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WHO Names Anambra Among States To Benefit From Canada's CanGIVE Grant Princess-Ekwi Ajide (ABS Abuja Bureau Chief) Anambra State has been named one of the 15 states in Nigeria to benefit from Canada’s Global Initiative for Vaccine Equity (CanGIVE) Grant to Nigeria.  The Canada Global Initiative, which aims to support country-led efforts to expedite COVID-19 vaccine delivery and distribution among high priority risk groups, increase vaccine confidence and generate demand, will be implemented in 14 other states of Benue, Kogi, Taraba, Katsina, Kebbi, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Rivers, Lagos, Ogun and Ondo alongside Anambra. The grant will focus on community engagement, within the context of addressing inequities in service delivery and disparities in gender at sub-national geographical locations.  According to the Head of Mission and Representative of the World Health Organization, WHO, Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, at the Launch of the grant in Abuja, the gra...

Nigeria Armed Forces Deny Oil Thieves Over 200 Million Naira In Two Weeks Nigeria's Defence Headquarters says troops in different operational theatres within the six geopolitical zones, have sustained onslaught against terrorism, oil theft and all other forms of criminality aimed at addressing various security challenges. The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, who disclosed this at a press briefing which covered significant operational activities between 13 - 20 July 2023, said an estimated sum of Two Hundred and Two Million Seven Hundred and Eighty-Eight Thousand Three Hundred Naira (N202,788,300.00) was denied oil thieves by troops of Operation DELTA SAFE  He said the troops had within the period, intercepted and destroyed a vessel involved in crude oil theft, destroyed several illegal refining sites while the air component conducted air interdiction to destroy active illegal refining sites. According to him, also within the period under review, in th...

ARMY CHIEF FORMALLY FLAGS OFF OPERATION HAKORIN DAMISA, TELLS TROOPS TO SUSTAIN SWIFT RESPONSE TO DISTRESS CALLS The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Major General Taoreed Lagbaja has formally flagged off the ongoing operations to quell the unfortunate herders/ farmers clashes in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau state. The operation, which was launched to mitigate the crisis in Mangu has progressively tackled the deteriorating security situation in the Local Government, restoring relative peace in the area.  Addressing the troops during the flag off, the Army Chief charged them to stamp out every form of security threat in the locality and on the Plateau in general. He urged them to sustain swift and timely response to distress calls, adding that they should also make it a point of duty to feedback the community concerned. This, he pointed out, will build the people's confidence in the ongoing operations. He assured the troops that topmost in his philosophy of command is the provis...

At age 3, I was already working in a restaurant and serving men – BBNaija star, Phyna: In a recent episode of The Nancy Isime Show, Josephine Otabor, widely known as Phyna revealed that at the young age of 3, she began working at her aunt’s restaurant, where she was residing at the time. When Phyna’s father had a severe accident, he made the decision to send her to live with his elder sister in Auchi. As a result, Phyna had to temporarily pause her education at JSS3 in order to support her family during this difficult time. She spent two years by her father’s side in the hospital, providing him with care and companionship. Phyna opened up about these experiences while appearing on The Nancy Isime Show, where she was joined by her colleague, Hermes. Phyna said, “Growing up for me wasn’t really easy. I actually grew up with my aunt, my dad’s elder sister in Auchi. And my aunt sells food, it’s a restaurant. “Now, imagine a young girl at a restaurant at a very tender age. At 3, I was alrea...

Military begins Operation Hakorin Damisa IV to end attacks, killings in Plateau  The Nigerian Army has launched a new military operation in Plateau State, code-named Operation Hakorin Damisa IV. Hakorin Damisa means Leopard’s teeth when translated. The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja who launched the new operation in Mangu Local Government Area of the state on Saturday said the aim was specifically to end the spate of attacks and killings in the LGA and other parts of the state. In the last two months, more than 300 persons had been killed in Mangu LGA and the neighbouring communities following a series of attacks by gunmen After addressing troops deployed to carry out Operation Hakorin Damisa, the Chief of Army Staff moved to a Pilot Primary school in the community to have a meeting with the stakeholders.  

Criminals target, kidnap female journalist in Port Harcourt The Director of News at the Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation (RSBC) in Port Harcourt, Mrs. Priestba Anthony Nwokocha, has been abducted. The news of her kidnapping was revealed by Pastor Ebi Ogoloma, the Director of Administration at the station. Mrs. Nwokocha was forcefully taken between 7pm and 8pm on Friday, July 21, while on her way home from work along Slaughter/YKC road in Port Harcourt. According to sources close to her family, Mrs. Nwokocha's car broke down along the aforementioned road. She immediately contacted her husband, who arrived at the scene with a mechanic to fix the vehicle. Unfortunately, it was during this time that the kidnappers appeared and took her captive. Thankfully, her husband and the mechanic were unharmed. The kidnappers solely focused on Mrs. Nwokocha, leaving the others untouched before fleeing the scene. In response to the incident, Ike Wigodo, the Secretary of the Nigeria Union Journ...

US lawmakers want Nigeria, others blacklisted over ‘slow-motion genocide’ 22nd Jul 2023  Rep. Chris Smith, a leading human rights champion in Congress, and several other top religious freedom experts are pressing the Biden administration to reverse course and add Nigeria, India, Vietnam, and Afghanistan to its blacklist of worst offenders when it comes to allowing citizens to practice their faith of choice. Smith and Rabbi Abraham Cooper, who chairs a government-created independent body that monitors religious freedom violations around the world, on Tuesday questioned the Biden administration’s decision against placing those countries on the State Department’s list of “Countries of Particular Concern,” or CPCs, citing years of well-documented evidence of “particularly severe” violations. The omission of those countries, especially Nigeria, from the official U.S. religious freedom blacklist has spurred controversy among many human rights groups. Secretary of State Antony Blinken rem...

Two Siblings Perish In Lagos Building Collapse July 22, 2023 Two siblings have been recovered dead from a partial building collapse at No 25, Ajao street CWC, by Olainukan Bus Stop, Ishawo, Ikorodu, Lagos State. Ibrahim Farinloye, coordinator. National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) territorial office, confirmed the incident to newsmen on Saturday in Lagos. Mr Farinloye said that the siblings, Rakib Atolagbe, 7 years old, and Mujib Atolagbe, 9, were trapped when a fence from the neighbouring house fell on their building during Saturday’s heavy downpour. He said that the incident occurred at about 11:30 a.m. “It was very unfortunate that no distress call was properly channeled to those whose responsibility it is to save lives at the right time. “Officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) are currently on ground to assess the situation. “May the Almighty forgive the deceased and console their parents,” Mr Farinloye said.  

Woman, 22, dies while undergoing buttock enlargement surgery 22nd Jul 2023  A 22-year-old woman, Mika Shabasova, who was undergoing a buttock enlargement surgery by an ‘unqualified’ beautician, identified as her ‘friend,’ has been reported dead. Shabasova, according to a report in Daily Mail, died ‘ten minutes after she was administered local anaesthetic’ for the procedure. Meanwhile, the Russian police are probing the sudden death of the 22-year-old Shabasova. She was dead before an ambulance arrived at the ‘home surgery’ of cosmetologist Uma M, who is now under house arrest. The beautician offered the £154 procedure after she studied on a ‘two week course’, say reports. She told state investigators in Makhachkala that she had repeatedly anaesthetised the skin of the victim with lidocaine, a local anaesthetic. The beautician Is described as a former waitress who had no license for cosmetic surgery yet was carrying out ‘lip, cheek and butt enlargements’. “The cause of death will be...

I became increasingly outraged by her failure to cook rice properly- Man, 54, speaks on why he beat his girlfriend to d£ath in Cross River A 54-year-old m¥rder suspect, Nkeruewen Etuk,  has said that he b£at his girlfriend, Esther Ndereke, to d£ath a few days ago because she burnt the rice she was cooking and almost set their apartment on fire. The suspect was arrested on Tuesday, July 18, after the deceased slumped while they were fighting in his apartment at Abasi Obori street in Calabar South Local government area. Etuk while being paraded before newsmen said he never had the intention of k!lling Ms. Ndereke. “I became increasingly outraged by her failure to cook rice properly, which became a major point of contention between us. She almost burnt down the house while cooking. She didn’t add enough water before turning on the gas and she almost burnt down the house. When I asked her why she behaved that way, that was when we started arguing then I beat her up. I never intended to...

ANAMBRA POLICE SMASHES KIDNAP GANG, RECOVERS VICTIM'S MERCEDES BENZ GLK SUV   Police Officers in Anambra State Command have smashed a notorious Kidnap gang operating in Anam axis of Anambra West LGA. On 18th July 2023, Police detectives were alerted to one Chukwuebuka Esulo from Ebonyi State who was seeking a buyer in Agulu, Anaocha LGA, for a black Mercedes Benz GLK SUV reg. No. BLF 746 EA whose owner had earlier been reported kidnapped in Aguleri on 26th June, 2023, and the sum of N4.5m extorted as ransom from the family before he was released. Detectives swooped on the suspect and arrested him for questioning. He confessed to being a member of the kidnap gang and disclosed that he was sent from their  Camp to sell the car. On the orders of the Commissioner of Police, the case was transferred to the Anti Kidnapping Unit, Awkuzu who then went after other members of the gang leading to the arrest of one other member of the gang Ejeka Ufuo, 'm' 23 years, who was led to belie...

ANAMBRA POLICE UNCOVER ARMED SYNDICATE TARGETING DANGOTE TRAILERS; RECOVERS TWO VANDALISED TRUCKS, ARRESTS THREE SUSPECTS Men of Anambra State Police Command have arrested three members of an armed syndicate that targets Dangote Trailers plying the highways in the State. The Police acting on a tip off stormed the hideout of the syndicate at Nnokwa where three suspects were arrested vandalizing two trailers.  The vandalized head of one of the trailers was recovered while the whereabout of the other is yet to be ascertained. Suspects were taken into custody for interrogation. The Commissioner of Police *CP Aderemi Adeoye* has directed State CID Awka to take over the case for comprehensive investigation and prosecution of anyone indicted in the crime. *DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, PPRO Anambra State Police Command* 22nd July 2023 More photos below. 

Diphtheria Kills 26 In Yobe The outbreak of the disease which became a matter of concern in the last three weeks has affected seven local government areas of the state. The Yobe State Government has confirmed the death of 26 patients who contracted diphtheria disease in the state. No fewer than 21 people are still receiving meditation at various isolation facilities. The Senior Special Assistant to the governor, Lawan Gana, told Channels Television that so far, 289 patients had been discharged across facilities in the state. “Regarding diphtheria disease, we have 21 active cases, 26 deaths, while 289 have been discharged as of 17th July 2023. We have 336 cumulative numbers from 2022 to 2023,” he said. The outbreak of the disease which became a matter of concern in the last three weeks has affected seven local government areas of the state. Doctor Gana further explained prevention and control measures such as advocacies, sensitization and mobilization of communities are ongoing to curta...

Emefiele to be arraigned Tuesday in Lagos The suspended Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, is expected to be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday, July 25, 2023 on charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. Justice Nicholas Oweibo, who will be sitting as the vacation judge for the entire South-West, fixed the date on Friday and the information has since been communicated to lawyers of all the parties, reports Channels Television. Confirming the development, one of the lawyers to the embattled CBN Governor, Victor Opara (SAN), disclosed that hearing notices to that effect had been issued and sent out by the court to the counsel involved in the matter, according to Channels Television. He also confirmed that the former president of the Nigerian Bar Association Joseph Daudu (SAN), is expected to lead Emefiele’s defence team. It was earlier reported that the Department of State Services had on July 13, 2023 filed a two-count of illegal proc...

Nasarawa APC congratulates Abdullahi on emergence as House Speaker  ... As Daniel Ogazi, stepped down from the race on Friday after briefing journalists The All Progressives Congress in Nasarawa State has congratulated the newly elected Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Ibrahim Abdullahi. Abdullahi’s major contender for the position, Daniel Ogazi, stepped down from the race on Friday after briefing journalists about his intention to fully support the Speaker who had occupied the position for the past eight years. In a statement signed by the state’s Publicity Secretary of the party, Douglas Otaru, and made available to our correspondent in Lafia on Saturday, the party said the successful election and subsequent swearing-in of Abdullahi were a victory for the people of Nasarawa State. The party lamented that the recent crisis which engulfed the Assembly was caused by some politicians who did not want residents of the state to continue to live in peace and harmony. The statemen...

Kebbi Area Command Loses Inspector of Customs, Aminu Abdullahi, Commiserates with Family The Nigeria Customs Service, Kebbi Area Command, has lost one of its dedicated and competent officers in the line of duty, Aminu Abdullahi, an Inspector of Customs in Birnin Kebbi, the capital city of Kebbi state. Reports have it that late IC Aminu was crushed to death while on duty by one Salauddeen Abdulwasiu, who was driving a Toyota Corolla 2015 model along the Mararraba Junction checkpoint in Yauri on the 13th day of July 2023 at about 0600hrs. It was gathered that the deceased sustained severe injuries, including a fracture on his right leg – and was later rushed to General Hospital Yauri for immediate treatment before he was confirmed dead. Late Officer Aminu, who gave up to life around 2300hrs, has since been buried according to Islamic rites at Mabera Cemetry, an area in Sokoto State.  Subsequently, The Nigeria Customs Service, Kebbi Area Command, has sent a delegation of some officers...

Subsidy Palliatives: Analysts, Enugu Residents Urge Governor Mbah To Reintroduce Mass Transit Buses, Pay Arrears Of Pensions, Gratuities July 22, 2023 As the effects of the fuel subsidy removal continue to bite harder in the country, analysts and residents of Enugu State have urged Governor Peter Mbah to rise up to the occasion and put in measures that will cushion the effect of the policy on the people. Guests and public affairs analysts that participated in a popular radio programme; ‘Freedom Square’ anchored by Dr Uchenna Cyril Anioke on Solid 100.9 FM Enugu, called on the Governor to as a matter of urgency, revitalise the state owned Mass transit buses for conveyance of workers and other residents, which they said will help in cushioning the effects of the economic hardship occasioned by the removal of the fuel subsidy. Governor Mbah was equally tasked to clear all salary arrears owed to workers and parastatals in the state as well as the gratuities and pensions as a means of ensur...

Ogun N1 billion Operational Grant: Beneficiaries Confirm Receipt Of Cash Payment The Ogun State Government under the leadership of Prince Dapo Abiodun, has disbursed the first tranche grant to the Micro and Small entrepreneurs in the State under the Ogun State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (OG-CARES). The Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Mr Dapo Okubadejo, who is also the Chairman State CARES Steering Committee revealed that One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000) only, was paid directly to the bank account of each successful Micro Entrepreneurs, while each successful Small scale entrepreneurs account has been credited with Three Hundred and Fifty Naira (N350,000) only yesterday. The statement also noted that the disbursement was carried out by our financial partner, the Bank of Industry (BOI) directly to the beneficiaries’ account, who completed the online application form and have satisfied the screening and verification criteria.  Members of Trade...