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COVID-19: Churches Reopen In Lagos State of Nigeria
According to Channels TV, Churches in Lagos have re-opened partially across the state today, after being locked down for several months in the wake of COVID-19 escalation.
Channels TV said this was disclosed by governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on august the 1st with the provision that worship centers can only fill up 50 per cent of their capacity.
The state government last Thursday also make known several safety precautions and guidelines numbering 46 that must be adhered to during services at places of worship in the first phase.
In a similar vein, the Federal Ministry of Health has yen for places of worship to ensure that their members worship in well-ventilated spaces.
According to a Twitter post by the Health Ministry, all worshipers are enjoined to continue their worship safely by maintaining a distance of 2 metres from others.
Gunmen kills eight French aid workers in Niger
Gunmen in Niger have killed eight group of aid workers, their local guide and driver, officials say.
According to BBC, the gunmen arrived on motorcycles and opened fire, the governor of Tillabéri region, Tidjani Ibrahim, told the French news agency AFP.
They were in the Koure region, which is an epicentre to the tourists as they want to see herds of giraffe in West Africa.
BBC said, the French presidency confirmed the deaths of the French citizens.
The French nationals worked for an international aid group, Niger’s defence minister Issoufou Katambé told Reuters news agency. Earlier, officials had described them as tourists.
ACTED, a French humanitarian NGO, confirmed its staff members were involved in the occurrence in Niger.
President Emmanuel Macron spoke on the phone with his Niger counterpart Mahamadou Issoufou on Sunday, a statement said, without giving further details.
In photos seen by the BBC, the victims’ bodies were found lying on a dirt road by the side of a 4×4 vehicle.
Beirut explosion death toll rises to 200 as protests continue
BBC said, more than 200 people are known to have been killed by Tuesday’s Beirut heartbreaking explosion in the Lebanese capital.
Governor Marwan Abboud said dozens were still not found, many of them foreign are workers.
The army has as of now called off the rescue phase of its search operation at the port, the focal point of the explosion.
According to BBC, yesterday becomes the second night of violence in the city, as police clashed with the angry protesters over the government’s response to the disaster.
The stepping down of a cabinet minister and several MPs has failed to calm the fury.
LIVES OF ALBINOS IN THE GAMBIA
Albinism is known to be an hereditary gene that causes a lack of pigmentation in the skin and the hair and it
comes with a number of associated health problems including poor vision, functional blindness and high skin sensitivity to the sun which can cause cancer.
Abdul-Rahim King is presently the chairperson of the albinism society of The Gambia, which
is an NGO working to build opportunities and access to education, raising awareness and also working to provide basic needs like sunscreens and sunglasses for people with albinism.
Graduating from a private school and having an educator father couldn’t save King from the stereotypes. He discloses of his teacher sending him to the back of the classroom where he struggled to see the black board.
“That’s what happens in most part of the country. A lot of kids with Albinism are sent to the back of the classroom because of stereotypes and the teachers do not understand that we actually need to sit in front so we can see properly and get proper notes.
There were times I had to go to friends later on and caught up on notes because I could not see the notes on the
board”.
Apart from the seating arrangement, Abdul-Rahim was also call “puna” a local name used to refer to albinos. Besides not liking the name, his thought was that “kids will always be kids”
and that’s why they use the word to refer to him.
What also bothered Abdul-Rahim was that people will spit in their shirts when they passed
him as a child so that their kids will not have albinism.
Though Albinos in the Gambia might not face some discriminatory threats from society
compared to those in South Africa and other part of the world. But there is still a long way to go in supporting them and seeing them as a normal human being.
Abdul-Rahim is not alone in the fight for the right of Albinos, interviews with other people shows a great concern.
Isatou Jaiteh, a student at University of the Gambia said, Albinos in the Gambia feel isolated due to the discrimination against them and the sunlight is highly affecting their skin.
She urges people to not be afraid to get in contact with albinos as they are human beings like all
of us.
Clare Demba yens the government to come to the aids of the people with Albinism in helping
them access higher education in achieving their desired goals.
Sheikh Tijan Secka University student suggested the Government to build schools for the Albinos with good air conditioner to help them learn comfortable and pursuit their dreams.
By Amie T. Camara
THE PALACE AND THE KOLA NUTS
By Comr Ezomon Ak
The Kola nut is a produce of the Kola tree and we have it in abundance in the Benin Kingdom. 
Today i want to enlighten you on why the Kola nut is recognized almost everywhere in Africa most especially in the Benin Kingdom as something you cannot do without.
Before we begin, It is worthy of note that, the kola nut is as old as the Palace itself because it is one of the item listed in Palace Conflict Resolution between individuals or communities and it is also one of the item chosen for the king to make a decree or proclamations in the olden days.
Kola nut is always shared in the Palace for some great reasons. I may not be able to list all for now but I believe if there is any need for an update on this article, I will list more.
On one side, It is presented by the visitor to the great throne as a SYMBOL OF RESPECT and when blessed and chewed together, it stands for TRUST in any relationship. On the other hand, the kola nut is used in the palace to INITIATE A RELATIONSHIP and then to appease the gods of the FOREFATHERS who is still believed to be alive in Spirit within the Palace.
Kola nut also was distributed in the Palace to know those who WITNESSED AN EVENT.
Kola nut is also used till date as a form of BLESSING PROCLAMATION to those presenting it. In fact, it is an abominable act for you to see the Oba without the gift or presentation of Kola nut for prayers. And in those days , there is always a little part of the Kola nut that is dropped on the floor for the Spirit of the forefathers and One significant thing is that, it is never removed from the ground but you can never meet it the next day. So it is believed that spirit of the dead that means well for the Palace eat Kola nuts.
Kola nuts was also used in the palace as a form of OATH for an agreement between two parties in the Presence of the Oba.
In those days, Kola nut is only shared to adult who have come of age and can be held responsible for contrary action to the reasons for which the kola nut was broken and shared.
Another Reason for the saying ” Kola nut last long in the mouth of those who knows the value” is that when the Kola is shared for an Oath, you are expected to eat it in bits while the great Oba or Palace Priest makes proclamations and incarnations.
So for ages, Presentation of Kola nut to the palace when visiting has been a tradition that only the true sons of the soil understands. Even strangers coming to see the Oba or Palace Chiefs must be advise to come with Kola nut.
The first contact with the Oba before he starts talking is the presentation of Kola nuts. We hold our tradition dear to ourselves because the same tradition has kept us in this progressive way for centuries.
In those days, if you come to the Palace without Kola nut, you will not be allowed to see the Oba and you will be sent out of the Palace with canes and beating by the Palace Servants . If this action is repeated by same person or kindred, the palace will declared such person or Community, the ENEMY of the Palace.
It is of great importance to note that the presentation of Kola nuts stands for the word ” I COME IN PEACE” in this modern day.
May God not allow Us become the enemy of the Palace whether knowingly or unknowingly!!!
Obakhator Kpee!!!
Iseee!
Press release
The Gambia Press Union (GPU) is pleased to announce that the Government has agreed to exempt media workers from the curfew orders.
Media practitioners MUST carry a valid press card either from the GPU or a bonafide news and information media outlet. Media houses are encouraged to put up stickers on the vehicles for identification purposes.
We urge journalists to wear face masks and any other safety kit, as well as press jackets. Media workers are also advised to follow all the health regulations by the government and the WHO for their own safety and those of others at all times.
Media exemptions from curfew orders are in line with standards of best practice. This is in view of the peculiar nature of the work of media workers who are required to stay up late to provide information, education and entertainment services to the public.
Moreover, the media serves as the eyes and ears of the public with respect to the enforcement of the curfew orders.
It must be noted that this is a temporary measure while the Union works with the state authorities in the coming days to workout the specific details of the media exemption.
This message is approved by the Government spokesperson, in consultation with the Director of Health Services and Inspector General of Police.
The GPU kindly wishes to call on the security operatives to cooperate with this arrangement.
Source___Standard Newspaper
Police take into custody more DJs at music show
According to Standard, police in the Central River Region have taken into custody 11 people at Sami Karantaba Tenda,including 2 DJs from Sare Sambel for having a music show in the villages against Public Health Regulations 2020.
Standard make known of a police statement that the men were arrested after they staged a music show and gathered children to for a “Salibo Music Show”.
This is the second time police have arrested people organizing music shows in this emergency situation.
Meanwhile,the Mobile Traffic department has also arraigned seven drivers at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court for carrying passengers without facemasks. They were fined D1000 each.
The police have also confirmed the arrest of three individuals including a motorcyclist in Serekunda for failing to follow the compulsory facemask wearing regulation.
Nigeria Confirms 443 More COVID-19 Cases, Total Infections Now 45,687
Nigeria has confirmed 443 more cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing its toll of infections to 45,687.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) disclosed this on Friday night via Twitter.
The new infections were recorded Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory and 17 other states of the federation.
According to Channels TV, unlike previous cases, Plateau overtook Lagos by 33 cases thus recording 103 infections with the nation’s commercial capital running behind with 70 cases.
The FCT, on the other hand, came third on the list with 60 cases.
Other states with new infections include Ondo – 35, Edo and Rivers – 27, Kaduna – 20, Osun – 19, Borno and Oyo – 18, Kwara – 11, Adamawa – 9, Nasarawa – 7, Gombe – 6, Bayelsa and Imo – 4, Bauchi and Ogun – 2 and Kano – 1.
Source___Channels TV
The national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has enforce petroleum tanker drivers to take away their services from Lagos from Monday, August 10 2020.
According to Channels TV the directive comes on the heels of a failure to address three major issues causing tanker drivers pains in the state for months.
The statement titled “NUPENG leadership directs withdrawal of services by petroleum tanker drivers in Lagos State with effect from Monday, August 10, 2020”, was signed by National President Williams Akporeha and General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi.
“The entire rank and file members of the union are deeply pained, frustrated and agonized by the barrage of these challenges being consistently faced by petroleum tanker drivers in Lagos State and are left with no other option but to direct the withdrawal of their services in Lagos State until the Lagos State Government and other relevant stakeholders address these critical challenges.
“It is sad and disheartening to note here that we had made several appeals and reports to the Lagos State Government and the Presidential Task Force for the decongestion of Apapa on these challenges but all to no avail.
“We resolved to embark on an indefinite strike beginning from 12 am, Monday, August 10, 2020, if there are no decisive and convincing actions from the Lagos State Government to address these concerns and challenges,” the statement partly read.
Source___Channels TV
Explosion in Somalia’s capital kills eight
BBC said, an explosion took place at a military base in the Somali capital Mogadishu and has killed at least eight people and injured 14 others, a military official disclosed to them.
According to BBC, it was not yet known what led to the explosion but witnesses told local media a car loaded with explosives attacked the compound near a stadium.
Radio Dalsan said the explosion could be heard across the city.
Islamist militant group Al-Shabab often carries out bombings targeting security forces and government officials.
Meanwhile, earlier this week two security guards were shoot to death after stopping a suicide bomber from entering a restaurant in Somalia capital.
Source___BBC
D5 Creation