Akwa Pluz

•It’s time for the Federal Government to take another look at the confab report Three years after the report of the National Conference convoked by the former President Goodluck Jonathan was submitted to the presidency, the resolutions have continued to generate interest across the country.  Prominent members of the conference have insisted that the resolutions hold the key to peace, progress and unity in the land. However, the executive branch of government, following the change of baton in 2015, has vowed to have nothing to do with the conference report, dismissing it as worthless. No sooner did President Muhammadu Buhari replace Dr. Jonathan than he declared that he had not as much as taken a look at the report. Now that both houses of the National Assembly have decided to re-examine and debate the report, the presidency should reconsider its stance on the matter. It is obvious that we have come to a point in our national history when we ought to consider all suggestions ...

Ahead of the 2019 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received 95 applications for new political parties, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has said. Addressing Journalists Monday in Kaduna shortly after the opening ceremony of the Workshop to Review INEC Communications Policy, Prof. Mahmood said they have received applications from various intending political parties, adding that the applications will be looked into at a meeting of the Commission  Wednesday  in Kaduna and those successful will be announced soon. According to the INEC boss, “As at last week, we had received 95 applications for new political parties. At the end of this workshop, there is going to be a retreat  on Wednesday  to review the ongoing voters registration followed by a meeting of the Commission here in Kaduna. At the end of the meeting of the Commission, we will issue a release on the issue of parties. “I have said that we would be holding a mid-quarterly ...

Nigerians have been called upon to pay closer attention to their food, to avoid  colorectal cancer. They should as well go for colorectal cancer screening. According to Prof Adedapo Osinowo, Consultant General Surgeon at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH, eating less red meat (beef or pork) and processed meats (hot dogs and some luncheon meats),avoiding the consumption of cow skin ( ponmo ) can prevent one from colorectal cancer because they have been linked to an increased risk of colon cancer. “To avoid colorectal cancer do regular exercise. Eat diets that include lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains because they have been linked with a decreased risk of colon cancer,’’he  admonished. He stated this when a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Niola Cancer Foundation, visited cancer patients at LUTH to donate some items  as part of activities marking the founder’s birthday. Osinowo said: “It is good to pay particular attention to these factors...

Arik Air, Nigeria’s largest carrier said on Friday it would resume daily flight operations between Abuja and Accra, Ghana on July 17. The airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, disclosed this on Friday in Lagos that the resumption of flights between the two countries was part of efforts to satisfy the company’s customers. Ilegbodu said flights were suspended on the Abuja-Accra route in March following the closure of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to pave way for the rehabilitation of the runway. He said the Abuja-Accra flight would operate daily at 5.30 p.m. (local time) departure out of Abuja with a departure time of 7.40 p.m. (local time) in Accra. “The re-introduction of the Abuja-Accra operation is part of the management’s strategy to optimise flight schedule and respond to the needs of our valued customers. “Arik Air has been in the forefront of providing customer-centred services since our inception and we will continue to respond to the...

While some people welcome gray hair, which many believe, is associated with old age, others cannot stand it. The good news: Scientists are hard at work on how to prevent it. However, research has shown that using natural ingredients will help to boost and rejuvenate the hair, Omolara Akintoye writes EVERY man and woman knows the day will come, and they all dread it. You look in the mirror, and there it is — your first gray hair! Men are seen shaving their hair while women start dyeing it or covering their hair with wig. While some people start experiencing it at a later age, some are not that lucky. In an interview with Mrs. Lucy Odunayo, a business woman, she recalled how she started battling gray hair from her youthful days. “My mother gave birth to me in her late forties, so my mum had been told that I would start experiencing gray hair early. So, I had no choice than to start wearing wig right from my youthful days,” she lamented. For Mr. John Iluoma, he had to have his hair ...

Troops of 27 Task Force Brigade, deployed to Buni Gari in Borno said they have arrested another suspected Boko Haram terrorist. Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, the Director Army Public Relations, made this known on Thursday in Maiduguri. Usman said the suspect, 20, was arrested by the troops on June 25 while on perimeter patrol. He added that “preliminary investigation was initially difficult as he was found to be under influence of heavy dosage of drugs. “However, he has since stabilised and making useful statement.” The director noted that the troops of 29 Task Force Brigade also Discovered Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by suspected terrorists along Wajiro-Mallam Kuramti cattle route. “Troops of the 29 Task Force Brigade also discovered an IED planted by suspected Boko Haram terrorists while on patrol on June 28 along Wajiro-Mallam Kuramti cattle route. “The team safely removed and detonated it,’’ he said. Usman said the troops of 151 Battalion of the 2...

President  Emmanuel Macron of France is meeting West African leaders today in Mali to discuss support for a new 5,000-strong multinational force meant to counter a growing threat from terror groups including Boko Haram and al-Qaida. Heads of state from five nations across Africa’s vast Sahel region have called for a new regional force after terrorists targeted tourist resorts and other high-profile areas in the region especially in Mali. The visit is Macron’s second to Mali in a month and a half which defines his hard-stand against terrorism especially those linked to al-Qaida in the region. The U.N. Security Council last month approved the deployment of the new force with troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger and Chad after at least five people were killed in an attack on a Mali resort popular with foreigners. Reports suggest that funding of the new force meant to be operational in the next few months will be the major focus of the meeting. On inauguration...

Suspected billionaire  kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike  aka Evans, has again sued the Inspector General of Police, and three others before a Federal High Court in Lagos over his alleged illegal detention. Other respondents in the new suit are the Nigeria Police Force, the Commissioner of Police Lagos State and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos State Police Command. In the new suit filed yesterday by his counsel, Olukoya Ogubgbeje, through an originating summon, marked FHC/L/CS/1012/ 2017, Evans is claiming N300m as general and exemplary damages against the police for what he termed ‘ illegal detention and unconstitutional media trial”. In an affidavit deposed to by his father, Mr Stephen Onwuamadike, in support of the suit,  he averred that the applicant has been subjected to media trial without any court order by the respondents. Onwuamadike further averred that the media trial and news orchestrated by the respondents have continued to generate reac...

A 26-year-old man, Oluwafemi Ogunkunle, was at the weekend, arraigned at an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State for allegedly stealing 15,600 litres of diesel. The defendant, a fuel attendant, who lives at Lafenwa Itele, Ogun State, is being tried for stealing. The prosecutor, Clifford Ogu, said the offence was committed on August 9, at Cryslad Avenue, Agege, a suburb of Lagos. He said when the account was audited, it was discovered 15,600 litres of diesel, valued at N2.574 million, was not remitted to the company’s account. “Fingers pointed at the accused, because the missing money was detected at the diesel pump he was attached to,” Ogu said. He added that the case was reported at the police station and the accused was arrested. The offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. The accused pleaded not guilty. Chief Magistrate Mrs. Taiwo Akanni granted the accused bail at N500,000 with two sureties. She adjourned the case till S...

Some leaders of thought from the various ethnic groups in Delta State have thrown their support behind the Defence Headquarters in its decision to tag the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) a terrorist organisation. In separate interviews with  The Nation  in Warri yesterday, an Urhobo leader and former Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Victor Otomiewo, as well as renowned legal luminary and Chairman of the apex Itsekiri social culture body; the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILoT), Chief Edward Ekpoko, slammed IPOB for its activities. Otomiewo said the federal government had tolerated what he described as IPOB’s lawlessness for too long, saying that the group had violated the peace of the country and should be made to face the full weight of the law. He said: “The government has tolerated the insult and the contempt of IPOB for too long, and I’m in full support of the decisive action. “Those who think because of whatever they think of t...