NEWS

*‘All Of Us Deserve Some Accolades’, Osinbajo Praises Nigerian Youths*

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has heaped praises on Nigerian youths sharing stories of young business owners, innovative and tech-driven youths, entertainment giants, among others. He spoke on Tuesday at The Platform, a programme organised by the Covenant Christian Centre in Lagos. According to him, these young Nigerians have remained focused despite challenges and increased the nation’s national pride and confidence.

The Vice-President also called for joint support for successful nation-building. “What we can do together to ensure that we don’t spend the rest of our days looking forward to path frozen by inaction and resolve to do the same things over and over again while hoping for a different result. I believe the solution is building back Nigerian bridge."

“The bridge will not be one that is built of steel or bricks; this bridge will be built with the wisdom of the elderly and the strength of the youths. All of us deserve some accolades,” he said.

To read full article - http://v.duta.us/VsB-pQAA

*Breaking: CBN Headquarters on Fire*

The headquarters of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Abuja, was engulfed in flames, on Tuesday evening. The fire which started about 2 hours ago is currently under control as officials of Federal Capital Fire Service are on the ground to put off the inferno. The source of the fire is yet unknown.

To read full article - http://v.duta.us/19L3bQAA

*FG bans codeine importation, production*

The Federal Ministry of Health has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to ban with immediate effect further issuance of permits for the importation of codeine as an active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations. The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole said this in a statement on Tuesday. He said that the directive became necessary due to the gross abuse of codeine in the country.

In its stead, the Minister said cough syrups containing Codeine should be replaced with dextromethorphan which is less addictive. He also directed the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria and NAFDAC to supervise the recall for labelling and audit trailing of all codeine-containing cough syrups in the country, while he has also banned sales of Codeine-containing cough syrup without prescription across the country.

He noted that NAFDAC had an emergency meeting with the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group to inform them that there is an embargo on all new applications for registration of codeine-containing cough syrups as well as applications for renewal has been abolished.

To read full article - http://v.duta.us/11PlRAAA

Most northern youths uneducated, school dropouts – Buhari*

President Muhamamdu Buhari has said that most youths from the Northern part of the country were either uneducated or school dropouts. He said because Nigerian media only do what they like, they refused to highlight the explanations in his recent statement in which he was widely quoted as describing a lot of Nigerian youths as lazy. The President said this in an interview he had with Voice of America, Hausa service, in Washington, United States on Tuesday.

When asked about his reported comment on Nigerian youths while in London for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Buhari said the media only preferred to report what they like instead of concentrating on developmental journalism.

To read full article - http://v.duta.us/55f1LwAA

*Workers deserve at least N50,000 minimum wage, says Ekweremadu*

Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has reiterated his support for Nigerian workers’ demand for an upward review of the monthly national minimum wage. Ekweremadu stated this in his goodwill message on the occasion of the 2018 edition of International Workers’ Day, issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Uche Anichukwu.

He said, “It is becoming more difficult for workers to survive on N18,000 minimum wage. It is absolutely less than a living wage. The take-home pay has left most workers stranded on the road, as it is becoming very difficult for an average worker to take care of essential needs, especially in the absence of basic amenities. Therefore, I support workers’ demand for a new minimum wage and the ongoing negotiations initiated by government to that effect. Even if the workers cannot have exactly the N66,500 new monthly National Minimum Wage, which they currently demand, they should have at least N50,000 as the new monthly minimum wage.”

To read full article - http://v.duta.us/unBHagAA

*Kanye West suggests 👀 African-American slavery was 'a choice'😱*

US rap artist Kanye West has said the historic enslavement of African Americans that took place over hundreds of years may have been a "choice".

"When you hear about slavery for 400 years ... for 400 years? That sounds like a choice," he said during an appearance on entertainment site TMZ.

The star recently made headlines over his vocal support for President Trump.

Black people were forcibly brought from Africa to the US during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries and sold as slaves.

West's comments on Tuesday, in which he also said "right now we're choosing to be enslaved", provoked an angry response from a black member of staff at TMZ, Van Lathan.

Mr Lathan said the rapper's comments appeared to be made with "the absence of thought".

To read full article - http://v.duta.us/AReyCAAA

At least 15 killed 💐 in Bangui church ⛪ attack*

At least 15 people, including a priest, have been killed in an attack on a church in the Central African Republic (CAR).

Gunmen armed with grenades targeted the Notre-Dame de Fatima church in the capital Bangui during mass on Tuesday.

The incident took place near the predominantly Muslim PK5 neighbourhood, where 28 people were killed during clashes last month.

The CAR has faced several years of ethnic and religious conflict.

In 2013, Muslim rebels from the Seleka umbrella group seized power in the majority-Christian country. A band of mostly Christian militias, called the anti-balaka, rose up to counter the rebels. 
Local sources said that the death toll of Tuesday's attack was at least 15, while French international radio station RFI quoted the Red Cross in the CAR as saying that at least 16 people had been killed and 99 injured.

Angry crowds carried the body of the slain priest towards the presidential palace.

*Lion 🦁 mauls owner of private ranch 😱*

A man in recuperating in hospital after being attacked by a lion in a private game reserve in South Africa's northern Limpopo province, News24 reports.

It quotes police spokesperson Moatshe Ngoepe saying that the incident happened on Monday. He adds: "The owner was immediately taken to hospital with serious injuries. He is currently recuperating."

He was attacked after he went to investigate a strange smell from the animal's enclosure. In the video, which has been widely shared online, horrified onlookers can be heard screaming as they watched the lion grab and drag him off.

The game park, located in Thabazimbi in northern South Africa, allows visitors to get up close and personal with the big cats and to watch them being fed. It also offers tourists a chance to camp on-site. Mr Hodge was rescued by a warden who opened fire with his gun, causing the lion to run for cover.

The 67-year-old was rushed to hospital with injuries to his neck and jaw. It’s understood the lion has been put down and the park remains closed following the attack.