Zika Virus: US Calls For Condom Use, Abstinence

US health authorities on Friday urged people to use condoms or refrain from sex if they live in or have traveled to areas where the Zika virus is circulating.

The new interim guidelines from the US Centers from Disease Control are aimed at pregnant women and their partners, and those of childbearing age who are concerned about Zika, a primarily mosquito-borne virus which has been linked to birth defects.

Earlier this week, US health officials confirmed the first case of sexually-transmitted Zika, involving a person who had traveled to Venezuela and infected a sexual partner in Texas upon return.

“Men with a pregnant sex partner who reside in or have traveled to an area of active Zika virus transmission and their pregnant sex partners should consistently and correctly use condoms during sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) or abstain from sexual activity for the duration of the pregnancy,” said the CDC.

“Consistent and correct use of latex condoms reduces the risk of sexual transmission of many infections, including those caused by other viruses.”

The CDC urged couples in which a partner is not pregnant to “consider using condoms consistently and correctly during sex or abstaining from sexual activity.”

“The science is not clear on how long the risk should be avoided,” added the CDC statement.

“Research is now underway to answer this question as soon as possible. If you are trying to get pregnant, you may consider testing in discussion with your health care provider.”

Meanwhile in Brazil, the nation’s top research institute said that Zika has been detected in urine and saliva, but added that there was no proof the virus could be transmitted through those fluids.

Thousands of children in Brazil have been born with shrunken heads in the past year — a birth defect that some research suggests could result from Zika infection.

NFF pledges support for NPFL ahead of 2015/2016 season

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has reiterated its support for the organizers of Nigeria’s elite league division, the League Management (LMC) in its quest to deliver to football loving Nigerians a league they will always be proud to call their own.

While declaring open the 2016 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the LMC in Uyo, the Akwa-Ibom state capital, NFF President, Amaju Pinnick who was represented at the occasion by the 1st Vice President of the Federation, Barrister Seyi Akinwumi assured Nigerians that the Federation is determined to sustain the new found image of the league.
At the AGM held at the Le Meridien Hotel, Uyo, Akinwumi declared that the football house is dedicated to giving unflinching support to the league and also give every necessary assistance to help the league in selling itself to the global audience.

“Everything we (NFF) need to do to support the LMC, we will do,” begun Akinwumi. “We want a seamless League that will sell itself to the world and we will help towards achieving that. It is important that the image of the League is untainted and we will be glad if recent improvements are sustained and improved upon.” he added.

The Lagos State FA Chairman who also hinted on the structures being put in place by the NFF however warned detractors that there will be zero-tolerance for negativities in the upcoming seasons.

“The successes we have seen is because of collaboration as there is nothing we cannot achieve with collaboration. I must however add that we will come down strongly on those who cause trouble and try to tarnish the image of the League in any respect.”

Speaking earlier, Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC) and 2nd Vice Chairman of the NFF, Mallam Shehu Dikko thanked all stakeholders for making last season a success. Dikko acknowledged the growing interest from all corners which have exhibited the potentials the league has and can become one of the best in Africa provided they continue with the same zeal.

Budget 2016: N1.8tn Investment Will Trigger Economic Turnaround, Says

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun yesterday assured the nation and the international community that the proposed N1.8 trillion capital investments in the 2016 budget would be crucial for stimulating economic growth in the country.

She also said the 2016 budget would finance investments in key infrastructure particularly in transport, power, health, housing and education and boost job creation among other things.

Adeosun who addressed participants at the KPMG in Nigeria’s CFO Forum and Survey Launch in Lagos yesterday stated that to reflate the economy and avoid recession, a spending stimulus was needed.

The Minister, in her keynote address, further explained the current administration’s plans to reposition the economy, noting that the planned "investments would create jobs with the various contractors that would execute the projects.

She explained that public investment would attract further investments from the private sector and that investments in power and transport would further increase the competitive position of Nigerian businesses.

Adeosun, in a statement issued by her Special Adviser on Media Matters, Mr. Festus Akanbi, cited the case of Ethiopia, which is now seen as a model for African economy which had diversified from a single product, coffee to a multi-product with exports of flowers providing $3.5bn of earnings as well as leather goods and other products.

She said that to attain that level of growth, the Ethiopian government had invested up to 60 per cent of its budget in capital projects, pointing out that this threshold contrasted with the Nigerian situation, where in 2015, Nigeria’s capital expenditure was just 10 per cent of the total budget.

According to her, “No economy has ever grown by underinvesting in infrastructure."

Nevertheless, Adeosun said ongoing ”fiscal housekeeping”, which included sanitising the payroll, which to date, had unveiled over 23,000 possible ghost workers and the creation of the Efficiency Unit was a key strategy in managing recurrent expenditure, adding that the focus on improving non-oil revenue collections was an important strategic objective.

She noted that this was essential in ensuring that the planned government borrowings were channeled to capital projects rather than being spent on recurrent items.
On the proposed borrowing to finance the 2016 budget deficit, the Minister explained that Government was seeking the lowest cost funds and was therefore consulting with the multilateral agencies, which offered concessional rates of interest as low as 1.5 per cent before looking at the commercial Eurobond Market.

She said that the financing strategy was to restructure much of the existing debts, which has short maturity and align it with the investment plans of the government in line with its Medium Term Expenditure Framework.

She further assured that government was ensuring that projects to be undertaken would create direct and indirect revenues, which would be used to repay the obligations.

The Minister said that for the medium term, the outlook for the economy was strong and that if the planned investments in capital were undertaken then the GDP growth projections showed that Nigeria would become a leading global economy.

She said that government would work to ensure that consumption from our huge population would drive internal growth across a number of key sectors.

She also assured the audience that if the disciplined implementation of the plans could be attained then Nigeria would finally be able to diversify, ending a situation where the entire nation is dependent on the oil price.

At Nike Art Gallery, British Women Share In Nigerian Culture

RECENTLY, Nike Art Gallery hosted British Women’s Group (BWG), an organisation of British women or women who have British partners at the gallery in Lagos.

During the visit, which was undertaken by 20 of the women, who are of other nationalities other than Britain, they were taken through the various facets of art practised in Nigeria.

They were engaged in tie and dye right from the manipulation stage of the fabric to tying, and then dying to obtain beautiful patterns of their choice. Artists were also on hand to teach acrylic on canvas to the admiration of the visitors.

A tour of the vast gallery showed an array of works of Nigerian artists and their characteristics that encapsulate the history and rich culture of the various ethnic groups.

It was also learning spiced with fun as they learnt Yoruba and Igbo dance steps, and beat the drum to produce local music, which also served as a good way to exercise.

The women were given a feel of Nigerian fashion when they were clothed in headties, described as the crown of a woman in this part, and beads that capture Edo culture.

A young female musician, Nneka Egbuna pepped up the event with her performance of song accompanied with guitar to the appreciation of everyone.

Some of the visitors shared their experiences thus:

Anna Gregory, (United Kingdom) said: It is a lovely event showcasing lots of artists, culture and music. I think it is an exceptional opportunity for foreign ladies to be exposed to the local culture and talents.

Nina Lorenthen (Norway): It is very good, excellent. It is very adventurous and full of good surprises; the music and dances. We were involved in the dances, teaching us how to do them, and the local fashion. I really enjoyed the visit.

Jenny Moolman (South Africa): It is absolutely outstanding. Everything about it is memorable; the people, culture, fantastic ambience.

Ann Murray (Scotland): It was absolutely fantastic. The people are friendly and talents outstanding. I really enjoyed it. I have been here before. There is a lot of Nigerian culture that you can see in this place.

Claire Chambers (England): I found very welcoming people and wonderful talents and I can’t recommend it enough. I like the kindness of the people and tie and dye, and we participated in doing it.

About 20 of us are here today but we are about 100 in the British Women’s Group. It is not just British women that make up the group; there are other nationalities in it.

Speaking about the visit, founder of the gallery and respected teacher of art, Chief (Mrs.) Nike Okundaye, said that the purpose of the British Women’s Group was for them to share in the Nigerian culture.

“We always have cultural day for different countries. So, it is like our Nigerian cultural day at the gallery. They are sharing in African dance and dance steps. They wear the clothes and headties to feel the culture; we ask them to try Nigerian food. Normally, we ask them to eat together in one bowl but since the outbreak of Ebola, we do not have that opportunity anymore.

“We ask them to eat with their finger how we eat in our own villages; how we used to eat pounded yam and egusi soup with our finger. But we just gave them eko, akara, dodo and chicken for this visit. We have ‘Go Women Go,’ which is what we call the workshop with the British Council in Abuja. Then we have Adara, which is the foundation. We do different activities from time to time and we make sure everybody is happy and takes something home, sharing the experience, knowledge, culture of our country and taking it back home.

Earlier, Mr. Reuben Okundaye welcomed them to the gallery. He said that the event is one of the ways of propagating arts and spreading goodwill. He equally believed that “art is one of the ways of developing the country and it can be used to encourage everyone and they will be happy.”

Military Reiterates Capability To Defeat Boko Haram

Nigerian military on Friday said it is capable of defeating Boko Haram insurgents terrorising communities in the nation’s northeast.

The Defence Headquarters made the statement in response to a story it said was published by some newspapers entitled, ‘why military can’t defeat Boko Haram’.

It denied claims that the comment was made by the military high command, saying “it is purely and unreservedly misleading and can best be described as a figment of press imagination”.

Inappropriate And Misleading

A statement by the Defence Headquarters spokesman, Rabe Abubakar, said the story, which claimed that Service Chiefs decried inadequate equipment and non-release of 2015 military votes as the reason of continued insurgency, was equally “scurrilous and calculated to diminish the armed forces”.

“The story is false and far from what happened when the service chiefs visited the leadership of the senate.

“But for avoidance of doubt, the visit of the military leadership to the Senate President was purely a closed-door meeting aimed at intimating the Senate about the level of successes recorded in the onslaught against Boko Haram and to assure the National Assembly and all Nigerians that the military is winning and will soon see the end of this menace called Boko Haram,” the statement read.

The military said the newspapers’ captions were inappropriate and misleading designed to further confuse the general public about the situation in the North East region.

The Defence Headquarters further sought the support of the public in the fight against insurgents and appealed to the media to eschew any report capable of inciting or encouraging the terrorists to continue their terror attacks on innocent, law-abiding citizens.

It assured the media that it would always give all necessary pieces of information to the general public and urged the media to always verify the sources of story, especially in matters that touch on national security and defence.

The military’ statement is coming few days after an attack on Dalori village in Borno State, suspected to have been carried out by Boko Haram terrorists, left over 60 persons dead and over 60 others injured.

Most of those affected were fleeing women and children who ran into suicide bombers in a nearby village, an official of the National Emergency Management Agency said.

Earlier on Sunday, the State Emergency Management Agency’s Zonal Coordinator, Mr Mohammed Kanar, told Channels Television that the death toll could rise, as other rescue organisations were involved in providing aid to the victims.

Waje features on CNN African Voices

Singer and UN ambassador, Waje features on CNN’s African Voices today 5 th February 2016, she talks about several issues including the African Women project, her new album and her mission to help homeless kids in Nigeria. The songbird talks about how she uses her music platform to impact lives and be a voice to several Nigerians.
She also speaks about her forth coming album and what her fans should expect from it. Waje through her Waje Safe house project partners with Child Life Line to support homeless kids in Nigeria


It airs on CNN at the following times:

Saturday 3.30am and 1.30pm
Sunday 10.30am and 6.30pm
Monday 10.30am
Tuesday 4.30 am

Michael Jackson's daughter Paris reveals she's struggling with addiction

The 17 year old daughter of the late king of pop revealed she is struggling with addiction on her instagram page after one of her followers criticized her for not responding to comments.


Commenting on an Instagram photo, she ranted:

"This is f***ing ridiculous. I am expected to literally sit on my ass all day replying to comments people leave me (positive and negative)?"
Read the rest of what she wrote after the cut...

Buhari proceeds on 5-day vacation, Osinbajo to act as President

President Buhari has begun a short vacation from today, Feb. 5 to February 10, 2016. A statement by Special Adviser to Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, says that while Buhari is away, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo will perform the functions of the President.


The statement added that in compliance with Section 145 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution, President Buhari has dispatched a formal notice of his vacation to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

It's disgraceful Nigeria imports toothpicks, rice and tomato purée '- Buhari

In an interview with BBC this morning, President Buhari described the importation of toothpicks, rice and tomato paste by Nigeria as shameful. See more of what he said during the interview after the cut as shared by BB's correspondent Sam Piranty..

Escape Night Club to Host Birthday Boy, Ushbebe

Just like Sam Klef , Tiwa Savage, Fathia and Saidi Balogun, today also marks the birthday of popular comedian, Ushbebe .

The funny man came into the scene about 10 years ago under the tutelage of Ayo Makun.


Asides comedy, Ushbebe appeared in AY’s popular sitcom, ‘AY’s Crib’and has a music album to his credit although the record didn’t do well commercially.


He currently doubles as an OAP on Naija
Fm 102.7 .


To celebrate the comedian, Escape Night Club is hosting the funnyman and his friends to an unforgettable evening at 234B Adeola Odeku Victoria Island, Lagos.

Three Missing, Eighty-Seven Rescued After South Africa Mine Collapse

Almost 90 miners were rescued and three were still missing after a cave-in at a gold mine in northeastern South Africa on Friday, the firm that owns the mine said.

The collapse at the mine’s main entrance trapped 87 workers underground, all of whom were rescued, Vantage Goldfields (VTGFF.PK) said in a statement. However, three others who had been working on the surface at the time of the collapse could not be accounted for.

No fatalities were reported. However, there was confusion regarding the number of workers involved.

“As we speak they might already all be out. Most have been evacuated,” Mike McChesney, chief executive of the small gold producer told Reuters by telephone from the mine in Barbeton town in Mpumalanga province about 360 kilometers (225 miles) east of Johannesburg.

McChesney and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union initially said 115 workers had been trapped.

South Africa’s mines are the deepest and among the most dangerous in the world. Fatalities in the industry have been falling due to both improved safety practices and a reduction in the labor force as production declines.

Vantage Goldfields is an Australia-based company mining gold at Barberton, a town that traces its origin in the country’s 19th century gold rush. Vantage was delisted from the Australian bourse in January 2015.

The mine workers union later said 78 workers had been rescued and three workers were missing. The reason for the discrepancy between the union’s figures and the company’s was not immediately clear.

“At this point, it’s unclear what caused the disaster,” Manzini Zungu, a spokesman for the union said.

Last year, 77 workers were killed in mining accidents, the lowest number on record, compared with 84 in 2014.

Samklef Signs First Act To His Label

Talented music producer and artist, Samclef, has signed his first act to ‘Klef Sounds,’ his label.



The artiste who goes by the name Zion, is the first act signed to the label.

Samklef made the announcement via Instagram writing:

Please welcome my new artiste Zion. He would be dropping is official single titled Basketmouth freestyle that features me soon.


 CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD BASKET MOUTH