Buhari has lost touch of economic realities – Gov says

Fayose said this in reaction to the President’s comment saying that he is impressed with the Nigerian economy.

Governor Ayo Fayose (Daily Post)

Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state has said that President Buhari has lost touch of the current economic realities.

According to Punch, Fayose said this in reaction to the President’s comment saying that he is impressed with the Nigerian economy.
The Ekiti state Governor also said from the statement, it means that Buhari is endorsing the sufferings of Nigerians.
Fayose said “It is like the President endorsing the sufferings of Nigerians and this is painful.
 “That President Buhari, who met exchange rate at N197 to $1, said he is pleased with the economy when exchange rate is now N370 to $1, is a clear indication that the government is being run on his behalf.
“The National Bureau of Statistics, in its unemployment report for the fourth quarter of 2016, said 3.67 million Nigerians became jobless in one year and that the number of unemployed Nigerians rose from 7.51 million at the beginning of October 2015 to 11.19 million at the end of September 2016.

“The same NBS said in its June 2015 to May 2016 National Corruption Report that over N400bn was paid as bribes to public officials in Nigeria in one year (June 2015 – May 2016). Yet, they will tell Nigerians that they are fighting corruption when indeed, corruption is thriving under the All Progressives Congress government of President Buhari.
“It is clear that the President has lost touch with the real economic situation of the country.”
You will recall that an international publication, The Economist, in one of its articles about Nigeria’s economy, said that President Buhari is making the same mistakes he made as a military ruler.

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Fatai Owoseni replaced as Lagos state Commissioner of Police

The Lagos state commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni (right), has been replaced. The new police commissioner is Imohimi Edgar (left), a former Deputy Commissioner in Charge of Operations in the state.

Fatai Owoseni, who served in the state for two years, will now report to the force headquarters in Abuja as the Commissioner of Police in Charge of Administration.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Chelsea set to sign Arsenal midfielder

Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is on the brink of joining Premier League champions Chelsea.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, 24, will be out of contract next summer and has refused to sign a new deal at Emirates Stadium.

Chelsea have declined to comment but it is understood they have agreed a transfer fee with their London rivals for the England international.

Liverpool have also shown an interest and could still make an offer for the former Southampton player.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has started every game for the Gunners so far this season, including Sunday's 4-0 defeat at Liverpool, when he was substituted.

The midfielder would be Chelsea's fifth major signing of the summer following the arrivals of striker Alvaro Morata, goalkeeper Willy Caballero, defender Antonio Rudiger and midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko.

• Transfer deadline countdown: Who could move and who needs what?
• Arsenal are in crisis and Wenger should leave - Wright

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte had made it clear he wanted to add further to his squad before the transfer window closes on Thursday.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has made 198 appearances for Arsenal since joining them from Southampton in August 2011, would be the first arrival since the Italian said he wanted to sign four more players.

The Blues have allowed a host of players - including defenders John Terry, Nathan Ake and Kurt Zouma, and midfielder Nemanja Matic - to leave this summer, while last season's top scorer Diego Costa has been told he can leave.

They have won two of their opening three Premier League matches.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have lost their past two games, including Sunday's defeat at Anfield.

Like Oxlade-Chamberlain, forward Alexis Sanchez and midfielder Mesut Ozil are also out of contract next summer.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live on Monday, Gunners legend Ian Wright said the club are in "crisis from top to bottom", and manager Wenger should leave.

President Buhari congratulates D' Tigress on their Afrobasket victory Read more: https://sports.naij.com/1122592-president-buhari-congratulates-d-tigress-afrobasket-victory.html

- President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates D' Tigress on their victory
 - The president issued a statement through his spokesperson Femi Adesina
 - President Buhari assures the team of continued support from the government

 President Buhari has offered his congratulations to the National Female Basketball side D' Tigress on winning the 2017 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament in Mali. In doing so the team qualified for the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Spain next year. Read more: https://sports.naij.com/1122592-president-buhari-congratulates-d-tigress-afrobasket-victory.






Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina expressed the President's goodwill to the country's elite female basketball team in a press release posted on his Facebook page D’Tigress defeated Senegal 65-48 in the final of the 2017 FIBA Women Afrobasket tournament in Mali.

“I Spent 10 Years Under Lagos Bridges” – Vice President’s Wife Dolapo Osinbajo

According to the wife of the Vice President of Nigeria, Dolapo Osinbajo, while speaking at a recent conference she spent 10 years under Lagos Bridges.

Dolapo Osinbajo disclosed this while speaking at ‘Teens Career Conference’ organized by The Everlasting Arms Parish TEAP of the Redeemed Christian Church of God RCCG, Garki, Abuja, where she said she spent about 10 years with street urchins under several notorious Lagos bridges in a bid to reshape their lives.

In her words, according to Vanguard Nigeria’s Vice President’s wife Dolapo Osinbajo said;

“When I became a worker in the church, the first place I worked was the Teenage Church and for 10 years I was in the Children’s Church.

“For 10 years, I was under the bridge; under the bridge in Lagos with ‘Area Boys’. So, every kind of drug that there is, I know about it. I have seen it before and I have seen the effects as well and I will like you to know that the ones that use it are not different fr

Continue Reading...
http://www.freshvibesblog.com/2017/08/i-spent-10-years-under-lagos-bridges.html?m=1

BREAKING: S’South, S’East governors meet in Rivers

Governors of the South-South and South-East regions are currently meeting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

It was gathered that the governors, who converged on the platform of the South-South, South-East Governors’ Forum, were meeting to discuss issues bordering on the development of their states.

Some of the governors that had already been received by their Rivers State counterpart, Chief Nyesom Wike, are Mr. Udom Emmanuel, who is the Chairman of the forum; Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Rochas Okorocha (Imo) Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta)

However, Governors of Anambra, Cross River and Bayelsa States sent in their deputies, who were also received by the host (Wike)

A source confided in our correspondent that though the agenda of the meeting is not known, one of the possible areas the governors would deliberate upon are areas of regional integration and partnership that foster the development of the state.

As of the time of filing this reports, journalists were within the premises of the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt to get members of the South-South, South-East Governors’ Forum to speak on their meeting.

The Glorious Girls


’Tana Aiyejina

Nigeria’s D’Tigress on Sunday emerged the new champions of Africa, after they defeated Senegal 65-48 in the final of the 2017 Women’s Afrobasket championship in Bamako, to dethrone their West African rivals of the continental title.

The match was a repeat of the 2005 final, when D’Tigress defeated the Lionesses 64-57 in Abuja for their second African title.

The Nigerian girls had also defeated Senegal in their last Group B match 58-54 to emerge leaders and thus set up a potentially explosive final game against their opponents, who were gunning for revenge.

The Lionesses raced to an 18-12 lead in the first quarter but Sam Vincent’s youthful  side, who held a 100 per cent record on the way to the final, had other ideas.

Led by the inspirational Dallas Wings point guard Evelyn Akhator, D’Tigress were worthy leaders at half-time, after winning the second quarter 21-10. They then dominated the third quarter 15-7 and then sealed a third African title after consigning their West African rivals to a 17-13 win in the last quarter to send their teeming fans at the Palais des Sports SalamatouMaïga, Bamako, into rapturous celebrations.

Ekhator emerged top performer for Nigeria with 13 points, seven rebounds and two assists.

The Nigerian girls did not hide their desire to rule African basketball once again — after the triumphs of 2003 and 2005 — right from the buzzer of their first game against Mozambique, who they defeated 80-69 before recording an 84-47 win over DR Congo.



D’Tigress celebrating


They then whipped Egypt 106-72 , trounced Guinea 106-33 and then beat Senegal 58-54 to top their group and set up a quarterfinal clash against Ivory Coast, who fell 98-43.

But on Saturday, the Nigerians survived a scare from hosts Mali, who they narrowly edged 48-47 in the semifinal. The match evoked  memories of 2015, when  D’Tigress crashed out painfully at the same stage to hosts Cameroon by a single point but this time, the new champions were going to have none of that, as they were the ones who smiled to the final of the championship — on the way to their third title — in style.

Nigeria and Senegal have thus qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Spain.



D’Tigress with the Afrobasket trophy



Sam Vincent’s assistants at the championship are Dolphins Basketball Club coach Ochuko Okworogun, and Peter Ahmedu, while D’Tigress ex-captain Mfon Udoka is the team manager.

Earlier in the day, Mali claimed the last spot on the podium, after edging out Mozambique, 75-52, in the 3rd-Place Game.

Senegal’s Astou Traore, who scored a game-high 17 points in the final, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, headlining the All-Star Five Awards, where she was joined by Akhator, Italee Lucas(Angola), Leia Dongue (Mozambique) and Nagnouma Coulibaly (Mali).

Armed Kogi vigilantes spell doom, Faleke warns gov

A former running mate to the late governorship candidate in the last election in Kogi State, James Faleke, has accused the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, of  breeding future problems for the state in the name of vigilantes.

Faleke, who represents Ikeja Federal constituency at the House of Representatives, told journalists on the phone on Sunday that the governor was training hooligans in the name of fighting crimes with the use of vigilantes.

“I want to appeal to the governor in the area of security; as much as he is dealing with security issues, he should stop breeding future problem for the state. I learnt he is using the army to train 1,500 youths, who he calls vigilantes and he gives them guns. I don’t know whether he would be able to retrieve the guns from these people.”

Asked for his view on the occasion of the state’s 26th anniversary, Faleke said there was nothing to celebrate in view of the poverty, intimidation, and reckless administration pervading the state.

“Just for me to commend Kogites for standing strong in the face of poverty, in the face of intimidation and reckless administration. I commend Kogites for not going to the streets, I commend the civil servants for believing that there is tomorrow. I commend the populace generally for believing that tomorrow will be better than today,” he said

He added, “Training hooligans in the name of vigilantes was how Boko Haram started in Borno State. When politicians arm civilians and thugs and at the end of it they were unable to retrieve them it becomes problem.”

But  the Director General, Media and Publicity to the Governor, Kingsley Fanwo, in his reaction, said the vigilantes would not pose any  security threat since they were well trained.

“The Vigilante Security Operatives are well trained and licensed to bear arms. It is in furtherance of the governor’s determination to rid the state of criminal elements which is already yielding fruits.

“It is heartwarming to note that Kogi is becoming safer by the day and our toga of criminality is giving way. All security apparatus will be oiled to enable our people to have peace. Only criminals or people of criminal intentions are afraid of the security architecture in the state today.” he said.

He urged Faleke to forget the past and join the state government to ensure peace in the state.

Netherlands Embassy says, 'we no longer issue visas to Nigerians'

The Netherlands Embassy in Nigeria today reminded Nigerians that it no longer issues visas to us. Michel Deleen, the Embassy’s Charge d’ Affaires, told newsmen in Lagos that the Embassy had since 2013 swapped its visa issuance processes in Nigeria.



Deleen said “Let me remind Nigerians that since 2013, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria had signed agreements with the French Consulate-General in Lagos and the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja. What this means is that we have swapped our visa application processes in Nigeria with the French Consulate-General in Lagos and the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja. Let me remind Nigerians that under these agreements, any Nigerian that wants to visit the Netherlands for business, study or tourism should always process their visa applications through the French Consulate-General in Lagos and the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja'.



He also enjoined Nigerians to always apply for visas to the Netherlands through VFS Global to the French Consulate-General in Lagos and the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja. “Let me also advise anyone seeking visas to the Netherlands through the French Consulate-General in Lagos and the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja,to always first apply through VFS Global. When you first apply to VFS Global for visas to the Netherlands,VFS Global would thereafter send them to the French Consulate-General in Lagos and the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja for processing,’’ he said.

African football legend Didier Drogba reacts to Sierra Leone Mudslide Read more: https://sports.naij.com/1122051-african-football-legend-didier-drogba-reacts-sierra-leone-mudslide.html

- Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has reacted to the recent mudslide in Sierra Leone 
- The tragic occurrence happened on August 14, 2017 and took many lives 
- Drogba has however expressed sadness towards the nonchalant acts of international communities towards the occurrence.

 African football legend Didier Drogba has reacted to the recent tragic mudslide that occurred in Sierra Leone which took the lives of more than 300 people in the country. 
The circumstances which happened on August 14 in Freetown came as a shock to many African countries considering the number of lives lost and also the numbers of people still missing. Didier Drogba however took to his twitter handle to react to the silence from international communities on the tragic incident while concurring that if it was Paris, hashtags of PrayForParis would be everywhere. 

https://twitter.com/didierdrogba/status/899762681028243457

Buhari: The return of the Diaspora ‘king’

From Nigeria House in the United Kingdom to ‘Home office’ in Abuja, President Muhammadu Buhari returned after 104 days in the Diaspora last Saturday. Even those afflicted with socio-economic quagmire were mobilised to the streets to welcome the Daura-born “Messiah”. Sai Baba who was described by his media aide, Femi Adesina, as ‘king’ in a piece he wrote after Buhari returned from the UK attests to the royal treatment coupled with several homage visitations to the President by state officials who utilised taxpayers’ money for their visitations. Kudos must go to all (Ayodele Fayose, the “OurMumuDonDo” group led by Charly Boy and the protesters in London) those who deviated from the norm of culturalising/spiritualising the ill-health of the President.

At his return, so much was expected but the opening did not show that the President brought back any lessons from his health tourism. Buhari and those sympathetic to him should know that several Nigerians have died of the same health condition that made the President find solace in the UK owing to his refusal to replicate what he enjoyed in the UK at home. The President has broken his promise to stop health tourism by leading health tourists outside the country while our health system begs for attention. This pathetic situation was not even touched in that watery Monday morning national broadcast which implicates a disconnection of the ‘king’ to social realities. Next time Nigerians should beware of a naked man offering them a shirt.

Since being in the Diaspora is associated with abundance, “the return of the ‘king”’ ought to feature unpacking the luggage of goods bought for sharing to the expectant men and women. When a responsible parent has been away from home, the children anticipate the ‘significant’ return because of the succour it brings to their livelihood. On the flip side, children pray for delayed return of a parent whose presence threatens their survival or brings no such thing as hope. The “weak animals” had thought that the return of the “Lion King” will not only send the Hyenas and Jackals away but rekindle hope and better their conditions. However, nothing came to them other than threats that they have no right to discuss what affects them. His position was predicated on a discussion he had (with the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu) that Nigeria must remain one and united; but is it without satisfying the yearnings of those living? What moral ground does the ‘king’ who has failed to grow the economy, ‘settle’ the army of unemployed, and check kidnapping and terrorism but govern on comatose education (which is why university lecturers are on strike) and health systems ask the people to shut up? The dead cannot discuss for the living their terms and conditions for staying together. The “king” ought to know that the kingdom’s existence is threatened with an implosion and the emergence of insurgent citizenships. Only the people, not the saggy legislators or the Sai Baba group in the Federal Executive Council can discuss what the common man suffers since they never have such experience.


Using the marriage analogy may be useful because divorce is on the rise in the country too. All the trappings (infidelity, mistrust, misunderstanding, financial problems, adultery, infidelity, lack of care, denial of sex) birthing and turning holy to unholy matrimony characterise contemporary experiences in Nigeria. Infidelity which is cheating characterise modern agitations. People feel the execution of the contract in the unity of Nigeria is biased in favour of certain ethnic group. Irresponsibility, another factor that makes divorce possible, needs no elucidation as it is apparent that the leadership of the country has been irresponsible and irresponsive to the needs of her peoples. Denial (of sex) remains a fertile tool for divorce. Till date, the ‘king’ denies the need to engage the people. He believes only he and a few ‘classmates’ must dictate the path to follow. Denial of rights (security of lives and property, freedom of association, freedom of speech, subversion of rule of law, inequality before the law) constitute unpleasant daily experiences of Nigerians.

Although love is claimed to bring two persons together in a holy matrimony, marriage is however an eye-opener where people stop acting and negotiate on a daily basis conditions of living together.

Domestic violence is a common factor for marital breakdown and dissolution. When the husband violates the wife constantly and we plead with her to stay because of her children, when she dies owing to the same factor, the children become internally displaced with an uncertain future. This is why the rational women or men experiencing violence in their relationships opt for separation or divorce. We are all experiencing violence which is threatening our collective existence with no action taken by the ruling ‘king’.

In the Monday address, Buhari said, “This is not to deny that there are legitimate concerns. Every group has a grievance. But the beauty and attraction of a federation is that it allows different groups to air their grievances and work out a mode of co-existence”. Why will you then not allow people to negotiate their collective living when herdsmen attacks threaten our food security? They have killed several people but the king’s noble men have framed them as ‘outsiders’ yet they allowed ‘soft targets or weaker animals’ to be killed. And they are expected to continue without asking questions? I say such a relationship “Kolewerk” (It cannot work) as ‘ourmumudondo’ to use Charly Boy’s group name.

Nigerians have not crossed any red lines yet in their show of discontent with current happenings. Nigerians want their future to be greater than today no matter what they are facing at the moment. They want the converted democrat they voted for and not an autocrat who does not listen. They want a king whose eyes are not blind to the cries of the people and whose ears are not deaf to their agitations. Had Vice President Yemi Osinbajo not gone to negotiate the unity of Nigeria with those bombing oil installations, would we have anything left for the ‘king’ to preside over? Nigerians are experiencing varying internal displacement and wants empathy from President to chart a desirable future. Funny enough, rodents invaded the palace of our ‘king’ before his return and now the ‘king’ is internally displaced to the ‘inner chambers’ to attend to kingdom’s affairs. If rodents will take three months to chase away, then weaker animals should wait even longer because the “Lion King” is praying for restoration. But let the ‘king’ know that only those agitating want the country together while those in his cabinet opposing it are the enemies of unity (Micah 7:6).

Dr Tade, a criminologist, wrote in from Ibadan via dotad2003@yahoo.com

A DREAM FOR UNITED BUT A NIGHTMARE FOR SPURS - WINNERS & LOSERS FROM THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW

Jose Mourinho will be delighted with his side's group, but Tottenham are facing further European woe after landing Real Madrid an
The draw for the group stage of the 2017-18 Champions League has thrown up some fascinating fixtures, eagerly-awaited reunions and intriguing rematches.
However, some sides will be far happier than others after Thursday's ceremony in Monaco. Below, Goal runs through the winners and losers from the draw...

WINNERS: MANCHESTER UNITED


Memories of a rare group-stage failure under Sir Alex Ferguson are prominent for Manchester United after being again drawn alongside Benfica and Basel, while CSKA Moscow were an ally when the Reds fell at the same hurdle two years ago.
That said, this is about as good a draw as United could have hand-selected and they should have little trouble negotiating their way into the post-Christmas knockout rounds. Jose Mourinho will be tremendously confident that his side have what it takes to finish top of the group, and anything less will surely be seen as a missed opportunity.



WINNERS: LIVERPOOL



As third seeds, Liverpool could easily have been landed in the proverbial group of death. Instead, the returning Reds' hopes of reaching the knockout stage for the first time since 2009 are very much alive after a draw that pitted them against Spartak Moscow, Sevilla and Maribor.
Jurgen Klopp does not need to be told anything about the threat posed by Sevilla, who swept Liverpool aside during a stirring second-half showing in the 2016 Europa League final, and a Spartak side that last season ended a 16-year Russian title drought is not to be taken lightly.
However, while the Merseysiders remain worryingly weak at the back, in Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, they now have the requisite firepower to atone for a dismal group-stage exit in 2014.


WINNERS: MANCHESTER CITY


On a day that started with yet another away draw to a Premier League side in a domestic cup competition, sparking more grumblings of dodgy goings-on among fans, Manchester City ended up with a very appealing Champions League group.
Shakhtar Donetsk, Feyenoord and especially Napoli are solid European sides and City will not be taking anything for granted, especially given their teething problems under Pep Guardiola so far, but on the other hand they will certainly expect to get out of that group, and indeed will rightfully be expected to win it.
Napoli, though having come from pot three, will be particularly tough adversaries, particularly in Italy, but having avoided top-tier sides like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, this can certainly be regarded as a good draw for City.


WINNERS: MONACO


Kylian Mbappe was key to Monaco's thrilling run to the semi-finals of last year's competition, so the increasing likelihood of the teenage striking sensation joining Paris Saint-Germain before September 1 would obviously damage their prospects of emulating that remarkable achievement.
However, Leonardo Jardim's side, who have begun their Ligue 1 title defence with three consecutive victories, should still have little trouble reaching the knockout stage again this season, having been bracketed with Porto, Besiktas and RB Leipzig.
Indeed, while it is a nicely balanced group, with no particularly weak link, it is one that Monaco should win.


LOSERS: TOTTENHAM


Tottenham have arguably been the best footballing side in England for the past two seasons yet they have failed dismally to take their fine form with them on their European travels. Even last season, they botched what looked like a winnable group and fell into the Europa League.
As a result, one fears for the north Londoners after they were drawn in the same group as reigning champions Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, a side that took Tottenham apart in the Europa League just over 12 months ago.
Furthermore, given Spurs' struggles at their adopted home, a Wembley outing is more likely to bring the best out of the visitors than Mauricio Pochettino's men.
Mark Doyle, Deputy Features Editor
LOSERS: CHELSEA

Antonio Conte Chelsea
Antonio Conte's pleas for further signings before the transfer window closes are only going to get louder, with his Chelsea side having been handed what promises to be a fierce three-way battle for two qualification spots in Group C. Even the away trip to Qarabag will test the strength of his squad, given it is likely to entail more than 10 hours of travel.
Of course, Atletico Madrid, finalists in 2014 and 2016, will provide Chelsea with a stern examination of their title credentials and the Diego Costa transfer saga will add spice to an already potentially explosive encounter but Conte will be just as wary of Roma, given their success is based upon the dynamism of Radja Nainggolan, a player he has long coveted.
Nizaar Kinsella, Chelsea Correspondent
LOSERS: CELTIC

Brendan Rodgers Celtic
Brendan Rodgers stated before the draw that Celtic's aim is to still be playing European football after Christmas. That now looks an arduous assignment, with Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Anderlecht standing between the Scottish champions and a place in the knockout stage.
Indeed, even claiming a Europa League berth by finishing third will be tricky, given Anderlecht took eventual champions Manchester United all the way to extra time in the quarter-finals of last season's tournament.
As ever, Celtic Park will be a testing environment for even top-class sides like Bayern and PSG, but it is hard to see the Glaswegians picking up many points with a defence that conceded four times in the second leg of their play-off clash with Astana.

SO SAD! Dangote truck driver kills motorcyclist and a passenger to death

A motorcyclist and a passenger meet their end on Kaduna road when they were crushed to death by a Dangote company truck loaded with cement on Saturday. The accident occurred at about 9:47a.m. at the gate of 1 Mech. Division, Nigeria Army in Kaduna. According to PREMIUM TIMES, soldiers and passersby who witnessed the accident said the two victims on the motorcycle were crushed to death as they fell in front of the moving truck. “I was right beside them when it happened. They fell on the road while riding recklessly and the truck crushed them after a failed effort to manoeuvre around them. I narrowly escaped being crushed by the truck too, from where I was standing by the road waiting to board a car to my duty post in Jaji cantonment,” a soldier said at the scene of the accident. The truck was parked opposite a filling station about 300 meters, immediately after the accident and was guarded by the police to avoid being attacked by irate motorcyclists who gathered around the area. Mustapha Mohammed, a deputy superintendent of police and the acting spokesperson of the Kaduna State police command, confirmed the accident. “We are investigating the accident,” Mr. Mohammed said.

Sallah: Lagos Govt Commences Sale Of Lake Rice

Governor Ambode

The Lagos State Government on Thursday commenced the sale of Lake Rice in designated centres as announced for the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

In most of the sale centres visited, residents were seen queuing up and buying the item in an orderly manner, while it was observed that residents were allowed to buy just one bag each per person.

One of such centres was the Agricultural Development Authority (ADA) in Agege.

Speaking after purchasing the Lake Rice, a Vetinary Doctor, Mr Bayo Olufunwa commended the orderly manner with which the sale was handled, saying that it did not take him too long to buy the rice.

“I have been buying this Lake Rice since inception when they started selling it in this area and I find the rice very good, very delicious. In fact it is better than the other rice I am used to.

“As regards the organisation of buying, there was a bit of hiccup initially but the concerned authorities came and did everything needed to be done systematically and people are buying and are going freely,” Olufunwa said.

Another resident who identified herself as Mrs Ojo from Orile Agege, thanked the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode for the Lake Rice initiative, saying that apart from the fact that the rice is cheap, it is also delicious.

“I just bought the rice and I must commend Governor Ambode. This is evident that the Governor is passionate about the interest and welfare of the people.

“We were treated very well by officials at the sales centre and the process was orderly. When I got there, we were asked to put down our names and they used the list to call us inside where we used our ATM Card to pay after which we were directed to the store to pick the rice with the ticket they have us after payment,” she explained.

Also speaking, another resident, Mrs Adefemi Bilikis said she was surprised at how fast she was able to buy the item, just as she encouraged others interested to go to any of the sale centres close to them to buy the rice.

While explaining the process, the Agric Extension Officer in charge of Agege Depot, Ajayi Folayemi Musiliu said the State Government has more than enough rice to sell to residents, saying that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure hitch-free sales exercise.

“Since we started, we have been able to put the crowd under control by asking them to put down their names. We have a hall where we tell them to sit and then we call them in batches of 20 and they will go towards the three POS that we have and they pay with their ATM. No cash, nothing but your ATM.

“Officials of the State Treasury Office (STO) will take in the ATM into the POS and after that, you register and then you are taken to our two stores one for 50kg and the other for 25kg to pick the item.

“With that, we are able to diffuse the crowd trouble and as I am talking to you now, we have attended to over 100 people from that list. It is under control and we are happy about it,” Ajayi said.

He also assured residents that the government had more than enough rice to sell to them.

“Right now, we have five trucks of 50kg and there are 600 bags in a truck which translate to 3000 bags and I still have two other trucks waiting. For the 25kg, it is 1200 bags in one truck and I have done three and that is 3600. In essence, we have more than enough bags to sell to residents,” Ajayi said.

The 50kg bag was sold for N12,000, 25kg for N6,000 and 10kg for N2500.

A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Air Beetle Aircraft on Thursday crashed in Kaduna State while on a mission.

The only person on board the aircraft, one of the NAF’s experienced instructor pilots, was lost during the incident.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Air Force, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya.

According the statement, although the cause of the incident is unknown, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) has directed the constitution of a board of inquiry to determine the causes of the crash.

“The unfortunate incident is a tragic reminder of the hazards associated with the flying profession. The CAS and the entire NAF family commiserate with the relatives of the late instructor pilot,” the statement read.

OFFICIAL: Zlatan Ibrahimovic Signs New Man United Deal

Manchester United have announced that Zlatan Ibrahimovic will continue his journey with the club and has signed a one-year contract. He will wear the number 10 shirt.

Ibrahimović, 35, made 46 appearances and scored 28 goals for the club during the 2016/17 campaign before suffering a knee injury, which ended his season prematurely. Zlatan has won championships in four different leagues since beginning his professional career with Malmo in 1999.

Jose Mourinho said: "We are delighted Zlatan is on the road to recovery and we are equally delighted to have his ambition and experience back with us. After his contribution last season he deserves our trust and we will be patient waiting for him to return. I have no doubt that he will be important in the second part of the season."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic said: "I am back to finish what I started. It was always mine and the club's intention for me to stay. I cannot wait to get back out on that Old Trafford pitch, but I also know that I have to take my time to make sure that I am ready. I have been working hard and will continue to do so to make sure I am in the best possible condition for my return to the pitch."

Source: DUTA