Private Universities Express Displeasure Over Closure Of Universities

Recently, the management of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State held an end-of-the-year parley with media men. On the occasion, the President/ Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ademola Tayo, spoke on a number of issues. Excerpts.

By Adesina Wahab
WHY celebrate the media

We have to celebrate journalists because they toil to keep the nation informed and they are also exposed to a lot of risks. A country that is not informed is going to be malformed. Journalists have helped to sustain democracy and keep us all on our toes. Conditions of journalists should be improved upon and they should have life insurance coverage. I would strongly suggest that their renumeration should also be better than it is now.

During the #EndSARS protest, despite the violence that was the order of the day in some parts of the country, I saw on TV how journalists were still going about, risking their lives, to let the people know what was happening. My only charge to journalists is that they should, in spite of all odds, uphold the truth, be fair and objective and not compromise their integrity.

What will be your focus now that you have been given a second term?

We are launching into areas we have not touched before. We are going into areas such as environmental science, engineering, e-learning among others. The National Universities Commission, NUC, has reached out to us that we should launch our e-learning facilities and we are doing that soon. I was in a university in South Africa some years back and my mind was blown off when I saw over 100,000 students on their e-learning platform. We are also working on getting Wi-Fi to be all over our campus. We want to use technology to drive education. We have already laid fibre optics cables on campus.

READ ALSOWe haven’t abandoned corps members positive for COVID-19 – NYSC How did you cope with COVID-19 pandemic?

The mark of a great institution is the ability to navigate through difficulties and still stand. When it came, we decided that the challenge should not define us but that we are the ones to define the challenge. We were among the first set of universities to hold online graduation. We are online now and we are almost finishing the first semester of the 2020/21 session. Our ICT guys are great. Our molecular laboratory is one of the best. Recently, we spent over N100 million on it. The National Centre for Disease Control will soon be here to assess it. We can do COVID-19 test, Lassa Fever test among others. Our medical students would soon write their final exams.

Students enrolment

God has been good to us. In the last two years, we have been the most subscribed private university. This year, we would have concluded our admission procedures but because COVID-19 affected WAEC and NECO exams, we were told to hold on for now. We have more students applying to study here than our carriage capacity.

Should TETfund support private universities?

I am an active member of the Committee of Vice Chancellors both in private and public ones and I know what obtain in those committees. There was an enabling Act that set up the Fund, there were no private universities then. The law has to be amended. If private universities are also producing for the Nigerian nation, why shouldn’t we benefit? It is political and we need to be careful about it. At Babcock University we don’t want anything that can soil our hands. A situation whereby an agency will give you money and demand something before doing that or somebody would want to dabble into a matter that does not concern him, is not condoned here.

Future of education in Nigeria

I am an incurable optimist. If Sola Akinlade and Ezra Olubi could come from Nigeria and are doing exploits globally, there is a bright future. It is only that the government should do their part of pumping enough money into education, things will be better.

MANS threat to shut down private universities

As a responsible parent and stakeholder, some things impressed me. The way our youths conducted themselves during the #EndSARS protest impressed me a lot. Students in public universities are not destructive. The threat was borne out of veiled frustration. When public universities are shut down because of strike, we all lose. Private universities are not happy when public ones are shut down. Private universities collaborate with public ones and when that does not happen, we all lose out.

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New Yorker Cuts Off His Penis & Throws It Down Toilet After Skipping Medication

The 50-year-old New York City resident told officers he hadn't taken his medication for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia for several months when they found him with severed genitals A man apparently in the throes of a mental breakdown cut off his own penis and threw it in the toilet of his New York City apartment. The 50-year-old man's roommate called cops at about 11:45am on Wednesday morning and told them he had cut his own arm, according to reports.

Officers responding to the apartment on Main Street in Tottenville, Staten Island found the man with a wound to his right arm, which he said was self-inflicted.

The man later told the responding emergency workers that he'd also severed his penis and discarded it in an upstairs toilet, the new York Post reports.

First responders confirmed the man's genitals were missing and investigators reportedly discovered a huge amount of blood inside the apartment's second-floor bathroom.

Medical workers also discovered one of the man's testicles had been cut off, sources said.

The man told police he is bipolar and schizophrenic, adding that he'd been without his medication for several months. It is not clear if his Instruments was ever found.

Last year a 33-year-old London man was spotted bleeding heavily on the streets of Zaragoza, Spain by concerned onlookers.

When approached he told police he'd cut off his genitals at home while suffering a mental health crisis. Cops reportedly recovered the mutilated penis in a bag at his home after following a trail of blood to his flat.

Local reports said the operation to reattach the man’s penis has been successful but it was unknown if it could be restored to full working order.

Investigators concluded he may have been under the influence of drugs during the act of self-mutilation.

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Full List Of Phones That Will Lose Whatsapp Support From January 1, 2021

A report by The Nation reaffirmed that the popular instant messaging app,

WhatsApp would stop working for some iPhones as well as Android smartphones starting January 1, 2021.

The information on the WhatsApp FAQ section shows that WhatsApp would only be compatible with phones running the Android 4.0.3 operating system or newer as well as iPhones running on iOS 9 and newer. The report emphasised that all iPhone models up to the iPhone 4 will lose support for the messaging platform in the next few days. iPhone models including the iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6S will be affected. It further stated that for Android, devices including HTC Desire, Motorola Droid Razr, LG Optimus Black, and the Samsung Galaxy S2 will lose WhatsApp support as 2020 ends. The report noted that WhatsApp would keep the app running for select phones with KaiOS 2.5.1 OS or newer, including JioPhone and JioPhone 2. Based on the report, the following phones would lose WhatsApp support from January 1, 2021: 1. Apple iPhone 1-4
2. Samsung Galaxy S2
3. HTC Desire
4. LG Optimus Black
5. Motorola Droid Razr
6. Any Android released before 2010
However, the following phones would need to update to at least iOS 9 or Android OS 4.0.3:
1. Apple iPhone 4S
2. iPhone 5
3. iPhone 5S
4. iPhone 6
5. iPhone 6S
6. Samsung Galaxy S3 and newer
7. Samsung Galaxy Note
8. HTC Sensation
9. HTC Thunderbolt
10. LG Lucid
11. Motorola Droid 4

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If This Picture Is True Then Nigeria Has No Army

Not long ago we read how American soldiers successfully came to Nigeria and rescued their countryman. The operation well planned and executed without much noise . Just look at Nigeria soldiers walking around the bush as if they are acting Nollywood video and worst of all same people you are looking for are the ones taking your pictures and be posting on net .

That is to say if this is really an aggressive situation, none of these Soldiers will leave that bush alive because they will be smoked out..

This is a bad precedence because it shows that probably there is no logistics or preparation before NA carries out an operation..

Just like go boys and find them without proper logistics.

Whosoever that sanctioned this disappointing and humiliating operation should be fired from the military..
This is a bad signal on how army operates and it's strength.

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Ushering In 2021 With Renewed Hope - Segun Showunmi

The year 2020 was exasperating to say the mildest. Humanity was tried, and we have the scars to show for it in the memories of loved ones lost to COVID-19, on a global scale, and terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, on the national front. The economic impact of the huge challenges on our people was real, and the capacity of government to manage things was truly tested. We carried ourselves reasonably well, given the odds, and though there were gloomy predictions of how things could have been, thankfully, they were not. Our national mortality level, owing to COVID-19, is one of the lowest - indeed we must have done something right, and we have all our frontline workers to be thankful to for their labour of love and sacrifice. Despite the frequency of incidence which is painfully regretted, we must thank our officers and men of the armed forces for showing up at every flashpoint, confronting criminal elements who seemed determined to test our resolve as a people. We will indeed not be broken for there is something about the irrepressible Nigerian Spirit. We are grateful to God for it could have been worse. May 2021 be a magnificent year in all ramifications, and for that to be, we must as a nation collectively and individually press the RESET button. We must act with a determination to make our country work, to do all within our power to think good thoughts about our nation, and to review our individual errors, to correct them, so that the great nation we are meant to be may begin to emerge to the glory of God. Also, that our actions may be pleasing of our heroes past and the respect of all nations. If there was ever a time to say with sincerity the words of JF Kennedy - “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” - the time is now for Nigeria. I will attempt to set an agenda for us as a nation that greatness may not elude us. 1. We need to settle the reccurring issues of our federalism. It is time to quickly agree the basis of our nationhood. No one but us is holding us back on this front. The advantage far outweighs the concerns for I genuinely don’t see any disadvantage. 2. We need to look at our policing and security architecture. We must refit them to give us what our situation now demands. We have put to the best use that which we inherited; we have come of age and can think up a more effective security structure for ourselves. For instance, will state police not be necessary? 3. We cannot be in a democracy and see how cumbersome our election processes are and not demand an improved electoral act. Particularly, we need an act that goes deeper, especially at better political party regulations, smoother voting process, far more transparent collation and transmission of results, and does not leave room for as many litigations as we presently have. It will engender more participation and better quality of leaders. 4. We must do everything to improve the narrative about our country both within and externally. One sometimes gets the impression that the propagation of negativity is dangerously on the high side mostly as religious altars have not been spared, neither have the tribal diversity of our unique country. We must work very hard with relevant stakeholders to redirect things to give us the courage to build the future. I will stop at these for I believe the issues of poverty, unemployment and despair will give way once we put our collective wills to work for our great nation.
Happy New Year, Nigeria. May 2021 be a magnificent year for us all.

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Forgery: Court Admits Two More Exhibits Against Obaseki

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, admitted two more exhibits into evidence in the certificate forgery suit against Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

Recall that the court had on Tuesday admitted Obaseki’s nomination form into evidence. The nomination form, which enabled him participate in the September 19, 2020, governorship election was tendered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics, University of Lagos, Emmanuel Balogun, appeared as the third principal witness (PW-3) in the case.

The witness tendered the original copy of his own degree certificate in Agricultural Economics, which was awarded to him on July 6, 1979, by the University of Ibadan. Obaseki had said he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Classics from the same university in the same year.

On whether the governor’s certificate was forged, Balogun said he could not comment on it because he had not seen the certificate before.

Under cross-examination, the PW-3, told the court that he got admission into University of Ibadan in 1975 through prelim.

He said as of that time, there were students that were also admitted through direct entry, adding that while those that entered through prelim spent 4 years, those that got into the school through direct entry spent only 3 years.

Balogun noted that he would be surprised that “somebody can get admission into the University of Ibadan as at then with only three O’level results or two A level results with a minimum of 2 HSC papers.”

“As at 1976, there were different entry requirements for prelim and direct entry students,” the witness said.

“As at then, admission requirements varied from one faculty to the other. The basic requirement for admission was 5 credits, including Maths and English, but anyone coming in through direct entry must have made the 5 credits and then choose two subjects in HSC.

“Generally, a certificate is signed by the Vice Chancellor and the Registrar, with a date on it. Generally, all certificates issued by University of Ibadan are coloured with a coloured logo on it. “The certificate is usually larger than the normal A4 papers.”

He stated that if any attempt is made to compress and photocopy a certificate in an A4 paper, some parts of the certificate would be left out and would no longer be a reflection of the original certificate.

The witness said he was subpoenaed by the plaintiffs on December 23 to produce the original copy of his degree certificate before the court.

The presiding judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, admitted his certificate into evidence and marked it as Exhibit PL-4. After the original certificate was admitted into evidence, counsel to the plaintiffs, Akin Olujimi, SAN, applied to substitute it with the photocopy, arguing that the original document is very valuable and irreplaceable.

But Obaseki’s counsel, Ken Mozia, and that of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Razaq Isenalohme, opposed the request, insisting they would make use of the exhibit in the course of the hearing.

After the PW-3 completed his testimony and was discharged by the court, the plaintiffs produced a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police and a forensic document examiner, Mr. Raphael Onwuzuligbo, as their next witness. Onwuzuligbo said he was in court on the strength of a subpoena that was also issued on him.

The subpoena was tendered into evidence and marked as Exhibit PL-5.

The defendants resisted an attempt by counsel to the plaintiffs to tender a document that contained report of investigation that was conducted by the witness.

The defendants argued that the document was neither pleaded nor in the court’s file, insisting that it did not qualify to be admitted as evidence in the case.

They noted that the document was made on November 16, during the pendency of the suit. They further argued that the plaintiffs failed to establish the relevance of the document to the case.

The defendants, therefore, urged the court to reject the document.

Responding, the plaintiffs’ counsel urged the court to dismiss the objections and argued that a document that is needed to prove a fact does not need to be pleaded.

Olujimi said the report touched on Obaseki’s certificate that is in issue.

The report was admitted in evidence as Exhibit PL-6. However, the court held that it would consider objections against its admissibility in the final judgement.

Justice Mohammed, thereafter, adjourned the case till Thursday to enable the defendants to cross-examine the witness.

The APC and one of its members in Edo, Williams Edobor, had filed a suit marked FHC/B/CS/74/2020 against Obaseki in July 2020.

They alleged that the governor forged the University of Ibadan degree certificate he submitted to INEC in aid of his qualification for the election.

The plaintiffs equally alleged that there were discrepancies in the subjects that Obaseki claimed he passed in his West African Examination Council (WAEC) exam and subjects in his testimonial.

Consequently, they are praying the court to declare that his claim in his INEC form EC9 at column C, sworn to on June 29, 2020 at the Federal Capital Territory High Court Registry to the effect that he obtained from the University of Ibadan in 1979, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Classical Studies, is false and contrary to Section 31 (5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010.

Also, they are seeking an order declaring that Obaseki lied on oath when he swore to an affidavit on June 29, 2020 that he worked in Afrinvest Limited from 1994 to 2014 when he retired.

Obaseki defeated APC candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, in the election to secure re-election.

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'IF You Take The COVID19 Vaccines, You Will Become Like This' - Video

The vaccines are nano algorithms deceitfully introduced into the skin with the aim of modifying the DNA for future tweaking with 5G." - USA Docctor "If you take this vaccines, you'll become a zombie" - UK doctor "This process cannot be reversed" - Belgium doctor watch through this link https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZR2bWmUB8jH8lKLoUBAwPpD6RU9fnbow/view?usp=sharing watch through this link

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Former Governor Of Anambra state is Dead - RIP

Former Governor Of Anambra state is Dead Southeast And Anambra Has Lost A Leader. The shocking news about the demise of His Excellency Chinwaoke Mbadinju, Former Governor Of Anambra state is not only sorrowful but terrifying. Like or hate him, Mbadinju was a leader in his time and as a human had a beautiful and as well an ugly past. Dr Chinwaoke Mbadinju is among the former Governor's of our fourth republic that suffered bad fate in government. He was humiliated and used by godfather's. There are records of his good gestures which I have seen in his village as a former student of Ojukwu University. He suffered Politically no doubt and one of the founding fathers of APC but unfortunately the APC couldn't reward him. I pray God to accept his soul and may God comfort the government and people of Anambra state,Amen!

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This Is The tallest Building in the world| Jeddah Tower.1km high.

Now the question we all have been asking. When will there ever be a man-made structure that can reach a height of 1KM? Well, it seems we have gotten an answer to our question.

The Jeddah tower which was previously known as the Kingdom tower and Located in Saudi Arabia is going to be the first man made structure to reach a height of 1Km, and will knock down the Burj Khalifa off its throne to become the tallest building in the world.

Now 1km height that is pretty high!! If you want to know how high that is, that is like adding 10 standard football pitch together or about 2 and ¼ Empire state buildings staked up above each other tip to tip.

more :

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Scientists Discover Pencil-Sized Species Of Snake, Hiding In Plain Sight (Pictures)

Not every new animal is discovered in the jungle or rainforest: A new species of snake was discovered in a museum after being ignored by researchers for years.

Levitonius mirus, also known as the Waray dwarf burrowing snake, is native to the Philippines.

But specimens of the snake sent to the University of were misidentified until a research assistant conducted analysis of their scales and skeletal structure. He determined it wasn't just a new species, but an entirely new genus.

At 6.7 inches, the Waray dwarf is also one of the smallest snakes of its kind and has among the fewest number of vertebrae of any species. There are at least 112 species of land snakes in the Philippines, spread across 14 genera.

Between 2006 and 2007, three specimens were collected from the islands of Samar and Leyte and sent to the University of Kansas's Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum.

There, they were added to the institution's collection of preserved snakes but not identified as a new species, not even after more specimens were found in 2014.

That didn't happen until research assistant Jeff Weinell began his doctorate work at the university and started analyzing the institute's collection.

The specimens had been labeled as Pseudorabdion, an entirely different genus of native burrowing snakes. But after he sequenced the DNA for the tissue samples the institute had, Weinell realized they weren't Pseudorabdion at all.

To unravel the mystery, he and curator Rafe Brown examined their scales and had CT scans performed on one specimen's internal anatomy. They determined they weren't just a new species, but an entirely new genus, as well.

'The trained 'expert field biologists' misidentified specimens and we did so repeatedly, over years, failing to recognize the significance of our finds, which were preserved and assumed to be somewhat unremarkable, nondescript juveniles of common snakes,' said Brown, who co-authored the report on Levitonius mirus, published in the journal Copeia.

The snake is named after the Waray people, who live on Samar and Leyte. Its scientific name, Levitonius mirus, is in honor of herpetologist Alan Leviton — who's spent decades researching snakes from the Philippines — and 'mirus,' the Latin word for 'unexpected.'

'That's referencing the unexpected nature of this discovery,' Weinell said, 'getting the DNA sequences back and then wondering what was going on.'

Levitonius is designated a 'miniaturized genus' of snake—reaching a maximum length of 6.7 inches

'The size of a pencil,' Weinell told CNN, 'the closest relatives could be three to four times larger.' In its native habitat, it spends most of its time beneath the surface, only surfacing after heavy rains.

It has among the fewest number of vertebrae of any snake species, according to Weinell, likely the result of miniaturization and an adaptation for spending most of its life underground.

The discovery reminds scientists there is still much to learn about reptile biodiversity in the region, said biologist Marites Bonachita-Sanguila of the Biodiversity Informatics and Research Center at Father Saturnino Urios University in Butuan City.

'All this time, we were literally walking on top of them as we surveyed the forests of Samar and Leyte,' she added. 'Next time, bring a shovel.'

This is at least the second species of burrowing snake from southeast Asia identified this month. A snake found in the karst forests of Vietnam was recently named Achalinus zugorum, in honor of the Smithsonian's retired curator of reptiles and amphibians, George Zug.

The rare reptile has a blackish and dark purple dorsum, along with a dark brown underside and strong iridescence coloration throughout its entire body.

Unlike most snakes, Achalinus zugorum's skin is exposed between the small scales that line its body.

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A Month After I Was Sacked, I Was Mistakenly Credited With ₦40,000

Please don't mind my long note.
I got a job with a newly opened superstore in the month of November this year. I was formally with a private secondary school but I had to quit when this new job clicked. I forfeited my October salary because I didn't give the school a month notice and I didn't even know that I will get the superstore job. We did interviews during the endsars lockdown.
I had to take up the superstore job as an inventory manager because the salary is better than the school job. To cut the long story short, I resumed as the inventory manager and we were handed over our employment letter. We were two in my department (Inventory). At the end of the month (November) the staff were asked to submit account details to the accountant which we all did so we were expecting credit alert for the month of November.
The accountant didn't credit our account rather he was calling the staff one by one in his office and pay them with cash. I was not called and i was wondering what could be the cause. My colleagues asked me to go meet the accountant in his office. When I got to his office he told me that he didn't know how he wants to relate the latest development to me. So he started saying different stories and he was pacifying me. He handed my salary and another letter. I opened it and it was a "temporary lay off letter". The reason was that " budget consideration ". The superstore hasn't make much to cover staff salary. I was laid off with 3 other staff (one merchandiser, one bakery staff and one cashier).
Meanwhile it was the manager that interviewed and she is the one I report to but it was the accountant that handed over the letter to me. The company retained My junior in the inventory department after I had put him through somethings he does not understand on the job.
I was dumbfounded and it look as if my world is coming to and end. I thought of my children and wife, my house rent. I started blaming myself for leaving my former job. I summoned courage and I left.
I got home and explained situation of things to my family. That week wasn't an happy week for us considering the fact we are approaching the month of December (festive season).
Meanwhile I have another side hustle I engaged in during weekends but its not fetching much money and the stress was too much; I collapsed and I was hospitalized for two weeks. On the 28th of this month I received a call from the accountant that he mistakenly transfer the sum of N40,000 into my account that I should please forward the money back to the superstore account number. The manager also called me. But my phone mouthpiece has been very bad since Christmas day. I used to manage my wife's phone anytime I have important calls. That faithful morning I took my phone to the engineer and I went to collect it in the afternoon thinking the phone is ok but the mouthpiece is still not working fine. So since the accountant couldn't hear me, I sent him a text that my phone is faulty and that I will call him back as soon as I fix it again. The following day which is today I took the phone back to the engineer. And I went straight to the superstore to ascertain what really happened. So he told me he mistakenly sent the sum of N40,000 to my account and that the money was December salary for the second guy in the inventory department. and that I should pls forward the money back to the company's account and that the company is on his neck. And I explained to him that I don't usually receive funds in that particular account because i took a loan from access bank which is overdue and I'm yet to pay them. And even if I receive money in that account I will transfer it immediately to my kuda account and i showed him my kuda atm card but in his own case now when he transferred the money I wasn't with my phone it was with the engineer and I wasn't expecting transfer from anybody. And I told him that when he and the manager were calling me the engineer didn't fix the mouthpiece well and I was on my way to ijaiye. I told him I went to drop the phone back this morning and I will go and check my access bank app to see if transactions occur because I didn't receive any credit alert. Alas when I collected my phone back and I checked the app I saw the 40k credit and access bank had already debited me for the loan.
I don't know what to do now because he is begging me to please refund the money into the company's account and I have been trying to borrow from access bank again but the bank keeps telling me I am not qualify for a loan at this time. I don't have salary job at the moment and there is nowhere I can get money to repay the company. I wish to refund them so that I won't look like a bad or dubious person to them. He has been calling me on phone but I don't know how to break the news to him.
Pls what can I do in this kind of situation?

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Oyo Police Command intensifies efforts to rescue abducted farmer — PPRO

The Oyo State Police Command says it is making frantic efforts to rescue Mr Oluwole Agboola, a farmer, who was reportedly abducted on Monday by six gunmen allegedly dressed in Army uniform.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Agboola, who owns a piggery and fish farm at Nagbede Village in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, was reportedly kidnapped in his farm at about 6.30 p.m.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Olugbenga Fadeyi, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Ibadan. Fadeyi stated that the community had also intensified its efforts to complement the deployment of security operatives in the area to rescue the victim.

He also stated that the Moniya Divisional Station and other security agencies in the state swung into action immediately they received information about the kidnap.

“Search party, comprising of plainclothes, tactical police teams, vigilantes, hunters and Amotekun corps, swung into action immediately and were deployed to far and near bushes to comb the areas for possible arrest of the hoodlums and getting the abducted released,” he stated.

The PRO stated that the Commissioner of Police implored good-spirited members of the public to assist the security agencies with useful information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects. He further disclosed that other strategies were being initiated to checkmate kidnapping in the state.

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Crossover Night: Comply with COVID-19 protocol, CAN tells churches

The President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, has urged churches in the country to follow strictly the COVID-19 protocols and additional directives by the relevant state government authorities as they prepare for the crossover night service.

Ayokunle, who noted that the second wave of the COVID-19 was fast-spreading, said the total ban on crossover night service by some state governments was a necessary sacrifice to put an end to the pandemic once and for all.

He added that CAN supports any decision of the government that would promote the progress and development of the country.

In a statement he personally signed, the CAN President said: “We understand the unfortunate state COVID19 infection has put everybody world over which caused some state governments to place a total ban on crossover night service and we are not happy that we would not be able to enter into the new year prayerfully in joint fellowship with our brothers and sisters.

“We, however, urge you all to abide by the directives of each state government on this so as to prevent the spread of the infection. There is no sacrifice that is too much, in order to put an end to the pandemic once and for all.

“We advise that, where the government places an embargo on the Crossover Night service, churches may meet earlier to praise and give God praises for the gift of life despite the pandemic and to place their requests for 2021 before God.

“In those states, services should be closed about 10:30 pm or at most 11:00 pm to enable worshippers to return home on time. Ayokunle expressed optimism that the COVID-19 pandemic would soon be over and social and religious engagement returned to normalcy.

“It (COVID-19 second wave) is a passing phase and this too shall pass away in Jesus Name. Very soon, the pandemic will become history and we will return to our usual routine services in Jesus’ Name,” the cleric added.

He, however, appealed to state governments to relate with the leadership of CAN under their watches for understanding and support on their directives, stressing that they are partners in the progress and development of the country.

“We also call on local government authorities to enforce the COVID-19 protocols in our markets and in the transport sector,” he added.

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Fatal accident claims 15 lives in Delta

A fatal accident, involving a Luxurious bus and a Toyota Sienna, Tuesday claimed 15 lives at Alifekede, along the busy Benin/Onitsha expressway in Ika South Local Government Area, Delta State.

A reliable source said the Luxurious bus ran over the Sienna car which was reportedly driving against traffic, lamenting that the accident caused pandemonium in the community.

The source said five persons were brought out dead from the damaged vehicles, some others were brought out unconscious while some sustained serious injuries and were rushed to the hospital.

According to the source, another 10 passengers were confirmed dead at the hospital by Doctors, adding that officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC were involved in the rescue operations.

The Head of Operations of the Delta State Command of the FRSC, Mr Bakare Adesina, who confirmed the incident, could not, however, give further details as at press time.

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Kaduna Gets 272 Police Constabulary Force

to commence community policing

The Police Command in Kaduna state has trained and handed over 272 police constabulary constables to the Kaduna State Government for the commencement of Community Policing across the state.

While speaking at the reviewing of the passing out parade of the constabulary, Governor Nasiru Ahmad El-Rufai of Kaduna state who was represented by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr.Samuel Aruwan tasked the constables to be good ambassadors and be prepared to help the Security agencies in making Kaduna safe for life and property.

He said the state government had committed so many resources in their training and therefore, they are expected to enhance internal security in the state.

According to him, there will be a second phase of the training and passing out of the constabulary to enhance security monitoring in the state. “You are trained to be our eyes in security issues in the state, so to whom much is given, much is expected. You are expected to help security agencies to ensure peace in the state because without peace there can never be development.

You are expected to be good Ambassadors of your community, be civil and upright n your conduct. You are also expected to play your role to protect lives and property in the State,” he said. “Don’t put us to shame, you have to justify the confidence reposed in you. We will appeal to Local Government chairmen to support you to succeed because community policing has come to stay.

The State Government too will continue to support you. Together we will surmount the security challenges, it is a critical issue that we don’t need to play with it to ensure peaceful coexistence,” he said. The Commissioner of Police, Mr.Umar Muri said that the passing out parade was part of activities for the formal handing over of the special constabulary to the State Government.

According to him, the special police will be sent to various Local Government Areas in the state where respective Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) would give them further instructions as to the line of duty. Muri, however, admonished them to be patriotic and to carry out their duty with the fear of God, He said, “You should have the fear of God in your heart because you are representing a community.”

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COVID-19: Don’t wait to see dead bodies to believe — NMA President Read more

Professor Innocent Ujah

President of the Nigeria Medical Association, Professor Innocent Ujah, has urged Nigerians to take the restriction of COVID-19 spread seriously and not wait to see dead bodies on the streets before they believe that it exists. Ujah said this on Monday when he appeared as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily in response to those saying COVID-19 in Nigeria is a hoax because people are not dropping dead on the streets.

“If we are waiting for people to die on the road before we intervene, then there is no need to have doctors. ALSO READ: World must be ready for the next pandemic — UN “We have what we call preventive medicine. We want to prevent, we don’t want people to die. Doctors are trained not to be looking for dead people. Doctors are trained to prevent people from dying.

“How many people have Nigerians seen dying even in the hospital, not to talk about a situation where the whole world is on its knees because of COVID? So, that statement, I think, is largely for those who are illiterates,” Ujah said. Calling on Nigerians to adhere seriously to restriction measures, he said, “Nobody should have the illusion that COVID-19 does not exist. Even policymakers are making statements that COVID-19 does not exist.

It’s very painful when the whole world is on its knees because of COVID-19 and somebody will come out and say that it does not exist.”

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