Finland through the eyes of immigrant cleaner “ beer on walls and faeces on floor

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Read Time:8 Minute, 28 Second

The wall, bed and floor are covered with beer. Sheets have been strewn on the floor and the toilet reeks of cigarette smoke.

This is a typical start to the working day for Nepalese Arun Gurung, who works as a cleaner on the cruise ship Viking Line.

“It looks like a natural disaster’s hit the cabin. It shows you how Finns like to party,” Gurung laughs at the Viking Line terminal.

Not that Gurung finds this in any way strange. Having lived in Finland since 2008, he has had time to come across almost everything.

He does not mind cleaning up after Finnish party-goers as long as he gets paid for it.

Office cleaner was the most common occupation among immigrants in 2011, with around 20 per cent of cleaners having foreign background, according to Statistics Finland. There are no statistics on the matter, but it has been estimated that up to half of the cleaners in the capital region come from abroad.

“Cleaning work has a somewhat bad reputation and native Finns are not willing to accept cleaning jobs,” explains Minna Toivanen, a researcher at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

Timo Sairanen from the cleaning company SOL Palvelut Oy confirms that companies in the cleaning sector would suffer from a labour shortage without immigrant employees, with around a fifth of the company’s employees hailing from outside Finland.

“It’s anyone’s guess if the work would get done without immigrants.”

Nongyao Duangprasertfrom Thailand starts work before six o’clock every weekday morning, with the round in the Kallio administrative building starting a couple of hours before the office workers turn up.

Duangprasert came to Finland 19 years ago because of a Finnish man. The marriage ended in divorce after two years. Duangprasert sought to file for divorce already after a year and eight months but was told by the police that to she would not be allowed to stay in the country if the marriage had lasted less than two years. She wanted to stay in Finland.

For the first 14 years, she looked after children. She applied for vocational training in the cleaning field several times before getting lucky. There were plenty of applicants for the courses, mainly immigrants.

Before coming to Finland, Duangprasert worked in a factory, packing clothes in plastic wrapping. She prefers cleaning and Finland has become home. “Older generations may be reserved but young people in Finland are more outgoing. Here people say hello on the corridors,” she says.

She has, however, noticed that some conversational topics, such as age and pay, are out of bounds. In Thailand, these are perfectly acceptable questions to bring up in conversation.

Jamila*, who works in a hotel, knows how to spot Finns. “If you say “moi” or some other greeting, the reply is always “hola” or something. Only foreigners reply, Finns never say anything, just stare back with an empty look.”

Jamila came to Finland from Africa as a refugee.

She does not feel she can be totally free in Finland either. And she is not talking about racism now even though that exists too. She is referring to general attitudes.

“Finns don’t get humour. People take sarcasm seriously.”

Jamila cleans hotel rooms, which are often in a state of chaos – including toilets with faces and urine all over the floor. That is something Jamila encounters daily.

“When you go to a hotel room, it’s like going into somebody’s home. People know someone’s coming as they’ve put a sign on the door requesting cleaning.  I’d never let anyone come to my home if it was in such a state. These people just don’t care.”

When a Finn asks a cleaner to help, they do it impolitely, says Jamila. But she does not let the rude behaviour get her down.

“I always behave in a happy manner. I just feel sorry for them. They should wake up and take a good look around them!”

Jamila says she does not particularly enjoy her work but does not have a choice, not having Finnish skills.

Circumstances, not choice, are what lead immigrants to work as cleaners, according to Minna Toivanen.

“Inadequate qualifications and lack of work experience, a low level of language skills and employers’ prejudiced attitudes often play a role,” she explains.

Qualifications may not open any doors if they have been gained in a country that is culturally remote from Finland. Stories about engineers and doctors doing cleaning work in Finland are rife.

For Gurung, even vocational training carried out in Finland has not been enough. Gurung, who is in his late 20s, came to Finland to study tourism and only needs to complete his thesis work to gain a qualification. He has also looked for work in his own field but has not been able to get any. Employers have stated his lack of Finnish skills as the reason for not hiring him.

Even though unable to find work in his own field, Gurung considers Finland a second home. He likes the cool climate and the way everything functions.

“Education is among the best in the world. The United States and Britain were also options but there I would have had to pay tens of thousands of euros for the course. Here, there are no tuition fees.”

He managed to get by with less than10,000 euros a year before starting to work. Not entitled to student benefits, he got the money from his father.

Now Gurung is writing his thesis while working full time as a cleaner. He got the job through a Nepalese friend who also cleans on cruise ships. The work is not what Gurung wants to do but he is not complaining.

“The work is well organised so it’s easy to do.”

He says that even the messiest of cabins do not faze him.

“You can party any way you like if you can afford it,” he says.

He suspects that the main reason why Finns drink more than the Nepalese is that they have more money.

And money is something a cleaner in Finland will never have in abundance.

Cleaning companies hire exceptionally high numbers of immigrants. Minna Toivanen believes that they are acting as frontrunners.

“It may be that to start with cleaning companies had to hire immigrants because they couldn’t get Finns to do the work. Then they realised that immigrants were good employees, often much better than native Finns. Many immigrants have a very positive attitude towards work.”

She remarks that the cleaning industry has also broken down the traditional gender roles.

“Traditionally, mainly women have worked as cleaners but these days also many immigrant men work in the field,” Toivanen says.

Gurung also says most of his colleagues are men.

The Working Papers 2/2014 report published by Statistics Finland reveals that the pay gap between sexes is narrower among immigrants than native Finns.

But if the pay gap is smaller, so are the wages. A cleaner’s starting wage is less than 10 euros an hour. On average, an immigrant office cleaner earned 10.03 euros an hour in 2011, translating into wages that are 7 per cent lower than the going rate for Finnish office cleaners, according to statistics compiled by Statistics Finland.

In practice, many earn less than this. A vast majority of immigrants do not belong to any trade unions, which weakens their position in wage negotiations

“Trade unions receive more reports on disputes between employers and immigrant cleaners than Finnish cleaners,” says Sirpa Leppäkangas, an expert at PAM, a trade union for employees in the private service sector.

Leppäkangas says that most cases of mistreatment go unreported.

“The most glaring examples concern cases where the employee is dependent on the employer. The employer may have even confiscated the employee’s passport. This is very close to human trade. Unfortunately exploitation of labour has become more commonplace.”

When Jamila started as a cleaner, she often worked eight days straight without any days off. She does not know if she received appropriate compensation for her work because she was not aware of the terms of the collective agreement in the industry and the employment contract she signed was only available in Finnish. She did not dare to turn down any shifts out of fear of losing all work.

Now she holds a permanent position and feels safe not to accept every shift she is offered.

Nongyao Duangprasert says she would not be significantly worse off if she lived on benefits but she does not want to do this. She earns enough to pay for her rent and air fares to Thailand at regular intervals.

“A Thai gets bored without anything to do,” she says.

She believes the main reason why some Finns prefer being on dole to working as a cleaner is laziness.

“I’ve realised that Finns look down their noses at cleaning work,” she says.

Gurung agrees that cleaning work does not carry much prestige but does not blame people who turn down cleaning work in favour of benefits for being lazy. “That’s human nature. If you can get something for doing nothing, why wouldn’t you take it?”

Gurung, however, wants work for his money. “If you move to a new society, you have to integrate into it.”

According to Toivanen, cleaning work can serve as a good stepping-stone into working life for immigrants and native Finns alike. She worked as a cleaner herself before starting her studies.

“Many immigrants are happy to gain experience of working life in Finland.”

But there is always the risk of not finding better-paid work later on.

This is exactly what has happened to 49-year-old Duangprasert, who feels that finding other work is nigh on impossible and has no plans to change careers.

What would she do if she could choose?

“I’d be the president,” she says and bursts into laughter, leaning back in her chair.

“Only joking. I think this is a good job for me.”

*Jamila is not the real name. She does not want to reveal her home country.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Duo jailed for plotting killing spree at University of Helsinki

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Read Time:1 Minute, 19 Second

The District Court of Helsinki on Thursday sentenced a 24-year-old man and woman to prison terms for a conspiracy to carry out a killing spree at the University of Helsinki.

The male defendant was sentenced to a prison term of three years and one month for the preparation of an aggravated offence against the health and life of others, and the possession of sexually obscene pictures depicting children following the discovery of 28 videos on his computer of minors performing sex acts.

The female defendant, in turn, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for the preparation of an aggravated offence against the health and life of others.

The defendants had devised a plan to obtain firearms by robbing a gun shop and to manufacture arsine gas to kill 50 people at the University of Helsinki. In addition, the defendants had weighed up the possibility of carrying out an attack at the Finnish Parliament or at a football match.

In interrogations, the defendants admitted to having been inspired by the Boston Marathon bombings in April last year. Neither of them are enrolled at the University of Helsinki.

The attack was initially set to be carried out in January, but the defendants called it off to refine their plans. The defendants were nabbed by the police in March, after a 17-year-old girl who had been asked to take part in the attack by the male defendant revealed the plan to her friend.

Both defendants denied the charges in court, insisting that they had no intention of carrying out the attack.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Inuit diet does not protect against heart disease“ fish oil capsules may even be harmful

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Read Time:2 Minute, 34 Second

FISH is good for the heart, even if researchers do not know the mechanism behind its protective effect. In contrast, fish oil capsules may even be harmful to human health.

For a long time, the common notion has been that the prevalence of heart disease is much lower among Inuit than most western populations, which has been attributed to the Inuit diet traditionally being rich in oily fish and other sea food.

According to a new study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, the traditional Inuit diet may not help stave off heart disease as has previously been believed.

Trawling through studies on the health and nutrition of Inuit populations in North America and Greenland, an international research team found that the belief that the heart disease rate in these populations is exceptionally low was mainly based on studies published by Danish researchers Hans Olaf Bang and Jørn Dyerberg in the 1970s.

Bang and Dyerberg made several expeditions to Greenland to study the Inuit lifestyle and local public health records, concluding that despite their diet high in animal fat, the Greenland Inuit were less susceptible to heart disease than other populations.

For decades, the conclusions reached by the Danish researchers were taken as evidence of the consumption of oily fish and fish oil being beneficial in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The health records used as the material of the original study have, however, proven flawed. Most Inuit lived long distances away from the nearest hospital, and their illnesses often went undiagnosed, with the real cause of death in many cases remaining unknown.

Later studies have revealed that the Inuit who stick to the traditional diet suffer from heart disease at least as commonly as non-Inuit populations in Greenland, Canada and Alaska. Oily fish does not seem to prevent heart disease among Inuit.

Recent research data have also raised questions about the beneficial effect of fish oil supplements. Ursula Schwab, an expert on nutrition therapy from the University of Eastern Finland, says that fish oil capsules increase the blood LDL cholesterol level, interfere with glucose metabolism and contribute to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Currently, the consumption of fish oil capsules is only recommended to patients with coronary artery disease who for some reason cannot eat fish but, according to Schwab, this recommendation may soon be scrapped as recent studies have failed to provide support for it.

Even though fish oil in itself does not help battle heart disease in Greenland or Finland, eating fish is still good for the heart. As part of a healthy, balanced diet, both oily and low-fat fish help decrease the risk of death from cardiovascular disease even though researchers have not yet established the mechanism behind this beneficial effect.

“Fish contains something else that is beneficial to health besides the fat. Scientists are looking into health effects of fish protein,” Schwab explains.

One factor may be that people who consume fish several times a week tend to eat less red meat, which is known to increase the risk of coronary artery disease.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Tens of thousands turn out for Istanbul Gay Pride parade

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Read Time:1 Minute, 50 Second

Istanbul (AFP) – Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Istanbul on Sunday for the city's Gay Pride parade, an event that has taken on added political significance a year on from massive anti-government protests.

The crowd marched with a show of brightly coloured flags along Istiklal Avenue, a main pedestrian street in the city, under the watchful eye of a large number of police.

While Turkey's lesbian, gay, bi and transgender (LGBT) community enjoy better rights than in most Muslim countries, many see the event as a chance to be themselves without fear of reproach.

"I have not 'come out' yet to my father, my mother or my friends," protester Senef Cakmak told AFP. "Today is the only time of year that I am myself. I don't have to hide from anyone."

Homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey, but homophobia is widespread and often accompanied by violence.

One person who knows that more than most is Michelle Demishevich, a transgender journalist who recently saw through the conviction of a woman who assaulted her – a first for Turkey.

"We have to constantly fight against the lifestyle and the rules that are imposed on us and teach tolerance in our society," she said.

But intolerance is commonplace even among the country's leaders.

In 2010, Selma Aliye Kavaf, a member of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party and then the Minister for Family and Women, sparked outcry in the gay community when she called homosexuality a "disease" that "needs to be treated."

The fight for LGBT rights was not the only thing that brought crowds out on Sunday. Many were also there to voice their opposition to Erdogan.

LGBT organisations played a key role in the 2013 Gezi Park protests against Erdogan's rule, a movement that took issue with the perceived authoritarian nature of his administration.

"In Turkey, we all have difficulty exercising our rights," said Aykut Yanak, a participant in the march. "This is why we must fight and why we all walk together today."

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Presidency: Boko Haram is Battle for Soul of Nigeria, Struggle for Power

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Read Time:5 Minute, 3 Second

 The presidency yesterday described the Boko Haram insurgency and other related violent activities as the battle for the soul of Nigeria and struggle for power, but promised that the federal government would come out victorious by the end of the day.

It also said that the federal government was on the verge of setting up a non-governmental organisation (NGO) between within the next two weeks to take care of the victims of the insurgency, their families.

It noted that Corporate Nigerians would be asked to donate to the NGO.

These were disclosed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, when he paid a condolence visit to the New Telegraph over the death of it Managing Editor, Suleiman Bisala, who died in the last week bomb blast in Abuja.

According to Okupe, “Boko Haram is all about the battle for the soul of Nigeria and struggle for power and God will always assist Nigeria. But Nigeria will win this battle and come out united and stronger. Nigeria will not cease to exist because of these insurgent activities of the Boko Haram.

“Rather, the federal government will hound the insurgents to the ground. By so bombing innocent Nigerians in and around the country, including Abuja, they are trying to intimidate the people and this will not work. Government will not rest and all those associated with it will certainly pay for it”, Okupe said, while calling on Nigerians to rally round the government to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

Assuring Nigerians of the determination of the federal government to overcome, Okupe further said: “Nigeria will win this war on terror and Nigeria and Nigerians will prevail. The insurgency will not dampen the spirit of the federal government to protect Nigerians and the federal government will do what it takes to guarantee the lives of all Nigerians.

“From history, such insurgencies have not prevailed. It happened in Britain about 32 years ago, it happened in Malaysia, in Sri Lanka, but the good news is that it was defeated by the collective will of the people and Nigeria and Nigerians would not be different. The federal government will surely win this battle over this mindless insurgency”, Okupe explained.

According to the president’s aide who said that it is difficult to understand what the Boko Haram is all about, what it stands for or who they are, said that when it started, it was said to be Muslims fighting Christians, but “it is has turned out the sect is fighting everybody, both Christians, Muslims, children, adults, there is no age limit and Nigerians are worried by the continued cause of pains.

“The last week bomb blast affected recharge cards sellers, groundnut sellers and innocent Nigerians and over 95 percent of the victims are not politicians or have anything to do with politics. These insurgents are mindless and therefore, it is time we Nigerians unite and support the federal government to kick out these murderers,” Okupe said.

In the vein, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Adviser Matters, Prof. Rufai Alkali, has advised Nigerians to defend and protect the nation’s democracy against desperate politicians that are working to undermine democratic governance in the country.

Speaking when he granted audience with a select a journalists in Abuja in his office at the weekend, Alkali declared that President Goodluck Jonathan had transformed the electoral process to a level where every vote counts, urging Nigerians to build on the gains.

According to him, “Since the president has committed himself to provide a level-playing field, it is our own duty also to follow suit. So far PDP has been giving the lead and we have evidence to show that over the past three years or more every effort has been made to entrench a system of open accountability in the electoral system.

“You people are living witnesses on several occasions when Mr. President, during the 2011 elections and subsequently at every opportunity he had to speak and he has said two things on two different levels.

“One, he has said that as far as he was concerned any of his ambition is not worth the blood of any citizen in this country. He has said that repeatedly and when Mr. President speaks I believe he speaks from his heart.

“Secondly, the mantra we used in the previous election has been, as the President has called it himself, one man one vote, one woman one vote, one youth one vote.”

“So we thought that the line has been drawn, that issues of violence should not be part of our democratic culture at all. Issue of do or die should not be part of our democratic culture again.

“So we are calling on all Nigerians to very mindful that as we are setting our attention now towards Osun state and subsequently other elections, people should be very care that they are not be used or misused by desperate politicians.”

Alkali also called on the youths to be vigilant against some desperate politicians who would want to use them during election, saying those politicians never meant well for them.

“We want urge self-restraint especially among our youths.”

He emphasised the President Jonathan had also made INEC independent and free from external influence and control as part of the electoral reform process.

“Today, you know it very clearly that Prof Attahiru Jega does not report to the president of this country. You all know it and you also know that there is not a single card-carrying member of PDP in INEC headquarters.

“You also know that all the other modalities for running elections, at least, so far government has given maximum support in terms of funding and other logistics.

“Therefore, this is an open invitation for people to also play their card properly. Politicians should put Nigeria first; we should put our country first.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Nigeria’s Underdevelopment Caused by Over-dependence on Statutory Allocation, Says Council Boss

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Read Time:1 Minute, 59 Second

 The nation’s underdevelopment is as a result of over-dependence and total reliance on federal government statutory allocation (FGSA) by all tiers of government, the Caretaker Chairman of Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State, Dr. Andrew Usman Malgwi, said yesterday.

The council boss also said the lack of formidable policies and initiations towards the revitalisation of the agricultural sector for the rural populace which has made Nigerians lazy and dependent on white collar job was an additional problem.

Malgwi stated this in Marama town, Hawul Local Government Area, Borno State during a civic reception organised for him as a mark of honour by the Malgwi people to coincide with his 100 days in Office.

He said Hawul local government, predominantly agrarian with vast fertile land, will tap into the opportunity created by the present administration of Governor Kashim Shettima, which gives priority to agriculture to encourage the people to go back to farming.

He said, “we cannot but invest hugely in agriculture in order to ensure self-reliance for our people and increase the income generation of the council, and stop this over-dependence on stipends from Abuja.”

Malgwi disclosed that the council had already reintroduced Irish Potato farming as it was practiced in the past and had planted both oil and date palm trees on a large expanse of land in Kukurupu and Sakwa, in order to attract peasant farmers to go beyond subsistence farming.

He promised that fertilisers would be provided and sold at an affordable price to farmers, insisting that infrastructural development of the council was ongoing in line with one of the cardinal programmes of Governor Kashim Shettima.

He  said “we have gone a long way in renovating and rebuilding new primary schools especially the newly constructed block of classrooms in Pakilama Community among others as well as the refurbishing and drilling of new boreholes in several locations of the local government.”

He therefore thanked the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Alhaji Usman Durkwa, the Member of House of the House of Assembly representing Hawul, Hon. Ayuba Wakawa, Ward executives of APC, party supporters, traditional and religious leaders, security agencies, family of Malgwi Clan, community leaders among others for their support and contribution to his administration, noting that without their efforts, all the achievements recorded within the last 100 days could not have been possible.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: Flood Ravages Ibadan Again, Claims 15 Lives

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Read Time:3 Minute, 37 Second

Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, experienced downpour at the weekend, culminating in a massive flooding, which killed no fewer than 15 persons in different parts of the ancient city.

The incident, which was similar to what the city experienced on August 26, 2011, also led to the destruction of homes and landed properties worth millions of naira.

THISDAY learnt that about 10 lives  were lost at Apete due to the sudden collapse of make-shift bridge, which the people in the area had been using since the collapse of the main bridge on August 26, 2011.

It was also gathered that five other persons including three children of the same parents were found under the ruble of a Cherubim & Seraphim church, which the flood brought down when the Olodo River overflowed its bank.

As a result of the deaths recorded at the Apete Bridge, a group of irate young men yesterday stormed the workstation of the contractor currently reconstructing the Ijokodo-Apete road and the bridge linking the two communities in anger.

Consequently, the aggrieved youths destroyed equipment and property at the contractor’s station worth millions of naira.

Recounting the scale of damage incurred due to the incident, an Olodo resident, Mr. Fatai Osuolale, told THISDAY that a white garment church and some structures  built few metres away from the river bank were submerged.

Osuolale said the river overflowed its bank and flooded houses around the bank, thus leading to the loss of property and five lives including three children of the same parents said to be under spiritual refuge in the church.
He explained that the river “is named Egberi and its source is traced to Osun river. Inside the river, people regularly perform spiritual bath while others come to wash clothes, okada and other things.”

Osuolale said residents and good Samaritans “are still searching for the bodies of the victims. Only one has been found so far while a Nissan Micra swept off by the flood around Odan Village has been recovered from the river.”

On Apete’s incident, THISDAY learnt that the victims were part of the residents that fell from the makeshift bridge shortly after the rain. But an eyewitness said he was part of the team that rescued some people who fell into the river from the bridge.

The eyewitness said the makeshift bridge “has become extremely weak and a no-go- area for residents of the community because its base has been swept off.

“When the rain which started around 4.00 pm stopped, some of the residents decided to make use of the makeshift bridge and in the process fell into the river and were swept away.

“We heard the cry of people who fell into the river around 6:30 p.m. I decided to join the rescue team. We eventually succeeded in rescuing about six people while not less than 10 others were killed as a result.”

Consequently, the aggrieved youths in Apete and its environs protested the death of 10 persons who drowned on Saturday evening after a makeshift bridge collapsed.

The youths, violently, stormed the contractor’s workstation, therefore destroying caterpillars, office equipment and other property belonging to the company.

While the angry youths also broke into the work station and offices within, hundreds of residents in the area were waiting at the river bank for rescue operation to commence.

Some of the residents were pelting stones and other objects at a team of security personnel who stood at the Ijokodo end of the road to maintain order.
One of the security men, Mr. Bassey Etum employed by the construction company said he had to run for his life alongside five other colleagues when the irate youths earlier came on Saturday night.

Etum said: “After the river had overflowed its banks, residents at the community said people drowned because of the bridge that collapsed. They vented their anger on the company and destroyed our machines and equipment.

“They stole computers and other office equipment too. There were six security men here when they came Saturday night. They wanted to lynch us so we ran into a nearby forest. When we returned around 11 p.m., nothing was left untouched; the whole place had been vandalised.”

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Boko Haram: NGO Drums up Support for Nigerian Soldiers

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Read Time:1 Minute, 42 Second

An Abuja-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), Put Nigeria First (PNF), has stressed the need for Nigerians to mobilise support for the country’s soldiers currently involved in the war against terrorism in the North-eastern states.

The coordinator of the PNF, Ms. Ijeoma Nwafor, made the call at the weekend in Abuja, indicating that among the three programmes of the NGO, premium was placed on the Support Our Soldiers (SOS) aspect.

“PNF plans to support widows and orphans of Nigerian soldiers; advocate for additional welfare for the soldiers and organize events to raise awareness of the plight of our soldiers and their family members,” a statement by the organisation noted.

“The project is a challenge to all of us because of the peculiarity of the problems in the country,” Nwafor said,  adding that the group “would support the soldiers based on their needs,” through donations made to the cause by Nigerians.

“We are banking on the average citizen to support the NGO. Every person knows about the insurgency in the North. We want Nigerians to be aware of the things that are happening,” she explained.

According to her, the choice of the military is because “it is an institution that has direct responsibility to stop insurgency. So, it is important to focus on the soldiers because the army is part of or national identity.”

Asking the soldiers on the frontline of crisis to be aware of their public image, the NGO pledged to engage on what it termed “Orange Ribbon” campaign to support the soldiers. Nwafor said the campaign, billed to take place July 7, will target 1 million signatures on telephone “display pictures.”

The PNF has also lined up other programmes such as “Operation Flag Flying” and “Our Anthem, Our Prayer” to project patriotism as a solution to problems of ethnic bigotry and the use of religion “as a weapon to accomplish evil self-centred agenda.”

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: Ajimobi Seeks Prayers against Insurgency During Ramadan

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Read Time:1 Minute, 56 Second

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has charged Muslims in the state to use the month-long fasting period to pray for the peace, progress, unity and economic development of the country.

The governor, in a statement issued in Ibadan yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, also urged Islamic faithful to pray to the almighty Allah to touch the hearts of the insurgents whom he said had been disrupting the peace of Nigeria so that they could sheath their swords and embrace peace.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that the relative peace being enjoyed in Nigeria is being threatened by the activities of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram. The sect has been on the prowl, killing and maiming innocent citizens on daily basis. These are, to say the fact, needless killings.

“Our Muslim brothers and sisters should, therefore, use the occasion of this Ramadan to pray fervently to the almighty Allah to touch the hearts of these insurgents so that they can allow peace to reign in our beloved country,’’ Ajimobi said.

He also told Nigerians not to relent in their prayers for the safe release of the over 200 students of the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, who were kidnapped by Boko Haram since April 14.

While congratulating them for witnessing the holy month of Ramadan for this year, the governor admonished them to attune their minds to the messages of love, brotherliness and peaceful co-existence inherent in the month of Ramadan, urging them to always be their brothers’ keepers in whatever they would be doing.

“As our Muslim brothers and sisters are expected to adhere strictly to abstinence from food and other things during the month of Ramadan, I wish to enjoin them to extend their hands of fellowship to other fellow Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

“It is only by doing this coupled with sharing whatever they have with others, particularly the less-privileged in the society, that their supplications can be answered and the world will be a good place to live in for all and sundry,’’ he said.

Ajimobi wished Islamic faithful a successful fasting period and prayed to God to grant them the strength needed to accomplish the fasting period.    

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: Injured Teenager Recovers, Recuperates in Hospital

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Read Time:2 Minute, 40 Second

After several and intensive treatments, Nene Ekwute, the teenage house-help of Dr. Jude Mbama of St. Jude’s Hospital, who was injured in a domestic brawl, is currently recuperating in the hospital, THISDAY investigations can confirm.

Contrary to previous reports that the incident blinded her, the teen, who was said to have been injured on her left eye by the doctor’s 14-year-old son, was at the weekend, still on bed rest at the hospital located in FESTAC Town, Lagos.

It was gathered that the minor had in an altercation over a domestic affair, hit the house help, who is a distant relation, in the eye with a belt, which resulted to the dilation of her pupil.

Speaking to THISDAY in his office, the doctor explained that the incident was actually a mistake, as the son had no intention of hitting the victim in the eye, thus causing injury to the pupil.

He said: “The incident happened on June 13 when a cake was delivered to the house for my wife’s birthday. To get my son to sign for the cake, Nene went upstairs to wake him up. He reluctantly woke up and signed for the cake.

“After that, he called her ‘olodo’ (daft) for being unable to sign for the cake and she angrily hit him. He then used his belt which hit her in the left eye. When I came back from work, I was informed about the incident and after I punished my son, I drove to the hospital for eye drops.

“In the morning, we took her to the optometrist who said her pupils were widely dilated and prescribed some eye drops for her but she was still complaining of pains.

“My wife then took her to Mecure Infraproject Limited for more tests and they did a scan and declared there was no structural injury to the eye.

They dispensed some drugs too but she was still complaining of pains.
“We then took her to Hova’s Place Eye Centre and Surgery Centre, where they prescribed bed rest and some drugs and scheduled a review for Thursday, June 26 and after the review, she was certified to be recovering.”

Mbama said the incident was a mistake, adding that they had never in any way maltreated her, rather, they take her as their daughter as they have only three sons.

Nene has lived with the Mbama family for nine years.
The victim, who also spoke to THISDAY in the presence of her parents, Mr. Donatus and Mrs. Patricia Ekwute, said she was feeling better, although she said the pain was still there.

She said: “After the incident happened, he was crying. He said it was a mistake, that he didn’t me

an to hit me. I feel better now but its still paining me a little. I can read with the eye now.”

Debunking claims that their daughter was an orphan as previously reported, the Ekwutes said they had never got a complaint that she was being maltreated, adding that they were happy with her stay with the Mbamas.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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