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President Muhammadu Buhari said this morning that Nigeria's 61st Independence Anniversary should not only serve as a reminder of the day the British handed over the reins of power to Nigerians, but a day that also unified the people from all ethnic groups, religions and regions. The president said this in his broadcast to the nation as part of activities marking the Independence Anniversary of the country. He said all hands were on deck for 1st of October 1960 to happen as East, West, North came together to celebrate freedom. President Buhari said most Nigerians still maintained the spirit of 1st October despite the challenges being faced as a nation. "It is due to this collective attitude that Nigeria doggedly continues to remain a united and indivisible nation," he said. The President said the past 18 months had been some of the most difficult periods in the history of Nigeria because of COVID-19 pandemic. "Our original priorities for 2020 were to continue stabilis

As you prepare for in-person sales meetings, networking events, and other business interactions, you might feel a little anxious. You’ve spent months quarantining and social distancing. After communicating through Zoom for so long, with funny backgrounds and interrupting pets lightening the mood, it might not seem “normal” to be back in a crowded room or formal meeting. In an effort to make your transition easier, I reached out to entrepreneurs and business leaders to learn how they’re making the adjustment. Here’s their advice: 1. Respect other people’s comfort levels. Everyone will respond differently to in-person events. Some of your team members will be excited to shake hands, hug friends, and be in the same space for the first time in forever. Others may want to maintain their distance considering new virus variants. Respecting everyone’s individual choice is the key to successful relationship-building. You should also take precautions before, during, and after in-person interacti

         Minnesota legalized the use of medical cannabis with a physician's prescription, but it is still listed as a Schedule 1 drug by the state and federal government, putting it on the same level as illicit narcotics such as heroin and LSD. That has some legal ramifications for gun owners among the 43,000 people registered in the state's medical cannabis program. State Rep. Rod Hamilton, R-Mountain Lake, has multiple sclerosis and is registered in the state's medical cannabis program. Hamilton told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS he cannot renew his permit to carry a gun or legally use a firearm to hunt in Minnesota because the state and the federal government still list medical cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug. 'The bill I am proposing would make medical cannabis a Schedule 2 drug -- legal with a prescription but yet allowing you to renew your permit to carry and hunt with a firearm if you so choose,' Hamilton said. Lawmakers reintroduce recreational cannabis legislation at Min

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has explained that the introduction of compulsory provision of the National Identification Number (NIN) by applicants for the National Driver’s License (NDL) is in full compliance with the directives of the Federal Government on the harmonisation of citizens’ data. FRSC Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has also made the provision of NIN mandatory for all categories of vehicle registration, effective from the second quarter of 2021. Disclosing that the development was in compliance with a Presidential directive, the Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, said in a statement that all applicants for vehicle registration are expected to present their National Identification Number as a precondition for the registration of their vehicles. Kazeem warned that there would be no waiver for anyone irrespective of their status in the society. The FRSC spokesperson further emphasised that the exercise has become very imperative in vi

The Force PRO, CP Frank Mba, has been promoted to the Commissioner of Police by IGP Mohammed Adamu. He was decorated with his new rank by the IGP and assisted by DIG Aminchi Baraye on Wednesday 30th Dec 2020 at Force Headquarters, Abuja. Congrats to him! See more photos below https://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2020/12/police-spokesperson-frank-mba-promoted-to-the-rank-of-a-commissioner-of-police-photos.html

The House of Representatives has proposed a bill that will legalise the cultivation, sale and use of cannabis better known as marijuana or Indian hemp in Nigeria. The bill, which has already been read the first time and was slated for second reading before the House proceeded on Christmas and New Year break is sponsored by Hon. Miriam Onuoha (APC, Imo). Onuoha, who represents Isiala Mbano/ Onuimo/ Okigwe federal constituency of Imo State, is a firsttimer in the lower chamber after defeating her closest rival Obinna Onwubuariri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the rerun election that was held in 18 polling units in the constituency in January this year. It is titled “A bill for an act to decriminalise the growth and use of cannabis, to establish a system for the registration and licensing of cannabis growers, users and control, to legalise the growth, sale and use of cannabis and set out a legal framework for the registration and licensing of cannabis growers and pro

Hank Adams, one of Indian Country’s most prolific thinkers and strategists, has died at age 77. Adams was called the "most important Indian” by influential Native American rights advocate and author Vine Deloria Jr., because he was involved with nearly every major event in American Indian history from the 1960s forward. He was perhaps best known for his work to secure treaty rights, particularly during the Northwest “fish wars” of the 1960s and ’70s. Henry “Hank” Adams, Assiniboine-Sioux, died Dec. 21 at St. Peter’s Hospital in Olympia, Washington, according to the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. “Hank’s a genius. He knows things we don’t know. He sees things we don’t see,” attorney Susan Hvalsoe Komori said when Adams was awarded the 2006 American Indian Visionary Award by Indian Country Today. “Adams was always the guy under the radar, working on all kinds of things,” said the late Billy Frank Jr., Nisqually and chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisherie

Alhaji Musa Saleh Kwankwaso, the father of a former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, is dead. Kwankwaso, who is the Majidadin Karaye and district head of Madobi, died at the age of 93. He left behind two wives, 19 children, and many grandchildren. In a statement on Thursday, Mohammed Inuwa, the principal private secretary to the former Kano State Governor, said the traditional ruler died after a brief illness. The statement read, “It is with a heavy heart and reverence to Allah (SWT) that we announce the passing away of our father, Alhaji Musa Saleh Kwankwaso the Majidadin Kano/Makaman Karaye at the age of 93 in the early morning hours of Friday 25th December 2020 in Kano. “The late Makaman Karaye Alhaji Musa Saleh Kwankwaso was father to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the former governor of Kano state. He left behind two wives, 19 children (9 male & 10 female) and many grandchildren. “The burial rites will be held at 3:00 pm on Friday, 25th December 2020

Northern elders have disowned Professor Ango Abdullahi, over his recent statement that many people from the Northern part of the country were killed in the South East during the #EndSARS protests. The elders, who strongly condemned the statement, asked Nigerians to ignore it, stating that it was a personal opinion of Abdullahi and not the general position of Northern elders as he erroneously portrayed. The Northern elders operating under the aegis of Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and Development, in a statement, described Prof. Abdullahi’s statement as “false, unfortunate, insensitive, callous and meant to instigate Nigerians against one other”. It insisted that the statement is capable of igniting ethnic killings and asked Nigerians not to fall prey to his antics. In the statement signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Engr. Zana Goni and National Women Leader, Hajia Mario Bichi, the northern elders said Abdullahi acted alone in his statement, insisting they were not

The United States Mission to Nigeria has celebrated Dr Onyema Ogbuagu, for his role in the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. . Ogbuagbu, who graduated from the University of Calabar in 2003, migrated to the US and rose to become Associate Professor of Medicine and Infectious Disease Specialist at Yale University. . He was part of the team that helped pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, to develop the vaccine. . In a Facebook message on Monday, the US mission wrote, “Nigerians contribute to the world in so many ways. Our hats off to Dr Onyema Ogbuagu at Yale who helped develop a COVID-19 vaccine.” . Ogbuagu is the son of a former Vice-Chancellor of Abia State University, Prof Stella Ogbuagu. He also has a twin brother who is an engineer. . The need for a vaccine has become more urgent globally and nationally with Nigeria recording over 60,000 COVID-19 infections and over 1,000 associated fatalities, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

Carbon dioxide levels keep rising despite industrial lockdown Carbon dioxide levels hit new highs last year and are expected to keep growing in 2020, despite coronavirus-related restrictions that forced a global industrial slowdown. The alarming patterns were published on Monday by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), crushing hopes that lockdowns across the world would have pushed emissions, the main driver to climate change, to a record low. The United Nations agency said measures to curb the spread of the pandemic had indeed cut emissions of many pollutants and greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide. But it warned the industrial slowdown due to the coronavirus crisis had not curbed record concentrations of the greenhouse gases that are trapping heat in the atmosphere, raising temperatures, causing sea levels to rise and driving more extreme weather. The WMO said the change in carbon dioxide concentrations – the result of cumulative past and current emissions – is, in f

China accuses ‘dangerous’ US of ‘creating chaos’ in Asia Embassy in Manila condemns US after visiting White House envoy pledges support to the Philippines over maritime claims. China has accused the United States of trying to “create chaos” in the Asia-Pacific, a day after US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, on a visit to the Philippines, backed countries in maritime disputes with China and accused Beijing of using military pressure to further its own interests. During his trip to Manila, O’Brien told the Philippines and Vietnam, both countries in disputes with Beijing cover the South China Sea: “We’ve got your back”. He also reiterated the US commitment to self-ruled Taiwan. China said his remarks were “unreasonable” and exaggerated regional tensions. “We firmly oppose these remarks which are full of Cold War mentality and wantonly incite confrontation,” the Chinese Embassy in Manila said in a statement posted on its website. “It shows that his visit to this region is not

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission have put together 9 ways to save your electricity consumption. This is in light with the recent increase in electricity billing. Can you share some of the ways you save electricity consumption in your residence or place of business? 1. Turn off lights and electrical appliances when not in use: don't leave your electronics or lightbulbs on all day long. 2. Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs: Traditional light bulbs waste 95% of the energy they use giving off heat, with only 5% going toward the light. Switch them out or use them sparingly. Leaving them on for long periods is highly wasteful. Halogen incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs) use anywhere from 25-80 percent less electricity and last 3 to 25 times longer than traditional bulbs. 3. Reduce the use of water heaters: Water heating is a major contributor to your total energy consumption. Other than purchasing an energy-effic

The late former governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi was buried at his Oluyole country home at 10 am on Sunday. The burial took place amid tight security from the Oluyole main road to the Yemoja street residence of the late former governor. Cleric at the burial include, Alhaji Kunle Saani, Shik Muideen Bello, Chief Imam of Ibadan land, Shik Abubakri Abdleganiyu Agbotomokere, among others. The 70-year-old who died in Lagos was on life support machine at First Cardiology Hospital in Ikoyi, Lagos before his final breath. The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi confirmed he died of multiple organ failure. Earlier, the family had informed the general public that the remains of the former governor would be taking to his Oke-Ado mosque and his Oja-Oba family house. But the story was different when Vanguard correspondent noticed that some Islamic cleric who performed the burial in Islamic rite moved out of his house after the burial. No journalist was al

The Federal Government has submitted proposed guidelines for the reopening of schools across the country to the National Assembly. . The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba made the presentation on Tuesday during a meeting with the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education. . According to the News Agency of Nigeria, he intimated the lawmakers of the ministry’s plans for students to resume across the country . The FG had in March shut schools across the Federation as part of measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus disease. . At the presentation today, the minister said, “In the document provided, we have suggested how we can move our education sector forward during this pandemic. . “We don’t want to make it known at this time so that some people will not take our proposed guidelines for school reopening. . “Even if the Senate has not called us, we would have come to you to discuss with you because we have already discussed with the Hous

98 Two days after the death of an unarmed black man at the hands of a police officer, protesters marched in the streets of at least three major US cities. In Minneapolis, where George Floyd was killed Monday, the second night of protests were marked by looting and buildings on fire as crowds of protesters clashed with police, who fired back with tear gas, according to observations from CNN's team on the scene and police. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who warned Wednesday night of an "extremely dangerous situation" at the protest, urged demonstrators to remain peaceful -- a plea echoed by Floyd's family members. AD Early Thursday morning, police said a man was fatally shot near the scene of the protests. One person was arrested and police said they're investigating the nature of the incident. In Los Angeles, hundreds of people marched to protest Floyd's death and police brutality. At one point, some demonstrators attacked a California Highway Patrol car. "Peace