Ebola Virus Still On The Rise In Congo

EBOLA VIRUS

The Democratic Republic of Congo, on Tuesday, reported 42 cases of the Ebola virus disease in the ongoing outbreak.

Spokeswoman for the country’s Ministry of Public Health, Jessica Ilunga, who made this known, said that the government is trying to prevent the spread of the disease by carrying out screening tests at the airports and other entry points to Mbandaka, capital of the Equateur Province.

Ilunga further said that anybody with confirmed or suspected Ebola Virus Disease would be moved to the Ebola treatment centres as soon as the facilities were ready.

She also stated that the Government would provide vaccination in order to prevent more cases, adding that the World Health Organisation is expected to send 4,000 doses of Ebola vaccine to DRC in the near future.

The WHO, in a press statement on Monday said that April 4 through May 13, a total of 39 Ebola virus disease cases had been reported in DRC, including 19 deaths.

According to them, “The latest numbers until May 13, 2018 are: 42 cases, including two confirmed; 21 probable and 19 suspected".

Shogbade Praise

Manchester City target Toni kroos over Isco

TONI KROOS

Manchester city football club have reportedly abandoned their pursuit of Real Madrid football club attacking midfielder Isco and are instead now interested in signing his teammateToni Kroos.

City boss Pep Guardiola has stated that he will only look to add one or two new players to his title-winning squad this summer after seeing his side become the first in English top-flight history to rack up 100 points in a single campaign.

Isco has been linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium for some time and Guardiola is understood to still be a fan of the Spaniard, but Madrid president Florentino Perez is reluctant to let the 26-year-old leave.

Spanish outlet Don Balon reports that City have now switched their focus to Kroos as a result, with a new midfielder thought to be near the top of Guardiola's list of priorities.

City's local rivals Manchester United have previously been linked with the Germany international, although they are more interested in signing Fred or Sergej Milinkovic-Savic this summer.

City have also been credited with an interest in both players, while Napoli's Jorginho is another who is on the radar of the new Premier League champions.

Chelsea want Pochettino as New Manager

Chelsea football club have reportedly identified Tottenham Hotspur football club boss Mauricio Pochettino as a potential candidate to replace Antonio Conte as the club's manager this summer.

Conte is expected to leave Stamford Bridge following Saturday's FA Cup final against Manchester United, having seen his side miss out on Champions League qualification with a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League this season.

The likes of Luis Enrique and Maurizio Sarri have been linked with the Chelsea post should the Italian leave just 12 months after guiding the club to the Premier League title in his first season in English football.

However, Sky Sports News now reports that the Blues are considering poaching Pochettino from London rivals Spurs, who have qualified for the Champions League in each of the past three seasons under the Argentine.

Pochettino still has three years remaining on his contract at Tottenham, but he has recently suggested that he could leave depending on the outcome of transfer talks with chairman Daniel Levy .

 

Federal Government Releases N138B To Fund Education

                                                         Students Inside their Classroom
ADETOKUNBO OMOLARA

Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, in the early hours of yesterday said; “ A total of N138 billion has so far been expended by the federal government in the development of basic education in the past three years”. This statement was made in Abuja,at the launch of the National Personnel Audit.

The money which according to him, was a matching grant, was part of government’s resolve to support states and council areas carry their constitutional mandate of giving a free, compulsory and universal basic education.

However the minister noted that the past two audits which were carried out in 2006 and 2010 respectively covered only public basic institutions, he nonetheless said private basic institutions in the country have been included in the ongoing nationwide personnel audit. 

In addition to that, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammad Bello, emphasized on the need for all stakeholders in the education sector both public and private, to jointly work towards providing an accurate data that would show all relevant indices needed for effevtive planning in the sector.

Historical Overview of Art And Culture

ART and CULTURE

DAIRO EMMANUEL
The human expression finds their way through varied forms of art and cultural activities. The art and culture of Nigeria too represents the vividness of Nigerian lifestyle coupled together with a glorious history of the past to bank upon. One of the major aspects of Nigerian art and culture lies in the fact that they draw their inspiration from the rural traditional folk heritage of the region.

Nigerian culture is well demonstrated through art, dance, literature, folklore, and music. The Nok Culture, who settled near the Benue River and believed to be one of the earliest reminiscent of the ancient human settlement in Nigeria is said to inspire the growth of cultural activities in Nigeria. The major forte of the Nok culture is the invention of terracotta figurines and statues and the abundant use of iron in these sculptures. The During the 10th century, the bronze work of Igbo Ukwu and the terracottas and metal art works of Ile Ife Bronze decorated with ivory and precious stones became the talk of the town and subsequently gained popularity in other parts of Western Africa.

Painting and Art Works of Nigeria

A comprehensive analysis of the Nigerian art and culture gives you a glimpse of the prevalent stone carvings, potteries, different forms of glass work and wood carvings. The bronze works at Igbo-Ukwu, which falls in the Enugu State stands tall of the ancient works of Nigerian art. The Igbo-Ukwu bronzes, with intricate designs, are well known as Ife works. Famous places like Benin and Awka are regarded as hub of wood-carving, wood carvers have flourished all over southern Nigeria since time immemorial, making figures for temples, representations of the spiritual image of earth, sea, sky, water, fire and thunder. Excavations of pottery received a great boost with the tireless effort of Dr. Ladi Kwali, who promoted his works through the European countries and widely enhanced the art of pottery making in Nigeria. The major centers of pottery making in Nigeria are-- Okigwe in Imo State and Suleja situated in Niger State. Another prominent craft work of Nigeria is cloth weaving. The popular cloth weaving centers of Nigeria are-- Abia State, Oyo State and Okene in Kogi State.
Literary Works of Nigeria.

Towards the middle of 20th century, the Nigerian literature in English witnessed a rapid expansion and gained impetus when the Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded to Wole Soyinka in 1986. During this phase also other writers like Ben Okri and Niyi Osundare left behind their marks. Majority of the popular Nigerian literary works derive their inspiration from the events that led to the achievement of independence in Nigeria.

The cosmopolitan night life of Nigeria also attracts many tourists from different parts of the world. The popular tourist spots of Nigeria offers delicious multi-cuisine foods along with traditional Nigerian dishes.

Thus, the art and culture of Nigeria represents the varied aspects of Nigerian life style.

AUSTRALIA THREATENS TO DEPORT RUNAWAY ATHLETES.

Francois Etoundi was granted refugee status after the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006 and now competes for Australia.

Shogbade Praise.

The Commonwealth Games Federation has allegedly contacted the Nigeria Olympic Committee  to provide personal information about the  Nigeria athletes  and officials   who disappeared during and after the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.

punch.ng reports that Rwandan weightlifting coach  Jean  Nsengiyumva breached  the strict security measures put in place by the ministry  to prevent more athletes and officials from running away after she asked to use the restroom, which she did not return from.

Top sports ministry allegedly left Australia angry after a  woman boxer disappeared at the airport while the Nigerian contingent were  waiting for their flight back to Nigeria.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has warned the runaway athletes  and officials to leave  Australia  before  the expiration of their visas, warning them that they would  be hunted down and deported.

Juventus Wants Morata on loan from Chelsea

                                                            JUVENUS

Innocent Nora/ Olaleye Damilola

Juventus football club will attempt to re-sign former striker Alvaro Morata from Chelsea football club on an initial long-season loan, according to a report.

The 25-year-old has faded following a positive start to his first campaign in English football, netting just three times in 20 appearances since Boxing Day.

Juventus are working hard to bring the Spain international back to the Allianz Stadium, where he spent two seasons between 2014 and 2016.

Morata notched 27 goals when primarily being used as a back-up option, before returning to Real Madrid for a season last time out and playing a part in Los Blancos' famous European and league double.

As part of the loan arrangement, the report also claims that Juventus will have the option to buy the striker permanently in 2019.

The Spanish striker has shown his frustrations of a slow start to form in the premier league and has not ruled out a possible exit and return to Spain or Italy.

NIGERIANS SUFFERING IN THE MIDST OF ABUNDANCE

Nigeria Family

ADEGOKE OLADUNMADE

The scenario of Nigeria can be translated to a literature 'joy of motherhood' that became an irony of itself 'sorrow of motherhood'. Despite the uncompetitive natural resources in the midst of over 200 countries of the world and ranked one of the highest producing oil country of the world, Her citizens still lives from hand to mouth, living like an unredeemable rags despite abundance.

Nigeria, a country with population of over 180 million people with abundance of Natural resources like limestone,ore,coal crude oil,iron,gold,a fertile land for agriculture and one of the largest producers of Crude oil is still an Under-developed country with some  citizens living below 5 dollar per day. Being one of the largest producers of crude oil, Nigeria still imports petrol .What happened to our refineries? what happened to having working refineries?

The high rate of unemployment in our country is fearful.  There is anguish in the land. From the center of power to other parts of the country, disorder is the order of the day. Yet, amidst all these, the representatives of the people in government choose to enrich themselves without thinking of those they claim to represent.

The minimum wage is 18000 naira. In this country, what is 18000 naira to a man with family of  just 3,his wife and child.18000 naira is not enough to pay school fees, an average Nigeria primary school's tuition fee per tern is 20,000 naira and that of secondary school is 30,000 naira while University of Lagos which is one of the cheapest Federal University 's tuition fee per session is 21,500 plus faculty due and all other dues.

As poverty-stricken as the average Nigerian is, Nigerian senators pride themselves as one of the highest paid in the world.

Here is a breakdown of a Nigerian Senators monthly salary as stated by Professor Itse Sagay

Basic salary N2,484,245.50

Hardship allowance 1,242, 122.70

Constituency allowance N4, 968, 509.00

Furniture allowance N7, 452, 736.50

Newspaper allowance N1, 242, 122.70

Wardrobe allowance N621,061.37

Recess allowance N248, 424.55

Accommodation N4,968,509.00

Utilities N828,081.83

Domestic staff N1,863,184.12

Entertainment N828,081.83

Personal assistant N621,061.37

Vehicle maintenance allowance N1,863,184.12

Leave allowance N248,424.55

Severance gratuity N7,425,736.50

Motor vehicle allowance N9,936,982.00

Total:46,848,473

If it is divided into three which is 15,616,157 .One part is paid to the senator and the remaining part which is 31,232,314 is used to employ Nigerians with the minimum wage increased to 100,000 naira, it means 312 Nigerians will be gainfully employed and get a little bit comfortable with one senator's salary. We have 109 senators, 312×104= 34,040.Meaning 34,040 Nigerians will be gainfully employed


Corruption is the greatest problem Nigeria has as a country and this problem has eaten deep into the roots.
Just take a look at our educational sector; does it not seem like a forum of un-seriousness?  As important as the health sector is, it has always been ministered like it’s nobody’s business. After all, none of the elites make use of the shithole hospitals that are made available to us.

Is there a point to talk about security when the incessant, inexplicable killings of poor Nigerians have been posing questions our leaders have refused to answer? These politicians move with security forces like they're living in a battlefield: They've succeeded in securing their lives so it is left for God to bless the people with security.

DOUBLE WAHALA

                                                                         ALEX and TOBI

Anita Onyemaka

The 2018 top 5 Big Brother Naija Finalist and 3rd runner up, Asogwa Alexandra Amuche

Sandra aka

ALEX has taken to her instagram account @alex_unusual to post a picture with Tobi Bakare, another BBN Finalist and 2nd runner up of the just concluded BBN show.

In her post, Alex wrote 'Be around positive vibes. Be around TOBO G. You are a lot of trouble, I'm even

double but that's why double wahala was worth it. @tobibakare I gat your back.

This post seems to have elicited likes and comments from both Alex and Tobi fans.

Alex is not only making waves but is looking stunning in her beautiful dress alongside Tobi.

INEC PROMISES FREE ELECTION IN EKITI

                                                       INEC

BALEKAN OLABISI

Independent National Electoral Commission has assured stakeholders that the upcoming governorship election which is July 14 in Ekiti state will be free, fair and credible. It said it would deploy technology that would make the electoral process easy and free of rigging and interference.

The Head of Election and Party monitoring unit of INEC in Ekiti, Mr. Austin Orogbu, gave the assurance at the governorship primary of the Advanced People's Democratic Alliance, where Tope Adebayo emerged as the candidate.

He made it known at the meeting that other parties keep changing dates to produce a governorship candidate, “On the part of INEC, we will provide a level playing field, please disregard the rumour of a plan to rig, this is the age of technology and we have deployed technology into our electoral system”, Orogbu said.

The APDA state  chairman, Chief Samuel Elebute mentioned that Adebayo was considered because of his good intentions and judging by his past records, he meant well.

Court Orders EFCC to Release Oil Marketer’s Cars

Susan/Yemisi

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately release two exotic cars in its custody to the owner, Mr. Anthony Adejugbe.

The presiding judge, Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo, gave the order sequel to a motion on notice filed by Anthony Adejugbe and his company, Tonique Oil Services Limited, through their lawyer, Lanre Ogunlesi (SAN), seeking a court order directing the EFCC to release the vehicles-Toyota RAV4 with registration number JW 383 AAA and a Lexus SUV LX 570 marked TE 389 KJA in the custody of the commission. The commission took possession of the two vehicles following an interim order of forfeiture obtained from the Federal High Court on July 23, 2013.

The court had earlier granted the order of interim forfeiture on the ground that the applicants were facing a charge at a Lagos High Court, Ikeja. The court, presided over by Justice Lateefat Okunnu, had on November 13, 2017, discharged and acquitted Adejugbe and his company, Tonique Oil Services Limited, of any crime, therefore removing the basis for the continued seizure of the two cars.

Delivering ruling on the application seeking the release of the cars on 27th of April 2018, Justice Oguntoyinbo held that  though the court recognized the power

from being dissipated, however, such interim order of forfeiture should not last forever, adding that once the owner or owners of such properties are cleared of any guilt, their properties should be released to them by lifting such order of forfeiture.

The trial judge held that since the Lagos State High court has discharged and acquitted the applicants of any crime, there is no basis for the commission to hold on to the two vehicles, also, it did not file any application for stay of execution nor appeal the judgment of the court discharging the applicants.

Journalists killed in Afghanistan violence

BBC reporter was among 10 journalists killed on a bloody day in Afghanistan. Also among the dead was Agence France Presse’s chief photographer in the country.

Ahmad Shah, of the BBC’s Afghan service, was shot dead in Khost province just hours before twin suicide blasts “clearly targeted” reporters in the capital Kabul.

A suicide bomber pretending to be a fellow reporter killed at least eight journalists from local media alongside Shah Marai, of AFP, in a second bombing while they rushed to cover the first. In all, 25 people were killed.

The BBC said Mr Shah, 29, was a “highly capable journalist who was a respected and popular member of the team”. He had worked for the broadcaster’s Afghan service for more than a year, World Service director Jamie Angus said.

He added: “This is a devastating loss and I send my sincere condolences to Ahmad Shah’s friends and family and the whole BBC Afghan team. We are doing all we can to support his family at this very difficult time.”

 The AFP said Mr Marai, an Afghan national, began working at the French news agency as a fixer and driver in 1996, before transitioning to photography. He leaves behind six children including a newborn daughter.

“This tragedy reminds us of the danger that our teams continually face on the ground and the essential role journalists play for democracy,” the agency added.

AFP chairman Fabrice Fries said: “Journalists were targeted by this attack. Our thoughts and our condolences go out to his family and the families of the other journalists killed.”
It was stated that the suicide bombings took place in the central Shash Darak area of Kabul, home to Nato’s Afghanistan headquarters and several embassies.

Police spokesman Hashmat Stanekzai revealed that the first suicide bomber was on a motorbike, while the second was among the crowd of reporters who were trying to cover the first explosion, pretending to be one of them.

 The second attacker then detonated his explosives while still among the reporters, also intending to hit those trying to help victims of the initial blast, he added.

Tolo News, an Afghan broadcaster, named the eight local media reporters as: Mahram Durani, Ebadullah Hananzai and Sabawoon Kakar, of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; Ghazi Rasooli and Nowroz Ali Rajabi, of 1TV; Saleem Talash and Ali Saleemi, of Mashal TV; and Yar Mohammad Tokhi, of Tolo News.

The Afghanistan Federation of Journalists and the country’s media organisations called the bombing a “war crime”.

 In a joint statement reported by the broadcaster, they added: “Despite today’s attack and other threats against journalists, the Afghan media is committed to providing information.

“The attack in the heart of Kabul and in the green zone indicates a serious lack of security by the government.

 “In a joint letter, the Afghan media has called on the International Court of Justice and the UN Security Council to investigate the incident.”

Following the attacks, press freedom advocates Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called on the UN to appoint a special representative for journalist safety to send “the strongest message to the international community”.

In the past 15 years 1,035 professional journalists have been killed around the world, RSF said.
A third suicide bombing took place on Monday in Kandahar province, where a suicide bomber was said to have targeted a Nato convoy in the district of Daman but killed 11 children from a religious school near the site of the blast.

Ebuka Clears Dating Scandal with Cee-c

The Big Brother Naija 2018 reality television show host, Ebuka Obi Uchendu has opened up on the reported relationship with ex-housemate, Cee-c.

During the period of the show, reports emerged that Cee-c dated Ebuka before entering the show.

Cee-c had also stated in one of her chats with fellow housemates, that she met the host before entering Big Brother house.

But in an interview with Beat FM on Friday, Ebuka denied meeting the ex-housemate before the show.

He said Cee-c said a lot that she could not even defend.

According to him, “She said something in the house that got mixed interpreted. She said she drove to my house and we had a conversation that made me put her into the reality show.

“Apparently she came to marketed something to me, in some event, I mean, I attend so many event in Lagos. I’m not supposed to remember everybody.

“Apparently, this happened at Terraculture, nothing about this came to my mind until I heard what she said during the show.

“To the best of my knowledge, the first time I met Cee-c was when I spoke to her on stage during the show.

“The reason I didn’t debunk it was because I wanted it to die naturally. It was a very stupid rumour and I didn’t want to give life.

“I think she has crush on me. But I don’t know what else she has on her head. I’ve never spoken to her except while in the house when I was doing my job.”