Having so far performed dismally in the qualifiers for the next world cup, the country’s fate is hanging in the balance. That gold paled in comparison to the World Cup because it is an age grade competition. However, no foreign coach has won the FIFA World CUP for any country. Conversely, the late Shaibu Amodu, and the late Stephen Keshi lost their jobs as national coaches on account of lame excuse such as insistence on calling the shots. Finally, the NFF must develop financial capacity to pay the salaries and other emoluments of whoever they appoint as national team coach.
Source:The Guardian
June 29, 2024 15:23 UTC
Instead of the death penalty for drug offenders proposed by the Nigerian Drug and Law Enforcement (NDLEA), human rights campaigners have called on the National Assembly to focus on appropriate proactive measures to block the pipeline through which people can access illicit drugs. READ ALSO: Senate okays death sentence for makers of illicit drugsHope Behind Bars gave this warning in Abuja at an event to commemorate the International Day Against Drug Abuse And Illicit Drug Trafficking. Adeoye went on: “A review of data from Southeast Asia, including countries like Singapore and Indonesia, shows that the death penalty has not led to a substantial reduction in drug trafficking. “This indicates that the death penalty does not solve the underlying issues related to drug crime and may divert attention and resources from more effective strategies such as harm reduction and rehabilitation. “This is typically defined as those involving intentional killing of which drug offenses do not meet the threshold.”She called for the development of detailed guidelines for appropriate imprisonment and fines for drug offenses by categorising them based on the type of narcotic and specific quantities involved.
Source:The Guardian
June 29, 2024 11:52 UTC
The Special Adviser to Ekiti State government on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Adetoun Agboola, has warned critics to avoid playing politics with government’s efforts aimed at improving the living standards of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs). This followed complaints by the new leadership of the Joint Association of Persons Living with Disabilities on members’ welfare. The government, she said, has integrated technology into special schools and established three new special schools catering to the deaf, blind, and physically challenged. But Chairman, Joint Association of Persons Living with Disabilities, Ekiti State, Tokunbo Familusi, identified inaccessible buildings and insufficient implementation of the disability law as some of the issues. He called for more job opportunities, scholarships, and additional special schools, particularly in rural areas.
Source:The Guardian
June 29, 2024 08:43 UTC
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has raised an alarm over alleged intelligence received about a grand plot to frame Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the spokesperson for the G60 opposition lawmakers, with fabricated charges of murder, rape, kidnapping, gun running, and other crimes. A statement from the CUPP stated that the alleged plot is reportedly linked to Ugochinyere’s stance on the Rivers State Crisis and his defence of democratic principles and intra-party procedures. The CUPP has urged the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police commissioner, Ben Igwe, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate the intelligence and ensure that no police unit is involved in any plot to frame Ugochinyere. He is also a ranking member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the ruling party in Rivers State.
Source:The Guardian
June 29, 2024 04:28 UTC
Renowned Afrobeat diva and self-acclaimed Africa original bad girl, Tiwatope Savage known professionally as Tiwa Savage has announced the official release date for her highly anticipated debut movie, Water and Garri. The movie is set to premiere exclusively on Prime Video on May 10 and accessible to audiences in over 240 countries worldwide. The announcement was accompanied by a promotional flier featuring herself alongside Nollywood actors, Jemima Osunde and Mike Afolayan. In her announcement post, Tiwa Savage expressed her excitement, addressing her followers as “My beautiful people” and inviting them to mark their calendars for the movie’s premiere. She captioned the post, “See you May 10th @primevideo,” generating a flurry of anticipation and support from her enthusiastic fanbase.
Source:The Guardian
June 29, 2024 02:24 UTC
My relationship with Femi Falana was however adversarial and turbulent. And it was the confrontation between us, during the period when student union activism at the University of Ibadan was most critical, that brought Prof. Ayo Banjo as a humane mediator. I cut my student union activism as a member of the executive of the Federation of Oyo State Student Union in 1981. I refused these conditions as a matter of principle, and therefore, lost the election, and Femi Falana was the hatchet man who won. Unfortunately, his tenure set off perhaps one of the most violent student riots in the history of student activism at the University of Ibadan.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
June 29, 2024 01:18 UTC
In its gut, the party thinks that idealism and big ideas kept Labour out of power, and that it is better off without them. If Labour wants voters to repose hope in it, then the party needs to spell out its ambitions. The Conservatives and Labour have made economic growth central to the political agenda without explaining where it will come from in an unstable world. Unlike the Tories, Labour understands that an accelerated green transition is a necessary act of shifting from the past towards the future. That is why the Guardian would vote, with hope and enthusiasm, for Labour to lead Britain to a better future.
Source:The Guardian
June 29, 2024 00:11 UTC
The Kano State government has downplayed the recent hoisting of traditional and official flags at the Nassarawa Palace, the residence of the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, calling it an attempt to attract public attention. On Thursday morning, the flag was observed to be raised at the Nassarawa Palace, sparking conversations about its implications. There is no confusion or doubt that Emir Sanusi is the Emir of Kano,” he stated to newsmen. The same flag is also hoisted at the Gidan Rumfa Palace, the residence of the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing dispute. The state government maintains that there is no ambiguity about the rightful Emir, affirming Muhammadu Sanusi II’s position as the legitimate Emir of Kano.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
June 28, 2024 21:00 UTC
Conservative blocAlito – MajorityBarrett – MajorityGorsuch – MajorityKavanaugh – MajorityRoberts – MajorityThomas – MajorityLiberal blocJackson – MinorityKagan – MinoritySotomayor – MinorityThe US supreme court has ruled that cities in the US west can criminalize unhoused people sleeping outside even when they lack access to shelter. For some people, sleeping outside is their only option. The appeals court ruled that Grants Pass could not enforce its camping ban if it didn’t provide shelter, saying that criminalizing sleeping outside when shelter is unavailable was an eighth amendment violation. Lawyers for the unhoused residents of Grants Pass said the city’s policies had, in effect, banished unhoused people from existing within the jurisdiction. California counted more than 123,400 people living outside, accounting for nearly half of all unsheltered people in the US.
Source:The Guardian
June 28, 2024 20:24 UTC
A former United States of America President Barack Obama has spoken out in support of Joe Biden following what many consider a challenging debate performance. In a statement released via X on Friday, Obama acknowledged the difficulty of debate nights while emphasising the stark choice voters face in the upcoming election. Obama wrote, “Bad debate nights happen. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. http://joebiden.com.”On Thursday, Biden was locked in a fiery debate in the US state of Georgia against his predecessor, Donald Trump; his (Biden’s) first debate of the 2024 election cycle.
Source:Punch
June 28, 2024 20:04 UTC
The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed up 531 illegal pharmacies and patent medicines premises in the Federal Capital Territory, for various offences. Esumobi noted that they have seen cases where licensed patent medicine shops administer drugs with narrow margins of safety through the intravenous route in unhygienic environments. Orientation and continuing education programmes have been organised for owners of Patent Medicine shops in FCT on a regular basis. Esumobi explained that this is made up of 235 pharmacies, 336 patent medicine shops and 337 illegal premises. The premises sealed include 90 pharmacies, 144 patent medicine shops and 297 illegal medicine shops.”He added, “Non-renewal of premises certificates, stocking and sale of medicines above the approved medicine list for Patent Medicine Vendors, wholesalers carrying out retail activities, Patent Medicine Shops engaging in Clinical Practice, Poor documentation, Poor storage facilities, Stocking of Ethical products without the supervision of a pharmacist.
Source:The Guardian
June 28, 2024 18:46 UTC
In the heart of Nigeria’s rainforest lies Oban,a peaceful Ejagham community in Cross River State where the Akachak festival, an annual spectacle has found rhythm in the cultural chord of Nigeria. In the midst of these incredible natural manifestations thrives a vibrant cultural ensemble crested Akachak festival. Akachak festival is where nature meets culture in a perfect harmony. It showcases the rich and undiluted cultural heritage of the Ejagham people and the harmonious relationship between the people and nature. The celebration brings together the community, tourists, nature and cultural enthusiasts to revel in this beauty to the supreme favour of the sustenance of this providence.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
June 28, 2024 18:35 UTC
Early in the investigation, detectives said Taneja and an unidentified man were arguing before Taneja was punched. Days after the decision was announced, Taneja's family shared a statement with WUSA9 through their attorney, Kaveh Noorishad. In the statement, Taneja's younger sister says she is speaking on behalf of herself and her grief-stricken mother, whom she refers to as "the only surviving members of the Taneja family." The statement goes on to say the Taneja family has watched surveillance video footage from that night. The family claims that the case was not objectively presented to the grand jury that later decided not to press charges.
Source:Punch
June 28, 2024 18:12 UTC
Towards addressing the worsening food crisis in Nigeria’s North-east the United Nations has announced the allocation of $11 million to the country. He said: “Acute malnutrition is increasing rapidly in North-east Nigeria and food insecurity has reached the highest level in seven years. In 2023, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) projected that over 31.5 million people in Nigeria would face acute food insecurity between June and August 2024. For crops like maize, production was expected to decrease by 8 per cent, falling from 12.75 million metric tonnes in 2021 to 11 million metric tons this year. Guinea Corn (Sorghum) production was expected to fall from about 6.742 million metric tonnes to 6,700 million tonnes.
Source:The Guardian
June 28, 2024 13:52 UTC
A badly wounded Joe Biden looked to get his re-election campaign back on track Friday after a debate performance that unnerved supporters and left allies of Donald Trump unable to conceal their glee. “There are no two ways about it—that was not a good debate for Joe Biden,” Democratic former White House communications chief Kate Bedingfield told host network CNN as the curtain came down on the match-up. David Axelrod, a senior advisor in Barack Obama’s administration, said Biden’s performance had “confirmed people’s fears” about an 81-year-old being too old for the Oval Office. Even a German official coordinating cooperation with the United States told a German newspaper that Democrats should consider replacing Biden as their candidate. Ralph Reed, chairman of the conservative Faith and Freedom Coalition, compared the debate to a prize fight “that should have been stopped in the early rounds.”AFP
Source:Punch
June 28, 2024 13:24 UTC