Odemu Efe: killed by AIDS/HIV in Ethiopian prison

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The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) on Tuesday said, Mr Odemu Efe, a Nigerian serving a five-year prison sentence in an Ethopian prison died of HIV/AIDS.

Mr Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NIDCOM’s Head of Media made this known in a statement in Abuja.

Balogun said contrary to reports that Efe died of ill-treatment and malnourishment in prison, the death certificate issued by the Ethiopian Health Authorities showed he died of HIV/AIDS.

He further said confirmation from the Nigerian Embassy in Ethiopia revealed that Efe had been seriously ill and taken to two different hospitals in Addis Ababa before he passed on.

He also debunked a statement credited to one Miss Chika Nwachukwu, that Nigerian officials were indifferent about the welfare of Nigerian inmates in Ethiopia.

” The Nigerian High Commissioner, Adeoye Bankole, visits inmates regularly. He visited the Kaliti Prison in January 2019 and plans to visit Nigerian inmates again in August/September, ” he said.



Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Executive Chairman/CEO, NIDCOM condoled with the family of the deceased and prayed God to bless the soul of the departed citizen.

Efe was serving a five-year prison sentence in an Ethiopian Penitentiary having been convicted for drug trafficking by an Ethiopian court.

He had only served over a year before his demise.

Balogun said the burial would be undertaken soon through the assistance of Ethiopian Authorities and witnessed .

Millions of phones were unlocked thanks to alleged bribes taken by AT&T employees to infect smartphones on the carrier's mobile network with malware, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has said. Unauthorized hardware is also alleged to have been used, court documents unsealed Monday showed.

According to CNET sister site ZDNet, a case was opened against Muhammad Fahd, a 34-year-old man from Pakistan, and Ghulam Jiwani, who is believed to be deceased. Fahd was arrested in Hong Kong in February and was extradited to the US over the weekend.

"Fahd recruited and paid AT&T insiders to use their computer credentials and access to disable AT&T's proprietary locking software that prevented ineligible phones from being removed from AT&T's network," the Justice Department alleges. "The scheme resulted in millions of phones being removed from AT&T service and/or payment plans, costing the company millions of dollars."

The DOJ alleges employees at the Bothell, Washington, call center were bribed between April 2012 and September 2017. At first, they were allegedly bribed to unlock Apple iPhones to be used on other networks. They were contacted through Facebook messages or by phone calls, given lists of IMEI phone codes and unlocked those for money, DOJ is alleging.

Other employees were allegedly bribed to supply the names of others who would take part in the scheme. Three co-conspirators have pleaded guilty so far, admitting to receiving thousands of dollars in bribes.

One employee was allegedly bribed with more than $428,500 during the five-year period, with AT&T estimating a loss of revenue of over $5 million per year, ZDNet reported.

AT&T told CNET its network was unaffected by the malware, and the scheme didn't involve improper access to any customer information.

"We have been working closely with law enforcement since this scheme was uncovered to bring these criminals to justice and are pleased with these developments," an AT&T spokesperson said.

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The management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) on Tuesday issued a notice for students to vacate the campus after a flood disaster which led to the collapse of a pedestrian bridge, killing four students.

Students are asked to vacate the school premises immediately.

The notice was indicated in a circular signed by the registrar of the institution, A.G Hassan and pasted around the campus.

READ ALSO: Four Students Killed, Eight Others Injured After Bridge Collapse In Bauchi

“Following the unfortunate incident (a flood disaster) of Monday, August 5, the Senate at an emergency meeting held on Tuesday, August 6 approved a break with effect from Tuesday, August 6 to August 18, 2019.

“All students are, therefore, required to vacate the campuses with immediate effect from today, August 6, 2019. It should be noted that academic activities resume with effect from Monday, August 19, 2019,” the circular reads in part.

The Vice-Chancellor Professor Abdulazeez Ahmed also commiserates with parents, SUG, students and the University community over the sad event and prays that the almighty God will protect the University from such incident int the future.



The notice for the short break follows an accident on Monday midnight where a pedestrian bridge collapsed at the Gubi Campus, killing four students.

Eight other students were injured in the bridge collapse.

The bridge which links one of the hostels and another building containing lecture rooms collapsed at Monday midnight, following a heavy downpour.

Healthiest fruits grapefruit
Grapefruits contain flavonoids, which can help protect against some cancers, inflammation, and obesity.
Grapefruits are sour fruits full of health-inducing vitamins and minerals. Grapefruits can be pink, red, or white.

Half a grapefruit contains the following nutrients:

52 calories
13.11 g carbohydrate
2.0 g fiber
27 g calcium
11 g magnesium
166 g potassium
38.4 g vitamin C
The flavonoids in grapefruits can help protect against some cancers, inflammation, and obesity.

A review study suggests the compounds called furanocoumarins found in grapefruits can help protect against oxidative stress and tumors and may support healthy bones.

Some research from this review suggests that grapefruit furanocoumarins may have anticancer properties, which may be especially effective against bre*st cancer, skin cancer, and leukemia. Researchers still need to carry out more studies on animals and humans to confirm these properties.

People may wish to see a doctor before adding grapefruit to their diet, as it can interact with certain medications.

Read more about grapefruit benefits.

How to eat grapefruit

Try adding grapefruit slices to a fruit salad, or squeeze the juice into water to make a drink. Otherwise, people can buy pure grapefruit juice from the supermarket.

powered by Rubicon Project

6. Blackberries
Like other berries, blackberries contain health-boosting anthocyanins.

Blackberries contain many seeds, so they have a high fiber content. This means they can help improve gut health and heart health.

Half a cup of blackberries contains the following nutrients:

31 calories
6.92 g carbohydrate
3.8 g fiber
21 mg calcium
14 mg magnesium
117 mg potassium
15.1 mg vitamin C
Read more about blackberries here.

How to eat blackberries

People can eat blackberries fresh, add them to yogurt for breakfast or dessert, or add frozen blackberries to smoothies.

7. Apples
Apples make a quick and easy addition to the diet. Eat them with the skin on for the greatest health benefits.

Apples are high-fiber fruits, meaning that eating them could boost heart health and promote weight loss. The pectin in apples helps to maintain good gut health.

One medium apple contains the following nutrients:

95 calories
25.13 g of carbohydrate
4.4 g of fiber
195 mg of potassium
11 mg calcium
8.4 mg vitamin C
Research has shown that there is a link between eating apples regularly and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and diabetes.

Apples also have high levels of quercetin, a flavonoid which may have anti-cancer properties.

One study found that people who ate whole apples were 30 percent less likely to be obese than those who did not. This can lower the risk for diabetes and heart disease.

Read more about apples.

How to eat apples

Raw apples make a great snack and combining them with almond butter helps balance protein and fat intake. People can also add raw or stewed apples to yogurt, or use applesauce in cooking.

What are the most healthful vegetables?
What are the most healthful vegetables?
In this article, we look at 15 of the most healthful vegetables people can include in their diet.
8. Pomegranate
Many people consider pomegranates to be a 'superfood.' They are high in antioxidants and polyphenols, which help to combat the oxidative stress that can cause disease in the body.

Eat pomegranates with the seeds to get the fiber benefits.

One raw pomegranate contains:

234 calories
52.73 g of carbohydrate
11.3 g of fiber
666 mg of potassium
28 mg calcium
28.8 mg vitamin C
One pomegranate also contains 46.2 micrograms (mcg) of the recommended 80 mcg daily allowance of vitamin K. This vitamin is essential for strong bones and healthy blood cells.

A review study about the health benefits of pomegranates suggests that they have anti-inflammatory effects and may help protect against brain-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. This may be because pomegranates contain particularly high levels of polyphenols.

Research discussed in this review also suggests that pomegranates may restrict the growth of human prostate cancer cells.

Read more about the benefits of pomegranate juice.

How to eat pomegranate

Pomegranates can make a great addition to salads, or to couscous or rice dishes. Pomegranates are sweet, so people can also add them to yogurt and fruit salads.


9. Pineapple
Pineapple is an exotic fruit that may help reduce inflammation and promote healthy tissue growth.

Pineapple contains an active compound called bromelain, which many people take as a dietary supplement because of its potential health benefits.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health state that bromelain can help with reducing nasal inflammation or sinusitis. However, scientists need to carry out more research into its benefits for osteoarthritis and its anticancer potential.

Pineapples contain manganese, which the body uses to build bone and tissue. A medium slice of pineapple also contains the following nutrients:

42 calories
11.02 g carbohydrate
1.2 g fiber
92 mg potassium
40.2 mg vitamin C
11 mg calcium
Read more about the benefits of pineapple, the pineapple juice, and potential bromelain benefits.

How to eat pineapple

People can enjoy fresh pineapple by itself or in fruit salads. They can also use pineapple to make a tropical salsa or add it as a topping on fish tacos. Try adding frozen pineapple to smoothies.

10. Bananas
Healthiest fruits banana
Bananas are rich in potassium, which helps the body control heart rate and blood pressure.
Bananas are well known for their high potassium content. A medium banana contains 422 mg of the adequate adult intake of 4,500 mg of potassium. Potassium helps the body control heart rate and blood pressure.

Bananas are also a good source of energy, with one banana containing 105 calories and 26.95 g of carbohydrate.

The 3.1 g of fiber in a regular banana can also help with regular bowel movements and stomach issues, such as ulcers and colitis.

A medium banana also contains the following nutrients:

1.29 g protein
6 mg calcium
32 mg magnesium
10.3 mg vitamin C
Read more about bananas.

How to eat bananas

A banana is an excellent fruit to use to thicken a smoothie. People can also use them in baking as a natural sweetener or to make banana bread or pancakes.

11. Avocado
Many people refer to avocados as a superfood because of their healthful qualities.

Avocados are rich in oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat which helps lower cholesterol levels. The American Heart Association say that maintaining healthy cholesterol levels with healthful fats could reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Like bananas, avocados are rich in potassium. They also contain lutein, an antioxidant which is important for healthy eyes and skin.

Half an avocado contains the following nutrients:

161 calories
2.01 g protein
8.57 g carbohydrate
6.7 g fiber
12 mg calcium
29 mg magnesium
487 mg potassium
10.1 mg vitamin C
Avocados also contain folate, vitamin A, and beta-carotene.

Read more about avocados.

How to eat avocado

People can add avocado to salads, or mix with lime, garlic, and tomatoes to make guacamole. Add avocado to smoothies or hummus, or use avocado instead of other fats in baking.


12. Blueberries
Blueberries are another superfood that can provide many health benefits.

Like strawberries, blueberries contain anthocyanin, which is a powerful antioxidant. Because of this, they might protect against heart disease, stroke, cancers, and other diseases.

Blueberries also contain pterostilbene, a compound that may help prevent plaque from collecting in the arteries.

Half a cup of blueberries provides the following nutrients:

42 calories
10.72 g carbohydrate
1.8 g fiber
4 mg calcium
57 mg potassium
7.2 mg vitamin C
Read more about blueberries.

How to eat blueberries

Fresh or frozen blueberries are a great addition to breakfast cereals, desserts, yogurt, or smoothies.

Summary
Fruits come in all shapes and sizes, and different fruits have different health benefits. For the best results, add a variety of fruits to the diet.

By eating fruit, a person is providing their body with key vitamins, antioxidants, and dietary fiber. This can have significant benefits for heart health, digestion, weight management, and skin health.

People can enjoy a wide variety of fruits to improve their health and lower the risk of inflammation, heart disease, cancer, obesity, and diabetes.[img][/img]

Two persons were killed and four others injured following a suicide attack in Mafa local government of Borno state.


The last suicide attack was in June when a triple bombing outside a hall where football fans were watching a match killed at least 30 people.

Boko Haram’s decade-long campaign of violence has left some 27,000 people dead, displaced over two million across the region and spilt over into neighbouring countries.

The jihadists have splintered into two major factions after fighters loyal to the Islamic State group broke away from long-time leader Abubakar Shekau in 2016.

Shekau’s Boko Haram group has tended to attack civilian targets, while the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) faction has ratcheted up assaults on the military since July 2018.

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The Trump administration is drafting an executive order to ban “anti-conservative bias” on social media, according to Politico. The report quotes three anonymous sources, including one White House official, saying that the plan is still nebulous and in its early stages. It supposedly “deals with other topics besides tech bias,” though it’s not clear what those are. But it’s a sign that Trump wants concrete action on a subject he’s been complaining about for years — and a move that might conflict with Trump’s recent request for more aggressive policing of potential violence on social media.

Trump said last month that the White House would “explore all legislative and regulatory solutions to protect free speech and the free speech of all Americans.” The official, however, put it in more clearly partisan terms: “If the internet is going to be presented as this egalitarian platform and most of Twitter is liberal cesspools of venom, then at least the president wants some fairness in the system.” Trump and others have complained when social media platforms have banned or limited conservative accounts, although this sometimes includes the accounts of unabashed white supremacists, and we don’t know if conservative accounts get suspended disproportionately.

“MOST OF TWITTER IS LIBERAL CESSPOOLS OF VENOM.”
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) already introduced a bill that would strip companies of key legal protections unless the Federal Trade Commission declared them politically “neutral.” (This is probably unconstitutional.) Even leaving aside constitutional questions, an executive order couldn’t go as far as that bill. Politico suggests it might look like an earlier order demanding free speech on college campuses, which was essentially redundant. The White House declined to comment on the record to The Verge.

But if the Trump administration is trying to spook social media platforms out of moderating conservatives, it’s putting them in a difficult position — because after a pair of mass shootings this weekend, Trump also said social media companies should “develop tools that can detect mass shooters before they strike.”

One shooting was apparently an act of far-right terrorism, based on an anti-immigrant screed posted online. There was a fine line between its rhetoric and the views of major conservative figures like Tucker Carlson or Trump himself. Preemptively flagging the shooter — or one of several far-right killers before him — could have looked like egregious anti-conservative bias. And since predictive AI has sky-high error rates, it would probably catch a lot of non-violent conservative accounts (alongside those of non-conservatives) purely by accident. That’s already a recipe for a PR disaster, and it gets even dicier if Trump adds new legal punishments.

The official told Politico they didn’t see a problem. The platforms “have a role, if not a responsibility, to monitor the content on their sites to ensure that people aren’t threatened with violence or worse, and at the same time to provide a platform that protects and cherishes freedom and free speech, but at the same time does not allow it to descend into a platform for hate,” they said. But that’s assuming there’s an easy definition of “hate” — and it simply doesn’t exist.

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The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) wednesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to close the ranks between the rich and the poor to address the problems of inequalities among Nigerians.

The party, at a meeting in Abuja with the president, particularly implored him to recreate the middle class to guarantee a stable and peaceful society.

APC National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, led members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to the meeting with the president, the first of its kind since the re-election of Buhari after the last February presidential election.


The meeting came on the same day the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after reviewing what it called escalating insecurity, rising political uncertainties, biting economic hardship as well as prevailing tension in the country, pointedly told the president that the country was collapsing under his watch.

Answering questions from State House reporters after the meeting, which held behind closed-doors, Oshiomhole described it as an opportunity not only to congratulate the president on his re-election, but to remind him that he had a lot to do for Nigeria.


Oshiomhole said they told the president that he had the mandate to provide leadership to Nigerians by working with both the party and the National Assembly to deliver services that would bridge the gap between the poor and the rich.

The committee also told the president that APC was prepared to build an institute to help the people understand the ideology of the party and simultaneously reveal the party as a pro-poor political party that would put in place policies aimed at lifting the people from poverty and recreate the middle class.


According to him, unless the middle class is re-created, there will not be a stable and a peaceful society.

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He said the tragic situation in Nigeria today was that people were either very poor or very rich, adding that the problem of inequality between the poor and the rich must be addressed.

“What is the essence of progressive politics, basically it is about social democracy. So, our party must be seen to be pro-poor, putting policies in place that will lift our people out of poverty and recreate the Nigerian middle class,” he said they told the president.


He added: “Unless you recreate the Nigerian middle class, you are not going to have a stable and a peaceful society. The tragedy for now is that over the period, people are either very poor or they are very rich. The president has to provide leadership working with the National Assembly leadership to see how we can over the next four years, deliver so that the current situation of extremely poor and extremely rich will be bridged by recreating the middle class.”

Oshiomhole also described the APC as a party committed to social democracy and hence, the need to educate all elected members on the party’s commitment to an egalitarian society.


He said the victory of the party at the last general election was a call to duty and so elected officers had the responsibilities to deliver good governance to the people.

Oshiomhole said the forum also presented to the president the party’s financial report in which the party accounted for all its expenditures during the last general election.

He said: “As a political party, which is committed to social democracy, we want to make sure that everybody elected on the platform of our party understands the dos and don’ts, in terms of politics and policy choices – our commitment to egalitarian society and all of those things that make a progressive party different from a conservative party.


“We think this is not something we want to be doing on ad hoc basis. We don’t want to go and sleep because we have won the election. The fact that we have won the election means a call to duty. So, we have to work together to ensure these things are done.”

Oshiomhole said they congratulated the president for appointing ministers, adding that they were happy with the progress that had been made and commended the Senate for delaying their recess to be able to screen the ministers.


He said they also commended the president for organising a retreat for the ministers before they would be allocated their respective ministries so that they would understand their mandates.

Asked as a former labour leader for his reaction to the arrest of the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, on his call for revolutionary protest, Oshiomhole, who said he had led a series of protests in the past, added that whoever wanted to protest must state clearly the reasons for his protest.


He criticised the detainee, saying having contested and lost an election, he wanted to be made president through the backdoor.

Oshiomhole said even though the country was facing numerous challenges, the people had collectively agreed that the only way to resolve them was through the ballot box.

According to him, while he believes in people’s right to disagree with the government, there is no country where people begin to make calls for revolution after an election has been concluded.

“I don’t want to talk about this, but I believe Nigerians have a right to protest. I believe people have a right to contest issues. People have the right to disagree,” he said, explaining: “I have often said government doesn’t have the right to dictate to people how to protest, but you must state exactly what you want. I ask you to name any country in the world where somebody stands up and say after the election that ‘I contested and lost, now therefore I want revolution.”

Oshiomhole also dismissed insinuations that the NWC is enmeshed in crises in view of perceived division in the committee, which led to the expulsion or suspension of some members.

He wondered how meting disciplinary measures to only two of the 21-member committee could amount to a crisis and a division.

A statement issued later by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, on the meeting, however, said Buhari assured members of the NWC that he would be more conscious of the interests of the party while making key decisions.

According to Adesina, Buhari pledged to uphold party supremacy and commended Oshiomhole and other members for their sacrifices and overall success in the last general election.

Adesina also said Buhari used the occasion to appeal to NWC members to abide by the constitution of the party, saying “It is not enough to just criticise certain decisions of the party without first understanding what the constitution says.”

According to him, the president assured the NWC that competent members with the requisite experience would be given appointments as heads and chairmen of boards of governmental parastatals and agencies.

The statement also quoted Oshiomhole as telling the president that while it was regrettable that the party lost some states, the greatest victory of the APC was in Kwara and Gombe States.

‘‘In Kwara, we uprooted the ruling dynasty and inaugurated absolutely loyal and totally committed APC men at the helm of affairs,’’ he quoted Oshiomhole as saying.

Nigeria Collapsing Under Buhari, Says PDP

Meanwhile, the NWC of the PDP has raised the alarm that the country is collapsing under Buhari and the APC.

The party said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, that it was deeply worried that the country, which was a prosperity hub and a reference point for democracy, personal freedom and good governance, was showing all the trappings of a failed state with the government being unable to guarantee any of its fundamental duties.

He said the national leadership of the party rose from a crucial meeting yesterday, noting that the red flag had become urgent, following the manifest total loss of faith by Nigerians in the ability of the Buhari presidency to provide a democratic leadership that can engender peace and secure the nation.

“It is clear that the APC and the Buhari presidency have held Nigerians hostage. Nigerians are now being treated like a conquered people. They can no longer freely exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights; executive high-handedness has become a state policy just as the APC government, burdened by challenges of illegitimacy, has lost direction and only thriving in vindictiveness,” it said.

The PDP also accused the president of ruining the economy and leading the nation to become the world’s capital of poverty, while condoning the humongous corruption that it said had become the hallmark of his failed administration.

“Sadly, President Buhari’s anti-development policies, the corruption in his government as well as its failure to provide security have scared away foreign investors from our nation,” it said.

It nevertheless urged Nigerians not to despair but to keep hope alive in their confidence that the tribunal would rule in favour of its presidential candidate in the last election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.



Oloibiri, a small community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, straddles two achievements; it is the first kingdom in West African history to hit black gold. By January 15, 1956, oil was discovered in commercial quantity in the kingdom, and this changed Nigeria’s economic status, leading to a flurry of activities; including oil exploration, tourism, and mostly importantly for the country, it changed its status into an oil producing nation.

With an initial production of 5,000 barrels of oil per day (which would later become as much as 2,000,000), Nigeria became the sixth largest oil producer on the chart of the Organisation of petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

63 years after putting the country on the global map, Ogbia LGA, where Oloibiri situates, becomes the first local government in Nigeria to fully achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for its residents.

But just as it presents two firsts, it also presents two different worlds apart. First, by virtue of being literarily an oil well which has also contributed its quota to the development of the country, it is unfortunately also known as a community lacking the basic necessities needed for human capital development.

Simply put, Oloibiri is rich in natural resources but poor in social and human capital development. It is an underdeveloped kingdom that contributed in developing Nigeria.

The King of Ogbia Kingdom, Dumaro Charles Owaba described Oloibiri and other communities in Ogbia as the small but mighty kingdom with enormous mineral and other natural resources, yet lacking all the characteristics of a rich community, as they lacked portable water, good roads, accessible and qualitative healthcare, among others.

It is in changing the contrasting worlds that the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) through a series of interventions has ensured that the historic Ogbia kingdom achieve UHC ahead of the remaining 775 local government areas in
NNPC/SNEPCo Cancer Machine Reduces Treatment Waiting Time by 80%
Speaking during the launch of one of its series of Social Investment Programmes, tagged the Oloibiri Health Programme (OHP) in Ogbia kingdom last week, the Managing Director, SPDC, Mr. Osagie Okunbor described the move as an intervention aimed at ensuring the people of the local government get adequate healthcare provision, as well as basis for human capital development, especially for the vulnerable, including women and children in the community.

He said the intervention includes the remodeling of the Kolo General Hospital, provision of a water treatment plant, medical laboratory equipment at the College of Health Technology, Otuogidi, the provision of Dental Chair for Demonstration Clinic, Otuogidi and a Hybrid Solar Powered System.

“The General Hospital, Kolo will serve as a referral hub providing 24 hours service with linkages to five Health-for-Life Centres and 13 Ward Health Centres,” adding that residents of Kolo, Oloibiri and the entire people of Ogbia can now walk up to the centres and the general hospital to access quality healthcare services.

He said the OHP was an expansive initiative being implemented in three phases.

“What we are doing here today is the first phase. The second phase is in execution, which includes the Oloibiri Health Campus which consist of; Oloibiri Health-for-Life Centre, a Ward Health Centre, and a Knowledge Management and Research Centre. Other components of the second phase are the 0.4 kilometre Oloibiri access road and the Oloibiri Helth Foundation which is primarily to drive the overall sustainability of all projects. All these will be completed by the end of October 2019.

“The third phase will be the establishment of the pilot Ogbia Community Health Insurance Scheme. This will be modelled after the very successful pilot insurance scheme catalysed by the SPDC Joint Venture in partnership with the Rivers State government which is the Obio Cottage Hospital in Port Harcourt. This will anchor the sustainability of the OHP. The scheme will be launched with a one-time contribution from Shell and the Bayelsa State government and will deliver healthcare services using a network of facilities. This is expected to start this December,” he added.

Representative of the World Bank/International Finance Corporation, Dr. Olumide Okunola went down memory lane, noting that over six decades ago, Oloibiri gave Nigeria oil, which has in no small measure provided benefits for the nation.

But he emphasised that the next six decades ahead, globally, will be driven by human capital development. “That is why I am particularly proud of the launching of this programme, because it shows Shell is preparing people in this local government for the next century. Human capital development cannot become reality if the people lack basic healthcare needs, education, among others. I am glad we are already thinking into the future.

“I am particularly excited with this intervention because it shows Oloibiri has made another first. By this gesture, Ogbia local government is the first in the country to achieve UHC”.

Okunola, however called on SPDC, government and other companies to extend the gesture to the remaining 775 local governments in the country, adding that if all regions, including hard-to-reach places get access to healthcare irrespective of their financial status, it will lead the country towards achieving UHC for its 200 million population.

The Regional Community Health Manager and Business Opportunity Manager for OHP, Dr. Akinwumi Fajola said the objective of the programme was to achieve UHC for all members of the community regardless of their circumstances, as well as for the provision of Health System Strengthening.

According to experts, Health System Strengthening is any array of initiatives and strategies that improves one or more of the functions of the health improvements in access, coverage, quality or efficiency.

Fajola said one of the unique features of the Oloibiri Health Programme was that its scope deliberately targets all health system building blocks, adding that this will ensure strengthening of the Ogbia LGA’s health system in an integrated manner.

He said: “The expected outcome for the OHP will include increase in healthcare coverage for underserved communities; reduction in the number of mothers dying at childbirth; reduction in the number of children dying before the age of five; reduction in maternal and child morbidity; reduction in the prevalence of water and sanitation related illnesses; improvement in quality of life and life expectancy of individuals within the community served; social development in the community; and replication and scale-up of the programme model to other LGAs and states.”

“Some of the social determinant components of the OHP includes the training of 100 graduates, secondary school leavers and market women. They were also mentored on business development, as well as given grants to start their businesses in the Ogbia special livewire scheme. This is part of efforts to strengthen entrepreneurship and financial access. Already, many have grown their businesses and already have people under their employment,” he noted.

He said the beauty of the OHP was that it complements other state, national and international health programmes, and in particular the Saving One Million Lives (SOML) initiative of the federal government.

The Deputy Governor, Bayelsa State, John Jonah described the move by Shell as noble, adding that the state government will continue to support all interventions needed in addressing healthcare issues in the state.

Jonah, who represented Governor Seriake Dickson, said, “Today’s commissioning shows we have made significant progress in healthcare as a state. There is significant advancement in Bayelsa healthcare system because we put premium on the system. This is a blue print for Nigeria. I applaud Shell for initiating and funding this.”

On his part, the LCT General Manager, West, Central and French Sub-Saharan Africa, GE Healthcare, Eyang Ebai said the programme was a unique and trail blazing initiative that has not been done before in Nigeria, adding that as expected, innovative ways of doing things were not always easy at the beginning, but eventually bring better results.

He said: “Today’s commissioning shows we have made significant progress, and the foundation is now set for continued development of the healthcare system in Ogbia LGA and the region at large.

“On behalf of GE Nigeria, we firmly believe in the potential of the OHP and remain committed to its vision, as we address key challenges in the primary and secondary healthcare space across the country. This is aligned with the global purpose as a company to improve lives in moments that matter,” he said.

Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the February 2019 election for a period of 90 days to enable them conclude their investigation of alleged Act of treason and terrorism.


But delivering ruling Thursday on the exparte application, Justice Taiwo held that the court had the jurisdiction to grant the request, adding that section 27 of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act under which the motion was brought empowers him to do so.

Justice Taiwo said after consideration of the argument canvassed by the DSS’ lawyer, Godwin Agbadua, he came to the conclusion that there was an allegation of commission of crime by the respondent and that investigation was still on going.


He added that since the facts were allegations “which must be proved at the appropriate place and time”, he was inclined, ” to grant the application only to the extent that the respondent shall be detained for a period of 45 days for the applicant to conclude its investigation”.

Justice Taiwo however said if at the end of the 45 days, investigation was yet to be concluded, the applicant can apply for a fresh order but must not keep him without an order of court.


Sowore was arrested in the early hours of Saturday in Lagos by men of the DSS on account of the #RevolutionNow protest which he had spearheaded.

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He was then moved to Abuja on Sunday morning and is currently being detained in the custody of the DSS.

To avoid running against the Provisions of the law which stipulate that an accused cannot be detained for more than 48 hours, the agency had approached the court for an order to keep Sowore for the next 90 days pending the conclusion of investigation.


The request was contained in exparte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/ 915/19 and filed on behalf of the agency by Agbadua.

But trial judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, after listening to the submission of the DSS lawyer, said he needed time to watch the video clips attached to the motion.

The video clips include a scene showing Sowore in a conversation with leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and a statement alleged to have been made by Sowore to the extent that members of the recent Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) will join forces with him to bring down the government of the day.

The matter has been adjourned till September 21, when the 45 days would elapse.

These scratches—or 'slickenlines'—have been observed on fault lines for decades. Through his Master's research—published last month in the journal Geology—Jesse was able to link the direction of the slickenlines with the direction a fault line ruptures during an earthquake, providing a record of how past earthquakes have moved on New Zealand's fault lines and hints as to where future earthquake damage could occur.

Jesse's research began when he was analysing the Kekerengu fault line as part of the Kaikōura Earthquake Surface Rupture Response Team immediately following the Kaikōura earthquake.

"We were mapping the ground ruptures that occurred around the Kekerengu fault as a result of the Kaikōura earthquake, and we found these intriguing curved marks," Jesse says. "We wanted to uncover the process behind their formation, because we knew this was a field of research that wasn't well understood."

Alongside his supervisors Professor Tim Little of Victoria University of Wellington and Russ van Dissen from GNS Science, Jesse spent many weeks in the field, walking the ground ruptures from end to end—a total distance of 30 kilometres—documenting the ground deformation, and recording the slickenlines.

"After completing these observations, we took our data back to the lab for analysis," Jesse says. "We knew that the rupturing of the Kekerengu fault had caused the ground to shift sideways by up to 12 m during the Kaikoura earthquake. Our analysis of the slickenlines not only confirmed this movement, but also provided further detailed information about how the fault moved—not in a straight line, but along a complicated, curved route."

With help from seismologist Yoshi Kaneko from GNS, who uses computer programs to model the dynamics of earthquake ruptures, they were able to confirm that curved slickenlines like the ones they observed on the Kekerengu fault are related to the direction an earthquake moves along the fault.

It has long been known that the direction a fault ruptures can strongly affects the distribution of ground shaking and damage resulting from an earthquake, Jesse says.

"In the Kaikōura earthquake, for example, Wellington experienced much stronger shaking than Christchurch, even though the epicentre of the quake was much closer to Christchurch," Jesse says. "This is because the Kekerengu fault ruptured towards the north, and so the earthquake energy was focused in that direction."

Now Jesse and his colleagues can analyse the slickenlines in other faults to see how they have ruptured in the past, including prehistoric earthquakes that took place thousands of years ago.

"We might be able to better predict how they will rupture in the future and where the ground shaking and damage from earthquakes on these faults will occur," Jesse says. "This will help plan for future quakes, including designing more resilient buildings and architecture in areas that could suffer more quake damage."

Jesse hopes to see this research tested further across the world to confirm their findings and provide a new way for scientists to discover information about earthquakes.

"This research is very new, so while it's very exciting it still needs to be tested and verified by the global earth science community," Jesse says. "Hopefully this analysis will prove that these findings are of real benefit to the lives of people living in earthquake prone regions around the world."[img][/img]

Oyedepo lays curse on killers of Kaduna pastor

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Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners Chapel on Thursday laid a curse on the killers of Jeremiah Omolara, who was the resident pastor of a branch of the church in Romi New Extension, Kaduna State.

Omolara was reportedly travelling with his wife and son to Abuja on Sunday when he was shot dead, while his wife was abducted.

During a service on Thursday, Oyedepo asked the congregation to pray against the killers, reports TheCable.

READ ALSO: Ambode denies involvement in N9.9bn fraud allegations

Oyedepo said, “Just last Sunday night for those of us who may have heard the news, one of our pastors was hacked down by Fulani herdsmen from Abuja to Kaduna.

“I want you to know, that it’s the last they will do because I am going to lead you now to release the curse of God upon his assailants and all their backers.


“Except I am not sent, their end has come. This evil system will crash. And I am speaking as a prophet, not as a pastor, like somebody walking on the street. This evil system that has no value for life, this wicked system – Fulani demons: In the name of Jesus, their end has come.

“Cursed be these Fulani herdsmen, cursed be their generations, cursed be their sponsors in the name of Jesus.”

Sowore group, allies announce date to resume protests
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The Coalition For Revolution (CORE), a group led by detained 2019 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, and its allies, have vowed to resume protests demanding revolution in Nigeria.

Co-convener of the group, Mr. Olaseni Ajai, made the announcement to newsmen on Friday in Lagos.


He disclosed that, Monday August 19, 2019 has been fixed for the continuation of the protest tagged #RevolutionNow across Nigeria.

Noting that the protest was not calling for removal of the Buhari-led government, Ajai said: “the incumbent government, having failed to deliver good governance to the Nigerian people.”

“For the avoidance of any doubt, we hereby reiterate our five core demands: An economy that works for the masses; An effective and democratic end to insecurity; An end to systemic corruption and for total system change; The immediate implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage; including free and qualitative education for all,” he said.


CORE also condemned that the Federal High Court ruling which empowered the Department of State Services (DSS) to keep Sowore in detention for 45 days.

Ajai said: “The order described as being renewable, reminds one of nothing but the military days of tyranny.”

He expressed worry that government is trying to reintroduce Decree 2, an order that was used to unlawfully detain many Nigerians without trial during the past military administrations under maximum rulers.


“We vehemently condemn this Decree 2 in disguise that has found its way back into our democracy. We urge Nigerians and lovers of democracy to resist this.” Ajai added.

On the statement issued by the presidency that the August 5 protest was not successful, a member of the CORE movement, Mr. Lere Legacy, said: “The protest was successful in 21 cities, 17 states and 6 countries with over 30,000 people joining the conversation online in few hours of its commencement.

“Indices of growth are falling and the level of unemployment between 2018 and the first quarter of this year increased by 30%. Those with meaningful employment as of today are less than 40%. There’s acute poverty and insecurity everywhere”.



On his part, Deputy Director, Joint Action Front (JAF), Mr. Achike Chude said: “The groundswell of opinion is that there is no basis for detaining him. Government should release Sowore and do the needful. The needful is to provide for the people using the people’s resources.

“They have been given a mandate by the people; a mandate that must be directed towards the interest and the welfare of the people. If they undermine that themselves, then they put themselves in a situation where people begin to ask questions and power lies in the hands of the people.”
Sowore’s lawyer reveals next step towards releasing him from DSS custody.

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The embattled convener of RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore, has filed an application to the Federal High Court in Abuja requesting it to set aside its order permitting the Department of State Services (DSS) to detain him for 45 days.

Sowore, thevpresidential candidate of the African Action Alliance (AAC) in the February 2019 presidential election, who, on Friday, approached the court through his lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), in a 19-ground application said the order issued by the court granting the DSS to detain him for 45 days, breached his constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights.


He contended that in the said order, the court had legalised the illegality of his detention for about four days prior to the issuance of the court order on Thursday.

Sowore, also submitted alongside his application, an affidavit of urgency to seek an urgent hearing of his suit.

He said the affidavit is premised on the grounds that it “is one of fundamental importance that affects salient fundamental rights of the applicant herein.”


The Federal High Court in Abuja, had, on Thursday, granted the Department of States Service (DSS) permission to detain Sowore, the

for 45 days.


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Ruling on an ex parte application by the DSS, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, held that the detention order is renewable after the expiration of first 45 days on September 21.

Sowore was arrested in the early hours of Saturday, August 4 by the operatives of the DSS in a hotel in Lagos, after which he was moved to Abuja same day.

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The state agency said Sowore was arrested on account of the #RevolutionNow protest which he had spearheaded.


Following his arrest, the DSS filed a suit praying the court to allow it detain Sowore for 90 days to investigate him over his call for revolution protest, which the police had termed a treasonable felony offence.

The DSS premised its application for Sowore’s detention on the provision of section 27(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention) Amendment Act, and ruling on ex parte application, without counter-argument by Sowore’s legal team, Justice Taiwo, said he had to grant the application.


He, however, said his granting of the application is “only to the extent” of allowing the security agency to keep the respondent in custody for only 45 days for the applicant to conclude its investigation.

According to the judge, the hearing of the application was one-sided as provided by 27(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention) Amendment Act, he however, said, the use of the word, “may,” in the provision “is directory” and not “discretionary,” as a result, he said he would be failing in his duty not to grant the request for a detention order.


Justice Taiwo, however, said if the applicant require more time to conclude its investigation after the expiration of the first 45 days, it had the liberty to apply for its renewal.

According to the vacation judge, Justice Taiwo, the order takes effect from Thursday, August 8.

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Sportswash: Saudi Arabia under fire for hosting

Anthony Joshua v Ruiz Jr: Saudis under attack for agreeing to host the rematch



Saudi Arabia’s decision to host the world heavyweight title rematch between Anthony Joshua and champion Andy Ruiz Jr in December, has sparked accusations of the Gulf kingdom attempting to “sportswash” its tarnished human rights image.

The high-profile December 7 duel, dubbed ‘Clash on the Dunes’, will see Britain’s Joshua trying to win back the IBF, WBA and WBO titles he sensationally lost to American fighter Ruiz in New York in June.

The bout will take place in Diriyah, which incorporates the UNESCO World Heritage site of Al-Turaif, on the outskirts of Riyadh — a dramatic contrast to the iconic Madison Square Garden which hosted the first fight.

Promoters Matchroom Boxing said the fight details will be officially revealed at a news conference in London on Monday.

The rematch had been widely touted but Cardiff’s Principality Stadium was tipped as favourite to stage the event.

The Saudis have faced intense diplomatic fallout over the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi which took place in the conservative kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul in 2018.



Saudi rulers, also under fire for the war in neighbouring Yemen, have utilised sport as a tool to try and soften their international image and to provide a showcase, they claim, for reforms inside the oil-rich state.

But Friday’s announcement was quickly denounced by human rights campaigners.

“If Anthony Joshua fights Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia, it’s likely to be yet another opportunity for the Saudi authorities to try to ‘sportswash’ their severely tarnished image,” said Amnesty UK’s head of campaigns Felix Jakens.

“Despite some long-overdue reforms on women’s rights, Saudi Arabia is currently in the grip of a sweeping human rights crackdown — with women’s rights activists, lawyers and members of the Shia minority community all being targeted.

“There’s been no justice over the gruesome murder of Jamal Khashoggi, and the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen is carrying out indiscriminate attacks on homes, hospitals and market-places with horrific consequences for Yemeni civilians.”

Amnesty said Joshua should “inform himself of the human rights situation and be prepared to speak out about Saudi Arabia’s abysmal human rights record”.

In February this year, the Saudis hosted a first European Tour golf event which was won by former world number one Dustin Johnson while the world’s most gruelling motor sports race, the Dakar Rally, will be raced in the country in 2020.

In July, British boxer Amir Khan won the WBC international welterweight title with a fourth-round stoppage of Australian Billy Dib in Jeddah.

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Former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has declared that he did not have any personal links with the three accounts of the state government frozen on Tuesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over suspicious movement of N9.92 billion.

Ambode’s clarification was contained in a statement issued yesterday by his media aide, Mr. Habib Aruna, in reaction to the allegation that the accounts were fraudulently opened by his administration.

Justice Chuka Obiozor of a Federal High Court had granted the EFCC an order freezing the sums in the three accounts.


The EFCC had claimed that only about N320 million “are now left in the three accounts as at the time the freezing order was secured.

The funds are domiciled in First City Monument Bank, FCMB, account number 5617984012; Access Bank account number 0060949275 and Zenith Bank account number 1011691254, respectively.

But in the statement yesterday, Ambode noted that no personal account of his contained N9.9 billion, let alone being frozen by the anti-graft agency.

He said in the spirit of Sallah and having served Lagos State well with utmost dedication and integrity, his record was very clear and his mind joyful for the opportunity to have served the State diligently.

Ambode said while he did not intend to join issues with the anti-corruption agency at this time, given that there had been no communication between him and the commission on this issue, it was pertinent to clarify what he believed was a misleading import of the press statement on Tuesday.

According to the former governor, the accounts in question that were frozen by the Federal High Court “belong to the Lagos State Government and not him or any individual.”
“The former governor was not and will never be involved in any unauthorised use of government property and resources. We strongly believe that after four demanding years as Chief Executive of Lagos State, Ambode is entitled to some deserved rest with his family and loved ones without the unwarranted attacks on his well-earned reputation.”

Ambode noted that at this critical time in our polity, all hands should be on deck “to support our great party both at the state and national levels in order to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to Lagosians and Nigerians respectively.”

He, therefore re-assured Nigerians that he “remains committed to the ideals of Buhari and the founding fathers of the party for the attainment of the next level for Nigeria.”

He prayed that the lessons of Sallah would serve as a catalyst for the much-needed bond and spirit of brotherliness among all and sundry in our great country.

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has urged Nigerians to imbibe the lessons of the sacrifice made by the Prophet Ibrahim and work for the unity of the nation as they celebrate Sallah.

Sanwo-Olu in his Sallah message on Saturday said that “Eid al-Adha” became a symbolic event in the history of mankind, given the bounty of rewards that followed the patience and perseverance of Prophet Ibrahim, who held on tenaciously to his faith in God despite affliction.

The governor urged Nigerians to draw lessons from the prophet’s example by eschewing tendencies that could severe the unity and stability in the country.
“This symbolic Islamic festival is a constant reminder to us that, there will always be great rewards when we have abiding faith and patience in trying periods; persistence in prayers and tenacity in our belief.
“It also reminds us of the sacrifice we are expected to make not only for the purpose of spiritual fulfilment but also for the progress of mankind and development of our society.

“Development and progress can only be achieved in an atmosphere in which unity, peace and mutual respect reign supreme. We must, therefore, eschew tendencies that can further divide us as a people.”

He advised Nigerians to support the government’s efforts in creating a nation that would work for all.

Sanwo-Olu said, “As a government, we are playing our part to ensure public resources are properly channelled to the benefit of the citizens.

“However, the citizens must ensure these energies are not wasted by shunning actions that can make these efforts difficult.