How I Activated 5GB Data For N50 On MTN

I scrolled through some pages on Newsprex Forum's Telegram handles and a pretty girl shared her story of how she got a whopping 5GB data from MTN with just a recharge of N50 credit. I was amazed and motivated to put it into trial and bang! I got it.

One amazing feature of the cheat is that it works smoothly without using a VPN. It's exactly like a normal data.

 Note: This cheat works for some selected people. It's not everyone who activate it will get the data.

To activate, dial *123# and choose option 3 (data services), then choose option 3 (Buy Goodybags), then choose option 6 (WECHAT) and subscribe to Wechat (N50 weekly plan).
After you have subscribed to Wechat weekly plan, check your data balance by dialling *131*4# and you will see the 5GB data on your data balance.

See my screenshot:

Five die in DR Congo plane crash

Five people were burnt to death on Friday, after a small passenger aircraft crashed in southern Democratic Republic of Congo near the border with Angola, a local official said, giving a provisional toll.

The piston-engined Antonov 2, operated by local airline Air Kasai, burst into flames, just after takeoff from Kamako for a flight to Tshikapa, 150 kilometres (93 miles) away.

“The plane crashed into the bush three kilometres (two miles) from Kamako,” said Anacletus Muswa Kapinga Safia, the deputy territorial administrator.

“Only two people got out, the pilot and a passenger. They are unable to talk,” he said.

“We already know that five people have died. We will know the final toll when the company provides us with the passenger list.”

The crash is the second in a month in DR Congo’s sprawling Kasai province. Last month, a light plane chartered by the World Food Programme (WFP) had an accident on takeoff at Kamonia, leaving several people injured.

Nigeria to experience longest total lunar eclipse on Friday –Scientist

Nigeria will on Friday night experience a spectacular total lunar eclipse, which will last for one hour, Prof. Augustine Ubachukwu, has said.

Ubachukwu, the leader of Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Group of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, disclosed this on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

“Nigeria is set to experience a very spectacular total lunar eclipse on Friday, July 27, weather permitting.

“It will be visible from 9:30.p.m. and last till 11: 20 p.m.

“This total lunar eclipse will be primarily visible  from  the  world’s  Eastern  Hemisphere, which are Europe,  Africa,  Asia,  Australia  and  New Zealand.

“Part of South America will be able to watch the final stages of the eclipse just after sunset on July 27.

“New Zealand will catch the beginning stages of the eclipse before sunrise on July 28.

“It will be the century’s longest total lunar eclipse with a whopping one hour and 43 minutes in totality.

“It starts with a partial eclipse at 7:24 p.m.  The total eclipse begins at 8.30 p.m., and ends at 10.13 p.m. The peak of the eclipse will occur at 9.22 p.m. The partial eclipse ends at 11.19 p.m.,’’ he said.

Ubachukwu observed that a lunar eclipse could occur only on the night of a full moon.

The scientist said during a total lunar eclipse, the earth completely blocks direct sunlight from reaching the moon, while the only light reflected from the lunar surface would be refracted by earth’s atmosphere.

According to him, unlike solar eclipses,  lunar  eclipses  are safe  to view without any eye protection  or  special precautions as they appear dimmer than the full moon.

The professor, however, said that the next total lunar eclipse that would be visible in Nigeria would occur on January 21, 2019.

Prof. Rabiu Babatunde, the Director, Centre for Atmospheric Research in Kogi told NAN that people should not be perturbed at the occurrence.

Babatunde said that the event underscored the fact that planetary objects, including the earth were in a state of defined continuous motion.

He said that the occurrence necessitated the need for scientists to continue monitoring and exploring the dynamics of the motion and the phenomena associated with them.

“Keeping tab on the dynamics will enable scientists sensitise the global community of any hazard associated with such occurrences,’’ he said.

Google to provide 10m Nigerians with free WiFi

Google Nigeria plans to reach more than 10 million Nigerians with free Internet access in five cities in Nigeria.

According to the company, the Wi-Fi will be available in 200 Google Stations across five cities in the country which includes Lagos, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Ibadan and Abuja by 2019.

This was made known on Thursday at the second Google for Nigeria event in Lagos.

Speaking at the unveiling of the Google Stations, the Google Nigeria Country Director, Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor, said the initiative would address affordability and access to data as well as broadband penetration.

She said the free Wi-Fi was rolled out in partnership with an Internet Service Provider with extensive fibre network, 21st Century, adding that the company was open to partnerships with other ISPs and telcos.

“One of the challenges we found was access to data. Broadband penetration is low and are not reliable and there are challenges with affordability just allow many Nigerians benefit from the digital economy. We are very excited to be able to launch in collaboration with partners,” she said.

She added, “We are starting in Lagos with four sites and commitment is to expand to 200 sites across five cities in Nigeria by 2019. There are opportunities that are available once people get online and are able to consume information.

Commenting on the initiative, the Vice President, Products Management at Google, Anjali Joshi, said the initiative would be scaled to other countries in Africa.

Details soon.

DEVELOPING STORY: Dino Melaye allegedly kidnapped – Senator

Dino Melaye has been allegedly abducted by unknown gunmen, his colleague Ben Murray-Bruce said on Thursday.

Mr Murray-Bruce, one of the key allies of Mr Melaye at the Senate, disclosed this on Twitter a few minutes ago, citing the senator’s brother.

The kidnap is yet to be confirmed.

Mr Melaye was among the 14 senators who defected from the All Progressives Congress on Tuesday.

The controversial senator is facing separate charges for allegedly aiding criminals and attempted suicide.

The Kogi police commissioner, Ali Janga, said he invited Mr Melaye to report at his office by 10:00 a.m. today.

The police chief said Mr Melaye had not arrived, but strongly denied knowledge of his whereabouts.

“I did not send officers to attack him, please call Gwagwalada police to confirm if they have reports,” Mr Janga said.

Mr Melaye’s associates said the senator was feared kidnapped on his way to Lokoja, but could not ascertain the specific section of the Abuja-Lokoja highway where the incident might have occurred.

Mr Janga’s suggestion that Gwagwalada police should be contacted indicated that Mr Melaye might have run into the encounter while still within the Federal Capital Territory.

The FCT and Kogi State share a border after Abaji, which is about 170 kilometers south of downtown Abuja.

Mr Melaye was reportedly arraigned for attempted suicide in Lokoja yesterday. It was unclear whether he received Mr Janga’s invitation to appear at 10 a.m. while he was still in Lokoja for the court appearance or after he had returned to his base in Abuja.

More details later…

Five dead in Lagos boat mishap

The incident happened at about 5.57 p.m.

The general manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Adesina Tiamiyu, who confirmed the deaths, said the cause of the incident was still unknown.

We learnt that a 20-capacity passenger boat belonging to Blue sea capsized mid-sea enroute Ikorodu from Lagos Island.

Bodies of victims have since been deposited at the morgue at Ikorodu general hospital.

The deceased, whose identities still remain unknown, include four women and a man.

Meanwhile, five other persons were rescued after the incident.

HOW TO INCREASE THE STANDARD OF YOUR LIFE AND NOT STANDARD OF YOUR LIVING

Whether you drive a Volkswagen or you drive a Bentley, the road remain the same isn't it?
Whether you speak on a Samsung or on an iPhone X, whoever you are calling remain the same isn't it?
Whether you're flying economy or business, your destination remain the same isn't it?
Whether you're wearing a simple fastrack or you wear an omega or a Rolex,  the time remain the same isn't it?
It's quite amazing how we work ourselves up so much with increasing the standard of living that we forget to increase the standard of our life. There's nothing wrong with an omega, there's nothing wrong with a Bentley. God bless you with that so if you have it drive it - no problem.
But if trying to increase, enhance and improvise the standard of your living, please please please do not compromise with the standard of your life. It's not the standard of your living that makes you happy, it's the standard of your life that makes you happy. And very often, we forget to give attention to those things that can truly make us happy. Which is why I always say, things I am talking about have utility values right? Not happiness value .
Travel business class or first class, travel - no problem. Drive a Bentley - no problem. But in doing so, never ever compromise on those principles that also improve the standard of your life. And therefore I always say, some people are so poor, so poor, so absolutely poor, that all they have is money.
That's all they have,  that's all they have . I consider that life a poverty stricken life. If all you have is money, you are the poorest person on the world. Because there's more to life than money and there's is way more to life than what money can buy. And therefore I many times say, if you want to truly know how rich you are, drop a tear and see how many hands come to wipe that tear. Ladies and gentlemen our happiness and our increase standard of life are not in things, it's in people. It's relationship, It's meaningful, heartfelt deep bondings of love. That being fulfilment of the heart. It's those meaningful exchanges of love that we share with each other in relationships, that bring true joy to the heart and isn't it the greatest irony, that something that bring the greatest fulfilment, we very conveniently neglect in just running after increasing and enhancing the standard of living.

*LEARN TO INCREASE THE STANDARD OF YOUR LIFE AND NOT STANDARD OF YOUR LIVING*

Customs seized 35 containers of tramadol, handed 9 to us – NAFDAC DG

The Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Moji Adeyeye, has said that the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) seized 35 containers of Tramadol at various ports in the country but handed only nine containers to the agency.

NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Moji Adeyeye Adeyeye disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Sunday.

She said nine out of the seized containers of Tramadol were released to NAFDAC by the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS), and had been destroyed by her agency.

“We are seriously working with the custom on this and each time they seize any container, they usually invite us to come and see the containers with Tramadol.

“So far, 35 containers were seized and only nine of them have been handed over to NAFDAC which we have destroyed,” she said.

Adeyeye, however, decried the delay by the custom in handing over the rest of the containers to her agency.

The NAFDAC boss stated that Tramadol was a restricted drug but had been abused by Nigerian youths who use it without prescription.

According to Adeyeye, who is a professor of pharmacology, the drug destroys children’s brain thereby threatening the future generation of the nation.

She lauded the present administration for placing an embargo on codeine, which she said, like Tramadol, should only be given only by prescription as done in advanced country.

The director-general said the agency was more determined and committed than ever to stem the menace of illicit and fake drugs in the country.

Germany's Thomas Muller releases children's book ahead of World Cup

Thomas Muller has released a children's book based on his career ahead of the World Cup.

The kids story explains his rise from humble beginnings at TSV Pahl right the way through to reaching the top of the sport with Germany and Bayern Munich .

On Twitter, the 28-year-old posed proudly alongside 'My Way to the Dream Club'.

He said: "My first children's book My Way to the Dream Club.

"The book from the publishing house Friedrich Oetinger is intended to teach young reading beginners the fun of reading and shows my story of how I came from TSV Pahl to Munich."

The book has been written alongside author Julien Wolff and illustrated by Jan Birck.

Phyno, Olamide Collabo On Super Eagles Theme Song For Russia 2018

Phyno and Olamide, two indigenous rappers that have great chemistry when it comes to dishing out hits have come up with a massive tune to support the Super Eagles at the FIFA World Cup – Russia 2018.

The track titled ‘Dem Go Hear Am’ is powered by Aiteo, the optimum sponsor of the Super Eagles to the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Aiteo Group, an integrated, global- focused Nigerian Energy conglomerate founded in February 2008 partnered with the Nigerian Football Federation to deliver superior quality football in Nigeria. So far, Aiteo has paid a huge amount of money to cover its contractual obligation of providing support to the players and technical crew of the Super Eagles throughout their World Cup campaign.

The Super Eagles official theme song would be launched at a special event at Cocoon Lagos along Awolowo road, Ikoyi. The launch party is expected to commence by 11pm and several artistes including Phyno, Olamide, Cynthia Morgan, Small Doctor are expected to be present while comedians A.Y and Bovi are expected to anchor the occasion.

Special guests expected to be at the track launch event are; the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, Aiteo  Deputy CEO Francis Peters and former Super Eagles stars Victor Ikpeba and Julius Aghahowa not excluding other special guests that would grace the event.

The track which is produced by YBNL in-house producer, Pheelz is an up- tempo melodious tune which is expected to cheer the Super Eagles to soar higher in Russia 2018 set to kick off in 5 days time. The lyrics of the song also pays respect to past ex Super Eagles midfield maestro Sunday Oliseh, and late Samuel Okwaraji and Rashidi Yekini.

Some quotable lines in the song are;

DOWNLOAD MP3

2018 World Cup: I’m good enough to displace Uzoho – Akpeyi tells Rohr

Chippa United goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi, has said he has all it takes to start for Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup in Nigeria.

Akpeyi is likely to play second fiddle to Deportivo La Coruna stopper, Francis Uzoho, who will be Gernot Rohr’s first choice in goal, while Ikechukwu Ezenwa is favoured to be second choice.

Although he is the most experienced among the trio, Akpeyi said he won’t be bitter if he is not selected to play, but insisted that even the coaches know he can do a good job between the posts.

“We are teammates and not rivals and whoever is selected to be in goal will get my backing as usual. With all due respect to the goalkeepers here, I’m the most experienced and I believe I will do well if selected by the coaches.

“The coaches will decide who will be in goal and once that is made we will all support whoever is picked. The team comes first and hopefully we will deliver at the World Cup in Russia,” Akpeyi told OwnGoalNigeria.

THE MYTH ABOUT FEMALE VIRGINITY

#VIRGINITY
(A social Awareness message)
About females virginity Many thinks and have the mindset that  the only way to know if a girl is a virgin or not is that it's a must every girl bleeds during her first sex BUT IT IS WRONG...

Bleeding doesn't determine if a girl is a virgin or not.

This article will help to educate our young men and women on this issue of girls bleeding during first sex...

THE MYTH ABOUT FEMALE VIRGINITY -why most women won't bleed the first time they have sex. There's a very common myth in South and Central Asia (Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan etc.) and Africa (Nigeria and many other nations ) that you can tell if a woman is a virgin, by whether or not she bleeds the first time she has sex. There is zero truth in this. Not all women bleed the first time they have sex, as I'll explain in this post. To understand why some women bleed and some don't, it's very important to understand what the hymen is. The hymen is a membrane that tends to cover part of the vaginal opening (it does not always block or cover the entire vagina, as some people mistakenly think). NOT ALL WOMEN HAVE A HYMEN. The hymen also differs from woman to woman - like all women have different heights and weights and features, all women also have different amounts and types of hymen. Some women have thick hymens, some have very thin hymens, and some women have NO hymens at all. Some women have larger hymens, some women naturally have a very little amount of hymen that covers only a small portion of their vaginal opening (and hence does not really get in the way, during first-time sex). In addition to this, the hymen wears away on its own as you grow up. For most women, the hymen wears away on its own with exercise, bicycling, horseback riding -it can wear off with pretty much any other physical activity, even dancing! - or from using tampons when menstruating. Especially if the hymen is very small or thin, most of it tends to wear away on its own as a girl grows up. If a woman is born WITHOUT a hymen, she won't bleed the first time she has sex. If a woman has a small or thin hymen, she might not bleed the first time she has sex. If a woman's hymen has worn away on its own (which is very common as girls grow up), she won't bleed the first time she has sex. The result is that the overwhelming majority -at least 63% of women - will NOT bleed the first time they have sex, according to a study published by the British Medical Journal. Women who do bleed include: - Women with thick hymens (who constitute a small percentage of the population) - Younger girls. Because the hymen wears away on its own with time, a 16-year old has a higher chance of bleeding than a 25-year old. By the time a girl is of or above the legal age of consent - 18, 20, 24 years of age, for example - most of her hymen is likely to have worn away on its own, meaning it's unlikely that she'll bleed a lot, if at all. However, even a young girl can be physically active, have a thin or small hymen, or have no hymen at all, meaning she might not bleed during first-time sex. - Most often, women who bleed tend to be women who are dealt with roughly during sex. If the guy forces himself inside the girl, when she isn't ready, relaxed or aroused enough, he is likely to cause injury or bleeding. Because most people think it's normal for women to bleed the first time they have sex, they don't realize that this bleeding is a result of the woman having been hurt, and not of the hymen breaking Painful first-time sex is generally because the woman is not relaxed or aroused enough, and gets hurt as a result; it is rarely ever because of the hymen breaking. The bottom line is that there is no way to assess female virginity. Bleeding does not have anything to do with virginity - it has to do with the kind of hymen a girl has, and hymens differ from girl to girl from birth. The result is that only a small percentage of women bleed the first time! (Only 37% bleed during first-time sex, according to the study published in the British Medical Journal.) Why is this so important to be aware of? Women all over the world get abused, injured and even killed due to the myth of 'virgin bleeding.. Because most people (men AND women) think that bleeding is a sign of virginity, women who don't bleed the first time have been divorced, suffered from suspicion leading to domestic violence and abuse, and even killed for honour. Educating people that a girl does not necessarily have to bleed the first time she has sex - because not all girls have thick hymens, and some are born with no hymen at all - is important because it can literally save lives. .P.S: I understand that not everyone is able to share material like this, even if they want to. However, the only way we can educate people regarding this issue is if it goes into the news feeds of as many people as possible, if as many people as possible read it. So please consider sharing. If you can't share, please like, leave a comment or forward it to your friends. I have to make content like this visible to increase it reach, to educate people and to have impact on lives !!! :-)
#ShareNow
#Virginity
#SocialAwarenes
Bannu institute of medical sciences

"We’ll shutdown Aso Rock if Obasanjo is touched"

The African Democratic Congress, which has been adopted by Obasanjo, has warned the Federal Government that it will shut down the Presidential Villa if Obasanjo is harmed.


The Chairman of the ADC, Chief Okey Nwosu, said this during a telephone interview with our correspondent on Friday.

Nwosu said having failed to deliver on its campaign promises, the Buhari-led government had resorted to hounding opposition members into submission.

He said when Obasanjo was supporting Buhari during the run-up to the 2015 general elections; he was described as an advocate of change by Buhari and his supporters, but the same man was now being treated as a criminal because he was speaking against the government.

The ADC chairman said, “What we are witnessing is the desperation of a failed government. When you have mediocre persons that are not focused on handling state power, they often go to dictatorial levels to try to achieve their aim but this time, the people of Nigeria and God are on our side and we will do what our country needs.

“President Obasanjo cannot be touched. When in 2014 and 2015, he was in the vanguard of trying to effect change because of the situation then, they were applauding him as the champion of a new Nigeria.

“Now that things have gone wrong in the area of security and economy and he is speaking out, they are now chasing the champion of new Nigeria. We will mobilise the whole of Nigeria to take over Aso Rock Villa if the government steps out of line.”

But two civil society organisations, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, said Obasanjo should be ready to face trial if there was any evidence of financial mismanagement traced to his administration.

The SERAP Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said the former President’s alarm of a witch-hunt by President Buhari was unnecessary as the anti-graft agencies must carry out their statutory responsibilities.

Mumuni said, “The truth of the matter is that Buhari should not be the one to set the EFCC against anybody; the anti-graft agency should do its job, investigate allegations of crime against anybody and begin prosecution. That Obasanjo is crying foul will not stop the agencies from going after him, if indeed there are admissible evidences against him.

“I don’t think we should listen to Obasanjo. Rather, we should let the EFCC do what is legally appropriate and prosecute anyone who is supposed to be prosecuted. If Obasanjo has a case to answer, he should be ready to have his day in court under the due process.”

Also the CDHR President, Malachy Ugwummadu, said, “Obasanjo should not play to the gallery. For me, it will be a huge positive development if this government can muster enough courage to take on Obasanjo.

“If the government has credible information or evidence to take on Obasanjo, it will clearly show that all the people in the league of former presidents can be taken up.”

OnePlus 6 now officially available at Lazada - YugaTech | Philippines Tech News & Reviews

Sex-for-marks: UNILAG panel calls for useful information from staff, students

The management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has set up an investigative panel to look into allegations of sexual harassment against Olusegun Awonusi, a professor of English Studies at the University.
In a statement signed by the University’s Director of Students’ Affairs, Prof Tunde Babawale, he called on anyone, particularly staff and students of the institution, to volunteer any information they feel could help in the investigation.
Awonusi, who was the former Vice-Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ogun State, was accused of harassing female students and threatening to fail them if they refused his advances.
The statement reads: “The University of Lagos Management has set up a Fact Finding Panel to investigate the allegation of sexual harassment involving a Lecturer in the University published in various social media platform.
“The panel has commenced investigation into the allegation and is requesting the members of the University of Lagos community (Particularly Staff and Students) who have useful information on this specific allegation and any other one that could aid its assignment to submit memoranda to the panel.
“The memoranda should be addressed to the Secretary, Fact Finding Panel on the Allegation of Sexual Harassment involving a Lecturer in the University, c/o Registrar’s Office, 5th Floor Senate Building, University of Lagos.
“The memoranda, in sealed envelopes, should be submitted from Monday 11th to Friday 15th June, 2018 in the Registrar’s Office. Confidentiality of response is assured.”
DAILY POST reports that Awonusi had previously dismissed the sexual harassment allegation against him as cheap blackmail.

Timi Frank reports Buhari to British govt over ordeal of Saraki, Dogara John Owen Nwachukwu

A stalwart of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Timi Frank, has reported the travail of the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to the Government of the United Kingdom, urging Prime Minister Theresa May to come to intervene.
Frank called on May to prevail on Nigerian government over alleged human right abuses and persecution of perceived opponents by the present administration, stating that “as things stand, nobody knows who will be the next victim of government’s anti-democratic and inhuman activities.”
Frank said this in an open letter sent to the Prime Minister through the British Ambassador to Nigeria on Wednesday.
According to the APC chieftain, democracy in Nigeria is being driven to a precarious state as a result of a new regime of persecution, intimidation, repression and suppression being meted out against perceived political opponents in the country.
He told the Prime Minister that, “The frame-up and trial of the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and a vast number of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, by the agents of the presidency is a sure sign that unless the leaders of the free world come to the aid of the country, conditions will deteriorate irretrievably.
“Nigerians are alarmed at the dehumanizing campaign being waged by its own government against free citizens through incessant arrests, detention and trial of the innocent in the name of anti-corruption war, which has been generally acknowledged to be highly selective, going by the manner it is being conducted.
“It has come to our knowledge that the executive and its henchmen have concluded plans to force the impeachment of Saraki and Dogara as President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively.
“Already, the government is about to drag Dogara and some of his colleagues to court over allegations of budget padding earlier raised by a suspended lawmaker. Recently, a court purportedly directed the Federal Government to prosecute all the accused persons fingered in the budget padding scandal of which Dogara is number one.
“Even though Saraki has been on trial over alleged false asset declaration since 2015, new attempts are being made to link him with criminal elements as a way to gag him and his teaming supporters ahead of the upcoming general elections.
“Already the government has commenced phased withdrawal of security personnel attached to Saraki and Dogara, in a bid to expose them to danger and personal harm, ahead of the plot to forcefully remove them as presiding officers of the National Assembly.
“However, be it known to you and the U.K. Parliament that any attempt to compel the impeachment of the two presiding officers of the 8th National Assembly will be resisted by Nigerians just like the attempt to link Saraki with the Offa bank robbery suspects has been vehemently rejected across the country. This is one of the reasons the nPDP bloc of the APC is threatening to pull out of the alliance having realized that its members are being deliberately targeted for persecution.”
Frank alleged in his letter that the entire National Assembly is on trial under the present administration, adding that democracy in the country may cease to exist if the ferocious attacks against lawmakers is allowed to continue.
“I believe that the ordeal of the President of the Senate under the present administration, characteristically typifies the venomous zeal which has turned the agents of the state into instruments of victimization against its own people.”
The Bayelsa-born politician noted that if Saraki, who worked tirelessly to bring the current administration in place, can be made to undergo tremendous vilification, then there is no hope for members of the opposition political parties and common citizens.
He added, “A question the U.K. Government should ask is: How come anybody believed to be opposed to the policies of the present administration will sooner than later be accused of being corrupt and a sponsor of armed robbery and murders?”

LOGGING OUT: Yahoo Messenger shutting down next month

Guti to become Real Madrid coach – Galvez

Real Murcia’s president, Victor Galvez has said his club was unable to hire Guti as their new coach because he is about to be appointed Real Madrid boss, Skysports reports.
Zinedine Zidane left his post at the Bernabeu last month after landing his third successive Champions League trophy.
In the aftermath of his departure, various names, including Mauricio Pochettino and Massimiliano Allegri have been linked with the job.
However, Murcia’s president says Guti, who is in charge of Real Madrid’s U18 side, will be the man to succeed Zidane
“Guti won’t become Murcia boss because he’s going to become Real Madrid coach.
“He was the guy I wanted, and it’s a shame Zidane didn’t take a couple of days longer to make his decision. Guti called me to thank me for my interest,” Galvez said.
Guti is a product of the Real Madrid youth system and enjoyed a glittering 15-year career at the club – lifting five La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies and appearing 542 times.
If Guti is appointed, it would be the second “in-house” appointment made by club president Florentino Perez after Zidane made the step up from coaching Real Madrid B in 2016.
Guti, a former Spanish international, has never held a senior managerial position

Mikel: England have 'very good chance' to win World Cup

Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel saw enough from England on Saturday to consider Gareth Southgate's team  potential World Cup winners.

England beat Mikel's Super Eagles 2-1 at Wembley as goals from Gary Cahill and captain Harry Kane were enough to begin preparations for Russia with a win .

Arsenal's Alex Iwobi pulled one back for the visitors, who are also World Cup-bound, but England did enough to secure the victory.

Former Chelsea midfielder Mikel played the whole 90 minutes and was impressed by what he saw from Southgate's men.

"I think they have a very good chance of going all the way because the youthfulness and energy in this team... you can feel it," he said.

"I think the pace in the team, you can feel it, and that is why we had some problems in the first half.

"In the second half we corrected some mistakes and played a lot better. I think the England team have a good chance."

Raheem Sterling started after a week in the media spotlight

Gary Cahill believes England colleague Raheem Sterling has conducted himself "fantastically" during a difficult week for the Three Lions star.

Sterling was headline news for the wrong reasons as England's preparations for the World Cup were dealt a double blow.

Firstly, the Manchester City man was photographed with a tattoo of a gun on his right leg before it then emerged he arrived late for England's training camp.

Manager Gareth Southgate kept faith in the 23-year-old and started him against Nigeria.

Sterling laid on the second goal for captain Harry Kane after Cahill had headed England in front inside seven minutes.

"It is to be expected but at the same time it would be nice if it was positive," Cahill said of the stories regarding England players leading into a big tournament.

"The lads are delighted and the goals are just around the corner for him I'm sure"

"Nevertheless, Raheem has been fantastic with it all, he manages that situation very, very well. Kept working hard, kept his focus and I think today you saw a performance that, apart from scoring a goal, he was very lively.

"So credit to him he has had to come over that but it is to be expected for whatever reason.

"I think first and foremost he has conducted himself fantastically well this week, he has managed that situation very well.

"He has come out today in front of a huge crowd and performed very well. He created quite a few chances... (there are) no issues, he played very well today, the lads are delighted and the goals are just around the corner for him I'm sure."

Why Breakups Are SO Damn Hard To Get Over, According To Science

Fascinating.

One of the most annoying things you can hear when you're dealing with a breakup is "Just let it go." You know you need to move on and get over the heartbreak, but you also need to process those feelings.

Some people are better than others at living a life post-breakup, and are more successful at not bringing the rejection and pain they felt from the breakup into their next relationship. But people have a more difficult time releasing the rejection, because it's revealing something about who they really are as a person, new Stanford research has discovered.

It turns out that if you believe personality is unchangeable , it's more likely that romantic rejections will cause you to doubt yourself. You will take the breakup personally and start to question who you are; you'll worry that you were rejected because of some unrealized flaw.

A study called " Changes in Self-Definition Impede Recovery from Rejection " published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin examined the link between rejection and a person's sense of self.

"The research shows that very basic beliefs about personality can contribute to whether people recover from, or remain mired in, the pain of rejection," said Carol Dweck, a professor of psychology who co-authored the paper along with psychology doctoral student Lauren Howe, who was the lead author.

Prior research suggests that people generally know how to handle the emotional pain of rejection, but sometimes, rejections can linger even for years and cause problems for future relationships .

"Few things in life are more traumatic than being rejected by someone who knows you well and then decides that she or he no longer cares for you or wants to be with you," Dweck said .

Howe and Dweck conducted five studies that involved 891 participants who filled out online surveys about both hypothetical rejections and real-life rejections. The subjects reported how their view of themselves changed due to the rejection. For an example, they rated how much they agreed with this statement: "I worry that there's something wrong with me because I got rejected."

In another of the studies, participants were asked if they believed people could change, signaling either a growth mindset (thriving on challenge and seeing failure as an opportunity for growth) or a fixed mindset (assuming your character, intelligence and creative ability are static givens and can't change in any meaningful way).

Dweck and Howe discovered that participants with a fixed or static view let the romantic rejection linger. Those participants saw rejection as more of a revelation of who they really were, which then caused them to be more closed and defensive in future relationships. So much so, that they were still being negatively influenced by rejections that had happened over five years before.

In contrast, participants with a growth mindset, though still hurt by the breakup, were ready to let it go and could see a bright future for themselves.

"Those who see rejections as revealing a core truth about themselves as a person, something about who they really are, may be more likely to struggle with recovery and carry rejection with them into the future," said Howe.

12 Proper Manners You Should Teach Your Child

As you embark to raise your child, teaching them to be well behaved should be on top of your priority list.

Having well-mannered kids puts them in a better position for success later life and let’s not talk of the embarrassment and shame it can save you as a parent.

Charity begins at home. Whatever lessons you instill in them should be replicated outside. For instance, you should teach them to be polite not only when they are around you, but as they interact with everyone else out there. There are certain lessons that you should definitely emphasize on your kid without compromising.

To get you started, here are 12 such manners that you should be keen to instill in your child.

The first and important lesson to teach your child is to say ‘please’ when requesting for something and ‘thank you’ to show gratitude once they have been helped or have received something.

Kids should learn the importance of keeping the earth clean. As such, you should teach your child not to litter.

You should teach your child to clean after themselves once play time is over. Also emphasize on cleaning up before they eat a meal.

Kids should be taught to always request for permission. Especially in instances where they are not sure about using something or taking it. Teach them to always ask first.

Make sure your child learns that it is improper to comment on other people’s characteristics and physical appearance. This they should keep to themselves unless they are complimenting them.

People’s privacy is important and you should make sure your child learns this. Teach him or her to knock on doors if they are closed and to always wait for the response.

Hygiene is an important aspect of your child’s life. Teach them how to maintain it by covering their mouth when coughing or sneezing. Insist that they should not pick their nose and to use a tissue instead.

Teach your kid to always hold the door open for someone if the opportunity presents itself. Teach them to say ‘thank you’ when the door is held open for them.

Teach your child proper table manners from an early age. They should learn not to reach over the table for items but that they should request whatever they need be passed over to them.

Gratitude is an important concept for your kids to learn. Whenever they receive gifts, especially over the mail, show them how to write a thank you note. Make sure they do not use gifts until they have expressed gratitude to whoever gives them the gift.

It is important to teach your child not to interrupt. This means they should not interrupt when two people are having a conversation or when someone is speaking to them. This is unless there is an emergency.

Teach your child to say ‘excuse me’ whenever they need to get someone’s attention or if they need to get through a crowd or if they have bumped into someone.

3 die in theater collapse

In Argentina

Three people were killed and two injured when a near century-old theater building in Argentina collapsed while undergoing renovation work, police said Thursday.

Three people were killed and two injured when a near century-old theater building in Argentina collapsed while undergoing renovation work, police said Thursday.

The historic building in the northern city of San Miguel de Tucuman collapsed around 8:00 pm (2300 GMT) on Wednesday with heavy traffic in the street outside.

Police first reported one man had been killed but revised the toll after discovering in the rubble two more bodies, those of another man and a woman.

There were no workers in the building at the time and police believe the victims were all passers-by. Two other women were being treated for multiple injuries but were out of danger.

Investigators believe the collapse of the French-style Parravicini theater was due to a problem in the structure that dates from its construction.


It closed in 1995 but had been under renovation for months to turn it into a commercial building

Jury tells Samsung to pay big for copying iPhone design

South Korean technology giant Samsung has been ordered to pay Apple $533 million for copying iPhone design features in a patent case. 

In Summary
Apple reasoned in court that design was so integral to the iPhone that it was the "article of manufacture" and worth all the money Samsung made by copying the features.
The three design patents in the case apply to the shape of the iPhone's black screen with rounded edges and a bezel, and the rows of colourful icons displayed.

Samsung no longer sells the smartphone models at issue in the case.

A federal court jury on Thursday ordered Samsung to pay Apple $533 million for copying iPhone design features in a patent case dating back seven years.

Jurors tacked on an additional $5 million in damages for a pair of patented functions. The award appeared to be a bit of a victory for Apple, which had argued in court that design was essential to the iPhone.

The case was keenly watched as a precedent for whether design is so important that it could actually be considered the "article of design" even in a product as complex as a smartphone.

"We don't think it is supported by the evidence," Samsung attorney John Quinn told US District Court Judge Lucy Koh after the verdict was read in her courtroom in Silicon Valley.

"We have every concern about the determinations about the article of manufacture."

Quinn declined an offer by the judge to send jurors back for further deliberation, saying Samsung would pursue post-trial motions to address its concerns about the verdict.

Juror Christine Calderon said the panel agreed that one of the design patents — the grid of coloured icons — did represent the whole phone, while the other two at issue in the trial were seen as the display assembly that gave the iPhone its look.

She compared it to the Mona Lisa: "you use the paint, but it is not the article of manufacture."

"I had to really think about it," the 26-year-old Calderon, a technical writer, said after Koh dismissed the jury.
"We kind of felt like we ended up at a happy medium."

Long legal road

The case had been sent back to the district court following a Supreme Court decision to revisit an earlier $400 million damage award.
Apple reasoned in court that design was so integral to the iPhone that it was the "article of manufacture" and worth all the money Samsung made by copying the features.

The lower figure sought by the South Korean consumer electronics titan would have involved treating the design features as components.

The jury had been asked to determine whether design features at issue in the case are worth all profit made from Samsung smartphones that copied them — or whether those features are worth just a fraction because they are components.

Apple argued in court that the iPhone was a "bet-the-company" project at Apple and that design is as much the "article of manufacture" as the device itself.

The three design patents in the case apply to the shape of the iPhone's black screen with rounded edges and a bezel, and the rows of colourful icons displayed.

Samsung no longer sells the smartphone models at issue in the case.

Two utility patents also involved apply to "bounce-back" and "tap-to-zoom" functions.
An original trial finding that Samsung violated Apple patents preceded a lengthy appellate duelling over whether design features such as rounded edges are worth all the money made from a phone.

Technology vs Style

Samsung challenged the legal precedent that requires the forfeiture of all profits from a product, even if only a single design patent has been infringed.

The US Supreme Court in 2016 overturned the penalty imposed on the South Korean consumer electronics giant.

Justices ruled that Samsung should not be required to forfeit the entire profits from its smartphones for infringement on design components, sending the case back to a lower court.

"Today's decision flies in the face of a unanimous Supreme Court ruling in favour of Samsung on the scope of design patent damages," the South Korean company said in response to an AFP inquiry.

"We will consider all options to obtain an outcome that does not hinder creativity and fair competition for all companies and consumers."

Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

The key question of the value of design patents rallied Samsung supporters in the tech sector, and Apple backers in the creative and design communities.

Samsung won the backing of major Silicon Valley and other IT sector giants, including Google, Facebook, Dell and Hewlett-Packard, claiming a strict ruling on design infringement could lead to a surge in litigation.

Apple was supported by big names in fashion and manufacturing. Design professionals, researchers and academics, citing precedents like Coca-Cola's iconic soda bottle.

The case is one element of a $548 million penalty — knocked down from an original $1 billion jury award — Samsung was ordered to pay for copying iPhone patents.

Tanzanian varsity develops app to track disease outbreaks

In Summary
AfyaData analyses data collected from the field and submits it to the central server via internet connection..
The software then sends an alert to health officials if any abnormal pattern is identified in the data.
The launch comes at a time the country is intensifying response after deadly Ebola outbreak in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

AfyaData is mobile and web-based application and can submit information offline including GPS location and photos attached to the data collected.

The launch comes at a time the country is intensifying response after deadly Ebola outbreak in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

SUA vice chancellor Prof Raphael Chibuda said AfyaData will be used to track diseases such as Ebola, Rift Valley Fever, and other infectious diseases.

Related Content

Tanzania boosts Ebola response in border regions

The application, according to the developers, is currently in use by over 400 community members and health officials in Ngorongoro, Morogoro, Kilosa, Malinyi, Ulanga and Kibaha districts in northern and eastern parts of the country.

The software was developed by a team of animal, human and ICT specialists at the Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) based at Sokoine university.

The project was funded by a US-based organisation, Ending Pandemics.

It is available for download on Google Play Store.

How Reps laid to rest bill seeking to override Buhari's veto

Peace Corps

Here's the full gist of how Reps members dashed the only hope of reviving Peace Corps bill.

Attempt to override President Muhammad Buhari's veto on Peace Corps Bill, was rejected by members of the House of Representatives on Thursday.

President Buhari, had on February 27, 2018, declined assent on a Bill for an Act to establish Nigerian Peace Corps, citing paucity of funds and duplication of duties of existing security agencies as main reasons.

But the lawmakers felt the bill was popular and going by the trend of unemployment and insecurity in the country, a Peace Corps organisation enacted as government agency would help curb some of the challenges.

Delta lawmaker, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, while addressing newsmen in Abuja, had said "President Buhari made a costly mistake by declining assent to the bill."

Ossai had vowed to "personally undertake collation of signatures" for overriding the President's veto.

Consequently, the lawmakers, again, began the process to give legal backing to the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria, when Kogi lawmaker, Hon. Sunday Karimi sponsored the bill and it passed first reading on March 21, 2018.

The politics and intrigues...

The interest of the lawmakers, however, started waxing cold, when, members at the front burners were allegedly being "pressurized by the Presidency" to back down on the move.

It was gathered that some members of the Parliament, especially, those from the northern part of the country; those who didn't want to risk a return ticket on the platform of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) under the leadership of the President, and those who  for fear of investigation over alleged corruption,began to bow to pressure.

Hon. Karimi, who sponsored the overriding process through first reading, backed out from the move, leaving the bill to become orphan and kept in limbo, at the mercy of Committee on Rules and Business for two months.

At the risk of final extinction and in a move to allow the bill complete its legislative circuit, the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Emmanuel Orker-Jev, on Thursday prepared the bill for a second reading.

The bill, which was slated for number one business on the Order Paper of Thursday, May 24, 2018, was captioned, 'A Bill for an Act to establish Nigerian Peace Corps, to develop, empower and provide gainful employment for the youth, facilitate peace, volunteerism, community services, neighbourhood watch and nation-building; and for related matters (HB. 89)'.

Orker-Jev had just started reading the lead debate on the bill, when the chamber, which was half-empty, started witnessing the influx of members, while lobbying became intensified on the floor of the House.

While leading the debate, Orker-Jev said, "Apart from the jobs that would be crested through the establishment of Peace Corps, it will compliment the activities of other security agencies like police and civil Defence to maintain law and order in the country".

Taraba lawmaker, Hon. Rimande Shawulu, speaking in favour of the bill, said there was need for the establishment of the corps to assist other security agencies.

"There is need for us to bridge the gap in internal security. Actually there's a very wide gap in policing of this country," Shawulu, who is Chairman, House Committee on Army, said.

"There are too many ungoverned in Nigeria and there are too many black spots in Nigeria. Nigeria also lacks adequate manpower that could assist the security agencies in intelligence gathering", he added.

Lagos lawmaker, Hon. Rita Orji, was of the opinion that the fund recovered from the Abacha loots should be channelled to funding the Peace Corps.

Speaker after Speaker, the lawmakers took turn to debate, in favour or against overriding the President's veto.

The summary of the line of debate of pro-Buhari lawmakers was that, the reasons given by the President was cogent enough to lay the Bill to rest.

They argued that, having served in the Nigerian Army as a General and serving currently as the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Buhari has first hand information about the security of the country more than anyone else.

Those who were in support of the bill argued that, being a Commander-In-Chief does not place in the shoulders of Mr. President, the exclusive knowledge of security in the country, adding that the Corps could also help in reducing crimes and insecurity if established.

Hon. Ossai, who had earlier boasted to undertake collation of signatures to override Buhari's veto but eventually perceived to have bowed to pressure, said; "The rejection by Mr President gives us the opportunity to redeem ourselves for passing the Bill in the first place."

The Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa (Kano), admitted that the Corps would provide job opportunities to teeming Nigerian graduates but since the President had vetoed the bill, he was in the better position to know what was good for the country.

Buhari's reelection campaign

The House, was however, thrown into rowdy session, when, a pro-Buhari lawmaker from Sokoto state, Hon. Musa Seriki Adams used the platform to campaign for Buhari's re-election.

"The solution Nigeria's security challenges and what will bring lasting peace is not by supporting Peace Corps Bill but by supporting President Buhari to come for a second term"; the move which was resisted through points of order from Hon. Jonathan Gaza (Nasarawa) and Hon. Nkem Abonta (Abia).

Other lawmakers who kicked against the bill were, Hon. Idris Wase (Plateau), Hon. Baballe Bashir (Kano), Hon. Johnson Oguma (Edo), Hon. Adamu Shika (Niger), Hon. Johnson Agbonayima (Edo) and Hon. Benson Babajide (Lagos).

Dogara was helpless

The last minute effort of the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, to salvage the situation could not yield result, as pro-Buhari lawmakers seemed to have been adequately mobilised for a serious showdown.

As if that was all they came to the plenary to do, as soon as the question was pulled by the Speaker and a resounding 'Nay' voice votes rented the air, the pro-Buhari lawmakers were seen jumping up, hugging each other and celebrating that the bill fainted, thereafter, all of them left the chambers, leaving a few others to continue with the rest business of the day.

Any hope?

With the setback suffered on Thursday, May 24, 2018, the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill is therefore left at the mercy of the executive arm of government, which solely reserves the right to recall the Bill and take a second look at issues formulated therefrom.

On the other hand, the Bill, which had already gone through various legislative processes at the National Assembly, would not have much stress in scaling through the hurdles when such opportunity resurfaces in the 9th Assembly, after 2019 general elections.

The Peace Corps of Nigeria which was registered under 'Part C' of the Company and Allied Matters Act of 1992 at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), would continue to exist as a Non-Governmental Organisation, with special consultative status with the United Nations and African Union.

No official statement has been released from the leadership of the Corps in reaction to the latest development, at press time.

But the national commandant of the Corps, Dickson Akoh, had earlier described President Buhari's rejection of the bill as a conspiracy against Nigerian youths.

In the midst of all these, the Police has also failed to vacate the headquarters of the Peace Corps located in Jabi, Abuja, despite the court and Reps orders asking the Force to leave the premises.

UN gives $2m to stem Nigeria cholera outbreak

The UN has allocated $2m (£1.5m) to help tackle a cholera outbreak in the north-east of Nigeria.

At least 50 people have been killed by the disease since the end of March.

There have been more than 400 confirmed cases in Yobe state, where many people live in overcrowded conditions having fled their homes because of the Boko Haram insurgency.

The funds from the UN will help provide safe water for more than 1.6 million people and improve sanitation in the affected communities.

But the UN said more resources were needed especially now rainy season had set in and the risk of outbreaks and spreading of water-borne diseases was higher.

Why Africa’s volcanic soil swells legs

Podoconiosis is a painful condition that affects more than four million people across tropical Africa.

The characteristic swollen legs are caused by long-term exposure to irritant volcanic soils found in countries like Cameroon and Burundi.

One and a half million people in Ethiopia alone are living with podoconiosis.

Gail Davey from Brighton and Sussex Medical School and Addis Ababa University found that simple routines such as washing feet and wearing shoes helped to reduce acute attacks by 20%. She told BBC Health Check about her research:

Algerian blogger jailed for 10 years for spying

An Algerian court has sentenced blogger Merzoug Touati to 10 years in prison for sharing sensitive information with a foreign country.

The court in the port city of Bejaia found Mr Touati, 30, guilty of "leaking intelligence to agents of a foreign country to damage the military and diplomatic interests of Algeria".

The prosecutors have sought life imprisonment.

Rights group Amnesty International has tweeted his picture saying Mr Touati was being imprisoned for simply for posting online:

The conviction is related to an interview Mr Touati conducted with an Israeli foreign ministry spokesman and posted on his blog in January 2017. He has been in custody since his arrest.

However, the court dropped the accusation of inciting armed disobedience against the state, which is punishable by death under Algerian law.

Mr Touati’s lawyer Boubakeur Essidik Hemaili told news agency AFP that his client was innocent as he "was exercising his rights guaranteed by the constitution. He can talk to whom he wants".

Mr Touati will appeal the sentence, according to his lawyers.

The Vice-President of the Algerian League to Defend Human Rights, Said Salhi, expressed his "disappointment" with the verdict.

Ten years in prison is very harsh given the facts."

NDLEA to curb drug abuse through “special raids

In FCT

He explained that the SRS as the name implies involves surprise raids on the traffickers’ black spots and hideouts in the territory such as Zone 4, Bannex, Jabi and other areas in the outskirts of the FCT.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), FCT command says it is poised to curb drug abuse and trafficking among youths in the territory through “Surprise Raiding Strategy” (SRS).

Mr Peter Adegbe, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

He explained that the SRS as the name implies involves surprise raids on the traffickers’ black spots and hideouts in the territory such as Zone 4, Bannex, Jabi and other areas in the outskirts of the FCT.

According to Adegbe, the strategy is part of the agency’s efforts in tackling drug vendors and traffickers in the territory and environs.

He said the command would achieve the goal by ensuring that the demand and supply of both cocaine and cannabis sativa are reduced to the barest minimum.

“Once people, especially the youths, are well informed about the dangers of drug abuse, the demand will drastically reduce and this will affect the supply.

“The command has chosen to tackle the menace of drug abuse and ridding the territory with this new strategy,” he said.

The spokesman said that the menace of drug abuse had become a global concern as citizens particularly young people in several countries were engaged in the act.

“It is disheartening that children at tender age already have problem using drugs.

“There should be deliberate and sustained efforts at educating the younger generation on drug prevention,’’ Adegbe said.

The spokesman said the command would not relent in its efforts to rid the FCT of hard drugs, adding that several campaigns had been held in this regard.

He urged Nigerians especially parents and guardians to give listening ears to their children and youths who were the vulnerable groups against drug abuse.

Adegbe also appealed to residents of the FCT to join hands with the NDLEA in ensuring a responsible society void of social vices.


“The public needs to understand that they should also support the NDLEA in tackling this drug menace,” he said.

Lagos Muslim pilgrims board begins payment for BTA

2018 Hajj

The state Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, announced this on Friday in Lagos at a meeting with 19 appointed coordinators to manage pilgrim affairs in the state.

The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has commenced payment of Basic Travelling Allowance (BTA) to intending pilgrims for the 2018 Hajj.

The state Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, announced this on Friday in Lagos at a meeting with 19 appointed coordinators to manage pilgrim affairs in the state.

AbdulLateef, who doubles as the “Amir-ul-Hajj” for Lagos state, said that pilgrims would be given the opportunity to exchange a minimum of N244,000 for 800 dollars within a two week window.

“We urge the pilgrims to proceed to the pilgrim board’s office at the old secretariat for their BTA without further delay.

“Each pilgrim is entitled to exchange a minimum of 800 dollars for N244,000 at the official rate of N305.00 to a dollar as directed by the Federal Government,” he said.

He advised the intending pilgrims to take advantage of the concessionary exchange rate and to present their receipt of payment and international passport to get their BTA.

“It is advisable that they come forward before the window closes because the dollar rate is higher in the black markets and banks.

“Only fully paid pilgrims are entitled to the official rate and must come with their receipts of payment and international passports,” he said.

He also advised Muslims to use the fasting period to seek Allah’s forgiveness and mercy for themselves and other faithful worldwide.

“You should invest your resources to propagate good deeds and help your Muslim brothers and sisters as much as you can as this is more rewarding in this blessed month of Ramadan,” he said.

The Executive Secretary of the board, Mr Muftau Okoya, emphasised the directive of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) that all intending pilgrims must possess a National Identity Card.


He urged the intending pilgrims to register for the identity cards, while expressing the determination of the state government to ensure a successful Hajj.

Presidential aspirant wants a woman as his deputy for 2019 election

Fela Durotoye

He said he wants a running mate who is also capable enough to fill the president's shoes.

Presidential aspirant, Fela Durotoye, has disclosed that he's currently searching for a female running mate to stand next to him to contest in the 2019 presidential election.

While speaking during an appearance on Lagos-based Nigeria Info FM on Friday, May 18, 2018, Durotoye noted that he believes in empowering women as it is a great way to create a better society.

Durotoye, a management consultant and leadership expert, said his choice of running mate will be a woman who is quite capable to become president in the event something happens to the president.

He said, "I believe in women. I believe in not only giving women opportunities but support to women and I believe that when you support women, more than half of your society, you can only have a better society.

"So women are not less than men but equal partners to men and, more importantly, if you empower that group of people, you'll have an amazing society.

"The gender distribution and gender balance policy that we have is a 50-50 gender balance and there is a very strong chance that, if everything goes the way I would like it to go, my running mate will be a woman.

"I have been very clear and we're currently in the search for a female vice presidential candidate who will not be chosen just simply because she's female, but she'll be competent to be a president should anything happen to the president.

"That tells you the kind of way I feel about women; I think women should be given the greatest opportunities to do great things."

Durotoye to contest with ANN

Durotoye declared his intention to run for president on the platform of the Alliance for a New Nigeria (ANN) on February 22, 2018.

He believes Nigeria has all the resources it needs to be a desirable place for anyone to inhabit, provided it gets the right leadership.

In his declaration speech, he disclosed that he wants to see a Nigeria where old parties with their old ideology of godfatherism would become history.

Soldiers who rape girls in IDP camps should be severely punished

Pulse Opinion

An Amnesty International report on how Nigerian soldiers rape women in IDP camps, should be fully investigated and culprits severely punished.

When my editor forwarded me the link containing Amnesty International’s latest report on Nigeria, it took me a while to move on to other stories of the day. I was stunned, depressed, horrified and outraged all at once.

I am still stunned, depressed, horrified and outraged.

The original report is over 70 pages long, but the good guys at Pulse have summarized it all for you and you can actually read the abridged version here.

Amnesty International’s latest report tells of how soldiers and members of the so called civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) take turns to rape women and girls who are fleeing the Boko Haram insurgency, as a pre-condition for offering them food.

Nigeria has been waging a war with Boko Haram since 2009. As the terrorists  sack one community after another and burn homes for fun, what is left is a humanitarian crisis that sees thousands fleeing to internally displaced persons camps for some shelter and food.

According to Amnesty International, it is these vulnerable women that soldiers battling Boko Haram forcibly demand sex from; and have them raped when the women aren’t willing to give up their bodies for a bowl of food. The punishment for refusing to satisfy the sexual urge of a soldier or civilian JTF is that you are beaten, brutalized or starved, Amnesty International says.

The report quotes one victim of the sex for food scandal, identified as 20-year-old  Ama (not her real name), as saying: "They will give you food but in the night they will come back around 5pm or 6pm and they will tell you to come with them… One [Civilian JTF] man came and brought food to me.

“The next day he said I should take water from his place [and I went]. He then closed the tent door behind me and raped me. He said I gave you these things, if you want them we have to be husband and wife”.

Mrs. Osai Ojigho who is the Director of Amnesty International in Nigeria said; “Ten others in the same camp said that they were also coerced into becoming ‘girlfriends’ of security officials to save themselves from starvation. Most of these women had already lost children or other relatives due to lack of food, water and healthcare in the camp.

“The sexual exploitation continues at an alarming level as women remain desperate to access sufficient food and livelihood opportunities.

“Women said the sexual exploitation follows an organized system, with soldiers openly coming into the camp for sex and Civilian JTF members choosing the “very beautiful” women and girls to take to the soldiers outside. Women reported they were too afraid to refuse demands for sex.

“Sex in these highly coercive circumstances is always rape, even when physical force is not used, and Nigerian soldiers and Civilian JTF members have been getting away with it. They act like they don’t risk sanction, but the perpetrators and their superiors who have allowed this to go unchallenged have committed crimes under international law and must be held to account.”

As you would expect, the Nigerian military and federal government have dismissed Amnesty International’s report as a fabrication.

The authorities say Amnesty International’s sole motive is to damage the country’s reputation before the international community.

This isn’t the first time the Nigerian military would be dismissing an Amnesty International report as a tissue of lies. However, you only have to look at how soldiers treat civilians down South at peace time, to conclude that accusations of human rights abuses often levelled against men in uniform aren’t entirely baseless.

Beyond dismissing allegations of sexual and human rights abuses with characteristic bellicosity and aloofness, the Nigerian army and the federal government should embark on some soul searching whose ultimate goal should be to cleanse law enforcement of the bad eggs who engage in these utterly despicable and condemnable acts.

Certainly, not every soldier is out there raping vulnerable women. There are decent soldiers protecting vulnerable persons from Boko Haram's bombs and bullets and who do not solicit sex as payment for their work.

However, the overall goal should be to make sure that those who prey on vulnerable women in the northeast are singled out and punished in accordance with military and state laws.