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Four million Nigerians to face severe food insecurity – UN report

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The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, has said that about four million Nigerians will face severe food insecurity in the approaching lean season.

Speaking at an advocacy event held in Abuja on food security and nutrition in North-East Nigeria, Schmale explained that a total of 8.4 million Nigerians would need humanitarian support in the North-East, saying that 4.1 million people would face severe pain of food insecurity in the region.

To support the people, the Coordinator stated that up to $351 million is needed to provide humanitarian assistance.

According to him, “Across North-East Nigeria today, 8.4 million people need humanitarian assistance. Alarmingly, almost half of these crisis-affected people, 4.1 million are expected to face the severe pain of food insecurity in the approaching lean season.”

ALSO READ: Nigeria Faces Learning Crisis —UNICEF

He explained that in 2021, the gap between people in need and people supported by food and nutrition assistance was 1.8 million, stressing that due to reduced funding, that number is projected to dramatically increase to 2.9 million this lean season.

He opined that unless resources are urgently mobilized, almost three million people in dire need of food and nutrition support will go unassisted.

He stated that without food assistance, desperation may compel extremely vulnerable people into transactional sex, child labour, and selling their few possessions.

Schmale observed that he heard stories from last year’s lean season of people in the North-East eating grass to stay alive and feared the recurrence of this tragedy if they fail to act quickly.

Nadia Soso, the Head of Special Duties, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, said that food security and nutrition of this affected population in the north remains a priority.

He said that the situation paints a concerning picture of the great force they are up against, adding that not only having to worry for one’s safety but also struggling each day to find food and adequate nutrition.

He said that for people across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe state, every day is a challenge and in which without quick action, no relief is in sight, saying that funding is urgently needed to ensure critical food and relief assistance as the gap between people in need and available resources will grow more severe.

Fintiri eyes second term as Adamawa Governor

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Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has declared his interest to run for a second term come 2023.

Fintiri, who was elected the Adamawa State governor in 2019 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said Monday that he would be seeking the party’s ticket once again for the coming general elections.

He made the declaration at the Ribadu Square in the state capital Yola after swearing in 21 local government chairmen, all of PDP, who were elected in council elections conducted earlier on Saturday.

READ ALSO: Adamawa Approves 9.8b For More Township Roads

Fintiri said his decision to seek a second term as governor arose from the support and urging he had been getting from the people, some of who even mobilized and bought the necessary nomination and expression of interest forms for him.

He said he had worked hard in the last three years as governor to recreate a more functional Adamawa State and would be needing a second term to consolidate on governance.

Addressing the newly inaugurated chairmen of the 21 LGAs of the state, Fintiri urged them to be accessible to their people.

“You are to be always there for the people whenever they need you,” Fintiri told them.

Beating Real Madrid is an incredibly high task – Tuchel

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Chelsea travels to Spain for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final encounter with Real Madrid on Tuesday.

The defending champions were defeated in the first leg at Stamford Bridge by Karim Benzema‘s superb hat-trick, and they now have an uphill challenge of scoring two or more unanswered goals to have any hope of defending their championship.

Last season, the two teams met in the semi-finals, with Chelsea winning 3-1 on aggregate. The match in Madrid concluded in a 1-1 stalemate.

ALSO READ: Chelsea Confident of Next Stage

“We need nothing else than a fantastic script if we want to be able to overcome this task that is incredibly high”, Tuchel said in a pre-game presser.

“The challenge is incredibly high given the circumstances of the first leg, and where we play [now], and against who we play and at what stage we play this kind of match.

“It is always allowed to dream. Sometimes it is important to imagine things, to dream about it, but it will not shift the focus from the fact that we need to deliver and we need to be ready tomorrow.

“We will support our team and we will try hard.”

Chelsea won again at the weekend, scoring six goals against Southampton following two dreadful home games in which they conceded seven goals and scored only two.

Madrid will enter the game after defeating Getafe 2-0 in the league on Saturday.

Osinbajo finally declares to run for President, makes promises

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Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo,  has formally declared to run for President in 2023.

Osinbajo made the declaration in a video released on Monday morning after months of speculation.

He said, “for the past seven (7) years, I have served as Vice President under a true Nigerian patriot, President Muhammadu Buhari.

ALSO READ: Osinbajo Informs Buhari Of Presidential Ambition

“In these 7 years, while on the train of duty and service, I traversed every part of our country, meeting Nigerians of every cadre, class, tribe and walks of life, both young and old; I MET YOU.

“I’ve stood where you stand and sat where you sit. I know and I understand our hopes, aspirations and fears from a place of relatable proximity; and I believe that in those hopes and aspirations are the seeds for the great Nigeria that we all desire.

“I believe that the very reason why the Almighty God gave me these experiences, these insights, and these opportunities, is that they must be put to the use of our country and its great peoples.

“This is why today, with utmost humility, I formally declare my intention to run for the office of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress.

“I also most solemnly and respectfully seek your support as fellow Nigerians everywhere in this land and the diaspora, as we embark on this great and exciting journey that lies ahead of us. It is time”.

APC chairman shot dead in Osun

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The Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Atakumosa East Central Local Government Area of Osun State, Gbenga Ogbara, has been shot dead by gunmen.

It was gathered that Ogbara was shot dead in his house in Ogangan, in the wee hours of Monday.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Osun Command, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the incident.

READ ALSO: Buhari Hosts Tinubu And APC Founding Fathers

She said that investigation is ongoing and promised that the perpetrators will not go unpunished.

Opalola said: “The APC Chairman was killed around 12am by some gunmen. Policemen have since been deployed to the area. Investigation is ongoing on the matter. The criminals will not escape justice.”

Ex-Liverpool star blasts Cristiano Ronaldo over smashing phone of young Everton fan

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Former Liverpool defender Jose Enrique has slammed Cristiano Ronaldo after the Manchester United forward smashed a phone out of the hand of a young Everton fan on Saturday.

The Merseyside Police has opened an investigation into the incident after Ronaldo lost his temper in the immediate aftermath of United’s 1-0 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park.

As he made his way towards the tunnel past a group of Everton fans, Ronaldo was caught on video angrily slapping the phone out of the supporter’s hand.

ALSO READ: Erik ten Hag receives offer from German club after Man United talks

Enrique, who made 99 appearances for Liverpool, suggests the incident sums up Ronaldo’s personality and has accused the United forward of ‘believing he is god’.

‘I always said it. Don’t like him he believes [he] is God and can do whatever he wants,’ Enrique posted on Twitter.

‘That doesn’t take [away] that [he] is been one of the best players in the history of football but as a person [I] don’t like him.’

 

Ronaldo issued an apology for the incident and has offered the young boy the opportunity to watch a United game at Old Trafford.

‘It’s never easy to deal with emotions in difficult moments,’ Ronaldo said in a statement.

‘Nevertheless, we always have to be respectful, patient and set the example for all the youngsters.

‘I would like to apologize for my outburst and, if possible, I would like to invite this supporter to watch a game at Old Trafford as a sign of fair-play and sportsmanship.’

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: ‘As players were leaving the pitch at 2.30pm, it was reported that a boy was assaulted by one of the away team as they left the pitch.

‘Inquiries are under way and officers are currently working with Everton Football Club to review CCTV footage and are carrying out extensive witness enquiries to establish if an offence has taken place.’

Erik ten Hag receives offer from German club after Man United talks

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Manchester United face competition from RB Leipzig for Erik ten Hag as the Bundesliga club have submitted an offer to Ajax’s head coach, according to reports in the Netherlands.

Ten Hag is United’s top choice to replace Ralf Rangnick as manager at the end of the season.

ALSO READ: United long trophy drought continues following their defeat in the UCL

United have held extensive negotiations with Ten Hag, but the 52-year-old wants assurances over budget and squad management from the club’s hierarchy before agreeing to move to Old Trafford.

However, according to De Telegraaf and AD are both reporting that Ten Hag’s representatives have also been in discussions with RB Leipzig and the German club have made the Dutchman an ‘excellent multi-year offer’

The reports also claim that RB Leipzig are willing to pay the compensation fee, which in excess of €2 million (£1.6m), that Ajax are requesting to allow Ten Hag to leave at the end of the campaign.

United are also able to meet Ajax’s financial demands but Ten Hag is placing significant importance on the sporting project ahead of his next move.

Ten Hag also refused to give anything away when asked about his talks with United on Saturday.

‘We are busy with training and with the matches,’ Ten Hag told ESPN.

‘That way you keep the focus on it. I want to talk about the game and not about other things and whether or not I’ve had conversations. I won’t comment on rumours.’

When it was put to him that the rumours about his links with United are getting stronger, Ten Hag replied: ‘Questions about the game or I am going inside.’

When asked by Dutch broadcaster NOS if he is in talks with United Ten Hag replied: ‘I will not tell you whether this is true or not.’

Don’t Allow People You Chased Out Return To Power, Lawan Tells Kwarans

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The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan on Saturday warned the people of Kwara State not to allow those people that they chased out of the state’s Government House in 2019 find their way back to power.

The current administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) took over power in the state in 2019 from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but the PDP is trying to take back power in 2023.

Senator Lawan was in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, to commission some of the constituency projects by Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, representing Kwara Central Senatorial District.

He spoke at a meeting organised by Senator Oloriegbe to account for his stewardship and also declare his intention to run again and represent his people of Kwara Central in 2023 polls.

He urged the people of Kwara State to continue to keep faith with APC.

“I will like to remind you here, those people that you chased out will never get tired of trying to come back.

You have only one more of ‘Otoge’ and they will never come back. “In 2023, just chase them far away from Kwara, and they will never find their way to Kwara. Don’t take it for granted.

They are smart people. You know that. Chase them far away, if you can, up to the Atlantic Ocean if you chose to chase them to the South. If you wish, chase them up to Niger Republic. Chase them far away from here.”

Be Creative, Stop Waiting On Government For Employment – Author Advises Youths

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A Nigerian author, Oluwakemi Oyedeji, on Sunday advised Nigerian youths to stop depending on government to be gainfully employed , but engage in critical thinking and be creative.

Oyedeji, the Chief Executive Officer, Hikod Ushering, said there were lots of opportunities in the hospitality and entertainment industries which the youths could venture in, like the ushering business, she said ushering is a lucrative business that the youths can engage in with limited capital but through collaborations.

We are in an era where one does not have to wait on government for job. I urge our youths to engage in critical thinking and embrace businesses in the hospitality and entertainment sector.

“As an experienced fellow in ushering business, I will say it is a lucrative business.
“I have a lot of our youths working with me who have attested to the fact that the job has put food on their tables and they have been able to buy their school handouts, textbooks and other academic materials.

“I advise our youths to take up the profession, engage in collaborations because an individual might not have the required capital to start.

They should have well spelt out vision, mission statement, core values and focus on building good structures,” she said.

Oyedeji said that haven observed that there were limited accessible materials to read for further personal development on the profession,she wrote a book titled, “The Business of Treating People Like Royalties”.

She said the book would be launched in May and could be accessed on Amazon, ReadofAfrica, Bookney, Okadabooks, Roving Heights and some other reputable bookstores.

“I wrote the book to enable people develop themselves, maximise profit in ushering business and improve the hospitality industry.

Nigeria Faces Learning Crisis —UNICEF

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The United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF says Nigeria is presently experiencing learning poverty in which 70 percent of 10-year-olds cannot understand a simple sentence or perform basic numeracy task.

Mr Rahama Farah, UNICEF Chief of Field office Kano, said this in Kano during a Two-day media dialogue organised for Journalists by UNICEF on SDGs as Child Rights.

Mr. Farah, represented by the Officer-in-Charge Elhadji Issakha Diop said as the case with some countries globally, and in sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria faces a learning crisis in which learning is not taking place, even for children that are in school.

According to the World Bank, Nigeria is experiencing learning poverty in which 70 percent of 10-year-olds cannot understand a simple sentence or perform basic numeracy task.

Mr Farah explained that UNICEF is already supporting the Government of Nigeria to improve Foundational Literacy and Numeracy through tailor-made, teaching-learning practices, such as Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) and Reading and Numeracy Activities (RANA).

He charged the media to deploy its powerful mass-mediated channels of communication to raise awareness of the learning crisis in Nigeria; advocate increased funding to the education sector, especially the allocation of adequate resources to pre-primary and primary levels of education in Nigeria; and invest in improving teacher quality.

He also called on the media to mobilize all stakeholders – parents, teachers, communities, government, CSOs, donors, everyone – to join in the worthy cause of addressing the challenge of learning poverty in Nigeria.