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Monday, 17 June 2024 14:43
I Was Attacked And Abused Online For Opening Up On Struggles With Sickle Cell Disease – Adekunle Gold
Popular Nigerian singer, Adekunle Gold has spoken about how he was dragged online after he opened up on his struggles with sickle cell disease.
The ‘Ogaranya’ crooner disclosed that he was “attacked and abused” on social media following his revelation.
Speaking in a recent interview with CNN, Adekunle Gold said he decided to create awareness about sickle cell disease after summoning the courage to speak up.
The singer said he is on a mission to make people living with sickle cell feel “safe.”
He said, “I want people living with sickle cell to feel safe, to feel like they have help and support.
“They call you a sickler… Recently, when I talked about it [my struggle with sickle cell] on the song [‘5-star’], I saw a lot of tweets from people attacking and abusing me.
“I’m speaking about sickle cell disease now because I just got the courage to come out and speak up openly about it. A lot of people can’t share their stories like I can.”
Adekunle Gold said he has been aware of his diagnosis since he was a child, adding that growing up, he constantly put himself in situations that made him sick.
“I’ve known about my sickle cell disease all my life. I knew since I was a child that I couldn’t do certain things. They said, ‘You know you have sickle cell, you can’t play football in the rain just like your peers.’ And I was like, ‘No, I want to play.’ I’ve always been rebellious,” he recalled.
“I’ve known about my sickle cell disease all my life because growing up, I had crises every time. I was in the hospital back-to-back.
“As a child, I constantly put myself in situations that made me sick. And it affected me a lot. For example, I’m not supposed to be in the rain, so what happened to me was that I would have pains in my joints from being in the rain. But I always knew that I didn’t want this thing [sickle cell] to define me.”
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Monday, 17 June 2024 14:39
Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ Made History, Becomes First African Song to Earn 1 billion On-demand Streams in US
Popular Nigerian singer, Divine Ikubor, aka Rema has made history with his hit song ‘Calm Down.’
This is as the song became the first African song to earn 1 billion on-demand streams in the United States.
According to TAmerican Music Stats Company, Chart Data, ‘Calm Down’ has earned over 1 billion on-demand streams in the US.
“REMA’s “Calm Down” becomes the first Afrobeats song in history to earn over 1 billion on-demand streams in the US,” Chart Data tweeted.
In August last year, ‘Calm Down remix’ with Selena Gomez became the first African song to hit the billion mark in Spotify’s history.
The original version of ‘Calm Down’ was recognised by Guinness World Record as the first number one song on the world’s first regional streaming chart, MENA.
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Monday, 17 June 2024 14:37
Abia Govt Raises Alarm As Cholera Outbreak Hits Six LG
Abia State government has warned citizens against unhealthy hygiene following an alert from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on the increasing incidence of cholera cases nationwide.
The government through the State Ministry of Health in a statement said a total of 109 suspected cases of cholera have been reported in the state from January to June 2024, across six local government areas.
According to the ministry Ohafia recorded one case, Ikwuano: 9 cases, Osisioma 1 case, Bende 17 cases, Umunneochi 39 cases and Arochukwu 42 cases.
The ministry further stated that only two of the samples collected tested positive using rapid diagnostic testing (RDT), adding that both samples were sent to the National Reference Lab in Abuja, and were confirmed negative for cholera.
“The Abia State Ministry of Health emphasizes that Abia State has not recorded any confirmed positive case of cholera within the period under review.
“Nevertheless, in light of the ongoing outbreak reported in some states, the Ministry has instituted response measures towards prevention and identification of any suspected cases, and appropriate treatment.
” As part of the intervention, citizens are advised to continue to observe preventive measures to stay safe.
“Preventive measures include ensuring access to safe drinking water, practicing sanitation including proper hand washing and maintaining personal hygiene, handling food safely and washing fruits and vegetables properly before consumption.
“The Ministry of Health urges citizens to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of cholera. Further updates will be provided as necessary” the release said.
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Monday, 17 June 2024 10:03
Multichoice Readjusts Subscription Prices For Dstv, Gotv After Court Order
MultiChoice, owners of DStv and GOtv has readjusted its subscription prices for DStv and GOtv.
The company reverted to the old subscription prices following a court order mandating the pay television company to halt its move to hike prices.
The readjustment has reflected on the company's apps according to checks on Sunday, June 16, 2024.
Recall that the company had vowed to challenge the order of the Competition Consumer Tribunal (CCT) after reporting a decline in its subscriber base in Nigeria, where it lost over a million subscribers.
Old DStv prices vs new ones
Checks show that DStv subscribers are now required to pay N29,500 instead of N37,000 for the Premium package, and Compact+ package subscribers can now pay N19,800 instead of the new price of N25,000.
Compact Bouquet subscribers can now pay the previous rate of N12,500 instead of N15,700, while Confam package subscribers must pay the old price of N7,400 instead of the increased rate of N9,300 per month.
Yanga package subscribers' prices have reverted to the old N4,200 per month instead of the new N5,100.
Padi subscribers will pay the former price of N2,950 instead of the N3,600 new price.
Old GOtv prices vs new
GOtv subscribers are now required to pay the old rates of N12,500 for the Super+ package from the N15,700 it increased to.
GOtv Super users have their prices reverted to N7,600 from N9,600, which increased before the court order.
Others include N5,700 for GOtv Max, N3,950 for GOtv Joli, and N2,700 for the lowest package, GOtv Jinja, which subscribers will now pay from the new N3,300 rate.
It is still being determined if the company is also offering a month-free subscription as ordered by the court. No official comments from MultiChoice to confirm the development, as the company's officials could not comment on the issue.
According to reports, the company hiked its subscription prices to align with market realities following high inflation in Nigeria and the naira devaluation.
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Monday, 17 June 2024 09:52
UNILORIN Student Hacked Dad’s Account, Stole N25M for gambling
Mary Grace Fajonyomi, a professor of guidance and counseling at the University of Ilorin (Unilorin) has narrated how a student stole millions from his father's account to play bet9ja.
Fajonyomi said the student hacked his father’s bank account, withdrew over N25 million from his gratuity and used part of the money to play Bet9ja and organised a party for his girlfriend.
The don made disclosed this while delivering a keynote address at a stakeholders’ dialogue themed: “Stemming the Tide of Social Vices Among Students: Panacea for Growth”, organised by the Kwara State Government.
She expressed concern about the level of moral decadence, calling on parents and the government to stand up to the menace.
She said, “I have served as a member of the Anti-Sex for Grade Committee at various universities and chairman of Exam Malpractice Committee at Unilọrin.
“There are many cases we are handling about students who are not able to register because they have used their school fees for gambling, especially Bet9ja.
“We had a case of internet fraud where a student got his father’s ATM card, hacked his account and withdrew over N25m from his gratuity which he used to play Bet9ja and lavished the rest to throw a party for his girlfriend.”
While noting that sexual harassment was becoming an epidemic in tertiary institutions in the country despite measures by authorities to curb it, she said, “The prevalence of the scourge still calls for concern, and the growing trend among lecturers/university workers and students is alarming. All of us are neck deep into it, and there must be collective efforts to fight it for the benefit of the children and society at large.”
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Monday, 17 June 2024 09:36
Sexual Harassment: More Women Testify Against Foreign Affairs Perm. Sec
More women have lodged s3xual harassment allegations against the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa.
This is according to a report by PRNigeria.
Lamuwa had been accused of s3xually harassing one Simisola Fajemirokun-Ajayi who is said to be an aide to the minister.
The lady wrote a petition to the minister which forced the latter to equally write to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, to probe the allegation.
Consequently, the Head of Service set up a panel to investigate the allegations after suspending the Permanent Secretary, pending the probe’s outcome.
But findings by PRNigeria revealed that at least three more women have approached the probe panel to lodge similar allegations of s3xual harassment against the Permanent Secretary.
Meanwhile, the Joint Negotiating Council, JNC, the labour union in the Ministry, has also accused the permanent Secretary of high-handedness, maladministration, favouritism and financial improprieties, which, according to them, have significantly affected the welfare and rights of the workers.
In a petition addressed to the Minister, Ambassador Tuggar and dated 11th of June, 2024, the staff union accused the Permanent Secretary of relegating all issues that have to do with staff welfare, allowances, emoluments, training etc to the background.
They specifically highlighted the denial of various benefits the workers were entitled to, which has been a source of their discontent for months.
In the petition obtained by PRNigeria, the union listed and explained in detail the series of benefits that the workers were entitled to that Ambassador Lamuwa has been denying them for months.
They accused him of unduly and illegally favouring a certain category of people and victimising those who do not dance to his tunes, in the area of posting, training and other benefits like Hajj seats.
Some of his alleged crimes against the labour union as listed in the petition include delay in payment of some benefits, delay in promotion and conversion of staff, lack of transparency in posting exercise, delay in paying of clothing allowance, discrimination in paying First 28 Days Allowance, lack of fairness in the distribution of the 2024 Hajj seats, inadequate posting of Batch B officers to foreign missions, poor sanitation and hygiene due to insufficient water supply, lack of work tools, dilapidated office buildings, refusal to pay the 25th regular course allowance for nine months among others.
In the petition signed by JNC Chairman, Comrade Ali Seidu, and Assistant General Secretary, Comrade Akpana S.E, the union urged the Minister to look into their grievances and address the series of injustice allegedly done by the Permanent Secretary to avoid a drastic action by the workers.
“Consequent upon the maladministration, dwindling level of productivity occasioned by the administrative leadership apathy in the ministry, the JNC has been engaging with the management thinking its solidarity with the authorities of the Ministry will yield positive results and prompt action on pending issues.
“Unfortunately, there was no corresponding improvement instead, the management has become worse, unreceptive and very harsh to everyone who dares to speak and ask questions. Victimisation, intimidation, and harassment has become a tool the management uses to shut critics while the staff of the Ministry continue to suffer.
“The staff of the Ministry are outraged by the egregious neglect, surreptitious administrative skullduggery, manipulations and commercialisation of the Ministry’s activities by the Permanent Secretary and his allies under the guise of rejuvenation. They have introduced harmful practices that threaten the very fabric of our Institution. We demand an immediate end to all their destructive policies and a return to the principles of fairness, equity and transparency. We call on the Honourable Minister to direct the authorities to investigate these grievances and take swift action.
“We the staff hereby give a 21-days ultimatum to the Management to immediately address the grievances outlined in our communiqué, failure to do so will be met with strong resistance,” the petition read in part.
In his response, the Minister called for calm and promised to look into their grievances.
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Monday, 17 June 2024 09:48
Why I Resigned As Super Eagles Coach - Finidi George
Former Super Eagles head coach, Finidi George has opened up on why he resigned from the position.
Finidi submitted his resignation letter to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, on Saturday.
The 53-year-old took the decision after the NFF announced it would hire a foreign technical adviser to tinker the team.
In a video posted on social media hours later, a former media officer of the Eagles, Colin Udoh, confirmed he had spoken to Finidi after his decision.
“Finidi confirmed to me that he resigned his position indeed,” Udoh said.
“The reason being that he met with the NFF on Thursday, and they had a very good conversation.
“They spoke about the things they need to do going forward and he (Finidi) asked if he will be back.
“At no point during that meeting did anyone tell him they were going to appoint a foreign technical adviser.
“The NFF board had met on Wednesday and made that decision. But it was when Findi landed in Port Harcourt after that meeting that someone called him and informed him. He (Finidi) had to park his car and read the link to see that it actually was true.
“So he waited for two days to see if anyone would contact him but nobody spoke to him. So he (Finidi) felt they didn’t want him anymore and so he decided to turn in his resignation.”
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Monday, 17 June 2024 09:42
Tinubu Is Determined To Revolutionize Nigeria’s Economy – Umahi
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has reiterated that President Bola Tinubu means well for Nigeria and is passionate about making the country better.
Umahi made the submission on Sunday when he inspected some ongoing federal government projects in Enugu and neighbouring states.
According to him, the President is committed to revolutionizing the economy through road infrastructure development.
A statement by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Uchenna Orji, reads in part: “The administration of Mr President thought it expedient, in keeping with his agenda of robust economic revolution for a sustainable future of our country, to construct for Enugu State a mega twin flyover that will beat the elegance and utility of all flyovers ever built in the South East.
“This flyover, when completed, will change the face of Enugu State, attract trade and investment to the State, reduce accident and insecurity, improve safety and increase patronage to the economic facilities, including Airports in Enugu and Ebonyi States and that of other neighbouring states.
“Mr President means well for Nigeria and is determined to revolutionize the economy through road infrastructure development.
“The Honourable Minister has this as a task that must be accomplished. He knows the job. His passion to deliver is unequalled.”
During the visit, Umahi visited the ongoing reconstruction of the collapsed New Artisan Bridge at Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and also the ongoing construction of a 23-span mega twin flyover bridge at Emene in Enugu State.
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Monday, 17 June 2024 09:39
Corruption is defeatable in Nigeria — EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has said that the upsurge of corruption in the country is defeatable if every stakeholder on the anti-graft corridor makes concerted efforts.
The Commission’s chairman, Ola Olukoyede made this statement in his Eid-El-Kabir message.
He stressed that renewal of efforts towards combating all forms of economic and financial crimes is necessary to kill the menace.
“It is obvious that we can attain peace, love, progress and unity of purpose for a Nigeria free of corruption and unsavoury practices.
“Let’s keep building. Let’s keep attacking every threat to our progress. Let’s keep fighting economic and financial crimes together,” he said.
Olukoyede added that Nigerians were not inherently corrupt, and there was nothing fundamentally wrong with the nation.
The anti-graft boss felicitated with the nation on the occasion of Eid-El-Kabir, emphasizing that the lessons of the festival should drive more commitments to the anti-corruption fight.
“The lessons of forbearance, sacrifice, faith and hope in Almighty Allah which Eid teaches should imbue in us fresh desire to please God and serve our nation without corrupt practices.
“We should renew our efforts towards fighting all forms of economic and financial crimes,” he said.
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Monday, 17 June 2024 09:38
Grow your own food, control population – Buhari advises Nigerians
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has advised Nigerians to keep growing their own foods and control population growth.
The former President expressed satisfaction that a considerable number of Nigerians have embraced farming once again.
Buhari, however, expressed deep concern over the unchecked rise in population within the nation, saying the situation now calls for immediate attention.
He spoke to journalists after participating in the Kofor Arewa Eid prayer in Katsina on Sunday, in light of the current conditions in the nation.
“The need for greater discussion and awareness about this problem, (uncontrolled population growth) as well as a need to invest more in education and health.
“Let us grow our own food. We have shown that we can do it. This is not the time to relent when we see prices going up. Let us buy what is produced in the country.
“The foundation of a prosperous and stable country has been laid by successive governments, and I encourage our youth, in particular, to continue to play an active role in various nation-building efforts,” he said.
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