Enugu State government on Sunday implored qualified people of the state to take interest and apply for recruitment by the Nigeria Police Force.

The police recruitment board had announced earlier that its online portal for recruitment would be open for application for six weeks, beginning from Oct. 15.

Commissioner for information and communication, Aka Eze Aka, said in a statement issued in Enugu that government had noticed lethargy on the part of Enugu citizens to join the police.

“The ministry advises interested and qualified persons from Enugu State to apply to get enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as Police Constables.

“The need to have our people recruited into the Force cannot be overstated.

“Interested applicants should visit www.apply.policerecruitment.gov.ng,’’ Mr Aka advised.

Suspected ritualists have reportedly killed a 10-year-old girl in Guyaba village of the Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

According to village sources, her parents declared the victim missing for a few days before she was found dead, with some of her body parts missing.

However, details are still sketchy on how the victim was killed as of the time of writing this report.

Confirming the incident to DAILY POST on Sunday, the spokesman of the state police command, SP Ahmed Wakili, said the Commissioner, CP Auwal Musa, has ordered an investigation into the gruesome killing of the little girl.

He said, “The CP, Auwal Musa Muhammad, has directed the DPO, Kirfi Police Division, to investigate and unravel the circumstance of her death, arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the dastardly act. So the investigation is ongoing.”

The state’s First Lady, Aisha Bala Muhammad, has visited the victim’s parents.

She charged traditional rulers, faith-based bodies, and security agencies to fish out the culprits.

The latest killing comes two months after suspected ritualists killed a toddler, a one-half-year-old boy, Mohammed Abideen Musa, who was found dead with his vital organs missing in a school at Games Village

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has approved a project to provide 60,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser to 400,000 smallholder farmers in Uganda.

The bank, in a statement issued on its website on Sunday, said this would be done under the Fertiliser Financing for Sustainable Agriculture Management project.

It said, “The Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism will provide two million dollars in partial trade credit guarantees and a grant of 877,842 million dollars to the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership.

Over a three-year duration, the project will support two wholesalers to sell fertiliser with a value of up to fifteen times the value of the two-million-dollar partial trade credit guarantee.

“It will also link wholesalers to around twenty-five hub agro-dealers and 125 retail agro-dealers who will on-sell the fertilizer to farmers.”

The bank said the credit facility will reduce the risks associated with suppliers lending fertilisers to wholesalers on credit.

It said the project was expected to boost yields and provide training to 3.4 per cent of targeted farmers, with 40 per cent of them women.

It said they would be using improved seeds, balanced crop nutrition, and best farming practices.

Meanwhile, Marie-Claire Kalihangabo, Africa Fertiliser Financing Mechanism Coordinator, said in Uganda that the fertiliser consumption was about 2.5 kg/ha.

According to Ms Kalihangabo, the project will help to make fertiliser more accessible and appropriately used by farmers.She expressed delight as it would in turn boost agricultural productivity and help to improve food security in the country.”

The project will advance the Bank’s Feed Africa Strategy by increasing food productivity and security.”

It builds on the results of the Sustain Africa initiative, the Bank’s Country Strategy Paper for Uganda 2023–2026. The project was approved on Sept. 22,” she said.

Veteran Super Falcons captain Onome Ebi has joined Naija Ratels FC of Abuja, ahead of the 2023-2024 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) season, slated for November 15.

The record breaking skipper, who has participated in six FIFA Women’s World Cups, was unveiled at a colourful ceremony on Saturday in Abuja by the management of Naija Ratels.

The fast rising club only gained promotion to the elite NWFL in 2021.

The 40-year-old experienced defender, who captained the Super Falcons at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, said she was happy to return to the local league, after more than a decade abroad.

She said she specifically chose Naija Ratels, because it’s the youngest side in the league, with great organisation and discipline, despite offers from local and foreign clubs after the World Cup.

Ebi said returning to the league was a fulfilment of a childhood desire to return to the NWFL to mentor young talents and support the growth of women football in Nigeria.

“People will ask me why I joined Naija Ratels, why did I come back to the league (NWFL).“I didn’t just decide today to join them, I have had it in mind, my plans before getting to this stage is that I want to give back to Nigerian football.

“I left the league 10-11 years ago, but before leaving I saw the struggles in the league, so when I went abroad I saw how the foreign league is being organized and I said to myself before I retire I will definitely come back.

“Not only to give, not only to support but to play with the youngest team, I said I was not going to play for big teams, so these young ones can get the opportunity, I didn’t have,” she said.

Earlier, President, Ratels Sports Development Foundation (RSDF), Paul Edeh said the game changing move was part of efforts to celebrate Nigerian football legends and change the narrative of the league.

“I am particularly happy today because what Onome brings to the table is not just playing football, but telling the right stories to our young children.

“We all know that all of these young players want to play for the Super Falcons, they want to play abroad, they want to play internationally, what better way to motivate them other than having someone in their fold who has seen it all,” he said.

Edeh who is also the Chairman, Benue State Football Association (BSFA), stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to support the NWFL and women football generally in the country.

He said the RSDF will take over the payment of Ebi’s salary from Naija Ratels and announced a N1.5 million monthly salary for the Super Falcons captain, making her the highest paid NWFL player.

He said the RSDF will continue to work with the management of NWFL and other stakeholders to develop the women’s game in the country.

Chairman NWFL, Nkechi Obi, who was also present at the star-studded unveiling, said the signing of Ebi will add more glamour to the league, as the NWFL management seeks to take the league to a higher pedestal.

She said the NWFL recently unveiled the “Women’s Football Rising” as the platform to drive its growth strategy for 2023 and beyond.Ebi last featured for Spanish side Levante Las Planas in 2022. The well travelled player also played in Turkey, Sweden, Belarus, China, among other countries.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) on Sunday said three persons died instantly in an auto crash involving a commercial bus and a truck.

A statement by the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, on Saturday, said the incident happened at Gbagada by Charlie Boy bus stop.

“Following a distress call received at 22:01hrs through the agency’s toll-free lines, LASEMA activated the Lagos State Emergency Response Plans with an arrival time of 22:17hrs.

“Upon arrival of the agency’s LRT at the scene, it was observed that a white commercial bus lost control and crashed into a moving truck.

“The 18-passenger commercial bus, with registration number JJJ-844YA and loaded to capacity, was heading to Ajah from Oshodi.

“It lost control while on motion, rammed into a moving truck from behind and three people died instantly.

“Two males and one female, all adults, immediately lost their lives to the incident, while others sustained various degrees and categories of injuries,” he said.

He added that out of the seven people injured, three were promptly administered pre-hospital care and ferried to Gbagada General Hospital for further treatment by the agency’s paramedics.

“The three commodities have been bagged awaiting arrival of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit, (SEHMU), to convey them to the morgue.

“Light Tow Truck has been deployed to recover the affected vehicle from the busy road to forestall secondary incidents.

“The LASEMA Response Team, LASEMA Pre-Hospital Care Team, Nigeria Police and Lagos Fire and Rescue Services were all present at the incident,” he said.

The police have arrested three suspected thieves for raiding the palace of the Olu of Ogunmakin town in Obafemi-Owode local government area of Ogun State.

The criminals had on Thursday, raided and stolen the crown and staff of office from the palace of late monarch Oba James Sodiya, who passed away about two months ago.

According to Daily Trust, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident to journalists in Abeokuta on Saturday.

Disclosing that three suspects in connection with the crime have been arrested, the police spokesperson added that the crown has been recovered but the staff of office is still missing.

“On the 12th of October 2023, an intelligence was received from the palace of his Royal Majesty that one Amusa Kazeem, Oke Oladipupo and Johnson Oluwole conspired and stole the royal crown and the staff of office two months after the demise of king of Ogunmakin.

“The suspects were alleged to have entered into the house at about 2:00 hours where the property of the late king was kept,” Mrs Odutola said.

The spokesperson added that “The trio took the key where it was kept in the custody of the person assigned to keep the property and removed the royal crown and the staff of office of the late king, an act described as an abomination.

“Immediately the information was received, the police swung into action and recovered the royal crown from the house of one Kazeem Amusan.

“The staff of office has not been recovered, but intensive action is on going to recover same. The suspects have been arrested and are undergoing interrogation,” she disclosed.

The statement stated that the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, urged members of the public to provide information that could lead to the recovery of the missing staff of office.

The Kano Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP) has commenced distribution of 100 units of single-row hand-pushed planters to farmers through its implementing partner, Sasakawa Africa Association.

This is contained in a statement by the Communication Officer, Sasakawa Africa, Moses Nongoatse, on Sunday in Kano.

The project is being funded by the Kano State Government, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF).

The planters are being distributed to farmers across different farming communities in the 44 LGAs of the state, to enhance their productivity by providing access to efficient planting and fertiliser application equipment.

The SAA/KSADP Project Coordinator, Abdulrasheed Hamisu Kofarmata, said the distribution was part of ongoing efforts to support smallholder farmers in the state by providing them access to efficient and affordable agricultural tools.

“The KSADP through SAA is helping our farmers to increase their productivity and income levels, which would ultimately lead to improved food security and livelihoods for rural households.

“Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), implementing the crop component of the KSADP, is committed to supporting smallholder farmers in Kano State to improve their productivity and income levels by providing farmers with services, training, inputs, and market linkages.”

He said this would build a more sustainable and food-secure future for Kano State.

One of the beneficiaries, Isa, from Bunkure Local Government Area, expressed gratitude to the KSADP for the kind gesture.

“This planter will make my work much easier and help me produce more crops, increasing my yield and income,” he said.

“Single-row hand-pushed planters are simple agricultural tools that can make a big difference in the lives of smallholder farmers.

“They are easy to operate and help farmers plant seeds more evenly, efficiently, leading to massive increased crop yields and higher incomes.

“The distribution of simple planters would go a long way to improve crop productivity and income in the state,” he said.

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Sunday departed Nigeria to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 3rd Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Forum in Beijing, China, holding from October 16 to 18.

Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

Mr Nkwocha said that Mr Shettima would join world leaders from over 130 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America to deliberate on the theme, “High-quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Together for Common Development and Prosperity.”

According to him, the vice president is expected to avail Nigeria of the platform provided by the forum to woo investors for more developmental projects.

Mr Nkwocha added that the vice president would hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders to promote Nigeria’s trade and investment relations in line with the economic development agenda of the Tinubu administration.

“The 2023 edition of the BRI will mark the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) championed by the President of China, Xi Jinping, as an initiative for global infrastructure development strategy.

“Adopted and launched by the government of the Peoples Republic of China in 2013.

“The initiative seeks international action to enhance cooperation and promote infrastructure investment in nearly 70 countries across Asia, Africa and Europe through land and maritime routes.”

He recalled that in 2018, former president Muhammadu Buhari, on behalf of Nigeria, signed the Belt and Road cooperation agreement with China.

“Nigeria and other partner-countries across the world are to benefit from the initiative in areas of infrastructure investments such as ports, skyscrapers, railroads, roads, bridges, airports, dams and coal-fired power stations.”

Mr Nkwocha said that the delegation of the vice president to the forum includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite; and Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.

Others are Minister Of Works, David Umahi; Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Alkali; Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, and Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Michael Ohiani.

In a related development, Mr Nkwocha said in pursuance of the food security and diversification policy of the Tinubu administration, the vice president will, from China, depart for the United States.

“While in US as the special guest, Shettima will deliver a keynote address at the African Development Bank (AfDB) and World Food Prize – facilitated Norman E.Borlaug International Dialogue slated to commence on October 24th, 2023.

“Also, he will join other African international leaders, Heads of State and Government who in the past have delivered keynote addresses at the Borlaug Dialogue.

“They include former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan; World Food Prize Laureates; Ghana President, John Kufuor, AfDB President, Akinwunmi Adeshina and former President Olusegun Obasanjo and others.”

The media aide also stated that Mr Shettima was expected to highlight reforms being instituted in the Nigerian Agrifood sector by the Tinubu administration.

“The vice president will engage several stakeholders, partners and investors in opportunities for investments in Nigeria.

“Several meetings and engagements have been slated for the vice president who is expected to be back to the country after his commitments in the US.”

Chioma Nziwu, a 16-years-old pupil of St John’s the Apostle High School, Odakpu, Onitsha, has emerged winner of the second edition of the Igbo Spelling Bee competition, also known as ‘Oka Nsupe Igbo’, in Anambra.

Miss Nziwu, a Senior Secondary School (SSS 2) pupil was adjudged the best in the three areas of the Igbo language in which the candidates were tested in the finals decided in Onitsha on Friday.

Kosiso Ojukwu and Chiagozie Ekemere, both of Mater Christi Group of Schools, Awada, finished second and third places in the very educating and keenly contested competition.

The winners won case prizes of N150,000, N100,000 and N50,000 respectively as rewards.

The Igbo Spelling Bee ‘Oka Nsupe Igbo’ competition is a programme of the Onitsha Business School, Onitsha, the organisers of Onitsha City Marathon.

Chinemelum Nsobundu, Programme Manager of the competition, said about 15 secondary schools from across Anambra entered for the competition while only three made it to the final stage.

Mr Nsobundu said the judges were Igbo scholars from the university and seasoned teachers of the language.

Also speaking, Chinedu Aniagboso, the Director of the Programme, said Oka Nsupe Igbo was a response to the fear that some indigenous languages, including Igbo, would go extinct if conscious efforts were not made to preserve them.

Mr Aniagboso said the competition had increased the interest of teachers and students in Igbo language since the first edition was held in May last year.

He expressed satisfaction with the quality of the competition as shown in the proficient manner the students answered the questions.

Prof. Olusegun Sogbesan, the Director General of Onitsha Business School, called on traditional institutions, schools and businesses to key into the programme and support it for greater outcomes.

Mr Sogbesan said beyond spelling and writing Igbo, stakeholders should reincarnate lost words and develop new ones to enable people to communicate fluently in the language without injecting foreign words.

He commended students and teachers of the schools that took part and called on others to endeavour to participate in subsequent editions.

Oluebube Ogbonna, a 14-year-old student of Divine Rays British School, Obosi, in Idemili North LGA, was the winner of the first edition of the competition.

American actress and talk show host, Jada Pinkett Smith has revealed that she never wanted to get married to her husband, Will Smith.

Recalls that the celebrity couple got married at the Cloisters Castle in Baltimore, Maryland in 1997.

But speaking during her talk show, Red Table Talk, Pinkett said it was never her intention to marry Smith, stressing that her mum pressured her into the marriage because she got pregnant.

She said, “I was so upset that I had to have a wedding. I was so pissed. I was crying. I cried the whole wedding.

“I really didn’t want to get married. I was under so much pressure being a young actress and pregnant. I didn’t know what to do. But I knew I never wanted to be married.

“The wedding was horrible. I was three-month pregnant at the wedding.”

DAILY POST reported that Pinkett recently disclosed in a clip from her forthcoming NBC News primetime special with Hoda Kotb that she and her husband, Will Smith have been living separately since 2016.

Bayer Leverkusen forward, Victor Boniface has scooped the Bundesliga Rookie of the Month award again.

The Nigeria international also won the award in August.

The 22-year-old striker scored four times and recorded one assist for Bayer Leverkusen in September.

Boniface beat RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons and Maximilian Beier of TSG Hoffenheim to the individual accolade.

He is also in line to win a second straight Bundesliga Player of the Month for September.

Boniface joined Bayer Leverkusen from Belgian Pro League outfit, Union St. Gilloise this summer.

Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro claimed his team is braced up for a tough 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

The three-time African champions will face hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau in Group A.

Peseiro reckoned the Super Eagles must be ready to face the best teams on the continent if they want to win the competition.

“If we want to win the AFCON we must be ready to face any team. Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau are good teams.

“If we want to win the competition, we have to win the group,” Peseiro told reporters after the Super Eagles friendly against Saudi Arabia on Friday night in Portimao, Portugal.

“It is not going to be easy because in a tournament anything can happen. You need to put a lot of things in place. You need focus in a short tournament like this.

“We want to win this group and qualify for the next phase. But first we have to play Lesotho and Zimbabwe. We must be at the next World Cup.”

The Super Eagles will open their campaign at the 2023 AFCON finals against Equatorial Guinea at the Alhassan Quattara Stadium, Ebimpe on January 14, 2024.

Grammy-winning Nigerian singer, Damini Ogulu, aka Burna Boy, has asserted that women think opposite of reality most of the time.

He made the assertion while speaking on the inspiration behind his hit song ‘City Boys’ in a recent interview with Kiss FM London, United Kingdom.

He said being a ‘City Boy’ means putting yourself first in relationship with the female folk.

Burna Boy said, “City Boy is every guy that puts himself first. I mean about relationships between us and females. It’s not about putting yourself first in the grand scheme of things.

“Me being a City Boy, right? If I say you know what? I’m going take everyone here shopping right now. We all go and you all get what you want. Why did I do that? I did that simply because it was some fly sh*t to do. And I feel fly about it. You get me? That’s City Boy’s feeling. It wasn’t about you. It was really about me doing some fly sh*t.

“Women think the opposite of what things really are most of the time. If it was a city girl, she would tell you the opposite. She wouldn’t get the logic. She would feel like, Oh… After you guys have gone shopping, she might feel like you are finenessed. That’s city girl.”

Former minister, Senator Bello Maitama Yusuf, has died aged 76.

Yusuf, a former Senator from 1999-2007, died in the early hours of Friday at his residence in Kano after a brief illness.

A family member, Alhaji Hussani Dalhatu, confirmed his death to newsmen.He said the late Sardauna of Dutse’s funeral prayer would take place after Jumu’at prayer at the Emir of Kano’s palace.

Yusuf was born in Gwaram, Jigawa State, in 1947.

He was Minister of Interior in 1981 and Minister of Commerce in 1982.

A prominent Italian journalist has been found guilty of libel after insulting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in a television interview.

Roberto Saviano used a swear word to describe Ms Meloni while attacking her stance on migration in December 2020.

He has been handed a suspended fine of 1,000 euros (£864).

Though he will only have to pay it if he repeats the offence, campaigners said the verdict sent a “chilling message” about press freedom.

Speaking to reporters outside the court, Mr Saviano said Ms Meloni’s government had sought to “intimidate” him for calling out “lies” about migrants, news agency AFP reported.

Ms Meloni’s lawyer said his words were an “insult”, not criticism, accusing him of “excessive, vulgar and aggressive language”, the agency added.

The incident happened in a December 2020 television interview, before Ms Meloni became prime minister.

In the interview, Mr Saviano criticised Ms Meloni and fellow right-wing leader Matteo Salvini for their comments on migrant rescue charity vessels.

As opposition leader, Ms Meloni had said that boats carrying rescued migrants ought to be sunk.

The Pen International writers’ association had urged the prime minister to drop the case, but Ms Meloni said she saw no reason to, adding that it was up to the judges to decide.

The association said the judgement was an “alarming setback for free speech” and sent a “dangerous warning to writers and journalists across the country”.

Mr Saviano’s lawyer said he would appeal the verdict.Under Italian law, some defamation cases can be criminal and carry a custodial sentence up to three years in jail.

Ms Meloni has filed similar lawsuits in the past, including against the editors of Domani newspaper, for alleging she had tried to help an MP from her own party win a government contract to procure face masks during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that she is also suing Placebo singer Brian Molko for defamation, after he called her a fascist and racist during a gig in Turin.

An Garda Síochána (Irish police) are expected to accept new recruits up to the age of 50 years old.

The Irish Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris believe the entry requirement age “should be changed in advance of the next garda recruitment campaign to give as many people as possible the opportunity to apply”.

Currently, the maximum age to join the force is 35.Ms McEntee is set to bring proposals to increase the application age limit to the Irish government for approval shortly.

The garda fitness test will also be adapted in line with the current age-related graduated system.

Irish broadcaster RTÉ reports that the Irish government has committed to bring staff resources up to 15,000, and after a group of 126 graduate at a ceremony at the garda college at Templemore on Friday, there will be a total of 14,032 gardaí.

The new age limit will be announced at the ceremony, the Irish Department of Justice said.

Budget 2024 made funding available for the recruitment of up to 1,000 new members, but last year’s target of 800 was not reached.

The fitness test is currently age and gender graded with different levels for males and females and for those aged up to 25 and those up to 35.

There is to be another graded fitness standard for those up to 50, but they will still qualify as a junior garda and be expected to do the same work as everyone else.

This will include 12-hour night shifts and post duty in inclement weather.

There has been no change to the retirement age of 60, which means a limited pension after 10 years of service.

Ms McEntee has held discussions with the Irish Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe on the matter, her department said.

Earlier this year, the Labour Court ruled that the age limit of 35 was discriminatory.

RTÉ reports that the court made the determination after ordering An Garda Síochána to pay €25,400 (£21,942) in compensation – or €12,700 (£10,966) each – to unsuccessful job applicants, Ronald Boyle and Brian Fitzpatrick, after finding they were discriminated against on age grounds.

The entry age limit of 35 has been in place since 2004, when it was increased from 26.

Seven people have died after a crowded minivan driven by a suspected people-smuggler overturned, say German police.

More than 20 migrants, including some children, are thought to have been in the van.

The driver attempted to evade police at a road check before losing control near Ampfing in Bavaria, authorities say.

The accident happened amid a rise in people-smuggling which has led several Central and Eastern European countries to impose border checks.

Police say they tried to intercept the Mercedes Vito van at around 03:00 (01:00 GMT) on Friday.

The driver of the vehicle, which had an Austrian licence plate, accelerated before rolling over several times at a junction on the A94 motorway, between the Austrian border and Munich.

There have been a number of crashes involving people-smugglers in European countries in recent weeks.

A car with French licence plates thought to be smuggling migrants overturned in Hungary on Thursday, leaving two dead and six injured.

Last week, a vehicle crashed in the town of Burghausen, on the German-Austrian border, around 50km from the site of Friday’s accident, injuring four people.

Several EU countries, including Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic have re-imposed border checks in recent weeks as a result of an increase in smuggling incidents.

Polish authorities say the heightened checks have succeeded in reducing the number of migrant crossings.

The A94 motorway in south-eastern Germany is considered a regular route for people-smugglers crossing the border from Austria.

Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said the tragic crash highlighted the need to strengthen border controls to stop smugglers from entering Germany.

First-time asylum requests in Germany rose by 78% in the first seven months of 2023. Police say the passage of around a quarter of migrants into Germany is facilitated by smugglers.