Fela brought back to life in Miami with first Afro-Caribbean lounge

 

The late legendary Abami Eda, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has been brought back to life in faraway Miami, Florida, United States of America as the first ever Afro-Caribbean lounge, Savor Lounge births with the Afro-beats creator’s mural fully in display.

The Lounge was established by US-based Nigerian DJ, Dozzy Ross originally from Anambra State, Nigeria with the real name of Dozie Udemadu

Dozzy Ross in a recent interview said the big idea behind the lounge named Savor Lounge is to have Africans and Caribbeans have a place they can call home, with their culture and tradition well in place, either in form of art or entertainment.

“It’s the only lounge in Miami owned by Africans for Africans. For us by us. Where you can come and listen to Afrobeats all day. Unlike other spots where Afrobeats are only played for 10 minutes and that’s it. It’s located in Wynwood, Miami.

“We have a big mural of Fela Kuti painted outside. It’s a huge tourist attraction. People of all races stop by to take pictures and also have the opportunity to get to taste Nigerian foods. It’s so huge for Afro-beats to finally have a place we can call ours. People aren’t looking at us crazy when we Zanku and Gbe Body E It’s home,” said the owner, DJ Dozzy Ross who also revealed he had had the plan for over two years with his wife. He actually confessed the big idea came from his wife, Kathy

Dozzy Ross who is based in Miami, Florida has been recognized as one of the pioneers of the Afro-beats movement to the United States and the world.

He has worked with the likes of Davido, Olamide, Tekno, Wizkid, Runtown, Skales, Timaya, Psquare , Tiwa Savage, Don Jazzy, to name a few. Also, he worked with Akon and went on tour with him for his USA tour 2017.

With the launch of the Savor Lounge, Dozzy Ross is only fanning the embers of the fire he had helped start by creating a platform for it to explode.

- PM NEWS

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Soyinka kicks against bill to regulate water resources, says Buhari lacks vision

 

Wole Soyinka, playwright and Nobel laureate, has condemned a bill seeking to regulate water resources in Nigeria. 

Rejected in 2018, the national water resources bill 2020 was reintroduced by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in July, and now awaiting passage by the national assembly. 

The bill seeks to bring all water resources– both surface and underground, and the banks of the water sources under the control of the federal government through its agencies to be established by the bill. 

But reacting, Soyinka called for the deactivation of the bill.

He accused Buhari and his predecessors of lacking in vision and had been unable to solve the country’s least water problems. 

“A roundly condemned project blasted out of sight by public outrage one or two years ago, is being exhumed and sneaked back into service by none other than a failed government, and with the consent of a body of people, supposedly elected to serve as custodians of the rights, freedoms and existential exigencies of millions,” he said in a statement.  

“This bill – bill on national water resources 2020 is designed to hand Aso Rock ABSOLUTE CONTROL over the nation’s entire water resources, both over and underground.  

“The basic facilitator of human existence, water – forget for now all about streams of righteousness! – is to become exclusive to one centralised authority. It will be doled out, allocated through power directives from a desensitised rockery that cannot even boast of the water divining wand of the prophet Moses. If the current presiding genius – and this applies equally to ALL his predecessors without exception – had a structured vision of Nigerian basic entitlements, Nigerians would by now, be able to boast the means of fulfilling even that minimalist item of COVID-19 protocols that call for washing one’s hands under running water! As for potable water, for drinking and cooking, let us not even begin to address such extra-terrestrial undertaking!

“What next for the exclusive list? The rains? I declare myself in full agreement with virtually every pronouncement of alarm, outrage, opprobrium and repudiation that has been heaped upon this bill and its parentage, both at its first outing and since this recent re-emergence. It is time to move beyond denunciations however and embark on practical responses for its formal deactivation and permanent internment. 

“Let all retain in their minds that, from the same source that preached the ‘streams of righteousness’ is encountered the promise of ‘no more floods, the fire next time.’ In any case, let the promulgators of this obscenity, high and low, understand that the placid waters they think to control unjustly and grotesquely, will turn to be Martin Luther King’s ‘mighty stream of righteousness’ that will overwhelm and sweep them off their complacent, and increasingly loathsome sectarian, conspiratorial heights.” 

- THECABLE

Nigeria shifts resumption of international flights, announces new date

 The Federal Government of Nigeria, on Thursday, announced that the resumption of international flights has been postponed.

The new date is now September 5, 2020.

The resumption was earlier fixed for August 29.

“Regret to announce that the international flight resumption earlier scheduled to resume on 29th August has been shifted to 5th September 2020”, the Federal Ministry of Aviation tweeted.

- DAILY POST

COVID-19: Lagos hits N432.6bn revenue performance despite COVID-19

 

The Lagos State Government on Thursday said it generated N432.6 billion in the first half of 2020 despite raging COVID-19.

This represents 81 percent budget performance in the first six month of 2020, said Sam Egube, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning at the 2019/2020 Annual Press Conference Week Lecture, of the Lagos State Governor’s Office Correspondents (LAGOCO), with the theme “Rethinking Lagos For the Post COVID-19 Era.”

Egube was represented by Lekan Balogun, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor, on Economic Matters.

A confident Egube said despite the pandemic, government had been able to re-strategise to conform with the demands of the present realities, saying that that a good government was one which had the ability to respond when disturbances arise.

Lagos State Economy remains the largest and arguably the fastest growing economy in Nigeria. The State’s economy was projected to grow at four per cent prior to COVID-19. However, the COVID-19 has affected the possibilities of achieving such prosperous target.

According to Egube, having looked at the half of the year budget performance, it showed that despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the total revenue recorded in performance was at 81 per cent of state’s initial target.

He explained that while the State’s economy was projected to record a four per cent growth, the COVID-19 pandemic had brought in strains that demanded a contraction in the State’s budget by 21 per cent in response to constriction in economic activities.

Egube stated that review of the budget was necessitated by lower GDP growth, decline in demands for goods and services, and shortfall in revenue generation

According to him, the review in the State’s budgetary plan was effected to maintain a strong response to the effects of the pandemic on food, ensure job creation, economic stability and economic reforms for ease-of-doing business.

He added that experience of lockdown brought the state government to reality of shortcomings in State’s food storage system, which necessitated increase of allocation to Agriculture to N2.8 billion.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, in his remark said despite tCOVID-19 crisis, governance never stopped.

He was represented by Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso.

He explained that, as soon lockdown was eased, piloting of the state commenced which had led to commissioning of a number of completed projects, while those undergoing execution were set for completion.

Among projects he highlighted that were brought to completion amidst the COVID-19 lockdown included rolling out of new buses for ease of transportation, launching new boats and channel-routes for waterways; commissioning of new health facilities; housing schemes, among others.

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Gboyega Akosile commended the Governor’s press corps for support given to Sanwo-Olu’s administration in terms of publicity of government programmes.

While urging the journalists to continue in that regards, Akosile assured Lagosians readiness of the Governor to deliver on his campaign promises.

Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Chairman, Lagos State, Dr Qasim Akinreti praised the governor for showing exemplary leadership despite the attendant challenges, saying “Lagos has excel very well to redefine the way we do things.

“It is on record that when COVID-19 came, the Governor stood up to be counted and responded appropriately. Lagos has become a reference point, other governors have come to borrow a leaf from Lagos State.”

- PM NEWS

PhD holders ‘apply’ for FG’s 20k per month job

 

At least four PhD holders in Ogun state applied for jobs under the newly launched public works programme meant for the recruitment of 774, 000 Nigerians. 

The federal government had in July kicked off the special public works programme which is coordinated by the ministry of labour and employment. 

The scheme was part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s fiscal stimulus measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of 1,000 Nigerians from each of the 774 local government areas are to be engaged in the programme coordinated by constituted state committees.

The jobs, under the programme, are for unskilled labour and successful applicants are to earn N20, 000 monthly for three months. 

According to its Labour Force Statistics report released on Monday, the number of unemployed Nigerians went from 20.93 in 2018 to 21.76 million in the second quarter of 2020.

This means more than 17 million Nigerians have become unemployed since December 2014, while the total working age population has grown by almost the same number in those six years.

In an interview with PUNCH, Gbenga Obadara, Ogun state chairman of special public works, said four PhD and 200 master’s degree holders are among applicants in the state.

“Four PhD and master’s degree holders have applied. Poverty is ravaging. Unemployment is extremely on the high rise. People with master’s degrees and even PhD degrees are  applying for 20,000 jobs. That is the problem. It cannot cover everybody. We cannot blame the federal government,” he was quoted to have said.

According to him, the committee started distribution of forms four weeks ago and that almost  20,000 persons from 20 local government areas in the state had obtained the forms.

He also described the 20,000 slots allotted to the state as “a drop off in the ocean.”

Unemployment is one of the major issues under this government. In its labour force statistics released earlier in the month, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said 21.76 million Nigerians are unemployed. 

- THECABLE

Transfer: Man City offer Barcelona three players, €100m in exchange for Messi

 Manchester City are so desperate to land Lionel Messi and will offer Barcelona three players plus €100million, according to Spanish newspaper, Sport.

It is understood that the three players Man City will offer Barcelona to force the deal are: Bernardo Silva, Gabriel Jesus and Eric Garcia.

Messi’s future at Barcelona is uncertain after the Argentine captain surprised Barcelona hierarchy on Tuesday night when he asked for his contract, which has one year still to run, to be terminated under an end-of-season release clause.

The 33-year-old had drawn the interest of many European top clubs including Man City, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and Juventus in the past few days.

Messi, who played under Man City boss, Pep Guardiola for four years at Camp Nou, is looking to trigger a clause in his contract that would allow him to leave the Blaugrana, but Barcelona are trying to get a fee for their number 10.

Man City are now in pole position to land Messi, who increasingly looks set to end his 19-year stay in Spain.

- DAILY POST

8 Chelsea players in isolation over coronavirus scare

 

Pre-season plans for Chelsea are already being complicated as Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic and Fikayo Tomori are self-isolating after returning from their holiday to Mykonos.

Four other Chelsea players apart from them are also said to be staying off the training ground under COVID-19 guidelines. 

With the Greek-island, Mykonos not part of places where people must self-isolate when they return to England, the situation is an issue for England’s manager Gareth Southgate. 

The England manager has listed Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham in the England Squad for the Nations League match against Iceland and Denmark on the 5 and 8 of September respectively.

Frank Lampard’s men returned to training last week and are preparing for a friendly against Brighton on Saturday.

Chelsea having lost out on signing Lewis Dunk from Brighton announced the arrival of Ben Chiwell on Wednesday, from Leicester for £50 million.

- PM NEWS

Ogun moves to introduce BRT services

 

The Ogun State Government is set to introduce Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services between Ota, Mowe/Ibafo and Lagos, to encourage the usage of public transport.

The State Commissioner for Transportation, Engineer Gbenga Dairo, disclosed this in his remarks on Wednesday at the stakeholders’ meeting organised by Future Cities of Nigeria (FCN), in collaboration with the state government, held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Dairo maintained that development of urban and rural transport system is key to the Dapo Abiodun -led administration, in its quest to make the state a thriving global one with a high-quality living environment.

The commissioner also noted that the state is working with private sector partners to commence Park and Ride services in Mowe/Ibafo corridor.

“A greater push towards using public transport and reducing car usage will contribute significantly towards a better quality of life for our people just as we seek to make public transport a choice mode for all commuters, including car owners with a view to divisively maintaining a sustainable and high-quality living environment.

“We shall invest in both the quality and capacity of the public transport system knowing well that transport system unit is critical in our quest for a quality system.

“We will have the entire public transport system planned as a whole and not as separate parts, integrating travel information and fares as a way to better serve commuters,” Dairo added.

He promised that the FCN project will be applicable and replicated in Ijebu-Ode; Sagamu; Ilaro; Ogijo; Akute; Agbara and Ota.

The team lead, Abeokuta Transport Intervention, Dr George Banjo, said the Future Cities in Nigeria had developed a policy for improving public transport services in Nigeria. 

Banjo said the meeting was an excellent platform for stakeholders’ to come together and chart a course towards sustainable urban environments that would enhance inclusive economic growth.

- PM NEWS

WAEC: How mischievous supervisors share exam questions on WhatsApp groups

 

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says some mischievous supervisors are responsible for the snapshots of examination question papers found on WhatsApp groups.

Patrick Areghan, head of WAEC, Nigeria, disclosed this on Wednesday when the council went on a monitoring visit to Federal Government Boys College, Apo, Abuja.

On August 17, WAEC had debunked reports that the 2020 WASSCE mathematics question had circulated on social media platforms, despite reports to the contrary.

However, according to NAN, Areghan said WAEC has not experienced leakages since 1977, but some supervisors engaged by the ministry of education deliberately sent the questions to some WhatsApp groups.

“As I speak with you, no single examination paper was leaked. WAEC has not experience anything called leakage anymore since 1977,” he said.

“What has been happening is [from] some so-called supervisors who the ministry of education reposes confidence in; selecting men and women of integrity and sending them to us to be engaged as supervisors.”

He added that some mischievous supervisors opened the questions, snapped it and posted them on designated WhatsApp groups for the benefit of their collaborators.

He explained that these supervisors are the bad eggs in the system who must be fished out.

On students writing the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) who are confirmed positive for the coronavirus, he said the council would ensure that the necessary measures in place for safe conduct of the exercise.

“I want to assure you and Nigerians that anywhere we have COVID-19 candidate, we make sure that he or she writes the examination. It is not a death sentence; there is no stigma,” he added.

- THECABLE

Vera Uwaila: We received N1 million to kill Uniben student inside RCCG church – Suspect confesses

 

One of the killers of Uwaila Vera Omozua, who was murdered while studying inside a Redeem Christian Church of God, RCCG in Edo State has confessed that he received 1 million Naira to kill his victim.

Uwaila, a 100 level Microbiology student of UNIBEN, was gruesomely raped and murdered in May 2020.

The suspect, Collins Uligbe, who hails from Agbor in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, made the confession while being paraded alongside other suspects by the Edo State Police Command.

Collins said his landlady, Mrs Mary Ade, gave them N1 million to kill the undergraduate.

He said after the act, he used a handkerchief given to him by Mrs Mary Ade to wipe Uwa’s blood and private part and returned it to his landlady.

According to him, she wanted to use it for rituals.

He gave the names of the other suspected killers as Nelson Ogbebor, Tina Samuel, another lady, Valentine Akato and Nosa Osabohien.

Narrating the incident, Collins said although they were six that carried out the crime, he was outside giving them signals before he joined them inside the church.

Collins said Nelson he hit the victim with a plank and when she tried to stand up he hit her with the fire extinguisher in the church.

The suspects were traced through a man who bought the victim’s phone for N17,000.

“I bought phone from Collins; on 27th May Osaro came to my workplace at Agba Park, we bargained and he sold the phone for N17,000 to me. The next week I was tracked and arrested,” the man had confessed.

However, Mary Ade, denied the allegation, saying she neither gave him the money nor asked him to wipe the lady’s private part.

Recall that the death of Uwa had raised concerns and stirred reactions from notable figures, as well as Nigerians on the social media.

- DAILY POST

EPL : Paul Pogba hit by coronavirus

 

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba and Tottenham Hotspur player, Tanguy Ndombele have tested positive for coronavirus.

French newspaper L’Equipe reported today that Pogba tested positive on Wednesday and will no longer be called to the French national team.

The news is also a big blow also to his Manchester team, preparing to begin the Premier League in two weeks.

Pogba had hoped to stage a big comeback to French coach Didier Deschamps squad, after a year’s absence.

His position has now been taken by the 17 year-old Rennes player Eduardo Camavinga.

Tanguy Ndombele will also not be called up for the national side too.

The France’s squad is scheduled to meet Sweden on 5 September and Croatia on 8 September in the Nations League.

- PM NEWS

Nnamdi Kanu: Like Jesus Christ, I’m tempted to back out of Biafra struggle

 

Nnamdi Kanu, leader the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), says he is often tempted to back out of the struggle for the realisation of Biafra.

According to The Sun newspaper, Kanu compared himself to Jesus Christ who said to God at the Garden of Gethsemane “if it be possible, let this cup pass from me” when faced with temptations.

He was reacting to the reported killings of IPOB members on Sunday when security operatives disrupted a meeting of the group at Emene in Enugu state.

The Department of State Services (DSS) had also accused IPOB of killing two of its operatives in the clash.

“In my most private moments – when I reflect on this struggle and its fallouts, I have often been tempted, like Christ, to ask that this cup be passed from me,” Kanu said.

“I am sure you all feel the same in many fleeting moments of despair that is common with the fragile human spirit.

“So, as we mourn this latest mass murder of our people, let us all take some comfort that they didn’t die in vain, they died in honour, they fell in defence of freedom and their precious blood will be best requited by our collective and abiding resolve to never back down until Biafra is restored.”

Kanu, however, said he will continue in the fight for the emancipation of Igbo people from attacks and persecution rather than back down from the struggle.

- THECABLE

Barcelona to pay £108m for Sadio Mane to replace Messi

 

Barcelona could turn to Liverpool forward, Sadio Mane, if Lionel Messi eventually leaves the club, according to Sport.

Mane is reportedly ‘willing’ to move to the Nou Camp this summer, but the LaLiga club have to meet his £107m price tag.

Messi is looking to trigger a clause in his contract that would allow him to leave for free, but Barca are trying to get a fee for their captain.

Manchester City, PSG and Inter Milan are interested in the 33-year-old, who increasingly looks set to end his 19-year stay in Spain.

Mane is ready to replace Messi at Barcelona this summer, should the Argentine force his way out.

The Senegal international scored 22 goals in 47 games in 2019/2020, helping Jurgen Klopp’s side to clinch their first league title in 30 years.

-DAILY POST

1.9 million Nigerians living with HIV/AIDs – Expert

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A paediatric nurse and HIV counsellor, Mrs. Roseline Solarin has revealed that no fewer  than 1.9 million Nigerians are living with HIV/AIDs.

Mrs. Solarin while citing UNAIDS and National Agency for the Control of AIDS statistics said the surge in HIV/AIDS was common among people within the ages of 15 and 49.

She added that Nigeria remained the highest HIV/AIDs endemic country in the world.

The Chief Nursing Officer who doubles as Chairperson of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwifery Association of Nigeria (NANNM), Ogun State chapter spoke in Sagamu at the launch and public presentation of a book titled ‘Sex Education Made Easy,’ a manual to help parents teach sex education with confidence.

She urged the youths to abstain from sex until they were married, and where they could not help it, they should put safety first and wear protective gear – condoms, in order to protect their lives, health, and future.

Mrs. Solarin, while blaming the high rate of moral decadence in the country to the advent of the internet and social media, charged parents to be alive to their parental responsibilities, especially by giving them sex education.

“We parents are the first teachers to our children. We should not shy away from our responsibility, especially when it comes to sex education. If we refuse to teach them, other people will teach them in the wrong way.”

The book was written by a young Medical Doctor, Opeyemi Adeyemi, who through her new book, urged Nigerian parents to leave behind, their unhelpful century – old thinking and adopt a new mentality as called forth by the present times.

Mrs Solarin identified stigmatization and homosexual practice as factors that have forced many people living HIV/AIDS to go underground thus, making it difficult for them to seek treatment, yet kept spreading the dreadful disease among the unsuspecting and adventurous youth population.

She said the book would equip parents with some needed skills to teach their wards sexual education a beneficial way.

The author, Dr. Opeyemi Adeyemi, lamented that men rarely come forward for sex education, and called for a change of attitude.

She said her book provides the right sex education that would help people guard against the unsafe sexual relationship, reduce the number of sexual partners, reduce unplanned pregnancy, and guard against STDs, rape among others.

She said, “both parents have to be involved in sex education. The father is as important as the mother, the mother is also as important as the father, so both parents have to come together and talk to their child about sex education by finding out what they know because you will be surprised about what these children already know and you need to take a step by teaching them what they don’t know, by correcting them some of the wrong information they have gotten”.

“For children who already having sex, there’s really nothing to hide again, you just have to go and tell them about what they have to know about a contraceptive, unwanted pregnancy. Tell them about the bright future you have for them and why you want them to stay on the right path”

“Sex education goes beyond sex, it’s about different topics like body image, body positivity and all of that”.

UNICEF has come out with statistics, which indicated that “one in three girls and one in six boys are being molested before the age of 18, that is a big number”.

There is a mental side of child abuse and sexual assault if you do not speak about it that child might not find healing, so it’s very important we speak to the right authority by ensuring we get justice for that child because such a child shouldn’t be left without justice.

She called on government at both the state and federal levels to re-examine its laws against rape and sexual assault to steam the ugly trend in the country.

“Government needs to reexamine its laws and policies on sexual assault because the policy that works ten years ago is different from the one that works right now”.

- PM NEWS