Price Of Garri Drops By 60% In Enugu

Price of garri, a staple in the country, has dropped by more than 60 per cent in Enugu within four months.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who conducted a market survey on the staple on Monday, observed that the price has gone down from as high as N1, 250 to between N450 and N500 per paint bucket.

The paint bucket of four-litre is usually the standard measure for cereals in South East.

Many buyers, who came to purchase the staple in markets in Enugu, said they were happy as they could get white garri for N450 and yellow garri for N500.

A buyer, who spoke to NAN, said that they prayed the price could crash further, while another said it should continue at its current price.

The traders attributed the price crash to the current bumper harvest of cassava after many Nigerians had yielded the call to return to the farm.

A garri seller at Garki Market, Mrs Obioma Ukoh, said that many people went into cassava farming since last year and for that its price had drastically dropped.

“I pray that people will continue to plant cassava, this way there will be no reason to buy it as high as N1, 250 again,’’ she said.

Mr James Ugwu, a teacher in one of the secondary schools in Enugu, also said that the low price was as a result of bumper harvest of cassava this year.

Ugwu, who NAN met at Kenyatta Market, said that the price would not get higher anymore as everyone had learnt a lesson and many had gone back to farming.

A corps member, Miss Ifeoma Ogbologu, who came for shopping at Akwata Market, said she was happy buying garri at the rate of N450, explaining that it was not easy when the price was N1, 250.

 NAN

UN Condemns Arrests Of Congo Opposition Members

                               Headquarters of the UN in New York City. By Neptuul – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,                         

UN on Monday condemned the arrest of about 30 opposition members amid a crackdown on dissent by President Joseph Kabila’s government.

The arrests occurred in the eastern city of Lubumbashi on Sunday when police broke up a meeting by the Union for Democracy and Social Progress party on the eve of a return to the city of opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi after a long absence, party members told Reuters.

Congo is struggling to deal with high political tension and security concerns are threatening to spiral out of control in Africa’s largest copper producer because of Kabila’s refusal to hold elections when his presidential mandate expired nearly a year ago.

The election commission said that an election to replace Kabila, who came to power after his father’s assassination in 2001, will not be possible before April 2019 at the earliest, raising the prospect of long-term unrest.

“I urge the Congolese authorities to release immediately and unconditionally those arbitrarily arrested yesterday in Lubumbashi,” said Maman Sidikou, head of the UN Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) in a statement.

MONUSCO also demanded an end to restrictions imposed on Kyungu wa Kumwanza, president of the National Union of Federalists of the Congo party, who has been under de facto house arrest for several months without being charged with a crime.

Congo’s government has banned opposition demonstrations since 2016, when security forces killed dozens of protesters demanding Kabila’s departure.

Kabila’s political opponents are weak and divided.

Many joined a power-sharing government earlier this year following the death of opposition icon, Tshisekedi’s father Etienne, and they enjoy limited credibility with the population.

However, an economic crisis that has seen inflation spike to over 50 per cent, increased militia activity, and a series of prison breaks have highlighted Kabila’s tenuous hold on power.

Vanguard.

Court Awards N2m Against Police For Arresting Evans’ Brother-In-Law

For arresting the brother-in-law of billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday entered judgment against the Nigeria Police Force.

In the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Mr. Okwuchukwu Obiechina, said to be Evans’ brother-in-law, Justice Mohammed Idris, on Monday, declared Obiechina’s arrest and detention unconstitutional.

The judge ruled that the remand order which the police claimed to have obtained from a magistrates’ court was invalid.

Apart from ordering the police to immediately release Obiechina unconditionally or charge him to court if they have any case against him, the court also awarded N2m damages in his favour against the police.

Justice Idris also ordered the police to tender a public apology to Obiechina to be published in two national dailies.

Punch

Police Arrest Man For Allegedly Killing Commercial Sex Worker

The police in Enugu State have arrested a man who allegedly stabbed a commercial sex worker to death on Sunday, following a disagreement he had with the woman.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Ebere Amaraizu, in a statement he issued on Monday, said that the incident happened at about 3:30 a.m. at Onuato Street, Enugu.

Amaraizu said that the victim accompanied the suspect to his apartment where they had a disagreement which resulted in a scuffle that led to her death.

He said that the suspect, who picked up the sex worker at Rangers Avenue on Oct. 22, had agreed with her that he would pay her N4,000 after passing the night with him.

The PPRO quoted the suspect as disclosing that he had drunk to his fill and that on arrival, because it was already getting late, he demanded that they had sex immediately.

“His request did not influence anything as the deceased allegedly requested to finish what she was inhaling in order to be in the mood for the business of the day.

“The accused maintained that after several hours of pressuring her and without any answer, he slept off and woke up before 3 a.m.,” Amarizu stated.

The police spokesman said that the accused immediately ordered the sex wrker to leave the apartment since the aim of bringing her appeared to have been defeated.

“The accused said that the deceased resisted the order and allegedly warned him to beware as she would not succumb to any person’s threat whatsoever.

“She later headed for a kitchen knife that was seen in the kitchen spot of the suspect’s room after allegedly biting him.

“The accused further revealed that a fight suddenly broke out between them and as the deceased tried to stab him to death with the kitchen knife, he overpowered her,” he said.

Amarizu quoted the suspect as saying that the kitchen knife went straight to the stomach of the deceased and he finally stabbed her on the neck region and she died.

The police spokesman said that the accused later wrapped her body and hurriedly arranged to travel to Lagos.

According to him, the suspect was nabbed, following a tip off from members of a local vigilante.

He said that the body was recovered from the apartment and deposited at the mortuary of the Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre, Enugu, as investigations into the incident had commenced.

pm news

I Never Dated Nadia Buhari- Jim Iyke

Nigerian actor, James Ikechukwu Esomugha popularly known as Jim Iyke in an interview revealed that the romance report between him and Ghanaian actress, Nadia Buhari, was never true.

According to Punch, Jim Iyke said they had something they wanted to achieve with the relationship rumour, as he further disclosed that dating and even getting engaged on their reality TV show was part of the script for the show.

“Things didn’t get messy as people thought. Two people met in the entertainment industry and there was a reality show at a time that kept us together. So, we did a smart thing anybody who found himself or herself in such situation would have done. And when the entertainment was over, we moved on to our normal lives.”
“For anyone who thought anything extraordinary happened, it was a live show except that it played into our personal lives too.

I got what I wanted, which was followership and I appreciate the audience for watching. She understood what she was coming into and I understood as well. We got the mileage we both wanted and we moved on with our lives. Five years down the lane, people are still talking about it.”

 pm news

Unpaid Salaries: Don’t Commit Suicide, NLC Begs Kogi Workers

                                         Kogi State Governor Yahaya

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Sunday appealed to workers in Kogi State not to see suicide as a way out of the current hardship imposed on them as a result of non-payment of their salaries.

The state Chairman of the NLC, Mr Onu Edoka, who made the appeal in Lokoja warned the workers against taking extreme actions because the tough time would soon be over.

Edoka, who was reacting to the suicide of a director in the state, Mr Edward Soje on Oct. 16 as a result of financial hardship, insisted that taking one’s life should not be an option.

The deceased’s wife has yet to be informed of the tragic death of her husband.

A source close to the family said a team of pastors and relations who visited her at an Abuja hospital to break the news were advised by the management against it due to her state of health.

Edoka, however, disclosed that many workers and pensioners had died due to non-payment of their salary and pensions by the state government.

According to him, many workers in the state have had their ailments aggravated as a result of lack of salary.

He said that high blood pressure and diabetes had become common among them.

Edoka said that the organised labour had started compiling statistics of workers and pensioners that have lost their life in the last one year, adding that figures of victims would soon be made public.

Edoka appealed to relatives, friends, religious organisations and good spirited individuals in and outside the state to come to the aid of the workers to stem the tide of untimely deaths.

The NLC Chairman again called on President Muhammadu Buhari to come to the aid of workers in Kogi State by sending foods, drugs and other relief materials to them through the National Emergency Management Agency.

He also pleaded with the presidency to set up a fact finding committee to come and ascertain the true situation of things with workers in the state.

The Chairman expressed displeasure with the state government for taking to the pages of newspapers to publish the names of workers and their salaries.

He explained that the figures quoted by the government was not correct and urged the governor to invite the workers to the negotiation table.

Also a statement jointly issued by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) described the publication of workers names and salary figures as a wrong step.

“The security implication of this very wrong step is that criminals could get hold of this document and begin to trace the workers whose names government has published.

“Workers are walking the streets of Lokoja like beggars because their salaries and allowances have not been paid for a period of three to twenty-two months by the government,“ the statement said.

The statement signed by Mr Olakunle Faniyi and Mr Kolawole James, state secretaries of NLC and TUC respectively called on the state government to publish the names and the amount being owed cleared workers and pensioners in the past 21 months.

The unions expressed shock on the death of Soje and prayed God to grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

 pm news

WHO Revokes Mugabe’s Appointment As Ambassador

The World Health Organization has revoked the appointment of Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe as a goodwill ambassador following a widespread outcry.

“I have listened carefully to all who have expressed their concerns,” WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.

He had previously praised Zimbabwe for its commitment to public health.

But critics pointed out that Zimbabwe’s healthcare system had collapsed in recent years.

During the first 20 years of his 37-year rule, Mr Mugabe widely expanded health care, but the system has badly been affected by the collapse of the Zimbabwean economy since 2000.

Staff often go without pay, medicines are in short supply, and Mr Mugabe, who has outlived the average life expectancy in his country by three decades, travels abroad for medical treatment.

Mr Tedros said he had consulted with the Zimbabwean government and decided that rescinding Mr Mugabe’s position was “in the best interests of” the WHO.

He said he remained “firmly committed to working with all countries and their leaders” to build universal health care.

Mr Tedros, elected in May under the slogan “let’s prove the impossible is possible” had said he hoped Mr Mugabe would use his goodwill ambassador role to “influence his peers in the region”.

But the appointment was met by a wave of surprise and condemnation. The UK government, the Canadian prime minister, the Wellcome Trust, the NCD Alliance, UN Watch, the World Heart Federation, Action Against Smoking and Zimbabwean lawyers and social media users were among those who criticised the decision.

The BBC’s Andrew Harding in Johannesburg reports that Mr Mugabe’s supporters are likely to see this episode as Western meddling in Africa.

pm news

George Weah Visits TB Joshua To Win Liberia’s Presidency

Football icon and leading Liberia’s presidential candidate, George Weah, on Sunday visited the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Ikotun, Lagos, to seek the support of Prophet TB Joshua, in his bid to lead Liberia.

Weah will face Joseph Boakai, the incumbent vice-president, in a runoff slated for November 7.

Yormie Johnson, a former Liberian warlord, and one of the 20 candidates who participated in the first round of the election, accompanied Weah to the church.

Speaking on Weah’s visit during the Sunday service, Prophet Joshua stated: “My brother is here today because he loves his country and wants God’s choice for his country.”

“He is not here to impose himself. What does God say about his country, Liberia? What is God’s opinion? That is why he is here.

“We are not herbalists or witch-doctors; we are people of God. God’s choice is our choice. We cannot pray against God’s will.

“Without God’s corresponding power, we cannot pray to Him. For every step we take – every movement and action – intimation comes first.

“There must be suggestion from the Spirit to move before we move. If truly I am a man of God, I must hear from God – move or don’t move.

“God’s opinion is what we should seek in our country – simple! God is the Answer, the Final.”

Among the top politicians on the continent who have visited Joshua’s church are Tanzania’s President, John Magufuli; John Atta Mills, the late president of Ghana; Joyce Banda, former president of Malawi; Morgan Tsvangarai, Zimbabwean prime minister and Julius Malema, South African opposition leader.

Today.ng

16 Killed, 18 Wounded In Maiduguri Suicide Bomb Attacks

Location of Borno State in Nigeria. By Derivative work: User:Profoss – Original work:Uwe Dedering – This vector image was created with Inkscape.This file was uploaded with Commonist.This vector image includes elements that have been taken or adapted from this:  Nigeria location map.svg (by Uwe Dedering)., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17436023

The Police Command in Borno on Monday said 16 persons were killed and 18 others sustained injuries in multiple suicide bomb attacks at Muna area of Maiduguri.

The Police Commissioner, Mr Damian Chukwu, confirmed the incident in a text message sent to newsmen in Maiduguri.

Chukwu said that the incident occurred when a male suicide bomber detonated an explosive device in a crowded area, killing 13 people and wounding five others.

He said two other female suicide bombers also detonated Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) strapped to their bodies and injured 13 persons.

“On 22/10/2017 at about 20: 20 hours a male suicide bomber detonated IED strapped to his body at Muna Garage, killing himself and thirteen persons, while five others sustained injuries.

“In another development at Muna Dalti, two female suicide bombers detonated IEDs killing themselves and injuring 13 others.

“The Injured persons were referred to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) for treatment and corpses were evacuated.

“Police EOD teams have been deployed to sanitise the scene.

“In all, 16 persons were killed and 18 others injured in the three explosions,” the commissioner said.

Also, Alhaji Satomi Ahmad, the Chairman, Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said the agency had conducted rescue exercise at the scene of the attack.

Satomi said that the State Government would provide free medical treatment to the victims.

He called on the people to be vigilant and provide useful information to security agencies.

“We have recorded about 13 suicide bomb attacks this year at Muna area. The area is vulnerable and I advise residents to be more vigilant,”the chairman said.

pm news.

Body Of Man Who Jumped Into Lagos Lagoon Recovered

The body of the 40-year old man, Oluseye Adekunle, who jumped into the Lagos Lagoon around Lekki tollgate bridge has been recovered.

Adekunle jumped into the Lagoon on October 20 around Lekki tollgate bridge while the Marine Police and officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, have been searching for his body.

PM News gathered that the corpse of the deceased was found by fishermen around 5.00am on Sunday around Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge.

General Manager, LASEMA, Adesina Tiamiyu confirmed that the corpse of the victim had been recovered.

According to him, “the corpse of the man identified as Oluseye Adekunle who jumped into the Lagoon around Lekki Toll gate in an attempt to commit suicide on Friday was discovered by a local fisherman early this morning at about 5.00am floating by the river bank, around Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge.”

He said the body was recovered from the Lagoon by rescue officials.

“The body was recovered from the lagoon by coordinated effort of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Marine Police and handed over to the State Environmental Monitoring Unit (SEHMU).The body has been taken to Lagos Mainland Hospital Mortuary for deposition.

Tiamiyu declared the recovery exercise closed at 11.30 am as the dead body had been recovered.

He said that the police would carry out further investigation on the matter, reiterating that the situation in the country was not as bad to such extent for an individual to take his life

He enjoined Lagosians to always endeavours to be their brother’s keeper by reporting any of such incidents on time so as to avoid the repeat of such an ugly incident in the State.

pm news

Kano Hisbah Board Treated 328 Cases In September

                                       Kano State Hisbah Board, aka Sharia police

The Fagge outpost of the Kano State Hisbah Board said it had received 328 cases in September, according to an official of the board, Alhaji Salisu Umar.

Umar, who is the Commandant, Special Service Office of the Board, in Kano on Friday said that the cases included matrimonial disputes and quarrels between neighbours.

“The disputes relate to debts, disagreements among neighbours, breastfeeding as well as consumption of alcohol, among others,” he said.

The commandant said that the board was committed to its mandate of ridding the society of all ills, adding that efforts would be intensified to restore moral sanity in the state. He urged members of the public to support the board’s efforts at ensuring a better society.

Pm New.

BREAKING: Man jumps into Lagos Lagoon

An unidentified man on Friday reportedly jumped into the Lagoon in Lagos from the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge.

The Nation reports that officials of the Lagos State Waterways Authority, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and the Marine Police have arrived at the scene to search for the man.

Details later.

See How Much Bobrisky Has In His Account

Bleaching cream expert and Nigerian male barbie, Bobrisky gets quite a lot of hate comments and often gets trolled online, but he is always out to blast them haters and remind them of where and how he started.

In this new IG post, he revealed he started struggling at the age of 16 and can now boast of N40 Million in his accounts.

He shared the above before and after photo and wrote;

“I know some of u won’t understand wat is called “SUFFERING” cos at 25yrs some of u still collect feeding money  from ur parent and still live in their house . I left my dad house when am 16yrs to go hustle and face life. I suffer so hard to become who I am today, not only by bleaching my skin but can boast of 40million in two of my active banks am sure my account officer is seeing dis. And am still hustling no going back. If u like insult me from now till tomorrow am not bothered. Wat bothered me most is how to become billionaire before am 30yrs. Some of u say am gay to be dis rich oga if it is dat easy carry ur own ass too let them insert some d**k. Bye ”

 Instagram 

Oyo Civil Servants To Receive Housing Loan Within 7 Days

                               Governor Abiola Ajumobi of Oyo State

Oyo State Government on Thursday said that civil servants would receive their housing loans in seven days.

The government is also partnering the Federal Government to provide low cost housing schemes of 720 units for the people of the state to complement the recently created GRAs.

Equally, the government stated that it would not tolerate the activities of land grabbers popularly know as ‘Omo Onile’in the state. It urged citizens to take advantage of the recently introduced electronic C of O to protect their landed property from the menace of land grabbers.

The State Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Survey, Mr. Ajiboye Omodewu urged the general public to beware of touts who paraded themselves as staff of the Ministry of Land and volunteered to process the C of O for them, stating that C of O processing is now free from unnecessary bureaucracy with the introduction of the Electronic C of O.

Omodewu, who addressed the media with his counterpart from the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, explained that the partnership with the Federal Government would ensure the provision of housing units along Oyo/Ibadan expressway, assuring that the low cost housing will be for the benefit of all.

He pointed out that the process for securing housing loans which was increased by the Ajimobi-led administration by 100 percent has been reduced to one week if the interested beneficiaries fulfill all the requirements of the state government.

“Governor Ajimobi has directed that approval for the housing loan should be given within a week if the interested person fulfills all the requirements.

”Our government prioritizes home ownership for the people, hence the need to make the process less cumbersome. We have recently introduced the Home Owners’ Charter policy. The policy allows landlords without proper documentations to procure one with the sum of N120K.

”This scheme is created to enable home owners in Oyo State who currently have no title documents like Survey and Building plans to obtain titles with great ease and at the very affordable rate of N120,000.00. The scheme has commenced and interested individuals can approach the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Housing to start the process which is just for 60 days”.

He hinted that the State Government has engaged private developers to put up housing units for different categories of people in different areas of the State, noting that people should expect an influx of businesses and new residents in Ibadan when the Lagos-Ibadan expressway is concluded.

“Oyo State government has engaged private developers for different categories of citizens at Agodi GRA, Elenusonso GRA in Ido Local Government, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Kolapo Isola GRA at Lagelu LG, among others,” the commissioner stressed.

Omodewu appealed to the general public to cooperate with Nigerian Institution of Surveyors and Estate Valuers, NIESV, for the enumeration, evaluation and categorization of properties in the state, noting that the essence of the enumeration is to generate data that would aid the sustainable developmental objectives in the state.

He also advised members of the public not to give money to any staff of the ministry or those who disguise to be agents, claiming to assist them, adding “you will pay directly into the government account, not to individuals. If You give money to any staff, you do so at your own risk.”

source:Pm News

Kenya Election Board CEO Goes On Leave Ahead Of Poll

                         Ezra Chiloba Kenyan Independent Electoral Body Chairman.

Ezra Chiloba, Kenyan Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) said on Friday he was taking three weeks of leave.

Opposition demanded that Chiloba must be fired before a repeat presidential election scheduled for Oct. 26,

The first presidential vote in August, which gave victory to Kenyatta, was annulled because of procedural irregularities.

Chiloba said he had taken a personal decision to take leave in light of the opposition’s demands, without giving more details.

He said all arrangements were in place for the election, as ordered by the Supreme Court.

“This is the first time I‘m taking leave since my son was born. He turns two years (old) in two weeks’ time,” he told Reuters.

The court annulled the first election, held in August and in which incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner, over procedural irregularities.

The opposition, led by Raila Odinga, has said it will boycott the re-run unless several demands, including the sacking of Chiloba, are met.

Odinga met the chairman of the IEBC board, Wafula Chebukati, on Thursday and later told reporters that if there were serious consultations and serious reforms, the opposition could review its boycott.

The board has said the election will go ahead and Kenyatta has insisted the vote must be held.

On Thursday, the president snubbed an invitation to meet Chebukati, saying he would instead spend the time campaigning.

source:pm news.