Author: Chief Editor

A medical expert and Medical Director of Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital (FNPH), Benin City, Dr. Imafidon Agbonile yesterday urged government at all levels to provide adequate funding and investment to address issues of mental health in the country with a view to ensuring improved care and intervention in the sector. Agbonile made the call in Benin City at an event organised by the Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital (FNPH), Benin City to mark the 2020 World Mental Health Day with the theme, “Mental Health for All: Greater Investment, Greater Access.” Expressing concern over the state of mental health in the state and country,…

PANDEF Faults Budget As Lopsided Some Senators have raised concern over N4 trillion to be borrowed to fund 2021 budget while debt servicing stands at N3.2 trillion. Speaking to The Guardian yesterday in reaction to President Buhari’s budget proposal presented to the National Assembly, Betty Apiafi (PDP Rivers) said what is worrisome is that borrowing is about N4tr while debt servicing is N3.2 trillion. Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf (Taraba Central) however said as an economist, he knows that borrowing is not the issue but rather what the borrowed money is used for. Muhammad Ali Ndume (APC, Borno) said the budget is…

Airtel Loses N4.8bn Judgement Appeal The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Makurdi Zonal office, yesterday arraigned Otsapa Ubani Otsapa, chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ado Local Government Chapter, Benue State before Justice Moris Ikpambese of the Benue State High Court, Makurdi, on a two count charge of alleged criminal conspiracy, abuse of office and diversion of public funds to the tune of N17, 552,400.00. The defendant pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges and EFCC counsel; George Chia-Yakua prayed the court for a trial date and an order to remand him in custody pending trial.…

• Voters, Security Personnel Inducement May Mar Election – CSOs • IGP Restricts Vehicular Movement • 33,783 Police Personnel Deployed For Election As 1,478,460 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) holders go to the polls today to elect the next governor of Ondo State, fears of the election being marred by monetary inducement of voters and security personnel by politicians and the influx of external factors were rife yesterday. This was because of the heavy presence of governors and political bigwigs from other states. Specifically, some All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors were allegedly sighted in the three…

•WHO Urges Increased Awareness •Experts Lament Inadequate Facilities, Manpower In Nigeria As the world marks the Mental Health Day 2020 today, psychiatrists have warned that anxiety over the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic could amplify the risk of substance abuse and suicide, thus worsening mental health issues globally. The psychiatrists also identified financial hardship as a top risk factor for suicide attempts, noting that 90 per cent of suicide cases result from untreated mental disorders. A new research published in the journals Psychiatry Research and Behaviour Research and Therapy has also warned that long after a COVID-19 vaccination is developed and the…

Super Eagles of Nigeria again lost to the Desert Foxes of Algeria, the second in 14 months, as Ramy Bensebaini lone strike settled a largely tepid affair at the Worthersee Stadion in Klagenfurt, Austria in an international friendly match yesterday. Coach Gernot Rohr-led Eagles had lost 1-2 to Algeria in the semifinal at Egypt 2019 AFCON in July last. Many Nigerians were expecting the Eagles to use the friendly in Austria yesterday to pay the Algerians in their own coins. Bensebaini reacted sharply to turn a loose ball home after his initial header from Riyah Mahrez’s corner kick was blocked.…

Casually dressed on a Monday evening, his warm personality is the first thing you observe; his smile easily gives it away. “You’re from The Guardian,” he says, as he led the way into the cozy office space in the hotel. He looks tired, his eyes drooping from long hours of media interviews since he left the Big Brother House. His eyes lit up when his music was announced as the topic of the conversation; you could feel the passion it stirred within him. Prior to winning the Big Brother Season 5 (Lockdown edition), the Philosophy graduate of the University of…

BY DELE MOMODU  Fellow Nigerians, the resistance against the oppression of mostly defenceless Nigerians by officers of the Nigeria Police special squad, known as SARS, came to a deafening crescendo this week. It was never a prophecy foretold. However, thanks to the young men and women who put up amazingly coordinated protests in a few major cities, the #EndSarsProtests hashtag trended and resonated in far-flung places. The movement has gathered momentum and it is imperative that it is kept going. If we sustain this social galvanising of our people against police brutality and intimidation, I foresee that it will be…

Sola Akinyede canvasses the need to build and strengthen anti-corruption institutions The Commission shall in the discharge of its functions under this Act not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority. Section 3(14) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act- 2000 (ICPC Act). Following the removal of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as the Chairman of the EFCC, it was obvious that some forces that were against the good work of Ribadu were at play. As the Chairman of the Senate Committee overseeing the EFCC, I thought it necessary to protect the structural and…

The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Friday, paid glowing tribute as the former (and pioneer) Vice Chancellor , National Open University of Nigeria(NOUN), Prof. Afolabi Ojo, was buried. The Professor of Geography and indigene of Ado Ekiti, died recently at the age of 90. Speaking at the funeral rites held at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Ado Ekiti, Fayemi described Ojo as one of the country’s finest and iconic scholars, who promoted scholarship during his lifetime. Fayemi said Ojo’s sterling qualities and unrivaled academic attainments coupled with unassailable integrity earned him the NOUN’s VC. The governor added that…