Wednesday, 31 May 2017

BREAKING: Osinbajo gives Ambode approval to repair airport road



Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has given the Lagos state government the go ahead to reconstruct the road linking Murtala Muhammed International Airport to Oshodi in the state.
Akimwunmi Ambode, the state governor, had earlier accused the ministry of works, power and housing of frustrating efforts of his administration to reconstruct the road.
He had said that despite having the funds to repair the road, the ministry had insisted on fixing it.
But Babatunde Fashola, the minister of works, power and housing, denied the allegation, saying the memorandum conveying the request of the state has not reached completion stage.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Tunji Bello, secretary to the state government, said the federal government had granted the state the permission to start work on the road.
The governor commended the acting president for “his statesman-like approach” to issues and for fast-tracking the process of the road reconstruction.
“We are very appreciative of the good gesture of the acting president for acceding to our request which is not only very timely but a very heartwarming one. Posterity will never forget this genuine developmental action,” the governor said.
He described the approval as “a 50th birthday gift” to the people of the state.
“It is a further demonstration of the determination of the present administration to ensure the effectiveness of the executive order on improving the ease of doing business recently signed by the acting president,” he added.
Ambode commended Osinbajo for providing the enabling environment to attract foreign direct investment into the nation.
He said upgrading of the road “which is the gateway to the nation’s commercial nerve centre,” will attract new investments into the country.

Tobacco kills 7 million a year, wreaks environmental havoc

Cigarette butts and other tobacco waste are the largest source of individual pieces of litter across the globe, according to the World Health Organization

WHO warned that the annual death toll of seven million people had jumped from four million at the turn of the century.

Smoking and other tobacco use kills more than seven million people each year, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, also warning of the dire environmental impact of tobacco production, distribution and waste.

The UN agency said tougher measures were needed to rein in tobacco use, urging countries to ban smoking in the workplace and indoor public spaces, outlaw marketing of tobacco products and hike cigarette prices.
"Tobacco threatens us all," WHO chief Margaret Chan said in a statement.
"Tobacco exacerbates poverty, reduces economic productivity, contributes to poor household food choices, and pollutes indoor air," she said.
In a report released ahead of World No Tobacco Day on Wednesday, WHO warned that the annual death toll of seven million people had jumped from four million at the turn of the century, making tobacco the world's single biggest cause of preventable death.
And the death toll is expected to keep rising, with WHO bracing for more than one billion deaths this century.
"By 2030, more than 80 percent of the deaths will occur in developing countries, which have been increasingly targeted by tobacco companies seeking new markets to circumvent tightening regulation in developed nations."
Tobacco use also brings an economic cost: WHO estimates that it drains more than $1.4 trillion (1.3 trillion euros) from households and governments each year in healthcare expenditures and lost productivity, or nearly two percent of the global gross domestic product.
In addition to the health and economic costs linked to smoking, the WHO report for the first time delved into the environmental impact of everything from tobacco production to the cigarette butts and other waste produced by smokers.

'Overwhelmingly damaging process'

"From start to finish, the tobacco life cycle is an overwhelmingly polluting and damaging process," WHO Assistant Director-General Oleg Chestnov said in the report.
WHO warned that tobacco farming had become the main cause of deforestation in several countriesplay
WHO warned that tobacco farming had become the main cause of deforestation in several countries
 (AFP/File)
The report detailed how growing tobacco often requires large quantities of fertilisers and pesticides, and it warned that tobacco farming had become the main cause of deforestation in several countries.
This is largely due to the amount of wood needed for curing tobacco, with WHO estimating that one tree is needed for every 300 cigarettes produced.
WHO also highlighted the pollution generated during the production, transport and distribution of tobacco products.
The report estimates that the industry emits nearly four million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent annually -- the same as around three million transatlantic flights.
And waste from the process contains over 7,000 toxic chemicals that poison the environment, including human carcinogens, WHO said.
Once in the hands of the consumer, tobacco smoke emissions spewed thousands of tonnes of human carcinogens, toxic substances and greenhouse gases into the environment.
Cigarette butts and other tobacco waste make up the largest number of individual pieces of litter in the world, the agency said.
Two thirds of the 15 billion cigarettes sold each day are thrown on to the street or elsewhere in the environment, it said, adding that butts account for up to 40 percent of all items collected in coastal and urban clean-ups.
WHO urged governments to take strong measures to rein in tobacco use.
"One of the least used, but most effective tobacco control measures... is through increasing tobacco tax and prices," Chestnov said.

West Ham table bid for Manchester City striker

Premier League club West Ham have made a bid for Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho.

Iheanacho has not been fancied by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola especially since the arrival of Brazilian youngster Gabriel Jesus.
Since Jesus’ arrival in January, the Nigerian striker has played in only five league games compared to the 13 he played in the first half of the season.
Pep Guardiola and Kelechi IheanachoplayGuardiola does not fancy Iheanacho at Manchester City (Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
The 20-year-old is one of the players expected to leave Manchester City this summer as Guardiola continue a complete overhaul of the team.
According to Sky Sports, West Ham have tabled a bid for the £20m-rated striker.
Although West Ham are unlikely to meet City’s valuation of the striker, they hope to reach an agreement with the club soon.
Kelechi IheanachoplayKelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City FC/Press Association Images)
City are also said to be interested in a loan deal for their Academy graduate.
If the move goes through, Iheanacho would be joining his former Manchester City teammate Pablo Zabaleta at West Ham.
Zabaleta joined West Ham on a Bosman transfer following his contract expiration at Manchester City.

Arsenal star joins Super Eagles camp

Just two days after winning the FA Cup title with ArsenalAlex Iwobi has joined the Super Eagles camp in France.

Iwobi was an unused substitute in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday, May 27.
Alex IwobiplayAlex Iwobi won the FA Cup with Arsenal on Saturday (Twitter/Alex Iwobi)

The Nigeria international however got a medal which gives him his first title in his professional football career.
The 21-year-old arrived Super Eagles camp in Paris on Monday, May 29 ahead of their friendly game against Togo on Thursday, June 1.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have moved to Hyatt Regency, Paris for the second phase of camping ahead of the friendly game against Togo and the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against South Africa on Saturday, June 10.
Super EaglesplaySuper Eagles have kicked off training ahead of Togo friendly game (Twitter/Super Eagles)

Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and Austria Wien striker Olanrewaju Kayode have also joined the camp.
Wilfred NdidiplayNdidi has arrived camp (Twitter/Super Eagles)

The team had a training morning session on Monday, their first after their 1-1 friendly game against Corsica on Friday, May 26.

Nse Ikpe-Etim will host 13th edition

"Journey to Self" actress, Nse Ikpe-Etim, will host the 2017 African Movie Academy Awards.
Nse Ikpe-Etim will host AMAA 2017 play
Nse Ikpe-Etim will host AMAA 2017
 

Organizers of African Movie Academy Awards, have announced that Nse Ikpe-Etim will host the 2017 edition of the awards ceremony.

Nse Ikpe-Etim is popular for her role in "Guilty Pleasures," "Reloaded," "Journey to Self," "A Trip to Jamaica" among others.

The 13th edition of the awards ceremony which was scheduled to hold on June 3, 2017, as part of the Lagos at 50 celebrations, will now hold on July 15, 2017, at the Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The nominations announcement held on May 13, 2017, at the Kigali Convention Centre, Rwanda, with Sambasa Nzeribe, Majid Michel, Richard Mofe-Damijo, "76" and "A Trip to Jamaica" emerging nominees.
Nse Ikpe-Etim in conversationplay
Nse Ikpe-Etim in conversation

The 2016 AMAA held on Saturday, June 11, 2016, at Dr. Obi Wali Event Centre, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, with Daniel K Daniel, Thishiwe Ziqubu, "Meet the Parents," "Dry," "Soldier Story," "Tell Me Something New" among others emerging winners

"Empire" star to feature in a new Nollywood movie

Nigerian filmmaker Elvis Chuks has cast "Empire's Hakeem, Bryshere Yazuan Gray, in his new movie.

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"Empire" star, Bryshere Y. Gray, has been cast in an Elvis Chuks' upcoming film, but, there's however no specifics on the part he might play.

Elvis Chuks took to his Instagram page to share a photo of himself and Gray in Atlanta, teasing his upcoming Hollywood production.
Bryshere Y. Gray will star alongside Hollywood acts Wendy Robinson, Vivica Fox and Lamman Rucker.
playBryshere Y. Gray and Elvis Chuks in Atlanta

Bryshere Y. Gray is best known for his role as Hakeem Lyon in the Fox TV series "Empire."
He is also known for his portrayal as Michael Bivins in the 2017 BET miniseries "The New Edition Story."
Bryshere Grayplay
Bryshere Gray at NAACP

Elvis Chuks is popular for "A Wish," "Honeymoon Hotel," "I Come Lagos," "Playing Safe," "Hustlers," "For the Wrong Reasons" and "All About Love."

Newborn baby found alive under Lagos bridge

A newborn baby girl has been found alive under Coker Bridge in the Surulere area of Lagos and rescued by a woman identified as Juliet Chime.

The good Samaritan took to her Facebook page to share the news as well as express her disbelief over the fact that someone will abandon her child after the pains of pregnancy and childbearing.
The rescued baby receiving medical attentionplay
The rescued baby receiving medical attention
 (punch)

She wrote alongside the photos of herself and the baby at a hospital,
“I just picked a baby girl from under Coker bridge beating by d rain.
"How wicked can a mother be after hard labour pain and sleepless nights. And throws her own child away. KIA dis is d height of wickedness."
From the photos, it is clear that the child is receiving the much-needed care she deserves.

More than 40 migrants 'die of thirst' in Niger

Dozens attempting to reach Libya to get to Europe die of thirst as vehicle breaks down in northern Niger, officials say. Sub-Sah...