Home Blog Page 522

Iwobi Scores First Premier League Goal For Fulham Fc In Their Win Over Wolves

0

Nigerian midfielder, Alex Iwobi scored his first English Premier League goal in Fulham FC colours in their 3-2 win over Wolves on Monday, November 28, 2023.

Iwobi was making his 300th appearance in club football, from Arsenal FC, Everton FC and now with Fulham FC.

Iwobi bagged his first Premier League goal for the Cottagers in the 7th minute of the match at Craven Cottage on Monday night.

The Super Eagles midfielder controlled perfectly a cross by teammate Antonee Robinson before firing home to give Fulham FC the lead agianst Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The visitors were back on level terms when Matheus Cunha got the equaliser 15 minutes after Iwobi’s goal to force a 1-1 halftime score in London.

Enterprising pressure from Iwobi and his Fulham FC teammates resulted in a 58th minute penalty kick.

Former Chelsea star Willian stepped up to score the spot-kick for 2-1 in favour of Fulham FC.

Hwang Hee-Chan pulled Wolves level again from the spot in the 75th minute to make it 2-2.

With the encounter heading towards a draw, the hosts were awarded another penalty kick.

Brazillian star, Willian again dispatched to seal a 3-2 win for Fulham.

That win takes Fulham FC to 14th spot on the table.

IWOBI RECEIVES PRAISE FROM A GREAT GOALSCORER

Former Liverpool forward, Micheal Owen claimed Iwobi showed great technique to score the goal vs Wolves.

Owen who was one of the greatest goalscorers of his generation praised the Nigerian midfielders positioning and technique.

“He did well, we picked him up here, actually coming from the right hand side and ended up taking more of a central position. He doesn’t vacate that and he just gets in behind defenders there,” Owen told Premier League Productions.

“I love the finish as well, the ball is actually behind him. He starts to move earlier from the right hand side and then finishes it right on the inside left channel.”

NCAA To Probe United Nigeria Diverted Flight

0

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA has begun an investigation into the circumstances surrounding United Nigeria Abuja-bound flight which was diverted to the Asaba International Airport.

Consequently, officials have said the regulator may suspend all the wet-leased aircraft under the carrier’s operations.

In a statement, The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Musa Nuhu said The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding United Nigeria flight NUA 0506 to Asaba and the confusion it has created in the public domain.

 “However, preliminary steps have been taken pending conclusions of the ongoing investigation. The Authority wishes to reassure the travelling public that it will leave no stone unturned as it has always done in the past to ensure continued safety of the aviation industry.

NCAA Begins Automated Operating Licence Process

In a statement on Sunday, the Airline said, “A United Nigeria Airlines flight, NUA 0504, operating from the MM2 in Lagos enroute Abuja on Sunday, November 26, 2023, was temporarily diverted to the Asaba International Airport due to poor destination weather.”

“At all material time, the Pilot of the aircraft was aware of the temporary diversion and was properly briefed. However, a wrong announcement was made by the cabin crew upon landing safely in Asaba creating confusion among the passengers.”

 A wet-leased is a leasing arrangement whereby one airline (the lessor) provides an aircraft, complete crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) to another airline or other type of business acting as a broker of air travel (the lessee), which pays by hours operated.

Universities Face Extreme Lecturer Shortages, ASUU Blames Japa, FG

0

Universities in Nigeria are battling a severe shortage of staff as thousands of lecturers leave the tertiary institutions to seek greener pastures in foreign lands.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities branches have lamented the situation adding that the shortage was due to the surge in the exit of the lecturers out of Nigeria and the concerns around the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System.

ASUU at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, said about 100 lecturers had left the university, while the union at the Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara, disclosed that the institution was in need of about 1,000 lecturers to fill the vacancies created by those who had left.

The union at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State said over 350 academic vacancies were now available at the institution, while 27 lecturers had left two faculties at the University of Lagos, and 100 workers at the University of Uyo travelled out of the country.

The union also disclosed that about 500 academic vacancies existed at the University of Ilorin in Kwara State, while both academic and non-academic staff of the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology were leaving the country.

The Chairman, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Ondo State, Rotimi Olorunsola, said many of the staff of the institution, both academic and non-academic, had left the university.

Stating another likely cause of teacher scarcity,the Chairman of ASUU, University of Benin, Ray Chikogu, said the shortage of staff in UNIBEN and other universities had been a problem that existed for a long time due to the embargo on employment by the Federal Government.

He said this constituted undue interference by the government in the running of the universities, especially as it affected the recruitment and promotion of staff.

“It has been a problem for a number of years now because of the embargo on employment in federal universities and the process of recruitment of staff is a very cumbersome one. The university has to obtain permission from the head of service through the accountant-general’s office.

“This is interference by the Federal Government on the internal affairs of the school. What should have been handled by university senates and councils has now been centralised to the point that everything has been muddled up in the university system. It is a very sad situation.

“Many are retiring and they are not being replaced and due to the unfavourable condition much academic staff work under, they have left their jobs and travelled abroad to seek greener pastures, adding to the big problem of brain drain, which is taking its toll on the university system and nothing is being done about it. It appears that the Federal Government is deliberately suffocating the system for reasons best known to them.”

The ASUU Chairman at the Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State, Dr Shehu El-rasheed, said a lot of vacancies existed in the varsity due to bureaucratic bottlenecks.

He said, “A lot of vacancies exist but filling the vacancies has become very difficult due to the tough bureaucratic bottlenecks.

A vice-chancellor needs to get clearance from about seven Federal Government agencies and parastatals before a single staffer is recruited.

“Senior professors are retiring and no replacement. In FUK, academic staff are leaving in numbers to countries such Malaysia, Oman, New Zealand, and the US.”

IPP was introduced by the Federal Government a few years ago as part of measures to solve the problem of ghost workers and civil servants who earned multiple salaries but instead prevent institutions from replacing workers.

Addressing the matter from another angle, Prof Tony Odiwe, the Chairman of OAU ASUU, decried the poor treatment of academic staff members and demanded a better working environment for the lecturers.

He said, “The government doesn’t care about the system, treating us as if we are slaves, terrible conditions of service, no motivation, and poor facilities. In addition to this, retired members are not being replaced, we are extremely overworked.”

On the shortage of lecturers, Odiwe said, “Our members have gone and many are still planning to leave especially, the younger ones in the system.

In Katsina State, the issue of inadequate academic staff in the state-owned Umaru Musa Yar’adua University was raised by workers in the institution.

Findings showed the institution made use of visiting lecturers from the nearby Federal University, Dutsinma, and from other universities across Nigeria.

It was also found that many of the university lecturers also handled extra courses aside from those assigned to them because of inadequate academic staff.

Meanwhile, the ASUU Chairman of the Federal University, Dutsinma, Jibrin Shagari, said, “The FUDMA is affected by mass academy staff exodus, two professors exited the Faculty of Management Sciences last month, as well as a lecturer.”


According to Shagari, the instituitionhas recorded staff deaths, others being terribly ill with strokes.

Many academic staff have lost interest in their jobs because of insecurity, overloaded work, non-living wages, no leave due to semester running, withheld salaries, wages, and promotion arrears.

Even though the laws that established universities give the governing councils the power to hire and fire, bureaucracy prevents its materialization.

The ASUU Chairman of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Adeleye Oluwagbemiga, said the academic vacancies in the university were over 350.

He said the chief reason for the inadequate academic staff in the university was the irresponsibility of the government in terms of funding the university to get more hands.

He said, “The major reason we have inadequate academic staff in the university is due to the irresponsibility of the government that is not prioritizing funding the university adequately.

“The last employment was done around 2019 or so and we keep having lecturers who are retiring, some died and some moved out in search of greener pastures. It is the duty of the government to fill up these vacancies but this the government has failed to do.

“Rather it places embargoes on employment. The standard according to the National University Commission is to have one lecturer to 50 students or so, but what we have here in our university is one lecturer to between 200 and 300 students. The academic vacancies here are over 350, at least with this we shall have a record of a minimum of 70 per cent coverage of all the departments.

All over the country, Nigeria’s university administrators seemed to agree on one thing – that the government was to blame.

CSO Raises Alarm Over LGBTQ Agreement

0

Representatives of civil society organizations in Nigeria have expressed displeasure over the planned signing of a new partnership agreement between the European Union (EU) and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states.

The agreement tagged the ‘EU-ACP’ was scheduled to be signed on November 15th, 2023. 

The Chairman of the Human Rights Committee, Sonny A. Kosi, raised concerns over provisions in the deal that contradict Nigeria’s values.

Kosi lamented that the adoption of the agreement subtly promotes LGBTQ ideology which is at variance with Nigeria’s philosophical, communal and religious norms. He cited the lack of time given to parliamentarians to thoroughly scrutinize the treaty before the scheduled signing.

He urged the Nigerian government, foreign affairs ministry and parliamentarians not to append their signatures to the document. Kosi warned that doing so would be like signing a death warrant for the country.

The human rights activist further raised concerns that the EU wants to impose their views on parenting and early childhood sexuality education on Africans through the deal. He said Nigeria should follow Ghana and Namibia who have rejected signing the agreement.

Meanwhile, the federal government of Nigeria, insists that it has not signed any act saying that it was absent at the signing of the Samoan agreement.

The agreement is a partnership between the member countries of the Organization of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union (EU).

The Samoa agreement is intended to serve as an overarching legal framework for relations between the African, Caribbean and Pacific states (ACP) and the EU for the next 20 years and was slated to be signed on November 15 (Wednesday).

The partnership is one of the oldest and most comprehensive frameworks for cooperation between the EU and third countries and succeeds the Cotonou Agreement which was signed in 2000.

Member states of the pact comprise 47 African countries, including Nigeria, 16 from the Caribbean,

15 Pacific nations, and the Republic of Maldives.

Island Town Of Olumbanasa In Anambra West Welcomes Gov. Soludo

0

As I pen these words today, my heart brims with emotions so profound they transcend the scope of language.

Accompanied by Bishop Denis Isizoh, the Catholic Diocese of Aguleri, I embarked on a journey of immense significance.

Together, we navigated through River Niger to pay a visit to the resilient and indefatigable people of Olumbanasa in Anambra West LGA

This voyage was more than a symbolic gesture, it was a testament to my steadfast commitment to reach every nook and cranny, every soul of our beloved Anambra state.

This Should Interest You: Anambra To Digitize Land Administration, Plans 72-Hr C of O

The journey was also a personal milestone as it marked my first time being transported in a Keke through the rural areas.

This experience was more than just a thrilling ride, it allowed me a glimpse into the everyday life of our valued Anambra citizens.

Moreover, Olumbanasa, a place once considered unreachable by my predecessors, was made accessible due to your unwavering faith and trust in my leadership.

This visit, unprecedented in the annals of Anambra State, represents a historic achievement, a step no Governor before me has taken.

During my campaign, I paid special attention to the challenges facing Anambra West, particularly with regards to the access road leading to its headquarters.

However, It remains the only Local Government without a navigable access road.

Today, I am proud to report that the headquarters is undergoing a complete transformation, and the once impassable road is now under construction.

This is a promise fulfilled, a testament to my resolve.

When I applied for this office, it was with a vision to bring solace to the distressed, to be a beacon of hope for the downtrodden.

We stand united in our belief of ‘One Anambra, One People, One Agenda’.

Our commitment to ensuring enduring peace for the people of Olumbanasa, Odekpe and Allah-Onugwa remains unshakeable.

We understand that peace is the cornerstone of development.

“Udo GA Chi” peace must indeed reign.

We are dedicated to establishing a primary health center powered by solar energy in the region.

Furthermore, we have plans to illuminate the lives of the people of Olumbanasa with solar lighting, provide them with boreholes and rejuvenate their educational institutions.

This visit fills me with pride, and I assure you, this is but the first of many

May Anambra Continue to Succeed

CC. Soludo CFR.

Christmas In Switzerland With Its Food And Music Traditions

0

Christmas in Switzerland shares many of the customs from its neighbors Germany and Austria. But it has many traditions of its own!

Advent marks the start of the Christmas preparations. Advent calendars and crowns are both popular.

In some villages, there are ‘real’ advent calendars with different houses decorating an ‘Advent Window’.

This Should Interest You: The Tradition Of Christmas Cards

On the day when it’s your house with the advent window, you hold a party for the villagers in the evening.

There’s food, mulled wine (called Glühwein) and music.

Christmas markets are very popular in towns and cities where you can buy all kinds of Christmas foods and decorations.

Also, here are big light displays and you can enjoy some more hot Glühwein!

There are many local traditions of parades and carol singing in Switzerland.

In the Bernese Oberland region, there are processions starting on Christmas Day and finishing on New Year’s Eve.

They’re known as the ‘Trychle’ as people parade wearing a big Trychler (cow bell) or carrying drums and normally wearing masks.

The ‘Urnäsch Silvesterkläuse’ processions take place in the Appenzell Ausserrhoden, especially in the villages around Urnäsch.

Besides, they take place from December 31st to January 13th and date back over 200 years.

The people (known as Kläuse in the processions) wear costumes, masks and head dresses.

They go from house to house singing and making lots of noise to wish people a good new year.

‘Star Singing’ is also very popular among children.

What’s more, they go carol singing from the last week of Advent until Epiphany, carrying a large star infant of them.

The star represents the star that the Wisemen followed when they visited the baby Jesus.

Christmas Trees are popular in Switzerland and are often bought and decorated on Christmas Eve.

Some people like use real candles on the tree, which are traditionally lit on Christmas Eve (when the presents are being opened!) and on New Year’s Eve.

The main Christmas meal is eaten on Christmas Eve and popular foods include a Christmas ham and scalloped potatoes with melted cheese and milk baked into it.

Dessert is often a walnut cake and Christmas cookies.

Cookies are very popular to buy and make. Each family has their own recipes and favorites.

Another popular food, especially for parties, is fondue (a pot of melted cheese which you dip bread in – and you might have to kiss the person on your left!).

Sometimes ‘FIGUGEGL’ (fee-goo-geck-ul) is added to party invitations. This means ‘Fondu isch guet und git e gueti Lune’ (fondue is good and gives a good mood).

There are four official languages in Switzerland, Merry Christmas in Swiss German is ‘Schöni Wiehnachte’, in French it’s ‘Joyeux Noël’, in Italian it’s ‘Buon Natale’ and in Romansh it’s ‘Bellas festas da Nadal’.

FCTA Certificate Of Occupancy To Now Cost 3.5 Million – Wike

0

Issuance of Certificates of Occupancy will now cost N3.5 million, a reduction from the previously proposed cost of N5 million.

This was disclosed by the FCT Minister, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike during his second monthly Ministerial media parley which was held on Friday, November 24th in his office.

Speaking on a wide range of issues, Barrister Wike disclosed that the decision to reduce the cost of C of O was based on the recommendations of the Task Force set up on the issuance of C of Os, in mass housing estates and recovery of land use contravention fees.

It may be recalled that the Task force had proposed the payment of the sum of N5 million which was largely objected to by stakeholders, prompting the organisation of an interface between estate developers as well as residents’ associations.

This Should Interest You: Ground Rent Debts: We’ll step on toes, something will happen, Wike tells defaulters

The Minister, during that meeting had hinted at the possibility of a downward review of the cost of issuance of the land document.

The Minister equally stated that new security features such as  the  National Identification Number (NIN) and the Bank Verification Number (BVN) for individuals and corporate organisations respectively will be incorporated in the new Certificates.

Barrister Wike equally disclosed that payment of the N3.5 million  will not apply for recertification, but will be applicable only for new issuances.

His words “Those who have C of O don’t need to pay this money. The highest you can pay is maybe N50,000 and corporate bodies, maybe N100,000 because you already have C of O. All you are doing is to recertify in order to incorporate these new features.”

Speaking on the efforts to improve revenue generation in the FCT, the FCT Minister also reiterated that the FCT Administration will enforce the payment of property tax and ground rent, warning that those who fail to pay will have their allocations revoked. He stressed that to shore up IGR, payment of ground rent has to be enforced.

He said, “Over the years, nobody has been able to enforce the payment of ground rent. I came on board and I said okay, it can’t be business as usual. You have property, you are given a C of O to back up your property. In that C of O, you are told to be paying annual ground rent. For the past 15 years, you didn’t pay. Some people, for the past 20 years, they never paid.

“And you know Nigerians, they said nothing will happen. I came and said something will happen and they have to pay.

Seeing that we mean what we have said, if you don’t pay, we will revoke and we have been doing that, people are now queuing up to pay.

Go to AGIS, people are queuing up and that has now increased our IGR.”

He said IGR in the FCT has increased from a monthly collection of N14 billion to over N20 billion.

To ensure that capital projects get priority attention, the Minister revealed that adjustments would be made to the FCT budgeting process, with 70 per cent of the budget dedicated to capital projects, while the other 30 per cent will be utilized for overhead expenditure.

Speaking on critical ongoing projects in the FCT, including the Abuja mass rail transit scheme, the Minister assured that they would be completed before May 2024 to coincide with the celebration of one year anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

He added that provisions have also been made for funding of the projects in the FCT 2023 supplementary budget, adding that the contractors executing the projects have given assurances that the projects will be completed within schedule.

The Minister equally revealed that the FCT would be launching its mass transportation buses and taxis next month to ply the routes of Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse and Garki, following which tricycles, popularly called Kepe Napep, operation in the city centre would be phased out by January 2024.

The Minister added that the FCTA would also be spending about N600 million to repair the mass transit buses in its fleet which would also be deployed in various routes to ease the transportation.

We are launching vehicles for the mass transit in December. Again, it’s part of the supplementary budget we submitted for Mr. President to transmit to the National Assembly.

The fund is there.

We are anticipating that the National Assembly will pass it. We have started the procurement process so that as it comes, we will not be delayed.

We have the money in our account. All we are seeking for is approval by the National Assembly for us to be able to spend”.

While lamenting the increasing wage bill of the FCT Administration, Barrister Wike, promised to carry out a forensic audit exercise of staff to determine the actual staff strength of the FCTA.

The Tradition Of Christmas Cards

1

The first known item that looked a bit like a Christmas card was given to King James I of England (who was also King James VI of Scotland) in 1611.

People have been sending Christmas greetings to each other for hundreds of years.

The first recorded use of ‘Merry Christmas’ was in a Christmas letter sent in 1534.

This was more like a large ornamental manuscript rather than a card as we think of them today.

It was 84cm x 60cm (33″ x 24″) and was folded into panels (it might have been folded so it could be carried around).

It had a picture of a rose in the centre and a Christmas and New Year message to the King and his son was written into and around the rose.

Also on the manuscript were four poems and a song – so rather more than are on cards today!

This Should Interest You: Chris Oyakhilome Foundation Int’l Donates Building To Immigration Service

The custom of sending Christmas cards, as we know them today, was started in the UK in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole.

He was a senior civil servant (Government worker) who had helped set-up the new ‘Public Record Office’ (now called the Post Office), where he was an Assistant Keeper, and wondered how it could be used more by ordinary people.

The First Christmas Card

Sir Henry had the idea of Christmas Cards with his friend John Horsley, who was an artist.

They designed the first card and sold them for 1 shilling each.

(That is only 5p or 8 cents today(!), but in those days it was worth much more.)

The card had three panels.

The outer two panels showed people caring for the poor and in the center panel was a family having a large Christmas dinner!

Some people didn’t like the card because it showed a child being given a glass of wine!

About 1000 (or it might have been less!) were printed and sold.

They are now very rare and cost thousands of Pounds or Dollars to buy now!

The original cards were advertised with the slogan: “Just published, a Christmas Congratulations Card; or picture emblematical of old English festivity to perpetuate kind recollections between dear friends”!

How Christmas Cards Became A Common Christmas Tradition

The first postal service that ordinary people could use was started in 1840 when the first ‘Penny Post’ public postal deliveries began (Sir Henry Cole helped to introduce the Penny Post).

Before that, only very rich people could afford to send anything in the post.

The new Post Office was able to offer a Penny stamp because new railways were being built.

These could carry much more post than the horse and carriage that had been used before.

Also, trains could go a lot faster.

Cards became even more popular in the UK when they could be posted in an unsealed envelope for one halfpenny – half the price of an ordinary letter.

As printing methods improved, Christmas cards became much more popular and were produced in large numbers from about 1860.

In 1870 the cost of sending a post card, and also Christmas cards, dropped to half a penny.

This meant even more people were able to send cards.

An engraved card by the artist William Egley, who illustrated some of Charles Dickens’s books, is on display in the British Museum.

By the early 1900s, the custom had spread over Europe and had become especially popular in Germany.

The first cards usually had pictures of the Nativity scene on them.

In late Victorian times, robins (a British bird) and snow-scenes became popular.

In those times the postmen were nicknamed ‘Robin Postmen’ because of the red uniforms they wore.

Snow-scenes were popular because they reminded people of the very bad winter that happened in the UK in 1836.

Christmas Cards appeared in the United States of America in the late 1840s, but were very expensive and most people couldn’t afford them.

It 1875, Louis Prang, a printer who was originally from German but who had also worked on early cards in the UK, started mass producing cards so more people could afford to buy them.

Mr Prang’s first cards featured flowers, plants, and children.

In 1915, John C. Hall and two of his brothers created Hallmark Cards, who are still one of the biggest card makers today!

The first known ‘personalised’ Christmas Card was sent in 1891 by Annie Oakley, the famous sharpshooter and star of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show.

She was in Glasgow, Scotland at Christmas 1891 and sent cards back to her friends and family in the USA featuring a photo of her on it.

As she was in Scotland, she’s wearing tartan in the photo! Annie reportedly designed the cards herself and they were printed by a local printer.

In the 1910s and 1920s, home made cards became popular.

They were often unusual shapes and had things such as foil and ribbon on them.

These were usually too delicate to send through the post and were given by hand.

How It Is Celebrated: Christmas In Ukraine

70

Christmas in Ukraine is now officially celebrated on the 25th of December.

This became law in July 2023. Previously, Christmas had traditionally been celebrated on the 7th of January as many of Ukraine’s Orthodox churches had historic connections with the Russian Orthodox church, which celebrates Christmas on the 7th January.

In February 2023, Ukraine’s main Greek Catholic church announced a change to December 25th, from January 7th.

Some people will still celebrate Christmas on the 7th January, but most Ukrainians will celebrate Christmas on December 25th.

In Ukrainian Happy/Merry Christmas is Veseloho Rizdva (Merry Christmas) or Khrystos Rozhdayetsia (Christ is Born).

The main Christmas meal, called ‘Sviata Vecheria’ (or Holy Supper) is eaten on Christmas Eve (24th December or 6th January).

Traditionally people fast (don’t eat certain foods) all day but you might start the day drinking some holy water that has been blessed at church.

You can’t start eating the meal until the first star is seen in the sky.

This Should Interest You: True or False: Breakfast the most Important Meal of the Day

So people (especially the hungry ones!) go outside as soon as it start getting dark in the afternoon to try and spot the first star.

The star represents the journey of the Wise Men to find Jesus and that Jesus has been born, so Christmas can start!

The meal normally has 12 dishes which represent Jesus’s 12 disciples. Traditionally the dishes don’t have any meat, eggs or milk in them.

The main dish is often ‘kutia’ a type of a kind of sweet porridge made of wheat.

Other dishes can include mushrooms, sauerkraut, red ‘borsch’ (beet soup), dumplings known as ‘varenyky’ (Pierogi), ‘holopchi’ (cabbage rolls, make without meat in them at Christmas!), ‘pyrizhky’ (cabbage buns), whitefish and ‘kolach’ (special Christmas bread).

Another meal of 12 dishes is eaten on Christmas Day (25th December or 7th January). In this meal, some of the dishes will contain meat.

The room where Sviata Vecheria is eaten normally has a Didukh decoration placed in it.

The Didukh is a made from a sheaf of wheat and symbolises the large wheat fields in Ukraine.

It literally means ‘grandfather spirit’ and can represent people’s ancestors being with them in their memories.

Sometimes people use some heads of wheat in a vase rather than a whole sheaf of wheat.

After the meal, people love to sing carols or ‘Koliadky’.

They can be sung around the table or you might go out caroling in the streets.

People sometimes carry brightly colored stars on poles when they go caroling singing.

The Ukrainian carol ‘Shchedryk’ is where the popular ‘Carol of the Bells’ came from.

Making paper snowflakes to put on the tree or in windows are a popular decoration.

In parts of western Ukraine, Christmas Trees are often decorated with artificial spider’s webs because of the story of The Christmas Spider.

These are called made of paper and silver wire, called ‘pavuchky’ (which means ‘little spider’).

NAFDAC Seizes Expired Drugs Worth N15m In Jos

0

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday seized expired pharmaceutical products worth N15 million from a pharmacy in Jos, Plateau State.

This is as the agency also confiscated unregistered alcoholic beverages worth more than N30 million from shops in Jos and in the nearby Bukuru metropolis of the state.

The Director of the North Central Zone, NAFDAC, Mr Shaba Mohammed who disclosed this said the agency had earlier received reports that the pharmacy sold expired drugs.

According to him, the pharmacy tampers with expiry date markings on pharmaceuticals to revalidate their shelf lives.

Mohammed explained that during NAFDAC’s raid, it found a room in the pharmacy packed full of drugs with their expiry dates cleaned off, awaiting the imprint of new dates.

Read Also: WHO Warns Against Abuse Of Antibiotics

“During the raid, we discovered that the pharmacy had a room where expired dates were cleaned off and the drugs revalidated.

“These pharmaceuticals consist of both oral and injectable,’’ he said.

He, however, said NAFDAC has closed down the pharmacy and has arrested the pharmacist who failed to produce his current licence of practice as a pharmacist and the current operational licence of the pharmacy itself.

Speaking further, Mohammed warned the general public against buying pharmaceuticals from unregistered pharmacies.

He added that complaints about drugs should be made promptly to the nearest NAFDAC office or through a call to their telephone number: 08033034666.

He also warned consumers of drinks and packaged foods to always look out for NAFDAC registration numbers on such products.

Mohammed assured that raids on pharmacies and shops in Plateau would continue until the state is rid of unwholesome products.