1st NEWS EVENING NEWS UPDATE – APRIL 4, 2019
FG wants Nigeria ranked among top 100 Countries in 2020
The federal government is working hard to ensure Nigeria is ranked among the top 100 countries on 2020 World Business Index, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo disclosed this Wednesday night in Abuja. The vice-president, who made the disclosure while speaking at the second Presidential Enabling Business Environment Committee (PEBEC) Awards ceremony at the State House Banquet Hall, said Nigeria had in the past three years implemented more than 140 reforms intended to make doing business easier in Nigeria. According to him, in pursuit of its goal to push Nigeria to the top 100 countries on 2020 World Business Index, the federal government will sustain the implementation of PEBEC reforms in all ramifications.
Saraki: Rivers has delivered decisive mandate in Wike’s Re-election
The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has described the re-election of Governor Nyesom Wike by the Rivers State electorate as a decisive victory notwithstanding the antics of some opposition elements in the state. Saraki, in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said Wike’s victory, despite the desperate antics of some opposition forces in the state, was a testament to his determination to develop Rivers State for his people. “As you prepare to begin your next term at the helm of your state’s affairs, I wish you and the great people of Rivers State great success and many more achievements in the years to come.
President Buhari reiterates commitment to improve nation’s healthcare delivery
President Mohammadu Buhari on Thursday reiterated his commitment to improve the nation’s healthcare delivery system. The president gave the assurance at the inauguration of Senior Executive Course 41 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, near Jos. Buhari, who was represented by Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau, said that in the pursuit of the objective, he inaugurated the Primary Healthcare Revitalisation Programme in January. He said that the programme was aimed at having 10, 000 functional primary healthcare facilities across the country
INEC declares Sen. Sekibo winner of Rivers East Senatorial election
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Sen. Thompson Sekibo of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the Rivers East Senatorial Election. Mr Edwin Enabor, INEC Head, Voters Education and Publicity in the state disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Port Harcourt. Enabor said Sekibo won the election held on Feb. 23 after polling 283,759 votes. He said Mr Apiafi Jocelyn of the PDP also won the Rivers West Senatorial poll with 159,215 votes. Enabor also declared Mr Dagogo Fara of the PDP, winner of Degema/ Bonny federal constituency election with 30,422 votes.
2019 Hajj: JSPWB trains 97 facilitators
The Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board (JSPWB), has organised a train-the-trainer programme for 97 facilitators to train the state’s intending pilgrims for the 2019 Hajj. The Public Relations Officer of the board, Alhaji Ibrahim Hasheem, made this disclosure to newsmen in Dutse on Thursday. Hasheem said the facilitators, comprising of 61 males and 36 females, were drawn from the 27 Local Government Areas of the state. He explained that the facilitators would in turn train the intending pilgrims at designated centres across the state. The board’s spokesman pointed out that the gesture was to ensure proper training of the pilgrims on the basic tenets of Hajj.
Residents escape death as explosion rocks Kubwa
Residents of Cadastral Zone at Kubwa, Bwari area council yesterday, cheated death as a generator being used in one of the residential homes suddenly exploded and went up in flame. Although, no life was lost, It was gathered that household properties which included kitchen utensils, children shirts and dresses and other personal properties, were lost to the inferno. It took the timely intervention of men of FCT Fire Service to put off the fire. When our reporter visited the scene of the incident yesterday, residents of the area were seen discussing the incidence which many described as rude shock.
Fire razes hostel housing corps members in Sokoto
Mr Philip Enaberue, the Sokoto State Coordinator of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), says no corps member was injured in an early morning fire incident at the NYSC orientation camp on Wednesday. Enaberue told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Wamakko that the fire only affected a room housing 20 corps members while they were out for morning devotion. He explained that the fire incident was due to electrical sparks, and was quickly put out within 10 minutes by military and other security personnel at the camp. Enaberue said no documents were damaged, but that five corps members lost their clothes to the fire.
Super Eagles move up four spots in FIFA ranking
Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, have moved up four spots on the FIFA ranking with the latest ranking released on Thursday by the world football governing body. The Super Eagles moved from 46th spot in the world to the 42nd position. In Africa, the Super Eagles maintain its third position on the ladder just behind Senegal and Tunisia respectively. Morocco, Congo DR, Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, Burkina Faso and Mali occupy the remaining spots in Africa’s top ten teams.
Academy grooms 20 grassroots’ athletes to professional level in Lagos
Craig Sports Academy based in Lagos has groomed 20 young athletes from the primary and secondary school levels to the professional level. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the academy, Mr Adekunle Abiola, made this known on Thursday in Lagos. He said that the academy achieved this by partnering with other academies. He said that students in the junior academies from the partnering academies benefitted from our training and developmental programmes”. Abiola said that the academy had also been offering courses to students leading to the development of sports in general from the grassroots’ level.
Disgraced McGregor attempts to deflect ‘racist’ tirade
Even as the authorities are moving fast to restrain the ugly Twitter war between two-weight former UFC champion Conor McGregor and reigning king of the octagon, Khabib Nurmagomedov, the Irish fighter has attempted to tacitly defend his rants that triggered the war of words. McGregor, who only last week shocked the world by retiring from the sport after a 25-fight career, has attracted the wrath of millions after posting a tweet, with pictures, that insults Nurmagomedov’s wife and her faith.
Raheem Sterling pays for 550 School Kids to attend FA Cup Semi-Final
Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling has once again reminded everyone that he’s one of the nicest men in football after paying for 550 school children to attend this weekend’s FA Cup semi-final. The England international is currently enjoying arguably the best season of his career so far, with 25 goals in 46 matches for club and country so far, and he’s almost guaranteed to start Saturday evening’s last-four clash with Brighton at Wembley. And, thanks to Sterling, 550 pupils from his old school Ark Elvin Academy will be in attendance cheering him on, with the BBC also reporting that Sterling will pay for students to travel up to Manchester City’s plush training complex on Thursday to meet the club’s stars and see the facilities.
Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek dazzled for Chelsea against Brighton
For Chelsea fans, the performances of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek against Brighton came as no surprise. The club’s two prized academy graduates had only one Premier League start combined going in to Wednesday night’s game, yet they rose to the occasion, breathing life in to a sluggish Chelsea team by both registering an assist. Loftus-Cheek also scored the best goal of the evening, a wonderfully placed effort from 25 yards out in to the top corner. The question on every fan’s lips is now: ‘Why has it taken so long for Maurizio Sarri to start them?’
Terrorism agenda as G7 interior ministers meet in Paris
Combating terrorism was set to be top of the agenda on Thursday and Friday as interior ministers from the G7 group of major Western powers and Japan meet in Paris. The ministers as well as top security and migration officials from the EU were set to evaluate the current level of the terrorist threat in their countries, according to the French hosts. Top officials from Google, Facebook, Twitter and Microsoft will also attend evening session on combatting use of the internet for terrorist purposes. Three European members of the G7, Germany, France and Britain, have called on the European Commission to propose EU laws to enforce the rapid removal of terrorist content from the internet.
Apple cuts the price of HomePod by $50, but it’s still too expensive
If you’ve forgotten that Apple still sells a smart speaker, you’re not alone. At last count, HomePod was struggling to capture even a sliver of the smart speaker market share, and it barely garnered a mention at Apple’s latest event. But Apple is hoping to reverse that trend with an uncharacteristic move: a price cut. On Thursday, Apple quietly lowered the price of HomePod to $299, a $50 discount over the previous price. Apple isn’t promoting the price cut as a limited-time deal, so it seems like the 17 percent discount is permanent. That makes HomePod’s price a bit more palatable, but it’s still more expensive that nearly every other smart speaker including high-fi ones such as the Alexa-powered Sonos One, which sells for $199.
Twitter backs down on ban of French government’s voter sign-up ads
Social media company, Twitter, on Thursday said it will allow French Government ads encouraging voters to sign up for May’s European elections after an earlier ban infuriated Paris. The government voter registration campaign had itself become the most public victim of a new French law aimed at preventing elections being influenced by fake news and advertising from unknown sources. Twitter said that in response to the law, passed in December, it had decided to ban all targeted advertising in France. However, after a meeting with Junior Digital Economy Minister, Cedric O, it said it had decided to allow ads encouraging voters to go to the polls.
