Number of Nigerians living in poverty increases: Goalkeepers Data report

Although child mortality and stunting rates have reduced in Nigeria in 2018, the number of Nigerians living in poverty increased from 66.83 million in 2017 to 67.48 million.

 These are the highlights of the third Goalkeepers Data Report co-authored by Bill and Melinda Gates and released on Tuesday in partnership with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington.

The report noted that widening inequality in developing countries threatens to slow or even reverse progress in making life better for people, says Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The report tracks progress being made on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in addition to the impact of geographical, gender, income and wealth inequality between countries, states and local government areas.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation since 2017 produces the Goalkeepers Data Report every year, timing it to the annual gathering of world leaders in New York City for the U.N. General Assembly.

The report is designed to track progress in achieving the Global Goals, highlight examples of success, and inspire leaders around the world to accelerate their efforts.

“Even in the worst-off parts of low and low-middle income countries, more than 99 per cent of communities have seen an improvement in child mortality and schooling.

“Despite this progress, persistent gaps in opportunity mean that nearly half a billion people, that is about one in 15 people still do not have access to basic health and education.

“Gaps between countries, and local governments, boys and girls prove that the world’s investments in development aren’t reaching everyone.

“Where you’re born is still the biggest predictor of your future, and no matter where you’re born, life is harder if you’re a girl,’’ the report showed.

The report showed that in Nigeria,Under-five Child Mortality Rate, reduced from 109 per 1,000 birth in 2017 to 104 per 1,000 live birth in 2018 and Child Stunting reduced from 38.14 per cent in 2017 to 36.74 per cent in 2018.

Similarly, malaria death reduced from about 166 per 1,000 population in 2017 to 160.72 per 1,000 population and cases of tuberculosis reduced from 351.8 per 100,000 population to 344.2 in 2018.

Also, the cases of Neglected Tropical Diseases went down from 52,566 per 100,000 population in 2017 to 50,584 in 2018.

On vaccinations in Nigeria, the report showed that Measles-Containing-Vaccine second dose (MCV2) was low at 39.27 per cent, Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) immunization coverage was 36.39 per cent.

The report also showed that the vaccine coverage for Pneumoccocal conjugate vaccines (PCV3) was at 35.67 per cent.

Meanwhile Bill Gates in a telephone interview with journalists, said that universal healthcare was strategic in achieving the SDGs.

He said that governments should prioritise primary health care to deliver a health system that works for the poorest.

Gates also suggested use of digital governance to ensure that governments are responsive to their least-empowered citizens

“If I had one wish for Nigeria, it would be that the quality and funding of the primary health care system would achieve the level that some lower income countries have attained.

“One challenge that Nigeria has is that the amount of money that the government raises domestically is quite small compared to other countries.

“A lot of countries at that level will be raising closer to 15 per cent of GDP and Nigeria is one of the lowest in the world down at about 6 per cent.

“It’s a huge challenge. If you want to fund infrastructure, health, and education, over time tax collection must go up. Domestic resources are going to have to go up quite a bit,’’ he said.

As in past years, Bill and Melinda Gates plans to host the third annual Goalkeepers events during the U.N. General Assembly, to celebrate progress and highlight the importance of closing the global inequality gap

- PM NEWS

Islamic clerics arrested for alleged fraud, rape in Abeokuta

Ogun State Police Command on Monday arrested three self-acclaimed Islamic clerics who specialised defrauding unsuspecting members of the public in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The suspects were also accused of having unlawful carnal knowledge of their female victims.

The suspects; Aliu Abdulfatai 50, Sule Adebayo 36 and Lekan Olokodana 31, were arrested following a report by one of their female victims, (name withheld) who reported at Adigbe police station that she had been duped of the sum of N70,000 by the suspects, while one of them also forcefully had carnal knowledge of her against her wish.

The complainant, who DAILY POST learnt, is a marketer with a popular property/real estate company was said to be on marketing assignment when she came across the suspects who claimed to be Islamic clerics and indicated interest in purchasing large expanse of land which they claimed they wanted to use for construction of their mosque.

Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the suspects lied to have seen a vision that the lady was under a spell, thereby using that as an opportunity to defraud her by saying they wanted to organise a special prayer for special deliverance prayer to cast out the spell.

Using this method, the police said, they succeeded in fraudulently obtaining by false pretence, the sum of N70,000 from her after they had allegedly lured her into their house where one of them was said to have forcefully raped her.

The PPRO said, “on the strength of her complaint, the DPO Adigbe division CSP Augustine Opadile detailed his detectives to go after these hoodlums and bring them to justice.”

“Their efforts paid off when three amongst them were apprehended while waiting for the victim to bring the money they demanded for, and one of them escaped.

“On interrogation, they confessed being fraudsters and that it has been their means of livelihood. It was also revealed that one of them has used the proceed of their fraudulent act to build a private school in Ikorodu, Lagos State.”

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Bashir Makama, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the activities of these hoodlums with the view to charging them to court as soon as possible,” Oyeyemi added.

- DAILY POST

FRSC, Dangote strike deal on non-movement of trucks at night

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Dangote Group have agreed that the company’s trucks will not ply the roads from 7pm to 7am daily.

The trucks will now move during the day only.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by Bisi Kazeem, the corps public education officer, he said the move was part of the agreements reached at a meeting between the company and the FRSC to reduce the rate of occurrence of crashes involving articulated vehicles.

The FRSC also tasked the group on prompt removal of broken down vehicles from highways and the need to intensify efforts towards achieving professionalism among its drivers.

Speaking at the meeting, Boboye Oyeyemi, the corps marshal, lamented the spate of crashes involving Dangote trucks and called on the group to make the training, retraining and certification of drivers a major priority in the operation of their fleet.

“There is need for the company to be strict in its recruitment process for drivers; requirements such as age for both entry and retirement should be made a priority issue to avoid under age driving and maintain a fixed age for retirement,” he said.

Oyeyemi also charged the group to establish more driving schools and also make it open to the public so that drivers and would be drivers can apply for training.

He said this will go a long way in making the highways safer for all to use.

According to Kazeem, the corps marshal gave the some ultimatums to be fulfilled by the company in order to reduce the rate of crashes involving its trucks. They are highlighted below.

“All Dangote trucks to be fully installed with Speed Limiting Device before 31 December, 2019,” he said.

“Dangote [is] to provide details of any driver who commits traffic infraction to FRSC for subjection to Emotional Stability Test

“The Company [is] to provide details of any driver who runs away after a crash to FRSC for flagging on the database so as to track such drivers and prevent reissuance of NDL.

“FRSC and Dangote Group [are] to commence a joint effort to ensure that all abandoned or broken down Dangote Trucks are towed within the next 30 days commencing from 18 September to 17 October, 2019.

“All Dangote Trucks [are] to have at least a mini first aid box

“Dangote Trucks [are] not allowed to drive from 7pm to 7am, any of the company’s truck found around that time will be impounded at sight.

“Foreign number plates on the company’s trucks [will] be replaced with Nigeria Number Plates before 31 December, 2019.

“Periodic and random driver’s eye check should be conducted for the fleet drivers.”

Speaking at the meeting, Juan Carlos Rincom, the head of the delegation, appreciated the FRSC for its “unwavering commitment to sanitising the highways” and pledged the company’s willingness to carry out all resolutions made in the meeting

- THECABLE

Fayose left N57bn unpaid workers’ salaries, pension arrears

Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti on Tuesday said that the workers in the state civil service were currently being owed N57 billion as arrears of unpaid salaries and emoluments.

The governor said this at a meeting with civil servants as well as a cross-section of labour leaders at the Government House, Ado Ekiti.

He said that his administration was making frantic efforts to defray the backlogs which he said would be done in phases.

Fayemi claimed the trend was caused by irregular payments of salaries and pensions by the immediate past administration of Mr Ayodele Fayose.

He said the arrears covered outstanding salaries, pensions, promotion arrears, leave bonuses and other emoluments from 2014 till October 2018 when he assumed office.

The governor also said he was not part of the people that were opposed to local government autonomy.

He said the local governments in the state were currently being given unfettered access to administer their own funds without interference from his government.

Fayemi said he would honour his earlier pledge to pay all the outstanding workers’ benefits.

The governor clarified that some would be given immediate attention, while some would be defrayed by installment.

He said, “It is sad to reel out such a homongous figure, because it can create panic for you and I. But let me say that we cannot pay everything in one fell swoop, but the 2019 promotion arrears will be given immediate attention while others will be defrayed by installment.

”It becomes difficult to pay once because Ekiti gets a little above N5 billion monthly, with the state getting like N3 billion, while the local governments receive little above N2 billion monthly,“ he said.

On the issue of local government autonomy, Fayemi said he was never opposed to the idea of giving financial independence to the third tier of government, being the closest to the grassroots.

“I am not opposed to it. Since I came back as governor, not even one naira of the local government money was being administered by me. I have allowed the councils to manage whatever comes to them.”

Fayemi said that the state under him was considering alternative power supply option to shore up the one being supplied to the state from national grid.

He said he was planning the alternative because the current supply was grossly inadequate and crippling economic activities in the state.

The governor also said that he had earmarked some funds for the Ministry of Environment to undertake erosion and flood control projects in some towns.

Fayemi said that this was because of the recent flooding that ravaged Ado Ekiti and other towns, of which many civil servants were major victims.

He also said that he would discuss the acute shortage of manpower in the health sector with the Health Management Board (HMB) when it was raised by the labour leaders.

According to him, he would ascertain the actual statistics and how to fill the missing gaps in the health sector.

The Chairman of the Public Service Joint Negotiating Council, Kayode Fatomiluyi, had called the attention of the governor to the chronic shortage of manpower in the health sector.

Fatomiluyi said, “Over 1,000 nurses were at HMB in 2014 during your first term, Your Excellency Sir.

“But today, we have less than 500 to manage 22 health facilities across the state.

“The Governor must do something about this,” he said.

Some of the other labour union leaders in the state that attended the meeting include: Kolapo Olatunde of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Sola Adigun of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

They also pleaded that issues that had to do with the benefits of workers must be given utmost priority.

They urged the governor to use his connection as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to fast track the implementation of the new minimum wage for workers.

- PM NEWS

Champions League: 5 teams that could win trophy this season

At about 7.55 p.m. West African time tonight, the Tony Britten-composed Champions League anthem will play across at least eight stadiums in Europe. And in many homes in every continent of the world.

Europe’s elite club competition is back.

Today, Tuesday, current holders Liverpool, will begin their quest to retain the trophy they won in May, when they saw off Tottenham Hotspur in an all-English final in Madrid.

Which clubs are likely to be crowned Champions this season?

1. Liverpool: You cannot rule out Jurgen Klopp’s men again. They stormed through the competition last season to win it. The Reds have begun their domestic campaign on fire, winning all of their five Premier League fixtures so far and opening a five-point gap at the top. You can’t bet against them going at it again on the continent.

2. Barcelona: After Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona to a 3-0 win over Liverpool in the first leg of last year’s semi-final tie, you could have put your mortgage of the Catalans qualifying for the final. But it was never to be, as Klopp’s men backed by the Kop, pulled off a remarkable comeback at Anfield. Messi and co will be seeking to right the wrongs this year and go all the way.

3. Real Madrid: Zidane won the trophy every year he was head coach of Real Madrid, before he stepped aside in May 2018. The Frenchman who has added Eden Hazard to his squad, will be looking to make it happen again this term. And with his wealth of experience, he might just pull if off.

4. Juventus: The only reason Juventus splashed all that money on Cristiano Ronaldo, was so they could win the Champions League again. Last season, the Italian champions were stopped by Ajax, who stunned most of Europe’s big names. Since then, Maurizio Sarri, Aaron Ramsey and even Gianluigi Buffon have joined the Turin side, making them one of the favourites.

5. Manchester City: Who can forget the sight of Pep Guardiola jumping around the Etihad, only for VAR to rule out a last-minute Raheem Sterling goal? It was truly a painful and comical sight at the same time. But there will be no jokes this time around, as the Spaniard aims to make his mark in Europe, after winning everything he can in England.

- DAILY POST

Invictus Obi, Nigerian entrepreneur, remanded in US prison until February over ‘$11m fraud’

Obinwanne Okeke, Invictus Group CEO, who is better known as Invictus Obi, has been remanded in a US prison until February 2020 over an alleged $11 million fraud.

He pleaded not guilty to a two-count-charge of internet fraud when his case came up for hearing at a court in Virginia on Monday.

The entrepreneur who was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was investigated for an alleged $11 million internet fraud.

At the commencement of his trial, the judge at the federal courthouse, Virginia, ordered that Okeke be remanded in prison until February 18, 2020 when the trial will continue.

Okeke will have spent six months in prison by February.

A federal grand jury had looked at the evidence presented by the FBI and the United States Department of Justice.

The jury was unanimous that Okeke should be made to forfeit at least $11 million in asset. The department found him guilty, and recommended his trial.

If convicted, Okeke could spend up to 30 years in prison, and the likelihood of forfeiting his wealth.

The Nigerian was once listed by Forbes as one of the 100 Most Influential Young Africans.

- THECABLE

Kanye West announces release date for ‘Jesus Is King’ album

American rapper and songwriter, Kanye West has officially announced the release date for his highly-anticipated ninth studio album, Jesus Is King.

According to a photo posted on West’s website, has been scheduled to drop Sept. 27 and feature 12 songs.

The previous title for the album was Yandhi.

West also mentioned the new album during his most recent Sunday Service performance in Georgia, Atlanta.

During his appearance in Batesville, Indiana, West took the stage to confirm the project is on the way. “Jesus Is King is out September 27th, so let’s continue this…”

West can be heard saying in the video posted below, to which the crowd responded with a loud cheer.

The photo of a notebook page with handwritten 12 tracks and song titles like “God Is,” “Baptized,” “Sunday” and “Sweet Jesus.” was previously shared by his wife, Kim Kardashian.

West was in town to show support for a family band, Infinity Song and singer Victory Boyd, who are signed to Roc Nation. The artists were trying to raise money for their upcoming tour and managed to gather $3,500 USD.

- PM NEWS