Again fuel tanker explodes in Akure, many feared dead

An articulated vehicle loaded with fuel has gone up in flames, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The accident occurred when the petrol tanker, on top speed, tried to avoid colliding with another car.

It lost control and immediately exploded when it fell.

The accident occurred few meters away from an NNPC filling station on the ever busy Onyarugbulem junction which links Shagari village along the Owo-Benin expressway, Akure.

As of the time of filling this report, sources told DAILY POST that people were trapped in the raging inferno, which they said also affected some buildings by the road side.

“The tanker was on a high speed when a Toyota Corolla car suddenly crossed the road; as the tanker driver was trying to avoid hitting the car, he swerved off his lane and the vehicle fell on the car; it caught fire immediately.

“Although, we don’t know the figure of those involved, but I am very sure that the occupants of the Toyota car that hit the petrol tanker have been burnt into ashes,” he said.

The eyewitness added that it took many hours before the men of Ondo State Fire Service arrived the scene to put it out.

Some men of the state police command and the men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps also made efforts to avoid more casualties. - Daily Post

Amina Mohammed: Educating boys about menstruation is critical to achieving SDGs

Amina Mohammed, the deputy secretary-general of the United Nations (UN), says educating boys about menstruation is critical to achieving global sustainable development.

The former minister of environment said “while menstruation is the most natural thing in the world, it often keeps girls out of school and the workplace,” adding that mismanaging menstruation can have “devastating consequences that can last generations”.

“If we are to achieve true gender equality, we need to tackle everything that contributes to the discrimination and marginalization of women — including menstruation,” Mohammed said via a special opinion piece for CNN.

“Women and girls menstruate every month for approximately 35 years — a total number of days that adds up to around seven years.

“For many, that means seven years of anxiety and discomfort because of social stigma. Physical problems are also a major issue — and a barrier to some women achieving their true potential.

“In many countries, girls are kept at home for one week every month because they lack the means to look after themselves during their menstruation.

“This puts a brake on their educational achievement, with severe knock-on effects on their ability to contribute to their families and communities and to society as a whole.”

Speaking on the relationship between menstruation and the sustainable development goals (SDGs), Mohammed said managing healthy menstruation will help achieve the global goals.

“Educating both girls and boys about menstruation as a normal biological process is the first step. Explaining how their body works builds a girl’s confidence and encourages healthy habits.

“Educating boys while their attitudes and beliefs towards girls and women are evolving is critical. We need to spread the word: menstruation is natural and manageable — while it may also be painful, uncomfortable, or plain inconvenient.

“Managing healthy menstruation is a vital part of the United Nations’ efforts to support countries in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — our blueprint for peaceful, prosperous societies on a healthy planet.

“Today, some 60 million 10-year-old girls around the world stand at the threshold of adolescence and menstruation. Let’s do everything we can to invest in menstrual health and end stigma and discrimination. It is time to lift up the rights of girls and women everywhere.” - TheCable

'Die For Nothing' ! Students shot dead at venue of APC primary in Delta

Two students of the Federal College of Education, Asaba were killed during the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta north senatorial district.

The institution was used as venue of the rescheduled primary election. The election was postponed as a result of the crisis in the Delta chapter of the party.

A bullet fired by one of the policemen deployed in the institution for the exercise had mistakenly hit the deceased students who were immediately taken to the hospital.

Onochie Ubani, speaker of the students’ union government (SUG) of the institution, wondered why the school was used as venue during academic session.

He identified Nweke Henry, a 200-level student of industrial technology as one of the deceased.

He said Henry had just completed his examination.

There were different accounts on what led to the killing.

While a student said his colleagues were killed as they were trying to force their way into the school, Ubani said the students were killed while collecting levy from hawkers in the school. - TheCable

Fulani herdsman remanded over alleged murder

An Ilorin Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday remanded a herdsman, Habeeb Aliyu, over alleged killing of one Umar Ismail at Sunbare village of Banni in Kwara.

The Prosecutor, Cpl. Gbenga Ayeni, told the court that the deceased, who went grazing on Sept. 23, was reported missing on Sept. 25.

He said further that the body of the deceased was later recovered from the bush without his head.

Ayeni explained that the accused person had earlier told the parents of the deceased that Umar had taken the animals to graze and they should not look for him.

The prosecutor, however, said that during investigation police found out that the accused person killed the deceased because of a rift between them.

He said that the offence of culpable homicide contravened Section 221 of the Penal Code Law.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The magistrate, Mariam Dasuki in her ruling, ordered that the accused person be remanded at Mandala Prison, Ilorin, and adjourned the case till Oct. 16 for mention. - Daily Post

Believe And Perish !! 2019: We’ll not let Nigeria down – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that the All Progressives Congress, APC, will fulfil its promises ahead of the 2019 presidential election.

He was quoted as saying this in a statement signed on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

He said the APC was poised to free Nigeria from corruption and poor governance; adding that plans were underway to form a full campaign council towards the party’s victory in 2019.

The statement reads: “President Muhammadu Buhari says he will soon bring all speculations to an end by naming a Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) to lead the All Progressives Congress, APC, to victory in the February 2019 general elections.

“The President says he is aware of the yearning by Nigerians for the formation of a full Presidential Campaign Council towards the APC’s victory in the presidential elections.

“For now, the President and the party executives are focused on the APC convention scheduled for Saturday, October 6. The Presidential Campaign Council will be put in place after the convention.

‘“We are the party that will free Nigeria from corruption and poor governance. We are the party of change. We will not let the country down,’ President Buhari assures.” - Daily Post

Why we could not celebrate Independence – Ekiti pensioners

The Ekiti State pensioners have appealed to the Governor-elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi to place high premium on payment of pension when assuming office, saying they are tired of how their members were being killed by treatable diseases due to unpaid pension arrears.

The body accused Governor Ayodele Fayose’s government of neglect, which they said had impoverished their members and made them vulnerable to all forms of diseases.

The body, acting under the aegis of Concerned Local Government Pensioners Association of Nigeria (CLGPAN), Ekiti chapter made the appeal on Wednesday after a prayer session organized to seek the face of God against high incidences of deaths among members.

A communiqué issued at the end of the session and signed by CLGPAN’s Coordinator/Chairman, Alhaji Quadri Oguntuase and Secretary, Mr. Abiodun Agboola regretted that none of its members has received its monthly pension since January 2018.

The statement said it sounded so pathetic that while Nigerians were celebrating Independence Day on October 1, pensioners in Ekiti were burying their members and crying over avoidable issues.

“At that prayer session, we didn’t just pray for God’s intervention, we also viewed the neglect of our members in the scheme of things as
callous, and greatest height of insensitivity.

“We want to alert the public that we have not been paid once this year, we have no reason to shout happy New Year since 2018, because
we have not been paid.

“Everybody is celebrating Independence Day, but we are mourning over our colleagues who have died in the course excruciating pains of hunger and treatable diseases.

“Some of us live on the children who have no specific jobs after their graduation and service year. We are tired of this situation and the next government must change the trend.

“On this note, we appeal to the Governor-elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi to make the welfare of our members its priority.

“He should as a matter of importance arrest the deaths among our members. How can someone work for 35 years and is later abandoned to suffer in the hands of government?

“What made our situation more pathetic was that it was the same government we served that has meted this punishment on us. We are tired of one –day, one-death among our members”, the communiqué stated. - Daily Post

Herder-farmer crisis: World Bank cuts Nigeria’s growth forecast

The World Bank has cut back on Nigeria’s growth forecast for 2018, stating that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) will grow by only 1.9 percent — down from estimated 2.1 percent estimated in April.

The Washington-based lender said this was as a result of the reduction in oil production levels in the continent’s biggest economy, and contraction in the agricultural sector, following the herder-farmer crisis.

“Average growth in the region rose from 2.3% in 2017 to 2.7% in 2018, barely above population growth, partly due to weaknesses in Nigeria, South Africa, and Angola—the region’s three largest economies,” the bank said.

“In Nigeria, declining oil production and contraction in the agriculture sector partially offset a rebound in the services sector and dampened non-oil growth, all of which affected economic recovery.”

“Nigeria’s recovery faltered in the first half of the year. Oil production fell, partly due to pipeline closures.

“The agriculture sector contracted, as conflict over land between farmers and herders disrupted crop production, partially offsetting a rebound in the services sector and dampening non-oil growth.”

The Bretton Woods institution recommends that countries in sub-Sahara Africa should seek ways to be more efficient in all factors of production if it must stem the decline in growth and tackle unemployment.. - TheCable                  

Man United Charged By UEFA

UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Manchester United following their late arrival for the Champions League match against Valencia on Tuesday.

United's team bus arrived at Old Trafford behind schedule, resulting in the kick-off time for their Group H match being delayed by five minutes.

The bus left the Lowry Hotel at 6pm, but took 75 minutes to complete the 2.9-mile journey to the stadium.

Sky Sports News understands United and Jose Mourinho will be issued with an official warning rather than a punishment, as it is their first offence.

UEFA rules dictate a second offence leads to a €10,000 (£8,879) fine, with the manager being given a one-match probation period.

Mourinho blamed his side's late arrival on Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and accused them of refusing to provide the bus with an escort to the ground.

In response, the police said there was no specific threat to the bus, and that United were given several months' notice.

Furthermore, GMP say United's bus had one outrider on a motorbike, and that it was joined by Valencia's outrider once they had arrived at Old Trafford. - Sky News

Man jumps into Lagos Lagoon, dies

A yet-to-be-identified middle-aged man has jumped into the Lagos Lagoon and died.

The man drowned after jumping into the Lagoon in the early hours of Tuesday, according Punch.

The deceased jumped into the lagoon after trekking on the Third Mainland Bridge, inwards Lagos Island.

The man was found by some fishermen and officials of the Lagos State Waterways Authority.

A member of the rescue team told the newspaper that despite efforts by paramedics to resuscitate the victim, he eventually passed on.

He said, “The man jumped into the lagoon around 7.24am. He was rescued by some fishermen and transported to Ebute Ero by LASWA officials. After several hours of trying to resuscitate him, he, unfortunately, passed on.

“The man’s identity could not be ascertained. He apparently resorted to the action out of frustration. His body was handed over to officials of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit.”

The Public Affairs Officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Mahmud Hassan, confirmed the report to Punch, adding that some officials of the agency witnessed the incident

Hassan advised people against taking their own lives.

“People should learn to speak out whatever their problem is and they should seek help before it is too late. When there is life, there is hope,” he added. - Daily Post

For the next 90 days, business registration will cost N5,000

From October 1 to December 31st, business registration will cost N5000.

According to a statement released on Tuesday, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo made the announcement in Enugu at the launch of the 19th edition of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clinics.

At present, business registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) costs N10,000.

“It was observed during some of the earlier editions of the MSMEs Clinics that a lot of MSMEs were finding it difficult to register their businesses as a result of cost,” the statement released by Laolu Akande, senior special assistant to the vice president on media and publicity, quoted him to have said.

“The practice since we began the MSMEs clinics is that most agencies offer price reductions, especially for registration, and all other pre-investment approvals, during the Clinics.

“So, I am pleased to announce that the Federal Government, through the Corporate Affairs Commission, has approved a special window of 90 days from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 to register businesses at a considerably reduced rate of N5000 only, down from as much as N10,000 previously.

“This will afford more MSMEs an opportunity to formalise their businesses.”

Osinbajo said the federal government will introduce shared facilities for MSMEs.

He said the facilities would be based on a partnership between the federal government, interested states, Bank of Industry, NEXIM Bank, FIRS, NAFDAC, SON and interested private sector partners.

“The purpose of these shared facilities is to have a fully-equipped place with machinery and equipment required for various trades and businesses. MSMEs can then do their businesses at those locations at a reasonable cost,” he explained.

“This way, MSMEs are spared the financial burden of having to buy their own equipment in order to be able to do business.

“Where possible, these shared facilities would have been pre-certified by relevant agencies, removing the need for MSMEs to pursue these certifications by themselves.” - TheCable

Google launches voice assistant app

Google just introduced a new Android app to better enable people with limited mobility to use their phones. Called Voice Access, the app offers people a hands-free way to use apps, write and edit text and, of course, talk to the Google Assistant.

It's designed to make it easier to control specific functions like clicking a button, and scrolling and navigating app screens. Currently, the app is only available in English, but Google is working on additional languages.

Google created the app in service of people with Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and spinal cord injuries, but recognizes that the tool can also be helpful for people whose hands are tied with other tasks. - Tech Crunch