacks are launched by Muslim youths in Kano.
2004 August-September – Deadly clashes between gangs in oil city of Port Harcourt prompts strong crackdown by troops. Rights group Amnesty International cites death toll of 500, authorities say about 20 died.
2006 January onwards – Militants in the Niger Delta attack pipelines and other oil facilities and kidnap foreign oil workers. The rebels demand more control over the region’s oil wealth.
2006 April – Helped by record oil prices, Nigeria becomes the first African nation to pay off its debt to the Paris Club of rich lenders, which had written off two-thirds of the $30bn debt the previous year.
2006 August – Nigeria agrees to cede sovereignty over the disputed Bakassi peninsula to neighbouring Cameroon under the terms of a 2002 International Court of Justice ruling. Transfer takes place in 2008.
2007 April – Umaru Yar’Adua of the ruling People’s Democratic Party wins the presidential election.
2009 July – Hundreds die in northeastern Nigeria after the Boko Haram Islamist movement launches an enduring campaign of violence. Government frees the leader of the Niger Delta militant group Mend, Henry Okah, after he accepts an amnesty offer.
2010 May – President Umaru Yar’Adua dies after a long illness. Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan, already acting in Yar’Adua’s stead, succeeds him.
2011 March – Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan wins presidential elections.
2012 January – More than 100 killed in single day of co-ordinated bombings and shootings in Kano, shortly after Boko Haram tells Christians to quit the north.
2013 May – Government declares state of emergency in three northern states of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa and sends in troops to combat Boko Haram.
2014 April – Boko Haram kidnaps more than 200 girls from a boarding school in northern town of Chibok, in an incident that draws major national and international outrage.
2014 November – Boko Haram launches a series of attacks in northeastern Nigeria, capturing several towns near Lake Chad and running raids into neighbouring Chad and Cameroon in early 2015. It switches allegiance from al-Qaeda to the Islamic State group.
2015 February-March – Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger form military coalition and push Boko Haram out of all towns back into Sambisa Forest.
2015 March – Muhammadu Buhari wins the presidential election, becoming the first opposition candidate to do so in Nigeria’s history.
2016 June – Naira currency floated in attempt to stave off financial crisis caused by low oil prices. 2016 November – Niger Delta Avengers rebels bomb three oil pipelines in attempt to renew southern insurgency.
2017 December – Clashes between herders in Benue and Taraba states prompt thousands to flee.
2018 – Escalating attacks by Boko Haram from August onwards, targeting army bases.
2019 February – Presidential elections held after last-minute delay of a week.
It is not out of place to ask “how did Zoom conquer video conferencing”?Zoom grew so quickly in 2020 that its brand became the default term for video conferencing. “Let’s use Zoom,” has become as as, “ Google it.” What in the world is responsible for that explosive growth in the face of competition from (other) brands like Cisco, Microsoft and Google?
COULD IT BE COVID19 PANDEMIC?
The Covid-19 crisis caused an enormous surge in demand for video communications with so many people unable to meet in person, but that alone doesn’t explain Zoom’s ascendance. They were growing rapidly long before Covid-19 shut down offices, events, and travel. Zoom had already surpassed its larger competitors in the years preceding the pandemic:
According to the 2020 Businesses @ Work report from Okta “Zoom was the #1 fastest growing video conferencing app in 2016, and it hasn’t slowed down since. Over the past three years, Zoom has enjoyed an astounding 876% growth in number of customers in our network. For comparison, second-place Cisco Webex grew 91% over that same period.”
As with Amazon, the pandemic crisis simply accelerated Zoom’s already robust growth.
COULD IT BE ZOOM’S “Frictionless” MISSION?
Zoom’s mission statement us simple and straight forward “Make video communications frictionless.” At a time when most corporate mission statements try to acknowledge every priority and every stakeholder, this short, direct message stands out.
It is obvious that this statement provides clarity to every team member. If you are a developer, network expert, or any other Zoom employee, you know that any action you take should never increase customer effort or increase complexity. If you do, you’ll be contradicting Zoom’s reason for existence. In short, the simpler, the easier, the better.
Zoom was founded by Eric Yuan, who left Cisco’s Webex unit to focus on mobile-friendly video conferencing. Webex was the dominant video conference player before Zoom passed them.
The Cisco’s mission statement on their website which is “Shape the future of the Internet by creating unprecedented value and opportunity for our customers, employees, investors, and ecosystem partners.” This statement is so broad and jargon-laden that it provides no clear direction for team members. How could a developer or designer possibly know if a new feature or a interface design will “create unprecedented value and opportunity?” Will fixing something that customers complained about really “shape the future?” The mission statement, if I am permitted to say, is itself high friction.
Zoom grew more rapidly than its much larger competitors because it made things easy for its users. Easy to set up, easy to use, easy to change one’s background… maximum simplicity, minimum effort. But, in striving to make onboarding a user as simple as possible, Zoom skipped some security precautions.
One of these lapses made Mac computer webcams vulnerable to hackers. Another security hole allowed “zoombombing,” in which a hacker could enter and disrupt an ongoing video conference.
Not unlike fellow unicorn Uber, Zoom initially focused on exponential growth, not perfection. After its software was universally adopted, Zoom changed its code to beef up security.
Although security issues could have derailed the firm, Zoom’s growth continued without interruption.
The Zoom lesson
Taking on giants like Cisco, Microsoft, and Google might have seemed like a fool’s errand in Zoom’s early days. But, Yuan let one principle drive the firm’s efforts: make video conferencing as easy as possible for everyone. Minimize user effort. Eliminate complexity.
We are Nigerians, our forefathers suffered greatly under the authority of the colonial masters. They fought for our independence and got it by sacrificing their existence…alas, Nigeria got her independence on October 1, 1960. There is one unique thing about Nigeria, which is our diversity in ethnicity. As a result of the large number of ethnic groups in Nigeria, there tends to be an upheave of political crisis across the regions of this country. However, we have got to a stage where candidates are elected into power without anarchy. I am optimistic that the future doesn’t bring more chaos than previous years.
Below is the list of leaders who ruled Nigeria since independence.
1
ALHAJI ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA
1960 – 1963
2
BENJAMIN NNAMDI AZIKIWE
OCTOBER 1, 1963 – JANUARY 16, 1966
3
MAJOR GENERAL JOHNSON THOMAS UMUNNAKWE AGUIYI IRONSI
JANUARY 16, 1966 – JULY 29, 1966
4
GENERAL YAKUBU GOWON
AUGUST 1, 1966 – JULY 29, 1975
5
GENERAL MURTALA RAMAT MOHAMMED
JULY 29, 1975 – FEBRUARY 13, 1976
6
GENERAL OLUSEGUN AREMU OKIKIOLA MATTHEW OBASANJO
FEBRUARY 13, 1976 – OCTOBER 1, 1979
7
SHEHU USMAN ALIYU SHAGARI
OCTOBER 1, 1979 – DECEMBER 31, 1983
8
MAJOR-GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI
DECEMBER 31, 1983 – AUGUST 27, 1985
9
GENERAL IBRAHIM BADAMASI BABANGIDA
AUGUST 27, 1985 – AUGUST 27, 1993
10
CHIEF ERNEST ADEKUNLE OLADEINDE SHONEKAN
AUGUST 26, 1993 – NOVEMBER 17, 1993
11
GENERAL SANI ABACHA
NOVEMBER 17, 1993 – JUNE 8, 1998
12
GENERAL ABDULSALAMI ALHAJI ABUBAKAR
JUNE 9, 1998 – MAY 29, 1999
13
GENERAL OLUSEGUN AREMU OKIKIOLA MATTHEW OBASANJO (RTD)
MAY 29, 1999 – 29 MAY, 2007
14
UMARU MUSA YAR’ADUA
29 MAY, 2007 – 5 MAY, 2010
15
DR. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN
6 MAY, 2010 – 29 MAY, 2015
16
MUHAMMADU BUHARI
29 MAY, 2015 – DATE
As Nigeria clocks 60 years of independence, we still have lots of setbacks and a major one, “insecurity”. When exactly do we enjoy steady peace in northern Nigeria and other parts of this country? We need a reliable structure, a system which will enable Nigerians to thrive . We cannot always take our ideas abroad and suffer for succeeding…recall the xenophobia attack on Nigerians in South Africa sometime ago. Nigeria has to be a better place for all and sundry.
Nigeria is a nation with potentials , both in resources and mental manpower. We are talented, strong, hardworking and tirelessly persevering. Nigeria is a blessed nation and I remember what a white man once said, “I see gold on the streets of Nigeria, I see it everywhere”. Apparently, we need nothing to prove how blessed this nation is.
To keep a country of over 500 indigenous languages and tribes is quite a task. However, Nigeria is still standing with her flag of green and white colours depicting natural wealth and peace respectively.
Nigeria has its ups and downs from the political sector, the agricultural sector, the educational sector and others. Nigeria is 60years today , let us pray our nation’s vulnerabilities such as; devaluation of naira, corruption, insecurity to mention a few and overall, the unstable system takes a U-turn for the best. God bless Nigeria. Happy 60th anniversary Nigeria!
A kidnap kingpin, Mohammed Sani, has narrated how his gang murdered over 50 of their victims whose families could not pay ransom.
Sani, who was paraded on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, alongside his gang members and 46 other suspected criminals at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad headquarters in Abuja, said he carried out his operations mainly in Kaduna, Katsina, Niger and Zamfara states.
Wearing a military camouflage, the 30-year-old said he worked for one Yellow Jambros, who gave him guns and military uniform for the kidnap operations.
He said he was a sector commander in the kidnapping ring and had over 120 men under his command.
Sani, who said he had lost count of how many kidnap operations he had carried out, said any of their victims on whom ransom was collected, was allowed to go, but those whose families could not cough out money were killed.
“I have lost count of the number of operations I have participated in, but we usually release those on whose heads we collect ransoms, while anyone, who could not pay or his relatives could not pay, was killed. We have killed over 50 persons who did not pay ransom.”
Mba disclosed that the suspect and his gang members were nabbed by the men of the Special Tactical Squad, adding that he had been on the police wanted list for a while.
He stated, “Sani’s area of speciality is kidnapping for ransom and banditry; occasionally, he veers into cattle rustling. He belongs to an organised kidnapping gang that has gone ahead to sectorise its operations.
“Mohammed Sani is a sector commander within the larger kidnapping and banditry enterprise. He has over 100 men directly under his command. Sani reports to another big kidnapper, who is on our wanted list and known as Yellow Jambros.”
The force also paraded seven male suspects, including two soldiers, linked with the deadly attack on a bullion van in Abakiliki, Ebonyi State, on July 29, 2020.
He said the men carried out elaborate surveillance on the movement of the bullion van for over two weeks before they struck, during which four policemen were killed and their rifles taken away.
Following an agreement between the United Arabs Emirates (UAE), and the Nigerian government, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has announced plan to lift the ban placed on Emirates Airlines from operating into and out of the country.
According to Sirika, the commencement of the airline’s operations would, however, depend on the commencement of visa issuance to Nigerians by the UAE.
“UAE has written to state that they agree to issue visas to Nigerians, consequently decision has been reached to allow Emirates to fly into Nigeria. Commencement of the Visa issuance is condition precedent. Please bear with this unusual situation,” Sirika said.
The minister said he appreciated the understanding of all those who have been negatively affected by the recent policy decisions, which barred some airlines from operating into the country when Nigeria reopened its airspace to international flights.
The Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation, Mr. James Odaudu, explained in a statement issued yesterday that the decisions were taken to protect the interests of the nation and its citizens who deserve to be treated with respect and dignity – the same way Nigeria treats other nationals.
Emirates Airlines was initially given approval to operate into the country, but the approval was withdrawn following the inability of Nigerians to obtain/use valid tourist visas to enter the UAE.
Meanwhile, South Africa has also lifted ban on air travel from travellers from African countries.
President of South Africa, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa said the ban was lifted to facilitate free movements of people, goods and services from South Africa and the African continent, noting that travellers from the neighbouring countries are allowed to visit the country.
“Travellers from all African countries are allowed and must possess relevant travel documents, and will also be screened for COVID-19 symptoms.
“To allow ease of travel from the African countries, 18 borders will be opened. 35 border posts will continue to offer restricted services due to insufficient capacity for screening, testing and quarantine. Travellers who present themselves at borders, which are unable to accommodate them will be directed to the currently operational border posts for processing,” the President said in an address.
The President said three airports would be opened and operational for international air travel.
These airports are OR Tambo International (in Johannesburg, Gauteng), Cape Town International (in Cape Town, Western Cape) and King Shaka International in (Durban, KwaZulu-Natal).
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has announced 201 fresh coronavirus cases in Nigeria.
The health agency also confirmed it recorded one fatality due to the disease.
The NCDC made this known on its official twitter handle on Wednesday.
It said that the new cases bring the nation’s total confirmed figure to 58,848. Lagos recorded the bulk of the new infections with 77 cases, while Rivers, Plateau and FCT had 37, 25 and 13 new cases respectively.
Others included Kaduna and Ogun, 12 cases each, Adamawa, eight, Taraba, seven, Imo, four, Kwara and Osun, two each, while Abia and Oyo had one each.
It added that 58,848 cases have been confirmed, with 50,358 patients discharged while 1,112 deaths have been recorded in the country.
Among other things, knowing your skin type is the first step to caring for your skin. We have probably all heard the buzz about the different skin types( oily, dry, combination, normal, and sensitive skin). So the million dollar question is which is yours? Skin type tends to change as we grow older. Younger people are more prone to having normal skin type. Knowing your skin type helps to allow you customize a skin care routine that works for you giving you the clear glowing skin that you desire.
The first step in determining your skin type is to :
Cleanse your skin with a gentle face cleanser/ face wash.
Do not apply any products to your freshly washed skin rather let it sit for about an hour before examining it After that the following will explain your skin type to you
A. Dry skin Your skin has almost invisible pores it feels tight, dull, rough complexion, parched with red patches and more visible lines.
B. Oily skin Your skin is shiny on your cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin. There are blackheads, large and visible pores.
C. Combination skin Your skin is shiny on your nose chin forehead and dry in other areas. Your pores look larger than normal.
D. Normal skin Your skin appears normal no shine, no flake, and no patches. The texture is regular, there are no signs of imperfections.
E. Sensitive skin Sensitive skin in itself is not a skin type. Rather you can have oily/dry sensitive skin. Your skin easily breaks out, reacts to products, weather, water or new environment. Sometimes gets itchy, dry, red, or you develop unexplainable rashes.
No matter your skin these basic tips will help keep your skin sane until you know your skin type and can develop a routine for it.
Use sunblock that protects you from both ultra violet A (UVA) and ultra violet B (UVB) rays.
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