Naomi Osaka has won her US Open Championship, making it her third Grand Slam title.
She has also set the record by becoming the youngest three-time major winner since Maria Sharapova captured her third crown in 2008.
She beats Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the US Open final on Saturday.
Beyond her superlative performance at the tennis court, Osaka assumed a new status as an activist and agent of social change.
For her seven matches at US Open Championship 2020 in New York, Osaka wore seven different face masks, each sporting the name of a victim of violence, including Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and Tamir Rice.
Shortly after her third Grand Slam win, Osaka explained that her desire for wearing those special face masks was to further highlight the racial challenge in the United States of America and beyond.
“What was the message you got, is more of the question. I feel the point is to make people start talking. I feel that I’m a vessel at this point in order to spread awareness and hopefully it won’t dull the pain, but help with anything that they need.
“For me, I’ve been inside of the bubble, so I’m not really sure what’s really going on in the outside world. All I can tell is what’s going on on social media. For me, I feel like the more retweets it gets — that’s so lame — but the more people talk about it,” said the 22-year-old tennis champion.
Headquarters of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Abuja, Nigeria's capital.
Just like some other African countries, Nigeria has indicated plans to completely phase out the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in sachets, small volume glass and PET bottles.
Justifying its decision, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government said uncontrolled access and availability of high concentration alcohol in sachet and small volume PET or glass bottles has been identified as a factor contributing to substance and alcohol abuse in Nigeria with its negative impact on the society.
Varieties of sachet alcoholic beverages popular in Nigeria
The government, in a statement by the Director-General of the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye, over the weekend, explained that it has been engaging and sentising major stakeholders on the matter, adding that several interventions have been jointly agreed upon.
These include collective decisions that no new products in sachet and small volume PET or glass bottles above 30 per cent ABV would be registered by NAFDAC; and that effective January 31, 2020, producers of alcohol in sachets and small volume PET and glass bottles were to reduce production by 50 per cent.
The statement noted that the overall goal was to completely phase out high concentration alcohol in sachets and small PET and glass bottles.
Thus, the government pointed out that NAFDAC was in the process of monitoring and enforcing all agreements jointly reached between the Federal Ministry of Health-NAFDAC, alcohol producers and other stakeholders.
The agency advised the general public to exercise caution in the consumption of alcoholic beverages and avoid unregistered alcoholic products which could have deleterious effects on people’s health.
“NAFDAC under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Health, once again, wishes to bring to the attention of the general public, concerns relating to the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in sachets, small volume glass and PET bottles.
“These concerns relate to negative effects of irresponsible alcohol consumption on public health and on the safety and security of the public, alcohol being a toxic and psychoactive substance with dependence producing properties.
“Uncontrolled access and availability of high concentration alcohol in sachet and small volume PET or glass bottles has been put forward as a factor contributing to substance and alcohol abuse in Nigeria with its negative impact on the society.
“The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that alcohol consumption contributes to three million deaths each year globally as well as to the disabilities and poor health of millions of people.
“NAFDAC with full support of the Federal Ministry of Health has continued to exercise its regulatory responsibilities by ensuring that all alcoholic beverages and other regulated products approved by the agency meet set standards of quality, safety and wholesomeness.
“The Federal Ministry of Health is concerned about the high incidence of substance and alcohol abuse in the country and NAFDAC, being the competent authority and working with relevant stakeholders, is increasing efforts to stem this.
“With regard to alcohol, major stakeholders have been engaged at the highest level and are already sensitised to the issue.
“To this end, several interventions jointly agreed upon by major stakeholders are being undertaken and as a first step, no new products in sachet and small volume PET or glass bottles above 30 per cent ABV will be registered by NAFDAC.
“Furthermore, to reduce availability and curb abuse, effective January 31, 2020, producers of alcohol in sachets and small volume PET and glass bottles are to reduce production by 50 per cent of capacity prior to January 2020.
“The overall goal is a complete phase out of high concentration alcohol in sachets and small PET and glass bottles in line with the agreed roadmap or earlier.
“NAFDAC is in the process of monitoring and enforcing all agreements jointly reached between the Federal Ministry of Health-NAFDAC, alcohol producers and other stakeholders.
“The general public is hereby advised to exercise caution in the consumption of alcoholic beverages and avoid unregistered alcoholic products which could have deleterious effects on health. NAFDAC is committed to preventing easy access to alcohol by young people and other vulnerable and high-risk groups,” the statement noted.
The police, in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the investigation would “amongst other things seek to forensically establish the authenticity of the video, the true identity of the man in the uniform – whether he is in fact a policeman, an impostor or an actor in a movie scene.”
The statement added: “However, while not being prejudicial to the ongoing investigations, it is necessary to state that the character exhibited by the man in the uniform is not a true reflection of who we are as a regimented law enforcement agency – our trainings, discipline, norms and tradition.”
Captured image from a viral video showing a man seemingly wearing a Nigerian Police Uniform vaping “Shisa”
Members of the public with useful information that could assist police investigations are enjoined to provide same via: pressforabuja@police.gov.ng, or direct mesaage on Nigeria Police Force’s social media platforms.
Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has pledged technical support to Kogi State in its efforts to establish a robust waste management system.
LAWMA Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ibrahim Odumboni, gave this indication while receiving Kogi State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Victor Adewale Omofaiye, and his team, who were on a fact-finding visit to the agency and its waste management facilities in Lagos.
Odumboni expressed LAWMA’s readiness to support the efforts of Kogi State to set up a proper waste management structure for the good of Kogi environment, its people and visitors alike.
The LAWMA chief noted that the visit offered the visitors from Kogi State an opportunity to witness the waste management processes and innovative ideas being adopted by the agency to tackle day-to-day challenges of waste management in Lagos State.
He informed the visiting team that the agency would soon launch an educational initiative called “LAWMA Academy” with the sole purpose of imparting waste management knowledge to the younger generation.
Odumboni advised the delegation to explore the idea of setting up recycling clubs and similar programmes in schools to lay a solid foundation for waste management in Kogi State.
While addressing the team, LAWMA Chief Technical Officer, Olohunwa Tijani, listed generation, collection and disposal as the key components of the waste management process in any geographical location, noting that proper management of those components is essential to having an effective waste management system.
He added that in order to achieve their goal of a cleaner and healthier state, the waste management system should be purpose-driven and devoid of political interference.
LAWMA Assistant General Manager, Waste Management Development, Essien Nsuabia, spoke on waste minimisation techniques, highlighting the importance of studying human activities in a particular geographical location for the formation of effective waste management plans and policies.
Earlier, Omofaiye had thanked the agency for a warm reception, noting that the purpose of their visit was to tap into LAWMA’s vast experience, which has made it a global brand.
Omafaiye submitted that the environment is a gift from God, which required collective preservation, attesting that the level of achievement attained by Lagos State in environmental sustainability did not just happen overnight, hence the delegation’s visit to discover the secrets.
The team, in the course of their visit, embarked on a tour of some of the agency’s facilities such as the Engineering Department, where LAWMA engineers fabricate double dino bins for waste containerisation, Olusosun Dumpsite and others, for a first-hand assessment.
A model of Lagos' N43 billion new ICT Park by Bridgeways Global Projects Limited concessionaire
Lagos State Government-approved developer for the new Information Communication Technology (ICT) Market at Katangowa, Bridge Ways Limited, has assured that the first phase of the project would be ready in the next 24 months.
Speaking on behalf of the developer, Jimmy Onyemenam said the completion of the project would facilitate the relocation of the ICT market (Computer Village) in Ikeja to Katangowa.
Onyemenam stated this during a visit to the new site by the executives of the Phone and Allied Products Dealers Association (PAPDA) in company of other stakeholders of the Computer Village.
Onyemenam explained that the relocation would not change what was being done at the Computer Village in Ikeja but rather, enhance it as it would house more facilities.
The new ICT market, he said, would have an industrial park where trailers and containers could be parked by major exporters, warehouses and an assembling plant for coupling handsets and computers.
The developer added that Katangowa would also house eight-floor innovation and technology hub, which would be the largest in Africa.
In his remarks, PAPDA President, Ifeanyi Akubue, said the stakeholders would go back home to tell the people on the reality of the new ICT market.
Akubue assured that the executives would sensitise their members to key into the project by acquiring the shop on time, so as not to be left out, pointing out that the movement was long overdue, as members were looking forward to a bigger and more conducive environment.
Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede, along with other party chieftains and supporters Saturday flagged off PDP electioneering campaign ahead of the October 10 guber poll in the state.
It was a moment to behold as PDP supporters thronged out in their numbers to MKO Abiola Democracy Park in Akure to register their presence at the rally.
The party chieftains including Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) among others were made resounding remarks to assure and reassure the people of Ondo State of good governance in the next four years.
It was a moment pf celebration as PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, handed over the party’s flag to Jegede for Ondo State 2020 governorship election.
Speaking at the rally, Makinde, who’s also the Chairman of Ondo State Gubernatorial National Campaign Council, drew a comparison between his election in Oyo and the impending Ondo State governorship poll.
He explained that he won Oyo State governorship elections in 2019 despite contesting under PDP, without any political stronghold in the state at the time or strong political backing at the federal level.
“We have people, and we have God. In Ondo State, you have God and you have people. It happened in Oyo State, it will happen here.
“APC said you should vote them because they want Presidency to come to Yorubaland.
“Please tell them, this election is not about the presidency to Yorubaland. This election is about delivering Eyitayo Jegede and putting Ondo State as part of the states that will take charge to restructure Nigeria,” Makinde said.
Also speaking at the rally, Tambuwal described the ruling party in Ondo State as a party in disarray up to the national level.
According to him, “APC is not a choice for Ondo State.”
The rally was also attended by the Senator representing Ekiti South, Abiodun Olujimi, among others.
A photo of former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo and incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari.
Former president Olusegun Obasanjo has described Nigeria as a failed state, explaining that many of the problems plaguing the country today were due to the recent mismanagement of Nigeria’s diversity, most especially under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.
Speaking in Abuja while delivering a speech titled: “Moving Nigeria Away from Tipping Over” at a consultative dialogue attended by various socio-cultural groups including Afenifere, Middle Belt Forum, Northern Elders Forum, Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo and Pan Niger Delta Forum, Obasanjo lamented that he had never seen Nigeria so divided.
According to him, “I do appreciate that you all feel sad and embarrassed as most of us feel as Nigerians with the situation we find ourselves in. Today, Nigeria is fast drifting to a failed and badly divided state.
“Economically our country is becoming a basket case and poverty capital of the world, and socially, we are firming up as an unwholesome and insecure country.
“And these manifestations are the products of recent mismanagement of diversity and socio-economic development of our country.
“Old fault lines that were disappearing have opened up in greater fissures and with drums of hatred, disintegration and separation and accompanying choruses being heard loud and clear almost everywhere.”
The former president said only self-deluded people would claim that all is well in Nigeria.
He said: “I believe Nigeria is worth saving on the basis of mutuality and reciprocity and I also believe it can be done through the process of dialogues rather than talking at each other or resorting to violence.
“It will amount to dangerous and destructive self-delusion for anybody to claim that all is well in Nigeria today.”
Obasanjo said those calling for war and succession must remember that Nigeria’s citizens would still need to live and interact with each other if the country breaks into several countries. He stated that Nigeria cannot solve her own problems in disunity because a house divided against itself cannot stand.
The former President, therefore, commended all socio-cultural groups present at the meeting, describing their agreement to come together as a good sign.
“With what I have seen, read and heard from the rapprochement that you are forging together, I see a ray of hope that Nigeria can be saved from disintegration.
“If we are ready to live together in understanding, mutual respect and love with equity, justice, inclusiveness while engendering sense of belonging and unity of purpose and all hands on deck, we can deal with internal issues of terrorism, organised crimes, banditry, kidnapping, human trafficking, drug, money laundering and corruption.
“We will then be able to deal successfully with any incoming attack of terrorism, organised crimes, etc; from outside,” the former president pointed out.
On the National Assembly’s fresh constitutional review exercise, Obasanjo said: “That ray of hope was somewhat manifested in the last 10 days or so when the Northern Elderswell Forum and Yoruba Summit Group complemented each other in their separate press releases on the Senate’s idea of inviting submissions from Nigerian public for constitution amendment which had been regular money-gulping activity by every National Assembly session since 1999, a veritable source of waste without end.
“I believe one of our major problems in the past was that we did not dialogue enough, we talk at ourselves and selfishly keep old prejudices and biases. If we show understanding, give-and-take, love of one another and commitment and love of the country, we will do what is right and stand firmly together for the good of all.”
He also spoke on the 2023 general elections.
“Some people are obsessed with 2023, I believe that with death, destruction, debt, disease, deceit, disbelief, disenchantment, doubt and suspicion around, we need to see our way through to 2023 and beyond in some form of unity of purpose, reasonable security, shared values, true democratic practice, inclusiveness and shared society. That is why we are here. No constitution is even permanent; it is dynamic with time and experience,” he said.
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said the organised labour would at appropriate time come out with a position on the recent increases in prices of various essential commodities, including fuel and electricity.
NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, stated this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday in reaction to the increases in the prices of petrol and electricity.
NAN reports that the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) announced that the ex-depot price of premium motor spirit (petrol) has been increased to N151.60 per litre from N138.62 with effect from September 2.
Also, electricity tariff was increased effective September 1 by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) from N30.23 per one kwh to N62.33.
Wabba, who spoke on the issues, said the organised labour would not protest until the Central Working Committee (CWC) has been able to meet and agree on appropriate action.
He said: “Labour takes one battle at a time. It does not make announcement without backing it with action.”
The labour leader noted that NLC has remained consistent on neo-liberal policies, and would take appropriate action in respect of the increases in order to achieve desired result.
He added that it was high time Nigeria started refining products locally to solve importation challenges.
On the suspended planned protest against Rivers State Government, Wabba said there was the need to mend fences between the state and labour to ensure harmonious relationship.
He pointed out that the will of the people should not always be taken for granted “as injury to one is injury to all.”
Wabba called on other state governments to take appropriate steps toward addressing labour issues so as to avoid the wrath of the organised labour.
“We will take up any state that undermines the rights of workers. Workers should be conscious of their rights.
“There is synergy and we will confront recalcitrant employers to respect the law, so that we don’t give room for sudden situations to rise,” Wabba said.
He explained that Rivers State Government and labour unions have concluded negotiations on minimum wage, and the enabling circular would be released for a collective bargaining agreement to be signed.
The Ataoja of Osogbo land, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun celebrates 10 years coronation anniversary, September 12, 2020. With the monarch is former First Lady of Ogun State and Founder, UPLIFT Development Foundation, Dr. Olufunso Amosun.
Sons and daughters of Osogbo on Saturday paid homage to the Ataoja of Osogbo land, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun as he celebrates 10 years coronation anniversary.
Among many illustrious indigenes, who attended the ceremony in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, was the former First Lady of Ogun State, Dr. Olufunso Amosun.
At the ceremony, Mrs Amosun, who is the founder of UPLIFT Development Foundation, announced a financial donation towards development projects in the area.
Also, the Muslim Political Awareness Front (MUPAF) said it is satisfied with the reign of the Ataoja so far.
The group expressed this In a congratulatory message signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Arakunrin Ajelogbon De-Moon and made available to journalists on Saturday in Osogbo.
MUFAP described the 10 years of Ataoja Larooye II on the throne as peaceful and accommodating to both indigenes and residents of the ancient city.
“Kabiesi, your reign has brought tremendous development to both indigenes and residents of Osogbo, may your reign be long on the throne of your forefathers. We are proud of you kabiesi”, MUFAP said in the statement.
Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun ascended the throne of his forbearers as the 18th Ataoja of Osogbo ìn 2010 after the demise of Oba Dr. Iyiola Oyewole Matanmi, who reigned for 34 years.
Dignitaries who graced the occasion include Osun State Deputy Governor, Gboyega Alabi; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III; Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal and Orangun of Ila Orangun, Oba Abdul Wahab Olukayode Oyedotun Bibiire I.
Others are lawmaker representing Osun Central in the Senate and current Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Suraju Ajibola Basiru, members of the Osun State House of Assembly and Chairman, Osogbo Local Government (LGA), Hon. Musa Adegoke.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu during a teleconference at the Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, May 22, 2020
The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos Government has approved a 33% increment for pensioners in the state under the Defined Benefits Scheme (PAY AS YOU GO) with effect from January 1, 2020 and payment of a balance of 25 percent rent allowance for officers on GL 07 and above who had retired from May 2000 to August 2004.
In a meeting with the executive members of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) Lagos State Chapter, the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Ajibola Ponnle, affirmed that the increment will take effect from September 2020 and the arrears starting from January 2020, will be paid from September 2020, in bid to meet up with the harmonisation exercise for the pensioners.
Ponnle stated that Governor Sanwo-Olu, since his assumption of Office, has paid a total sum of 1.893Billion to pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme, adding that all monthly pensions are paid as at when due without exception, despite the shortfall in revenue accruable to the state government occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, at the South West leader’s Zonal meeting in Lagos, the pensioners expressed appreciation for the gesture of the state government.
NUP Chairman, Oluremi Johnson, described Sanwo-Olu as a pensioner-friendly governor and thanked him for the promise to address all Lagos state pensioners issues.
“We thank him for our monthly pensions being regularly paid and for the online verification exercise which was remarkably successful.”
He said they are expecting other good health programmes as approved by the governor for continuous progress concerning the pensioners.
“We express our sincere gratitude to the governor for the excellent feat achieved within the short period of agitation and we thank the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress, for the maximum support given to Lagos State NUP,” he said.
The NUP scribe also commended the Oyo State governor but called on the Ekiti, Ogun and Ondo States governors to come to the plight of pensioners.
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