Blog

Omashola Oburoh has won this week’s veto power of chance in the ongoing BBNaija season four.

With this card, he gets to save and replace himself if he is put up for eviction.

Omashola can also decide to another housemate with the privilege and put himself up for eviction.  He clinched the card on Sunday night, shortly after Venita’s eviction.

The challenge, which was the fastest so far in the game, saw Omashola win 100 Bet9ja coins and the save and replace privilege that comes with the position.

The challenge was a simple one of unlocking a padlock from one steel wire mesh and placing the unlocked padlock on a stool next to the table of keys.

There were 33 padlocks locked on the steel wire mesh with their keys placed randomly on the table.

All the Housemates were asked to do was pick one and open a padlock. The Game did not go long as expected as Omashola unlocked a padlock in record time.

Although Omashola was the first to unlock his padlock, he was closely followed by Mercy and Ike.

The Icy pair have been doing quite well in house games recently. They both competed fiercely to jointly win the current Head of House title.

Following his win, an excited Omashola, who escaped eviction on Sunday, shouted, “I get another week in the House.”

(FLOWERBUD NEWS) Spain secured their fifth successive win of the World Cup with an impressive 81-69 defeat of Serbia and Argentina matched them with a 91-65 rout of Poland on Sunday.

All four sides had booked their quarter-final spots with a match to spare and the results mean that Spain will face Poland and Serbia lock horns with Argentina for places in the semi-finals.

France play Australia today for top spot in their pool with both teams already through to the last eight.

Also today, holders the United States meet Brazil and the Czech Republic play Greece with all four sides in that group still in contention to reach the knockout rounds.

Serbia, who won their opening four games by an average margin of 41 points, looked set to continue the streak after racing into a 20-11 lead late in the first quarter.

An energetic Spanish roster then ground Serbia’s offence to a halt and hit a barrage of three-pointers at the other end to carve out a 42-37 advantage at halftime.

Serbia’s Denver Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic was ejected early in the second half for a double technical foul after loud dissent and Spain capitalised on his absence as their lead soared to 63-42.

A late Serbian fightback fell short as a smaller but more agile Spanish team kept collecting offensive rebounds and restricted their rivals to three successful shots from three-point range from 19 attempts.

“The Spaniards rocked us with their tough defence and ripped our game plan to shreds,” Serbia captain Miroslav Raduljica told the Balkan nation’s RTS television.

“Their scouts did a great job and we couldn’t find a way to turn things around.”

Sacramento Kings forward Nemanja Bjelica added: “It was an exceptionally poor performance and we need to regroup quickly.”

Livewire playmaker Ricky Rubio led Spain with 19 points, forward Victor Claver added 14 and centre Marc Gasol chipped in with 11, cancelling out a valiant solo effort by Serbia guard Bogdan Bogdanovic who had 26 points and 10 rebounds.

The Argentines ripped into Poland with a flurry of fast breaks and clinical long-range shooting as forward Marcos Delia nailed 10 of his 12 points in the first quarter.

Their 39-year old forward Luis Scola again rolled back the years as he finished with a game-high 21 points, while Delia scored 12 and Nicolas Brussino added 10. (Reuters/NAN)

(FLOWERBUDNEWS) Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa says civil servants working with the state government would soon be able to own houses they can afford being constructed in the state.

Fintiri gave the assurance during a ground breaking ceremony of the construction of 2,000 housing units  in Yola on Monday.

He said that construction of the houses was part of the fulfilment of promises made during the electioneering campaign.

” The 2,,000 housing units are  mainly for  civil servants, to enable them own houses at affordable cost,”  Fintiri said.

He said that 1,400 housing units would be built in Yola, 200 in Mubi and the remaining 400 spread   across the state.

Speaking earlier, Mrs Jummai Barkindo, Permanent Secretary, state ministry of Housing and Urban Development, said that the project was to ease accommodation problems in the state, especially among civil servants.

Mr Femi Adewale, representative of the construction firm,  Family Homes Fund Limited, said that the housing units would consist of two and three bedrooms.

Adewale said that the construction period was 12 months from the day of ground breaking.

He said that the company, if given the opportunity, was willing to construct additional 2,000 housing units.( NAN)

Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo has advised members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployed to the state to respect the tradition and culture of Edo people.

Obaseki, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Philip Shaibu, gave the advice on Monday at Okada, Ovia North

East Local Government Area of the state at the closing ceremony of the 2019 “Batch B” stream II orientation course.

While urging the corps members to interact with their host communities freely, he described Edo people as good, peaceful and loving.

“I want to assure you that the good people of Edo are enlightened, accommodating and God fearing.

“Let me further assure you all the total support of our people in making your stay in the state memorable and rewarding one.

“As you move into various communities in the state, you will find the right environment to live and work, get yourselves occupied and avoid unnecessary journeys.

“Ensure that your positive impact are felt in different sectors of the economy, most especially within your host communities,” Obaseki said.

The governor, however, enjoined the corps members to impact knowledge they acquired from their various institutions of higher learning to the younger ones and join hands with him in moving the state to higher levels.

Earlier, the State Coordinator of NYSC, Mr Adebayo Ojo, while presenting the 1,228 corps members duly registered, said majority of them would be posted to rural areas where their services are most needed.

Ojo urged them to accept their posting in good faith and settle down immediately for the rest part of their service year.

NAN

By Chinyere Bassey

Negotiation between the Federal Government and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) on the new minimum wage has again rescheduled for Sept. 16.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that the last negotiation between the government and the JNPSNC was to hold on Sept. 4, but was suspended.

Mr Alade Lawal, JNPSN Secretary General, confirmed to NAN on Tuesday in Lagos that the meeting was rescheduled at the instance of the officials.

The organised labour and the Federal Government have been in conflict over the implementation of the new minimum wage which was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on April 18.

Negotiation between the government and the JNPSNC, representing labour in the technical committee set up to negotiate the consequential adjustment of workers’ salaries as a result of the new minimum wage, had broken down due to unresolved differences in their proposals.

While the Federal Government proposed 9.5 per cent salary increase for employees on grade levels 07 to 14 and five per cent for those on grade levels 15 to 17, labour is demanding 30 per cent increase for officers on grade levels 07 to 14 and 25 per cent increase for grade levels 15 to 17.

President of  the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, had told journalists that the congress would support any position taken by the JNPSN on the new national minimum wage.

NAN

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo took his international tally to 93 goals when he scored four times on Tuesday.

The goals helped to give the European champions a 5-1 win away to Lithuania in their Euro 2020 qualifier.

Playing in his 161st international, the 34-year-old notched his eighth hat-trick for his country and the 54th of his remarkable career.

But the goals did help Portugal through what had threatened to turn into a frustrating evening.

Unheralded midfielder William Carvalho completed the rout in stoppage time as Portugal stayed second in Group B with eight points, five behind leaders Ukraine with one game in hand.

Serbia are a further point behind in third after a 3-1 win in Luxemburg.

“I scored one goal against Serbia and four today (Tuesday) and what I want most is to continue like this,” said Ronaldo, who converted an early penalty kick and then added three second-half goals.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos said: “Ronaldo is the best player in the world. This is clear and unmistakable proof”.

Lithuania, bottom with one point, missed an early chance when Vykintas Slivka fired over from close range.

They quickly paid the price when Markus Palionis handled a Joao Felix cross and Ronaldo put away the spot kick in the fifth minute.

Lithuania goalkeeper Ernestas Setkus made an excellent save to prevent Edvinas Girdvainis turning the ball into his own net.

But Vytautas Andriuskevicius then grabbed a surprise equaliser, rising above his marker to head home from a corner in the 28th.

Ronaldo set up good chances for Felix and Bernardo Silva, which were wasted, after the break before taking matters into his own hands.

Just as Portugal were beginning to show signs of frustration, Ronaldo produced a low shot which bobbled twice in front of Setkus in the 62nd minute.

The Lithuania goalkeeper got his hand to it, but it hit his head and bounced into the net.

Three minutes later, Ronaldo was left free in the area to sweep home Bernardo Silva’s cross and Silva also provided the pass for Ronaldo to sidefoot his fourth 11 minutes later.

Carvalho’s goal, his fourth in 60 games, was a fitting reward for a player who keeps the Portugal midfield ticking over without getting much attention.

“I’m convinced that these players are capable of finishing top of this group,” said Santos.

Aleksandar Mitrovic scored twice to keep Serbia’s hopes alive with a win in Luxembourg.

He headed Serbia in front after 36 minutes and Nemanja Radonjic curled in the second 10 minutes after the restart.

Substitute David Turpel pulled one back and Serbia were on the ropes until Sergej Milinkovic-Savic produced a delightful reverse pass for Mitrovic to fire in the third.