Experts warns Diabetic Patients of Blindness risk

After several successful shows in the country’s theatres, the stage play, ‘Ada The Country’, is set to hit Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja.

Directed by celebrated playwright, Kenneth Uphopho, the play will be staged at the Musa Yar’adua Centre, Wuse, Abuja, on the 21st of October at 6:00 p.m. and the 22nd of October at 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p. m.

It features veterans and rising stars in the Nollywood industry who are expected to bring their talent in the different forms of the art to the stage ranging from music and acting to dancing to bear.

Among those expected to perform in the play are veteran actresses Joke Silva, Kate Henshaw, Chioma Chigul Omeruah, Tosin Adeyemi, and Bamike Adenibuyun.

Produced by Doyenne Circle, the acclaimed stage musical highlights the power of the Nigerian woman, her autonomy, resourcefulness and might.

Varsity Lecturers Suspends 8-month-Old Strike

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October 14, 2022

The Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) has finally suspended the strike it embarked on since on February 14, 2022.

ASUU ended the strike following intense negotiations with the government and the House of Representatives.

LN247 gathered that the decision to suspend the strike was taken at the end of ASUU National Executive Council meeting which was held at the ASUU secretariat in Abuja.

“Yes, it has been called off,” a reliable source told news correspondent.

After the discussions with the government, ASUU president Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke had said the union could call off its strike in a few days.

“In a few days, we will put this strike to an end. Let all of us working together and the members of the House of Representatives working together, put a beautiful end to this thing we have started so that every Nigerian will be proud that we have the universities we can be proud of,” Osodeke said.

“We also extend our appreciation to the President for intervening in the ASUU strike. And I want to appeal that in future we should not allow strike to linger. Strike should not go beyond two days; if the way the National Assembly has intervened.

“If we had done that long ago, or those in charge of Labour and Education had done exactly this, we would not have stayed more than two or weeks on the strike.

“Strike is all over the world, UK, U.S. all over, but they don’t allow it to last. So, once again, thank you very much and we hope that working together, in the next few days, we can put an end to this particular imbroglio in the Nigerian educational system.”

ASUU president is expected to release an official circular to its member institutions for the resumption of academic activities in the universities.

ASUU: Nigerian Govt. To Release N50bn As Earned Allowances

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October 14, 2022

The governing council of Federal Universities will take over the payment of earned allowances of lecturers and other university workers in their respective institutions from 2024.

LN247 also gathered that the Federal Government will release the sum of N50 billion to take care of outstanding earned allowances before handing over the duty to governing council of varsities.

A source within the National Executive Council of the Academic Staff Union of Universities made this known in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday.

“Also on the issue of earned allowances, 50 billion has been budgeted to cater for outstanding earned allowances while 170 billion has been fixed for salary increase. However, from 2024, it is the various governing councils that will be paying earned allowances while 300 billion will go for revitalization”.

Meanwhile, branches of ASUU across the country have begun to vote as regards the lingering strike by the union.

The branch chairpersons are expected to turn in their reports to enable a formal decision by the NEC on Thursday.

Appeal Court Discharges IPOB Leader Nnamdi Kanu

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October 13, 2022

The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has discharged the embattled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Kanu is being prosecuted by the Federal Government at the Federal High Court in Abuja for 15 count charges bordering on treasonable felony, terrorism, and offences he allegedly committed in the course of his separatist campaigns.

A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal however said the Federal High Court lacks the jurisdiction to try him in view of his abduction and extraordinary rendition to Nigeria in flagrant violation of the OAU convention and protocol on extradition.

The court held that the 15-count charge preferred against Kanu did not disclose the place, date, time and nature of the alleged offences before being unlawfully extradited to Nigeria in clear violation of international treaties.

The court further held that the Federal Government failed to disclose where Nnamdi Kanu was arrested despite the grave allegations against him.

The court noted that the act of abduction and extraordinary rendition of Kanu from Kenya without due process is a violation of his right.

It added that the manner in which Nnamdi Kanu was procured and brought before the court was not evaluated by the lower court, before assuming jurisdiction to try him.

The lower court having failed to address the preliminary objection challenging its jurisdiction particularly the issue of abduction and extraordinary rendition from Kenya to Nigeria, the lower court failed to take cognizance of the fact that a warrant of arrest can only be executed anywhere within Nigeria, the appeal court judgement said.

The court further held that the trial judge was in grave error to have breached the right to fair hearing of Nnamdi Kanu

The African Charter on Human and People’s rights are part of the laws of Nigeria and courts must abide by the laws without pandering to the aim of the Executive, the appeal court said.

Kanu has repeatedly called for the breakaway of a significant chunk of southern Nigeria to form the Republic of Biafra.

On October 2015, he was arrested by Nigerian authorities on an 11-count charge bordering on “terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, illegal possession of firearms and improper importation of goods, among others.”

He was granted bail on April 2017 for medical reasons.

However, Kanu fled the country in September 2017 after an invasion of his home by the military in Afara-Ukwu, near Umuahia, Abia State.

He was then sighted in Israel and later continued to rally his supporters in Nigeria to employ violence in achieving secession.

“He has, upon jumping bail, been accused of engaging in subversive activities that include inciting violence through television, radio and online broadcasts against Nigeria and Nigerian State and institutions,” Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami said after Kanu was rearrested and brought back to Nigeria in June 2021.

“Kanu was also accused of instigating violence especially in the Southeastern Nigeria that resulted in the loss of lives and property of civilians, military, para military, police forces and destruction of civil institutions and symbols of authorities.”

Kanu has denied any wrongdoing.

Reacting to the Appeal Court’s decision on Thursday, the Attorney-General, Mr Malami, said the decision of the court only discharged Kanu and did not acquit him.

In a statement signed by spokesperson, Dr. Umar Jibril Gwandu, Malami said the Federal Government will explore all available options left to it.

“The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has received the news of the decision of the Court of Appeal concerning the trial of Nnamdi Kanu,” the statement said. “For the avoidance of doubt and by the verdict of the Court, Kanu was only discharged and not acquitted.

“Consequently, the appropriate legal options before the authorities will be exploited and communicated accordingly to the public.

“The decision handed down by the court of appeal was on a single issues that borders on rendition.

“Let it be made clear to the general public that other issues that predates rendition on the basis of which Kanu jumped bail remain valid issues for judicial determination.

“The Federal Government will consider all available options open to us on the judgment on rendition while pursuing determination of pre-rendition issues.”

Meanwhile, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, Mike Ozekhome has argued that Kanu should be released immediately after his discharge.

“What it (the ruling) means is that Nnamdi Kanu was discharged today,” Ozekhome said. “That means he is a free man.

“And he should be allowed to go home tomorrow by the time we get a certified true copy of the judgment, we serve it to the Office of the Attorney-General and the DSS to allow Nnamdi Kanu go. Let my people go.”

ITF- NECA Graduates 70 Trainees After 4 Months Training

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October 13, 2022

The Industrial Training Fund in conjunction with the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association on the Technical Skills Development Project has held a graduation ceremony for 70 trainees who underwent four months of training in Technical Skills Development Project .

The Technical Skills Development Project started in 2010 and focused on training Nigerian Youths on employable technical and vocational skills to reduce unemployment.

The Training Manager, Industrial Skills Training Centre, Ikeja, James Fanope, while speaking at the event said that he was happy that out of the 80 students admitted four months ago, 70 were graduating and had been trained and groomed in their various chosen technical and vocational skills to fit into the industrial sector of the economy.

Fanapo said, “The students are ready to launch into the world to actualise their dreams through what they have learnt either by becoming self-employed or applying to organisations that are in line with their field.”

The Director of Research and Curriculum Development Department, Zaccaria Piwuna, who represented the Director General of ITF, Joseph Ari, also commended the efforts of the training manager and other technical officials that took the students through the last four months, saying they had contributed towards reducing unemployment in Nigeria.

NECA seeks reappraisal of economic policies
Thompson Akpabio who represented the Director-General of NECA, urged the graduating students on the need to build more on the skills they acquired at the institute to push them ahead.

He further stated that the partnership of ITF with NECA had brought about a great impact in reducing unemployment because since the inception of the scheme in 2010, it had succeeded in training thousands of young persons with vocational and technical skills.

The event ended on a high note with the presentation of the Certificate of Competence to the students and awards to the best students.

ITF offers programmes in Electrical/Electronics Maintenance, Mechanical Machining and Maintenance, Automobile Mechanic Works, Welding and Fabrication Works, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Instrumentation and Process Control, Information and Communication Technology, and Art of Culinary.

Exchange Rate for USD to NGN – Wednesday, October 13, 2022

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October 13, 2022

The Dollar to Nigerian Naira exchange rate (USD NGN) as of 13th October, 2022 at 7:41 PM.

1 USD = 434.9619 NGN

Israel Sea Border: Lebanon’s President Approves Historic Deal

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October 13, 2022

Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun said Thursday that the cash-strapped country has approved a US-mediated maritime border deal with Israel.

Lebanon and Israel both claim around 860 square kilometers (330 square miles) of the Mediterranean Sea that are home to offshore gas fields.

The agreement to demarcate the maritime border comes after months of talks mediated by senior US official Amos Hochstein, and would mark a major breakthrough in relations between the two countries, which have formally been at war since Israel’s creation in 1948.

“This indirect agreement responds to Lebanese demands and maintains all our rights,” Aoun said in a televised speech.

Aoun made the announcement hours after meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Speaker Nabih Berri, who had received copies of Hochstein’s latest iteration of the agreement earlier this week.

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday said that both countries agreed to “formally” end their maritime border dispute, and that their leaders both told him they were ready to take next steps.

Israel’s Cabinet on Wednesday voted in favor of the US-brokered deal by a “large majority” of its ministers. The agreement will be forwarded to the Knesset, or parliament, for a two-week review period before a final Cabinet vote.

Lebanon hopes that demarcating maritime borders will pave the way for gas exploration to help lift it out of its crippling economic crisis.

“I hope the end of these negotiations is the promising start to placing the cornerstone for the economic growth that Lebanon needs through extracting oil and gas,” Aoun said. “Which would add stability, security, and development that our nation Lebanon needs.”

Israel meanwhile also hopes to exploit gas reserves and hopes the deal will reduce the risk of war with Lebanon’s Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The agreement stipulates that the disputed waters would be divided along a line straddling the “Qana” natural gas field.

Gas production would be based on the Lebanese side, but Israel would be compensated for gas extracted from its side of the line.

Lebanon has been working with French energy giant Total on preparations for exploring the field.

After 4 Attempts, Iraqi Parliament Elects Kurdish Politician As President

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October 13, 2022

Iraq’s parliament on Thursday elected Kurdish politician Abdul Latif Rashid as president, who immediately named Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani prime minister-designate, ending a year of deadlock after a national election in October last year.

The presidency, traditionally occupied by a Kurd, is a largely ceremonial position, but the vote for Rashid was a key step toward forming a new government, which politicians have failed to do since the election.

Rashid, 78, British-educated engineer, was the Iraqi minister of water resources from 2003-2010.

He invited Sudani, the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc known as the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Iran-aligned factions, to form a government. Sudani previously served as Iraq’s human rights minister as well as minister of Labour and Social Affairs.

Rashid won against former President Barham Salih, who was running for a second term.

Thursday’s vote, which was the fourth attempt to elect a president this year, took place shortly after nine rockets landed on Thursday around the Iraqi capital’s Green Zone, according to a military statement.

British Rocket Company’s 1st Space Launch Ditches In Sea Off Iceland

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October 13, 2022