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Nigeria’s GDP rise by 0.51% in Q1 2021

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 0.51 percent in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the 0.11 percent recorded in the fourth quarter of 2020 and the1.87 percent in the first quarter of 2020.

National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) made the disclosure in its GDP Report for Q1 2021 released on Sunday.

NBS said oil GDP contracted -2.21 percent in Q1 2021 (-19.76 percent in Q4 2020; 5.06 percent in Q1 2020) while non-Oil GDP grew 0.79 percent in Q1 2021(1.69 percentin Q4 2020; 1.55 percentin Q1 2021).

Agric real GDP grew by 2.28 percent in Q1 2021 compared to 3.42 percent in Q4 2020 & 2.20 percent in Q1 2020.

Crop Production under Agric real GDP grew by 2.31 percent compared to 3.68 percent in Q4 2020 & 2.38 percent in Q1 2021.

Livestock under Agric real GDP grew by 1.65 percent compared to 2.38 percent in Q4 2020 & 0.63 percent in Q1 2020.

Fishing under Agric real GDP grew by 3.24 percent compared to -3.60 percent in Q4 2020 & 1.49 percent in Q1 2020.

Forestry under Agric real GDP grew by 1.28 percent compared to 1.24 percent in Q4 2020 & 1.71 percent in Q1 2020.

Industry real GDP grew 0.94 percrnt compared to -7.30 percent in Q4 2020 & 2.26 percent in Q1 2020.

Mining & Quarrying Under Industry real GDP contracted -2.19 percent compared to -18.44 percent in Q4 2020 & 4.58 percent in Q1 2020.

Crude Petroleum & Natural Gas real GDP contracted -2.21 percent compared to -19.76 percent in Q4 2020 & 5.06 percentin Q1 2020.

Coal Mining under Mining & Quarrying GDP grew 0.66 percent compared to -23.16 percent in Q4 2020 & -43.41 percent in Q1 2020.

Metal Ore real GDP grew 28.83 percent compared to -9.38 percent in Q4 2020 & -4.10 percent in Q1 2020.

Quarrying & Other Minerals under Mining & Quarrying GDP contracted -59.78percent compared to 48.42 percent in Q4 2020 & -83.03 percent in Q1 2020.

Manufacturing under Industry real GDP grew 3.40 percent compared to -1.51 percent in Q4 2020 & 0.43 percentin Q1 2020.

Oil refining under Manufacturing real GDP contracted -57.05 percent compared to -56.50 percent in Q4 2020 & -52.81 percent in Q1 2020.

Cement under Manufacturing real GDP grew 11.20 percent compared to 6.59 percent in Q4 2020 & 1.67 percent in Q1 2020.

Food, Beverage & Tobacco under Manufacturing real GDP grew 7.11 percent compared to 2.15 percent in Q4 2020 & 1.10 percent in Q1 2020.

Textiles,Apparels & Footwear under Manufacturing real GDP contracted -4.53 percent compared to -5.55 percent in Q4 2020 & 1.03percent in Q1 2020.

Wood Products under real GDP contracted -2.36 percent compared to -3.17 percent in Q4 2020 & 1.25percent in Q1 2020.

Pulp & Paper under Manufacturing real GDP contracted -0.26ercent compared to -4.52 percent in Q4 2020 & 1.99 percent in Q1 2020.

Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals real GDP grew 3.91 percent compared to -0.78 percent in Q4 2020 & 0.58 percent in Q1 2020.

Non-Metallic Products under Manufacturing real GDP grew 2.88 percent compared to -9.92 percent in Q4 2020 & -1.35 percent in Q1 2020.

Plastic & Rubber under Manufacturing real GDP grew 1.68 percent compared to 0.23% in Q4 2020 & 1.28percent in Q1 2020.

Electrical/Electronics under Manufacturing real GDP contracted -4.46percent compared to -12.14percent in Q4 2020 & -1.59 percent in Q1 2020

Base Metal, Iron & Steel real GDP contracted -1.63 percent compared to -3.92 percent in Q4 2020 & 1.19percent in Q1 2020.

Motor Vehicles & Assembly under Manufacturing real GDP grew 3.29 percent compared to 2.02% in Q4 2020 & 1.04 percent in Q1 2020.

Other Manufacturing real GDP grew 3.75 percent compared to -4.26 percent in Q4 2020 & -1.78% in Q1 2020.

Patoma Admin by — May 23, 2021 in News 0
COAS Air Crash: Pilot of ill-fated flight married two months ago, the only son of his parents

By Favour Nnabugwu

Co-pilot Flt. Lt Alfred Ayodeji Olufade, who died in the tragic incident, is survived by his new wife, who, according to relatives got married two months ago

Flt Lt Olufade

Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, died in the crash on Friday.

A tweet by the Nigerian Air Force confirmed that the air crash, involving a @NigAirForce aircraft, occurred near the Kaduna International Airport.

The Air Force spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, in the tweet, said that the immediate cause of the crash was still being ascertained.

Friends, family members and associates of a Nigerian Air Force pilot, Flt Lt Alfred Ayodeji Olufade, are inconsolable at the moment as the young officer, who recently got married, died when a Beachcraft 350 aircraft crashed at the Kaduna International Airport on Friday.

Olufade and the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, as well as nine other military personnel were onboard the jet when it crashed around 6pm on Friday. The 11 souls died in the tragic incident.

Friends and associates of Olufade have since taken to the social media to express raw grief over the sad demise of the officer.

A tweep, @Sir_KB, wrote, “My heart is in pain. I lost my friend. Flight Lt. AA Olufade. He got hitched months back and often teased me to get out of the bachelorhood. Rest well Freddy.”

@OvieNews said, “Rest in Peace Alfred. Flight Lt. AA Olufade just married two months ago. Our Heroes.”

Also, @SodyBar stated, “Olufade is a close associate. He got married February this year. We’re all disheartened!”

“We’re all saddened by his death. Everyone affiliated with Kuje seminary will surely miss him. May the Almighty grant you eternal rest,” @EmekaWilfred wrote

I need prayers, late pilot my only son – Grieving dad
by Punch News
George Olufade, the father of Flt Lt Alfred Olufade, the pilot of the ill-fated aircraft that killed 11 military officers, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, said only prayers could sustain him as George was his only son.
He also decried the state of military aircraft in the country and called on the authorities to overhaul the planes and focused on staff welfare.
The late George got married three months ago amid pomp and circumstance.
The grieving father said, “It is devastating. I just need prayers for strength. I pray that God should hold us because he was my only son. He was very intelligent, generous, extremely humble, and dedicated to his duty. He was a giver and a lover of Christ.
“He was in the seminary before he eventually got into the military school.
“He was the only Airforce officer in my state. He was a special child. He graduated as the youngest in his set. When he wanted to join the military, I encouraged him from the beginning to the end because he had passion for flying. I encouraged him and prayed for him.
“They should take care of their planes. Most of their planes are outdated and not properly taken care of. They stress their pilots, too. He just returned from Maiduguri and he had to fly again. They need to take care of their planes before they lose all their brilliant talents.”
Olufade added, “Each time he was flying, he would tell me and I would pray for him. But this last one, he didn’t tell me. But God knows better. It has not been my prayer holding him, but God that has been holding him. God gave me Ayodeji and He had taken him; may his soul rest in peace. If it is from God, glory be to Him. If it is from man, God will judge.”

Patoma Admin by — May 22, 2021 in Metro 0
Long working hours kill 745,000 persons globally – WHO, ILO

By admin

 

World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Labour Organisation (ILO) have said long working hours led to 745, 000 deaths globally from stroke and ischemic heart disease.

WHO and ILO stated this in a study published in Environment International Today.

In a first global analysis of the loss of life and health associated with working long hours, WHO and ILO estimated that, in 2016, 398, 000 people died from stroke and 347, 000 from heart disease as a result of having worked at least 55 hours a week, a 29 per cent increase since 2000.

“Between 2000 and 2016, the number of deaths from heart disease due to working long hours increased by 42 per cent and from stroke by 19 per cent.

“This work-related disease burden is particularly significant in men (72 per cent of deaths occurred among males), people living in the Western Pacific and South-East Asia regions, and middle-aged or older workers.

“Most of the deaths recorded were among people dying aged 60-79 years, who had worked for 55 hours or more per week between the ages of 45 and 74 years,” said the report.

With working long hours now known to be responsible for about one-third of the total estimated work-related burden of disease, it is established as the risk factor with the largest occupational disease burden.

This shifts thinking towards a relatively new and more psychosocial occupational risk factor to human health.

The study concludes that working 55 or more hours per week is associated with an estimated 35 per cent higher risk of a stroke and a 17 per cent higher risk of dying from ischemic heart disease, compared to working 35-40 hours a week.

Further, the number of people working long hours is increasing, and currently stands at nine per cent of the total population globally.

This trend puts even more people at risk of work-related disability and early death.

The new analysis comes as the COVID-19 pandemic shines a spotlight on managing working hours; the pandemic is accelerating developments that could feed the trend towards increased working time.

Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said the COVID-19 pandemic had significantly changed the way many people work.

“Teleworking has become the norm in many industries, often blurring the boundaries between home and work.

“In addition, many businesses have been forced to scale back or shut down operations to save money, and people who are still on the payroll end up working longer hours.

“No job is worth the risk of stroke or heart disease. Governments, employers and workers need to work together to agree on limits to protect the health of workers,” he said.

Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, at WHO, said, “working 55 hours or more per week is a serious health hazard.

“It’s time that we all, governments, employers, and employees wake up to the fact that long working hours can lead to premature death.”

The UN agencies, however, said governments, employers and workers could take the following actions to protect workers’ health.

They stated that governments could introduce, implement and enforce laws, regulations and policies that ban mandatory overtime and ensure maximum limits on working time.

“Government could introduce bipartite or collective bargaining agreements bet poopween employers and workers’ associations can arrange working time to be more flexible
“At the same time agreeing on a maximum number of working hours; employees could share working hours to ensure that numbers of hours worked do not climb above 55 or more per week,” the agencies said.

Patoma Admin by — May 18, 2021 in Metro 0
Hadi Sirika elected Fellow of Royal Aeronautical Society

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

The Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) has elected Mr Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation as a fellow in the world’s oldest professional body dedicated to the aerospace community.

Disclosing this in his Twitter handle yesterday, Sirika said, “Glad to announce that I have been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Alhamdulillah”

The Royal Aeronautical Society exists to further advance aeronautical art, science and engineering around the world. Established in Britain in 1866, the RAeS has been at the forefront of developments in aerospace, seeking to promote the highest professional standards and provide a central forum for sharing knowledge. It now has over 22,500 members and has become an international, multidisciplinary professional institution dedicated to the global aerospace community.

Fellowship of the Royal Aeronautical Society is the highest achievement attainable and is only bestowed upon those in the profession of aeronautics or aerospace who either have made an outstanding contribution to the profession, attained a position of high responsibility or have had long experience of high quality in the profession.

Senator Sirika Hadi was born on 2nd March, 1964 in Dutsi, Kastina state. He was a pilot, a Nigerian politician and the Minister for Aviation. Senator Hadi was a member of the House of Representatives and a former Senator. He represented Kastina North in the Nigerian Senate under the platform of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) from 2011-2015

Sirika Hadi graduated from the Petroleum Helicopters Institute, USA, Flight Safety International, United State of America and Delta Aeronautics, USA.

Hadi was elected into the Federal House of Representative in 2003 and he left office in 2007.

In 2011, Sirika Hadi was elected to represent Kastina North in the Nigerian Senate under the platform of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

While in the Senate, Hadi was the portal vice chairman Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and a member of the Senate Committee on Aviation. He also served in various committees in the Nigerian senate.

After a merger which brought about the All Progressive Congress (APC), Hadi became a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

In 2015, Hadi announced in Daura that Mohammadu Buhari have been convinced to run for President in the 2015 general election by elders of the party.

After the emergence of President Buhari as the winner of the 2015 gubernatorial elections, Hadi was appointed minister for state on Aviation, a position he held till 2019.

He was reappointed by President Buhari after he won his second term bid as the minister of Aviation.

Sirika Hadi is married with Children

 

Patoma Admin by — May 16, 2021 in News 0
A woman gives birth 9 babies – 5 girls, 4 boys

By admin

 

A woman has shocked the world by giving birth to nine babies.

The Malian woman who made history in the continent has been identified as Halima Cisse.

She gave birth to nine babies on Tuesday – two more than doctors had detected inside her crowded womb.

She joined a small pantheon of mothers of nonuplets.

The pregnancy of Halima Cisse, 25, fascinated Malians and attracted the attention of its leaders.

When doctors in March said Cisse needed specialist care, authorities flew her to Morocco, where she gave birth.

“The newborns (five girls and four boys) and the mother are all doing well,” Mali’s health minister, Fanta Siby, said in a statement.

Cisse was expected to give birth to seven babies, according to ultrasounds conducted in Morocco and Mali that missed two of the siblings.

All were delivered by caesarean section.

Nonuplets are extremely rare. Medical complications in multiple births of this kind often mean that some of the babies do not reach full term.

Patoma Admin by — May 5, 2021 in Metro 0
FG to begin second phase distribution of 4m free pre-paid electricity meters

By Favour Nnabugwu

THE Federal Government on Wednesday said it will soon begin the second phase distribution of four million pre-paid electricity meters free to Nigerians.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, had promised to make available four million pre-paid electricity meters aside from the one million the government earlier provided which were being distributed nationwide.

This is as the Federal Executive Council, FEC, at its 44th virtual meeting approved sums worth more than $8.29 million as well as N3 billion for the execution of various electricity projects in the country.

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the First Lady’s Conference Room, Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Minister of Power, Engr Mamman Saleh, said that there was an improvement in power generation, adding that the country generates 5, 000 megawatts from the initial 3,000 megawatts it was generating.

The Minister said that government was almost getting through with the distribution of one million pre-free paid meters to Nigerians.

Fielding question on the progress report with the distribution of the one million pre-paid meters, he said, “It’s ongoing, we are almost rounding off.

“We have almost finished with phase zero, we are now going into phase one of the distribution of the metres, that is the remaining four million the Central Bank promised to augment with.

“The first set is one million, we are about to finish with that, but you know, it is not the target, one million is very negligible compared to the demand of Nigerians.”

Further asked whether there was any improvement in power generation, he said, “We are improving, it (power generation) has improved, you can see, I don’t have to tell you.

“We are moving from 3000 megawatts, today we are generating up up to 5000 megawatts or over that, so it is a great improvement.”

Speaking to journalists on the approvals granted by the council, Engr Saleh, said most of the projects are procurement of equipment as well as designs and manufactures.

He also said that some are for the upgrade of the nation’s electricity facility and improvement of power supply across the country.

He said, the Ministry of Power presented six memoranda to the FEC and that all the memos were approved.

The aggregate of all the figures, in both naira and dollar denominations, summed up to a total of N6,156,168,822, when the dollar component was converted by the official exchange rate of N380 to $1.

He said, “The Federal Executive Council today approved six memos under the Ministry of Power. The first one is the award of a contract for design, manufacturing and supply of critical spare parts for Crompton Greaves 330 kV, 132 kV and 33 kV circuit breakers to Messrs. Legen Engineering Nigeria Limited in the sum of N298,339,887.04.

“The second one is the award of the contract for the procurement of 50 sets of 400 AH battery banks, 30 to 50 volts and 30 number of 110 volt battery charges for the substation used by the TCN in favour of Messrs. DTS Transformers Electric Industry Limited at the sum of N644,805,953.10.

“The third award of contract is for the procurement of 50 cent also of 132 kV isolators for the TCN in favour of Messrs. Leading Diagonal Engineering Nigeria Limited in the sum of $840,650 plus N53,900,000 within the delivery period of six months.

“The fourth one is the award the contract for the design, manufacturing and the supply of three 60/66 MVA 132kV power transformers with accessories and 15 number of 500 kV transformers, 33/0.415kV earthing transformers for the TCN in favour of Messrs. Zhenjiang Transformers Company Limited, in the sum of N1,296,953,044.55 with delivery period of 12 months.

“The fifth one is the award of the contract for the design, supply and installation of Optical Wire (OPGW) and Universal Optical Transportation Network System (OTN) for some critical transmission lines in favour of Messrs. Xinjiang Power and Transportation Company Limited in the sum of $6,800,743.51, plus N668,843,634.74, with a delivery period of 12 months

“The last one is the upward review of the contraction for the design, manufacture, supply, installation and commissioning of 1X 100MVA, 132/33kV power transformers at Ogba Transmission Substation, Lagos, in favour of Messrs. Power Control and Appliances Limited, in the sum of $648,038.31, plus N48,342,524.18, with the delivery period of six months.

“All these procurements are geared towards upgrades of the transmission system, to the national grid, so that we can have sufficient power supply to the nation”, he said.

The Minister said that government was making sure that supply was stable and also working towards ensuring that it upgrades the supply “from say 4000 megawatts to 5000 to 6000 to 7000 megawatts and so on.

“So, the more we replace some obsolete and outdated equipment, the more we improve the supply of electricity.”

Asked whether he agreed with the report that over 70 per cent of Nigerians who have electricity supply have less than 12 hours a day, he said, “It all depends. You know we have graded the supply based on the metering.

“Unless the metres are sufficient, we will not know which and where to push 24 hours supplies because there are some people who are ready for 24 hours and there are those who are not ready for 24 hours supply of light.

“So, we have graded according to that priorities and like we have been saying, I will keep telling Nigerians that this tariff issue, those who are not getting 24 hours are not equally charged like those who are getting 24 hours. So, there is a difference. Until you have a metre, then you’ll know what you consume at the end of the day.”

Patoma Admin by — May 5, 2021 in News 0
Ikpeazu awards scholarship to Abia-born electricity transformer innovator

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has awarded five -year full scholarship to Solomon Ukoha who constructed an electricity sub-station with crude oil and other locally sourced materials.

This is coming days after the young inventor’s work surfaced on the social media.

The scholarship according to Gov. Ikpeazu is for the investor to further his education in any tertiary institution of his choice.

Ikpeazu who made this pronouncement at the Governor’s lodge in Aba while receiving the Amekpu Ohafia- born 24 year- old inventor expressed joy over the technical ingenuity exhibited by the young innovator, noting that Abia has youths who can compete favourably with their international counterparts in technical education if given the opportunity.

Ikpeazu noted that power supply had been a major problem facing the country and as such has impacted negatively on economic growth and industrialization especially in the shoe, leather and garments sub sectors for which Aba is well known.

The Governor encouraged Solomon to train some other youths and impart same knowledge to them for the greater benefit of society.

Ikpeazu also encouraged him to build a more presentable prototype of the sub station to enable it compete in external exhibitions revealing that the scholarship covers his tuition fee and accommodation immediately he gets admission.

Showcasing his innovation to Ukoha who said he had completed his secondary school education without any hope of going to the university due to financial challenges revealed that he got the inspiration from God.

He appealed to the State Governor to assist him further his education, a step he said would help him in fulfilling his ambition and expressed his readiness to teach other youths as advised by the Governor.

The inventor whose video went viral on the social media last week tested the electrical sub-station before the Governor.

Patoma Admin by — May 4, 2021 in News 0
FG extends NIN-SIM linkage till June 30

By Favour Nnabugwu.

 

The Federal Government has extended the deadline for the registration, verification and linkage of the National Identity Number (NIN) to Subscribers Identification Module (SIM) cards to June 30.

This is contained in a statement co-signed by Director, Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Head, Corporate Communications, Mr. Kayode Adegoke National Identity Management Commission(NIMC).

The extension, the federal government said, was as a result of the virtual meeting chaired by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami and attended by Chairman of NCC, Prof Adeolu Akande.

Others are the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof Umar Garba Dambatta and the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Aliyu Azeez.

The minister said the postponement of the deadline was also based on the request by stakeholders for an extension until June 30 in order to make it easier for all citizens and legal residents to register.

“Significant progress has been made in the NIN-SIM verification process.

” For example, almost 54 million people have obtained their NIN and this can translate to up to 190 Million mobile numbers, since empirical evidence suggests that each unique NIN maps to three to four phone lines,” Pantami said.

The government said the much-awaited Android enrolment system is now ready for deployment and this had the potential to significantly accelerate the speed and ease of enrolment.

” Furthermore, the telecom providers and other enrolment agents have also opened several centres across the country to make it easier for eligible citizens and residents to obtain and link their NINs.

” It is noteworthy that Sections 27 and 29 of the National Identity Management Commission Act 2007 provides for the mandatory use of National Identity Number for accessing several government services.
This is similar to the use of Social Security Number and National Insurance Number for accessing services in the United States of America and the United Kingdom respectively,” the federal government said.

Pantami appreciated Nigerians for their patience and compliance with the Federal Government’s directive on the NIN-SIM registration exercise.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to continue taking decisions aimed at easing the pains of the citizens with regard to issues related to NIN and SIM registration.

Federal Government had on Dec. 15, 2020, declared that after Dec. 30, 2020, all SIMs that were not registered with valid NINs on the network of telecommunications companies would be blocked.

The federal government later extended the December 30, 2020 deadline following widespread opposition against the earlier announcement and gave three weeks’ extension for subscribers with NIN from Dec. 30, 2020, to Jan. 19, 2021.

Patoma Admin by — May 4, 2021 in News 0
Nigerian teenager, Victoria Banjo, gets 19 American scholarships

By admin

One Nigerian teenager must feel like she has the world at her feet after receiving 19 full-ride scholarship offers from universities across the United States and Canada.

Victory Yinka-Banjo, a 17-year-old high school graduate, was offered more than $5 million dollars’ worth of scholarship money for an undergraduate program of study, according to admission documents and estimates of financial aid award.

“It still feels pretty unbelievable. I applied to so many schools because I didn’t even think any school would accept me,” Victory told CNN, relishing her academic prowess.

Born to Nigerian parents, Chika Yinka-Banjo, a senior lecturer at the University of Lagos, and Adeyinka Banjo, a private sector procurement and supply chain executive, Victory was given potential full scholarships from the Ivy League schools, Yale College, Princeton University, Harvard College, and Brown University.

Other US scholarship offers included those from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Virginia.

In Canada, Victory was offered the Lester B. Pearson scholarship from the University of Toronto and the Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow (KMILOT) scholarship from the University of British Columbia.

“Their admissions processes are extremely selective,” Victory added. “They only accept the best of the best. So, you can imagine how, on a daily basis, I have to remind myself that I actually got into these schools. It is surreal!”

Academic strides

A senior prefect during her time in high school, Victory rose to national prominence in late 2020 after she scored straight As in her West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Months earlier, the Nigerian teen had been rated as the “Top in the World” in English as a second language (speaking endorsement) by the University of Cambridge International Examination (CIE). Victory aced the Cambridge IGCSE exam — acquiring A* in all six subjects she sat for.

Victory told CNN her remarkable achievements are borne out of hard work.
“They have made me truly feel proud about the hard work I have put into several areas of my life over the years. I am slowly beginning to realize that I deserve them,” she said.

The teenager remarked that her multiple scholarship offers “have made me stand taller, smile wider, and pat myself on the back more often.”

Victory said she hopes to study Computational Biology. However, she is still weighing up her options on which school to choose, having been wooed by many prestigious institutions.

“I am still doing research on some schools that are at the top of my list, like Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Duke, Johns Hopkins, and just trying to compare and contrast all of them thoroughly,” she told CNN.

An inspiration to Nigerian youth

Victory’s mother, Chika, says her daughter’s story could inspire other young Nigerians.
“It is noteworthy that she is not one of the Nigerian-Americans who often get into these schools because of their advantage of being born and bred in the US. She completed her secondary school here [in Nigeria]. It would be great if her story can be used to inspire the youths of our country,” she told CNN.

Victory credits her academic success story to faith, parental guidance and discipline. She currently spends some of her free time tutoring other university admission seekers — through the radio — on key subjects such as math, English language, biology, chemistry and physics.

Culled from the Cable News Network, CNN.

Patoma Admin by — May 3, 2021 in Metro 0
South Africa sentence Nigerian man to 3 life imprisonment terms for sex slaving 12-year-old girl

By admin

 

A Nigerian national, Augustine Omini Obono, who kidnapped a 12-year-old girl, fed her drugs and forced her to have sex with up to six men a day over a three-month period has been sentenced to three life imprisonment terms by a South African court in Gauteng.

The Gauteng North High Court handed down three life imprisonment terms for human trafficking, rape, statutory rape and sexual exploitation. Obono was further sentenced to three years for kidnapping and seven years for keeping a brothel.

The National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said in September 2016, the girl was at a park in Derdepoort for a picnic with her friends when she met a woman who asked her to accompany her to a flat in Sunnyside, Pretoria, where she would meet a man.

“The woman promised the minor that she would give her taxi money to go to Mamelodi the following morning,” he said.

When they arrived at the flat in Sunnyside, the woman handed the minor over to Obono for purposes of sexual exploitation or for her to be used as a prostitute.

“Obono kept the minor in the flat for three months,” Mahanjana said.

She said over the three-month period, Obono fed the girl drugs and forced her to have sex with between five to six men a day.

“In December 2016, the minor eventually managed to escape and went to her uncle’s place in Mamelodi. When she arrived, she informed her uncle of what had happened. The uncle reported the matter to the police and the minor pointed out the flat where she was kept,” she said.

When the police went into the flat, they found Obono and arrested him and he has been in custody since.

South Africa, like Nigeria, is considered to be on the “Tier 2 Watchlist” for human trafficking. Tier 2 represents countries whose governments do not fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA)’s minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards

Patoma Admin by — May 2, 2021 in Human Angle 0