BIG NEWS STORIES FOR THE DAY

CROSS RIVER STATE GOVERNMENT CHARGES CROSS RIVERIANS TO STEP UP THEIR SUPPORTS, TO THE VULNERABLE GROUPS ACROSS THE STATE

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the 2020 World Humanitarian Day celebration, the Director General, Cross River Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong, has called on individuals, groups and agencies of government, to step up their supports to the vulnerable groups across the state.

Dr Ekpenyong who made the call in a statement issued on Wednesday, further appreciated the efforts of staff of the Agency, in offering selfless services, both before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.

On her part, the Senior Special Adviser to the governor on Humanitarian Services, Martha Agba, charged the public to be nice to health workers, as it will encourage their efforts towards curtailing health emergencies.

Speaking in an interview with our correspondent on Wednesday, Agba also said people should open up to health workers, as it could go a long way in handling health emergencies.

Martha Agba further said the Ayade led administration initiated the “Operation Feed the Vulnerable”, as part of efforts to alleviate the plights of Cross-Riverians, occasioned by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The theme for the 2020 World Humanitarian Day is: Saying “Thank You” To Real Life Heroes.

NIGERIA’S HEALTH COMMISSIONERS URGE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO REDEEM PLEDGE OF ASSISTING 32 STATES WITH 67.2 BILLION NAIRA COVID-19 PANDEMIC FUND.

Health Commissioners in the country have urged the Federal Government to redeem its pledge of assisting 32 states across the country with the sum of 67.2 billion naira, to enable them fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

The National Chairman of Nigeria Commissioners for Health Forum, Dr. Betta Edu, who is also the Cross River State Commissioner for Health, made the call while addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.

Dr. Edu said the Federal Government had pledged 2.1billion naira each to 32 states, which did not benefit from the initial support to Lagos, Kano, Ogun and Jigawa states, adding that the non-release of the grant to the remaining states, was hindering the war against the covid-19 pandemic.

ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS IN CRS ELECTS NEW STATE CHAIRMAN.

The All Progressives Congress in Cross River state has elected Mathew Mbu Junior, as it state chairman.

Mathew Mbu junior was elected during a meeting of the party,at the state secretariat on Tuesday.

Former Acting chairman of the party, John Ochala, told our correspondent shortly after the election, that the party bigwigs in the state were all present at the election.

AKPAGU PICKS SENATE NOMINATION FORM OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS APC, TO CONTEST THE CROSS RIVER NORTH BYE-ELECTION.

the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Zana Akpagu, has picked the Senate nomination form of the All Progressives Congress APC, to contest the Cross River North bye-election.

Akpagu, the leading APC aspirant in the race said he is sure of victory, as he is contesting to win and not to settle for second position.

Speaking shortly after picking his form on Tuesday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, Professor Akpagu, a former Commissioner for Education in the State, lamented that the Senatorial district has suffered severe underdevelopment, occasioned by poor representation.

COALITION OF UNITED POLITICAL PARTIES CRITICIZES CHAIRMAN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTION COMMISSION OVER HIS RELUCTANT TO RE-LIST SOME POLITICAL PARTIES AS ORDERED BY THE COURT.

The Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP has criticized the chairman of the Independent National Election Commission, INEC, Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, over his reluctant to re-list some political parties as ordered by the Court of Appeal.

The CUPP came up with this in a statement by its Chairman, Contact and Mobilization and Member, Steering Committee, Rev. Olusegun Peters in Abuja on Tuesday.

While advising the electoral empire to perish the thought of embarking on any futile voyage of appealing the judgment, the coalition called on the national assembly to include INEC in the list of agencies that are being probe

“30 SLOTS GIVEN TO EACH MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IN THE 774 THOUSAND JOBS NATIONWIDE IS A PRIVILEGE, AND NOT A RIGHT.” – KEYAMO

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, says the 30 slots given to each member of the National Assembly in the 774,000 jobs nationwide is just a privilege, and not a right.

The Minister, who was reacting to the statement credited to the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Ndidi Elumelu, said whether the federal lawmakers accept the slots or not was irrelevant, because their constituents will still be the beneficiaries of the position.

ASUU’S UNIVERSITY TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY SOLUTION TO THE IPPIS READY FOR INTEGRITY TESTS.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU says Its University Transparency and Accountability Solution, UTAS which it developed as an alternative to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS, is read for integrity tests.

ASUU President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, who revealed this while addressing the media, insisted that UTAS remained a far more alternative to IPPIS, which he said, does not respect the nature, structure, and character of the Nigerian University System.

The Union said it had fulfilled the requirement of the government in successfully developing the payment system.

NDLEA OPERATIVES UNCOVER NEW ROUTE USED BY CRIMINALLY MINDED PERSONS TO IMPORT DRUGS INTO NIGERIA.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA, have uncovered a new route used by criminally minded persons to import drugs into Nigeria.

The Chairman of NDLEA, Muhammad Abdallah who disclosed this, said the agency has discovered another 40-foot container, at Brawal terminal in Lagos state.

Abdallah explained that the discovery was made during follow up investigations by the NDLEA, after the police intercepted a 40-foot container laden with about 40 cartons of tramadol and other banned drugs, concealed in cartons of brushes.

ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATE IMPOSES SANCTIONS ON MALI OVER ATTEMPTED COUP, AS PRESIDENT IBRAHIM KEITA RESIGNS

The West Africa bloc ECOWAS, on Tuesday condemned a military coup in Mali and pledged a range of retaliatory actions, including financial sanctions.

Rebel soldiers arrested Mali’s President Ibrahim Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse on Tuesday afternoon, following weeks of political tension in the country.

In a statement, ECOWAS said its members would close land and air borders to Mali, and pledged to demand sanctions against “all those involved.

Meanwhile, the African Union has condemned the arrest of President Ibrahim Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse.

Reacting in a string of tweets, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, called for the immediate release of the duo.

He also called on the United Nations and other international organizations, to oppose the use of force to end Keita’s political reign in Mali.

FILM MAKER CALLS ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO RE-OPEN CINEMAS ACROSS NIGERIA.

Film Producer, Edward Erhahon popularly known as Eddy Young, has joined his voice with that of other Celebrities for the #SaveCinema campaign, calling on the Federal Government to re-open Cinemas across Nigeria.

Speaking in a chat with our correspondent on Wednesday, the Lagos-based filmmaker said keeping Cinemas closed, will further isolate Nigerians from the cinema culture, which filmmakers have been trying to build.

Eddy Young further said keeping the Picture Houses closed is hindering the distribution of movies that have already been financed.

Elsewhere, India’s Supreme Court has ordered the country’s federal investigation agency, to look into the death of Bollywood actor, Sushant Singh Rajput.

Rajput was found dead in his flat in Mumbai on June14th, as the Police ruled it as suicide.

“I WOULD LIKE TO GO DOWN THE ROUTE OF OWNING A TEAM” – ANICHEBE

Former Super Eagles forward Victor Anichebe says he hopes to become a football owner in future in order to improve Black, Asian and minority (BAME) representation at boardroom level within the sport.

Anichebe told the media that he would like to go down the route of owning a team, adding that you have to seat at the table to really effect change.

The lack of ethnic minority representation in positions of power across sports came to light through the Black Lives Matter movement in recent months.

AKHATOR INITIATES PROJECT TO FEED LOW INCOME EARNERS.

Co-Captain of the national women basketball team, D’Tigress, Evelyn Akhator, has initiated a project that will provide food for low-income earners, starting with those in Lagos state.

In a statement issued through her Foundation, Akhator said the charity initiative will provide and contribute significantly to the lives of Nigerians, on the receiving end of the harsh economic climate.

The Basketball Player added that it will provide relief items, including convenience food, beverages and groceries, distributed to individuals and residents in Lagos State.

EDITOR(S) – Onyekachi Nwosu

REPORTER(S) – Happiness Ifiok.