Once Upon A Time – April 29 – 1945 – U.S. Army Liberates 31,601 People From Dachau Nazi Concentration Camp

By

-

April 29, 2023

1862 New Orleans falls to Union forces during US Civil War

1864 Battle of Gate Pa (Pukehinahina): 1,700 British troops suffer their worst defeat of the New Zealand Wars at the hands of 230 entrenched Maori warriors in Tauranga

1916 Irish republicans abandon the post office in Dublin and surrender unconditionally, marking the end of the Easter Rising

1945 US Army liberates 31,601 people from the Dachau Nazi concentration camp in Germany

1975 Vietnam War: US begins to evacuate its citizens from Saigon in Operation Frequent Wind in response to advancing North Vietnamese forces, bringing an end to US involvement in the war

1990 Wrecking cranes began tearing down the Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate

1991 Cyclone strikes the Chittagong district in Bangladesh, killing 139,000 people and leaving 10 million homeless

1997 Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993 comes into force, outlaws production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons among its signatories

Historical Events Today Events in 2023
Today in Film & TV
1932 1st broadcast of “One Man’s Family” on NBC radio, longest-running dramatic serial on US radio (ends 1959)

Today in Music
1967 Aretha Franklin releases her single “Respect” (written by Otis Redding); Billboard Song of the Year, 1967

Today in Sport
1922 1st official International Weightlifting Federation Champ in Tallinn, Estonia

MORE FACTS..
1852 1st edition of Peter Roget’s Thesaurus published in Great Britain

1953 The first U.S. experimental 3D-TV broadcast showed an episode of Space Patrol on Los Angeles ABC affiliate KECA-TV

Famous Weddings
1885 Novelist Edith Wharton (23) weds Edward Robbins Wharton (35)

1945 Adolf Hitler (56) marries Eva Braun (33) in the Führerbunker, Berlin

1950 American actor Sidney Poitier (23) weds model Juanita Hardy; divorce in 1965

Argentina 2023: AC Milan Stop Victor Eletu From Nigeria’s World Cup Show

By

Emenike Agu

-

April 29, 2023

0

A member of the Nigeria’s Under-20 World Cup team, Victor Eletu, has been dragged into club versus country row as Serie A champions AC Milan have informed the NFF they will not release him for the World Cup.

The club said the highly-rated midfielder will be fully engaged for the next one month in Italy.

However, Milan have now turned down a request by the NFF to release Eletu, 18 this month, for the World Cup by May 1, 2023.

Milan have said they will not release Eletu because he will be very busy in the next four weeks. football official informed scorenigeria.

“The boy is important to the team’s U19s, where he has often captained them, but we hope we can still get them to release him in time for the World Cup.

“We will continue to talk to the club because he will most certainly bring great value to the Flying Eagles.”

To underline how highly Milan rate Eletu, technical director Paolo Maldini has had to convene a special meeting to discuss the matter, a top source further informed.

It is another case of club versus country and Milan enjoy the advantage as the U20 World Cup is not in the FIFA international calendar and as such they will not be sanctioned should they not release the player.

The Flying Eagles coaching crew has been widely praised for considering a player of such high standing like Eletu for the World Cup in Argentina.

Lack Of Approval: Lagos State Demolishes 13 Buildings Along Airport Road

By

Angel Gimalo

-

April 29, 2023

0

The Lagos State Government has demolished 13 illegal buildings at I.K. Peter Street, Ajao Estate, cited in close proximity to the Murtala International Airport, Lagos.

Officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), backed by taskforce officials stormed the area with bulldozers to begin demolition of the illegal structures after series of notices served the occupants.

The General Manager, LASBCA, Gbolahan Owodunni Oki, giving reasons for the demolition disclosed that the buildings lacked required approvals and were cited around Airport restricted areas while some were cited on aviation fuel pipelines.

Oki, who feared the havoc that a fire outbreak from the pipeline could cause to lives and properties, said the builders also lacked required documents as approvals for construction in that area.

According to Oki, the buildings were illegally constructed out of clear disregard to the requirements of extant laws.

He added that the buildings had no planning permit and were built around the pipelines, saying that “nobody in his right thinking mind will go and buy a plot on a pipeline and build on the pipeline.”

The LASBCA boss stated that due consultations and communications had been made with enough time of about two years given to the occupants of the affected buildings to evacuate the structures.

Oki lamented that building collapse in Lagos had been a subject of “attitudinal problem,” saying that the buildings were a national risk to the airport being “extremely close,” stressing that no life of a Nigerian is worth being lost to the dangers that the citing of the buildings posed.

The General Manager called on Lagosians to report cases of illegal structures to the government, saying that “turning a blind face to such constructions,” would bear untoward consequences with far reaching losses.

On its part, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said the agency was happy that the Lagos State Government was stepping into the issue after several warnings and attempt to stop the constructions of the buildings were not yielded to by those it called “encroachers”, who “stole” from the Airport land.

The General Manager, Business Development, FAAN, Ngwu Hycienth, applauded the partnership with LASBCA to bring normalcy and decency to the Airport environment.

He lamented that the Authorities of the Airport began to notice encroachment on its land in 2015, defying the standard rule that no building must be cited close to the perimeter fence.

Rivers United Off To Dar Es Salaam For Young Africans Clash

By

Emenike Agu

-

April 29, 2023

0

Rivers United have left the country for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania for their CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final second leg clash against Young Africans.

The Pride of Rivers contingent left the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos on Thursday afternoon.

Stanley Egunma’s side will aim to upturn the 2-0 deficit from the first leg.

The NPFL champions will take on Young Africans in the second leg at the Benjamin Nkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam on Sunday.

The winners will face Pyramids of Egypt or South Africa’s Gallants FC in the last four.

V.P. Osinbajo, Ruto, Okonjo-Iweala Speak At 2023 Mo Ibrahim Governance Weekend

By

Angel Gimalo

-

April 29, 2023

0

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday attended the opening ceremony of the 2023 Mo Ibrahim Governance Weekend in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation, the organiser of the annual forum, was established in 2006 with a critical focus on the importance of good governance and leadership for Africa.

This year’s theme is “Global Africa.”

The forum, tagged The Ibrahim Governance Weekend (IGW), brings together leading voices from across Africa and beyond to discuss germane issues around the progress of the African Continent.

The guest speakers include Kenyan President, William Ruto; former President of the African Development Bank, Donald Kaberuka; Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; among others.

Former Super Eagles Captain, Uche Okechukwu and Ex-CAF staff, Asomugha Battle For Abia Football Chairmanship

By

Emenike Agu

-

April 29, 2023

0

Former Super Eagles captain, Uche Okechukwu and a former staff of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Eric Asomugha are lead contestants for the chairmanship position of the Abia State Football Association.

The duo along with two others, Obioma Oyeaghala and Paul Obinna Peter will slug it out in what looks a fierce battle.

Okechukwu, popularly known as ‘Gentle Giant’ featured for the Super Eagles at the USA ‘94 World Cup and also captained the team to the France ‘98. He was capped 47 times for Nigeria since his debut in the 2-0 defeat of Cote d’Ivoire on 25 January 1990. His last match was Nigeria’s 1-4 loss to Denmark on 28 June 1998 at the World Cup.

Asomugha, a former online editor for CAF website is a former webmaster and internal information manager for the Confederation of African Football, CAF.

The four chairmanship headline the contest which will also feature 10 other candidates battling for various positions.

According to the list released by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Emeka Ngborogwu and the Secretary, Ikeme Kalu Daniel, the 14 candidates have been screened to contest.

The election is slated for next week Friday. Asomugha has however raise concerns that up till Friday morning, the list electorates have not been released to enable contestants to campaign and seek for their votes.

The Abia State Football Association congress is composed of 24, 17 of who are chairmen of various local government football councils.

The rest are representatives of the Nigeria Premier League in the state as well as those of the Nigeria National League, the Nationwide League, Female League, Coaches Association, the Referees Association, the Referees and the Players Association.

Regional Railway, Electricity Projects To Be Launched In Nigeria’s South-west States

By

Angel Gimalo

-

April 29, 2023

0

Southwest States in Nigeria have agreed to launch regional railway and electricity projects.

The decision came on the heels of the Electricity and Railway Acts 2023 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The new laws decentralised the operation of power and rail among others.

The items were on the Exclusive List for decades, factor experts have consistently described as a cog in the wheel of progress in the two sectors.

At the end of a two-day conference on the subjects in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Thursday, the six States agreed to pursue regional power and rail projects to deliver economic and social benefits to the region.

Organised by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission in collaboration with Odu’a Investments Company Ltd., the conference, which was hosted by the Ondo State Investments Promotion Agency (ODSIPA) highlighted the need for each state to build projects in the two sectors and build inter-connectivity among them.

The States are Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti and Lagos.

Experts and commissioners for power and transport in the states gave insights to models that can work, financing options and the need to develop a uniform legal framework for the projects in order to attract the right investors and avoid legal lacuna.

The DAWN Director General Seye Oyeleye said the best time for Southwest to build its rail system and power infrastructures was in 1958, stressing that the next best time to do it was now.

With estimated 45 million population, over 200 manufacturing industries, and huge trade and commercial activities which account for 37 percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Oyeleye said the region was in the best position to set the pace for others.

He pointed out that the region equally needs to prepare for the huge opportunities which the road being constructed by the African Development Bank which will connect about five West African countries and connects Lagos, will bring to the Southwest region.

According to him, if the region fails to build its power and transportation sectors, the manufacturing companies can decide to move their production to neighbouring West African countries and begin to export their products to Nigeria which has the market.

That, he explained, will lead to job, tax and other losses for Nigeria, especially the Southwest region.

Four Super Eagles Players Struggle In Relegation Threatened Clubs

By

Emenike Agu

-

April 29, 2023

0

While arrowhead attacker, Victor Osimhen is awaiting possible coronation with Napoli winning their first Serie A title in over 30 years, the reverse is the case with fellow Super Eagles’ Alex iwobi whose club, Everton is in life-support, avoiding a possible relegation of the club for the first time in 69 years.

Ahead of this weekend’s fixtures, Everton with 28 points are 19^th in the 20-team log.

Iwobi’s Everton is not the only relegation -bound Premier League side habouring Super Eagles star.

Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi in Leicester City are struggling as the club with 29 points is currently 18^th, just a point and a step ahead of Iwobi’s Everton.

Both relegation prone clubs will face each other in battle for life on Monday.

Following their 2-0 win at Goodison Park in November, Leicester are looking to complete the Premier League double over Alex Iwobi’s Everton for only the second time.

Leicester manager Dean Smith has won four and lost none of his six Premier League meetings with Everton.

Everton have won their last two Premier League away games against Leicester – they have never won three consecutive visits to the Foxes in their league history.

Who will survive? Is it Alex Iwobi with Everton or the duo of Iheanacho and Ndidi at Leicester City?

Taiwo Awoniyi is in Nottingham Forest and is struggling to navigate out of the drop zone. With 30 points and in the 17^th position, Forest are just a point afloat from relegation waters

This Saturday, they are away to Brentford in their quest to remain safe.

Brentford have won one of their last six league games against Nottingham Forest (D2 L3). The only Premier League meeting between the sides ended in a 2-2 draw in November.

Gombe State Presents Health Budget Scorecard For Six Local Government

By

Olasunbo Okoromi

-

April 29, 2023

0

The Gombe State Accountability Mechanism, has presented the Health Budget Scorecard of the State Accountability Framework from across six local government areas.

The scorecard sought and evaluate the Basic Health Care Provision Fund key budget performance indicators in Akko, Billiri, Kaltungo, Kwami, Gombe and Yamaltu-Deba LGAs for transparency and timeliness of budget releases, citizens and civil society participation and resource allocation.

The indicators were in the areas of receiving quarterly funding, that is, if the facility is receiving funding from the Primary Healthcare Agency Annual Budget, whether the facility received Captivation payment on or before the 5th of the month, supervision from the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency or Gombe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency in the last quarter and 24 hour service provision in the facilities, among others.

The Chairman of the Gombe State Accountability Mechanism, Mr. Alhassan Yahya, said the outcome was encouraging.

He commended the government and the agencies under the Ministry of Health, GoHealth and Primary Healthcare Development Agency.

He said the exercise was conducted without any interference from the government.

Mr. Yahya said during the collation of data, local government PHC coordinators and focal persons handling the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund in the six facilities visited were engaged, where it was able to track funds released by the government was being used by the end users.

He hoped that the programme would be scaled up to cover more vulnerable people, and also, that women and children would enjoy the benefit of the programme.

He, however, called on the government to continue with the timely release of funds for the vulnerable to continue to access services, more training for the focal persons handling Basic Healthcare Funds for them to master the use of computers and use the data effectively.

The Commissioner of Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, said the concept of the Accountability Framework was adopted to assess and know how the government was performing and afterwards reward and sanction where necessary.

Dr. Daniru, however, pledged that the government would do more to ensure more visitation of facilities, where low visitation was recorded, while the issue of computer appreciation and functionality would be improved upon and the control rooms for complaints would be improved upon.

In the meantime, the Programme Officer of Lisdel, a partner organisation, Mr. Ayobamidele Adamilola, said his organisation was delighted to be part of the process in providing support for citizen-led accountability framework.

Personnel Receive Training on Waste Management

By

Olasunbo Okoromi

-

April 29, 2023

0

Nigeria’s Ministries of Health and Environment have collaborated with Anambra State in holding a two day training of personnel on proper management of medical waste.

The training was in accordance with the National Policy guidelines on health care waste management.

The programme goes in line with the mandate of the State Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, whose main priority was the Environment and Health sector.

The Commissioner of Environment, Felix Odimegwu in a series of meeting with the officials which took place in his office in Awka, the state capital,said:

“Medical waste is a source of generation of hazardous biomedical waste that it’s generation and disposal is a very important aspect, the policies made by the national policy guidelines on health care waste management is a wonderful one and we will be all out for it’s implementation, with proper specification for handling medical waste from generation, segregation, collection, storage, transportation and treatment as tutored in the training the spread of infectious diseases will be curtailed to the bearest minimum”.

Speaking further, the representative from the federal ministry of Health, Mrs Uhara Onyinye, stated that the aim of the field work on assessment of medical waste conducted in different local Government Area of the state together with the two (2) days training was to curtail/minimize the spread of diseases and infection caused by handling of medical waste.

In her contribution, the representative from the ministry of Environment Mrs Okpala Chika said that the newer/upgraded version of incineration, chemical treatment, auto claving, microwaving, shredding/compacting taught in the training when implemented will reduce the negative impact of medical waste in the environment.

Others present at the event were the Permanent secretary, Ministry of Environment Mrs Ngozi Iwuno, the H.O.D of Public health Ministry of Environment Mr Nwankwu.