The attention of NYSC Management has been drawn to a story making the rounds in the media, alleging that Corps Members suffer poor healthcare, and bear cost of their treatment.

The story is not only a sweeping one, but equally a complete misrepresentation of facts.

An inquiry at the NYSC Lagos State Seçretariat, or the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters, Abuja would have put the issues raised in the story in proper perspective.

It is pertinent to state that, the Scheme always feels empty and saddened whenever a Corps Member is lost or maimed. It is for that particular reason that the welfare of Corps Members remains topnotch, and a cardinal policy thrust of the National Youth Service Corps.

It is apt to put on record that Corps Members get medical refunds for sums expended on health challenge. This scenario usually arises when the Scheme has not been apprised of a Corps Member’s medical issue and he goes ahead to spend out of his pocket. As soon as the Corps Member applies and its verified, he gets paid.
For the reinforcement of this policy, and towards ensuring a more holistic and quicker medical intervention, all Corps Members have been enrolled under the nation’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

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The flag-off of this insurance scheme is slated for Friday, 11th February, 2022.

NYSC shall never shirk its responsibility of seeing to the welfare of Corps Members. The Corps is always open to enquiries whenever the need arises.

Emeka Mgbemena
Deputy Director
Press and Public Relations

NYSC Committed to Safeguarding Corpers’ Wellbeing

The third mainland bridge in Nigeria used to be the longest in Africa up until 1996 when another bridge was built to displace it from the top position.

If you want to find out the name of the longest bridge in Africa, continue reading this post to find out the names of the top 10 longest bridge in the world.

The Sixth of October bridge is the longest bridge in Africa and the third longest in the world. It is located between Cairo and Ismailia.

This bridge was built between the year 1969 to 1996 and it measures at 20.5km long across the Nile river, the longest river in Africa.

The 6th October bridge also connects The Cairo International Airport to other parts of the city.

The 3rd Mainland Bridge is the second longest bridge in Africa and also the longest bridge in West Africa. The third mainland bridge used to be the longest bridge in Africa but it was displaced by the 6th October bridge.

Of all the Lagos bridges, third mainland remains the longest bridge in the state. The 3rd mainland bridge connects Lagos Island to the mainland of Lagos State, Nigeria. The bridge has a total length of 10.5 kilometers and it was constructed by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC.

The 3rd Mainland Bridge is one of the most important infrastructure projects in Nigeria, as it eases up traffic congestion on other bridges which are currently used for transportation between Lagos Island and the mainland.

The 3rd longest bridge in Africa is the Suez Canal bridge. This bridge is built across the Red sea connecting Egypt to Saudi Arabia in order to foster trade and the easy passage of pilgrims during Hajj.

The Suez Canal Bridge was built to connect the continents of Asia and Africa at the Isthmus of Suez. The bridge is also known as the “Third Water Crossing” or “New Suez Canal Bridge”.

The construction of this bridge was completed in April 2016 and it was inaugurated by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on November 17, 2016.

This bridge is also known as the Egyptian–Japanese Friendship Bridge.

The Mozambique Island Bridge is the fourth longest bridge in Africa. This bridge is a 3.8 kilometer bridge connecting the Island of Mozambique to the mainland. 

The Mozambique Island bridge cuts across the Indian ocean and it was constructed and maintained by the National Road Administration.

The fifth longest bridge in Africa is called Dona Ana Bridge. The Dona Ana bridge is a 3.6 kilometer long bridge that cuts across the Zambezi River between the towns of Vila de Sena and Mutarara in Mozambique.

The bridge is named after Ana de Sousa, the first woman to cross the Zambezi River on horseback. 

The Dona Ana bridge was constructed in 1934 to connect the towns of Mutarara and Vila de Sena.

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Armando Emilio Guebuza bridge is the sixth longest bridge in Africa. The Armando Emilio Guebuza is also located in Mozambique right across the Zambezi river.

The bridge was named after the country's former president and it spans 2.37 kilometer long and 16 meters wide river connecting the provinces of Sofala and Zambezia.

The Qasr al-Nil Bridge also known as Kasr El- Nil bridge is the seventh longest bridge in Africa. 

After the Qasr al-Nil bridge was built in 1931, it displaced the first bridge ever to be built across the Nile. The bridge is 1.932 kilometer long connecting downtown Cairo to Gezira Island and the Zamalek district in Egypt.

Initially, the Qasr al-Nil bridge was called Khedive Ismail Bridge. The bridge was designed by designed by Ralph Anthony Freeman and it was built out of steel.

The Wouri bridge is the eight longest bridge in Africa and also the longest bridge in Cameroon with a distance of1.8 kilometer. The Wouri bridge was constructed by the multinational road construction company SOGEA SATOM and financed by the Cameroonian government via a loan from the French government in the 1950s.

The Wouri bridge is located in Cameroon right across the Wouri River connecting Douala to the Port of Kribi. It is a major link for trade between Cameroon and Nigeria.

The ninth longest bridge in Africa is Mkapa bridge located in Tanzania and one of the longest bridge in East and Southern Africa. The Mkapa bridge is a 970 meter long bridge that cuts across River Rufiji.

The bridge was named after Benjamin Mkapa, who was the third President of Tanzania. This construction of Mkapa bridge was financed by Kuwait Fund, OPEC, and the Government of Saudi Arabia via a $30 million loan.

This bridge was built with the sole aim of connecting the Southern part of Tanzania to other important part of the country in 2003.

The Katima Mulilo bridge is a road bridge located in Zambia cutting across the Zambezi river. This bridge is the tenth longest bridge in Africa at 900 meters.

The Katima Mulilo bridge also known as Bridge 508 in the Namibian Bridge Register was built in 2004 running along Sesheke, Zambia and Katima Mulilo, Namibia.

Longest Bridge in Africa That You Should Know About Now

The Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which is led by Mai Mala Buni just communicated the party's convention date with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The national convention was slated for February 26 will see major party leaders convene as they decide on the future of their party.

The Chairman, Mai Mala Buni, and the party's National Secretary, John Akpanudoedehe, communicated the party's intention to INEC via a letter titled ‘Notice for the Conduct of National Convention’ on February 2, 2022.

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A date stamp on the letter indicated that the INEC received the letter on February 3, 2022.

The letter, which was addressed to the Chairman of the electoral commission read as follows “Follow up to our letter referenced APC/NHDQ/INEC/19/021/40 dated 11 July 2021 on the Notice for the conduct of the national convention."

“This is to inform the Commission that our great Party has scheduled to hold its National Convention on Saturday, 26th February 2022."

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“This serves as a formal notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 85 of the Electoral Act (2010) as amended."

“Kindly arrange for your officials to monitor the exercise accordingly."

“While hoping to receive your cooperation, please accept the assurances of our highest esteem,” the statement read.

The All Progressive Congress Communicates Convention Date With INEC

Cameroon and Egypt, are posed to fight it out on Thursday night at the Olembe Stadium, Yaounde, to guarantee their spot in the finals with Senegal at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

This game will be the 11th time both teams have had to face-off at the AFCONS thereby making it a historical feat at the tournament.

Despite the fact that the crowd is somewhat familiar with such an event, the spectators are still looking forward to a spectacular game from both sides. 

With five and seven AFCON titles to their name, respectively, Cameroon and Egypt are the most successful teams as far as this biennial tournament is concerned.

Host country, Cameroon won four games and had a draw to end up at the semi-finals. 

They defeated Burkina Faso with a 2-1 in the opening rounds, kicked Ethiopia with a 4-1 win, and they tied with Cape Verde with a 1-1 draw during the group games.

Cameroon had to battle it out with Comoros before cinching a 2-1 win during the Round of 16. This was beyond what the fans expected as Comoros had to play with one man down and a makeshift goalie. 

During the quarter-final game, we saw the Lions come back stronger as they whooped the Gambian team a solid 2-0.

On the other hand, The Pharaohs have shown huge improvement from their initial loss to the Super Eagles of Nigeria on their opening game.

They beat Guinea Bissau and Sudan comfortably before needing penalties to oust Cote d’Ivoire in the round of 16. They then overcame Morocco 2-1 in extra time.

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Antonio Conceiçao, Cameroon Manager had this to say, "Our goal is clear; to play a good game and go to the final. We will play against a very good team, Egypt, the most successful team in Africa. They have very good players, including one of the best in the world, namely Mohamed Salah. My players are motivated to win. We have positive pressure, but our objective is clear, to win the title for the Cameroonian people.”

Egypt's Manager, Carlos Queiroz said, "To reach the semifinals is a reward for us. Facing hosts Cameroon is tough as they play very good football. We want to offer the world a pleasant match between two great African teams. We are ready for this semifinal. It is true that we have played two consecutive matches with extra time, but we remain ready to play a very good match. We have the right team for this kind of game.” 

04/03/84 Cameroon 0-1 Egypt
March 21 1986 Egypt 0-0 Cameroon
March 14 1988 Cameroon 1-0 Egypt
January 18 1996 Cameroon 2-1 Egypt
February 04 2002 Cameroon 1-0 Egypt
February 03 2004 Cameroon 0-0 Egypt
January 25 2010 Egypt 3-1 Cameroon
February 05 2017 Egypt 1-2 Cameroon

Date: February 3, 2022
Time: 8 p.m.
Venue: Olembe Stadium, Yaoundé

two African teams fighting for a spot at the finals of AFCON 2022

AFCON 2022: Cameroon, Egypt Battles For a Place in The Finals

A former Miss USA, Cheslie Kryst, is died after jumping from a building in Manhattan.  She was aged 30, the family said on Sunday. The New York Police Department confirmed her death.

“In devastation and great sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Cheslie,” CNN quoted the 2019 Miss USA family as saying. “Her great light was one that inspired others around the world with her beauty and strength. She cared, she loved, she laughed and she shined.”

Until her death, she was an attorney whose vision was to help in reforming the country’s judicial system. She had three degrees from two universities and had last shared a photo of herself on Instagram captioned, “May this day bring you rest and peace”.

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Kryst hailed from North Carolina and practiced civil litigation for a law firm. She was equally committed to working to get justice for prisoners sentenced unjustly. This, she did free of charge.

The 30-year-old bagged a degree in law and an MBA from Wake Forest University and finished her undergraduate work at the University of South Carolina. Kryst was licensed to practice law in two US states. Asides from her legal profession, Kryst was a fashion blogger and did other voluntary duties.

She also worked as a correspondent for one of the US’s entertainment websites.

“Our hearts are broken,” the media company’s statement, read. “Cheslie was not just a vital part of our show. She was a beloved part of our Extra family and touched the entire staff. Our deepest condolences to all her family and friends.”

30-Year-Old Former Miss US Cheslie Kryst Jumps To Death

Myanmar’s junta has charged Aung San Suu Kyi with influencing election officials during 2020 polls, a source said on Monday, a year after it staged a coup alleging massive voter fraud.

Suu Kyi, 76, has been detained since the February 1 coup last year that triggered mass protests and a bloody crackdown on dissent with nearly 1,500 civilians killed, according to a local monitoring group.

The Nobel laureate is facing a raft of charges — including violating the country’s official secrets laws — and if convicted of all of them could face sentences tallying more than 100 years in prison.

She will face a further trial on charges of influencing the country’s election commission during the 2020 polls that saw her party defeat a military-aligned rival, a source with knowledge of the case said.

The case will be wrapped up within six months, the source added.

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Former president and stalwart of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party Win Myint will face the same charge, the source said.

Several senior members of the national electoral commission have also been arrested since the coup, accused of masterminding the NLD’s landslide victory.

The junta cancelled the results of the 2020 election in July last year, saying it had found some 11.3 million instances of fraud.

Independent monitors said the polls were largely free and fair.

The junta has promised to hold another election by August 2023 if the country — currently riven by fighting between the military and anti-coup fighters — is restored.

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Ahead of the Tuesday anniversary of the putsch, the junta has warned that noisy protests or sharing “propaganda” against the military could be charged with high treason or under the anti-terrorism law.

Suu Kyi has already been sentenced to six years in jail for illegally importing and owning walkie-talkies, incitement against the military, and breaking COVID-19 rules.

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi To Face New Trial For Electoral Fraud

A ruthless Ashleigh Barty swept into her first Australian Open final with a clinical, straight-sets demolition of Madison Keys to set-up a title match with the hard-hitting Danielle Collins.

The world number one overwhelmed 51st-ranked Keys 6-1, 6-3 in just 62 minutes with another American awaiting after the all-business Collins crushed Polish seventh seed Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-1.

Barty is the first Australian woman into the decider of her home Grand Slam since Wendy Turnbull in 1980 and is aiming to become the first winner since Chris O’Neil two years earlier.

But the tenacious Collins stands in her way on Saturday with the 28-year-old enjoying a second coming after surgery last year for endometriosis left her pain free.

Nine months on and she has 32-7 win-loss record, capturing her maiden WTA singles titles last year in Palermo then San Jose.

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After making the semi-finals at Melbourne in 2019, she is now in a first Slam final and will break into the top 10 for the first time to cap a remarkable comeback.

“To play against the number one player in the world in her home country, it’s going to be spectacular,” said Collins of the final.

“I couldn’t be happier. It’s been such a journey, so many years of hard work.”

Barty, though, has been rampant so far, dropping serve just once through six matches and is yet to drop a set as she powered through the top half of the women’s draw.

She is also looking to add to her 2019 French Open and 2021 Wimbledon titles and is on a 10-match win streak to start the year.

“To be in the finals weekend of your home Grand Slam is what a lot of Aussie players dream of. Yeah, it’s going to be an incredible experience come Saturday,” said Barty.

“Obviously I was able to make Maddie uncomfortable and make her press, and that was kind of part of the plan, as well. I felt like we did a really good job all in all of playing the match in kind of our terms.”

Barty paid tribute to Keys, a former top-10 player who is on the rise again after some difficult years.

“It’s just so nice to see her back where she belongs,” said Barty. “She’s an amazing human being.”

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The top seed, who played cricket with her team on Wednesday to relax, was once more in full command of her game with an attacking forehand and lethal backhand slice.

The Australian immediately pressured Keys’ serve to create a break point that she converted with a cross-court winner to assert early control.

She consolidated as Keys struggled to get her racquet on the ball and the American was broken again in the fifth game.

Keys finally won her first points on the Barty serve in the next game, but it was a blip as the Australian stormed 5-1 in front before a double fault handed her two set points and she slammed a forehand return to convert.

It went with serve to 2-2 in set two before Barty stepped up a gear, with a passing shot earning another break to 4-2 clear and there was no way back for the American.

Collins also flew out of the blocks against former French Open champion Swiatek, racing to a 4-0 first set lead.

A nervous Swiatek double faulted in the opening game to gift Collins an early break and the unrelenting American’s fierce groundstrokes earned her another.

But the gutsy Pole fought back as Collins double faulted to give a break-point opportunity.

But the all-action American, who opted not to sit down and rest at each change of ends, recomposed herself to serve out the set.

Collins was now on a mission and quickly broke to take charge of the second set as she jumped on Swiatek’s second serve, breaking again to race 3-0 clear and it was all over for the 20-year-old.

Australian Open Final: Rampant Barty To Meet Collins

The world’s oldest male Gorilla popularly called Ozzie has died at the age of 61 at a zoo in Atlanta, Georgia.

The cause of the Gorilla’s death is still unknown.

Ozzie is also the third-oldest gorilla in the world. He was found dead by his care team on January 25, 2022. This was announced on Tuesday by Zoo Atlantic.

The zoo explained that before Ozzie died, he exhibited decreased appetite last Thursday, January 20, and the Animal Care and Veterinary Teams were providing him with supportive care to encourage him to eat and drink.

The zoo also said a necropsy, or the non-human equivalent of an autopsy, will be performed through the Zoo’s partnership with the University of Georgia Zoo and Exotic Animal Pathology Service in the College of Veterinary Medicine and should provide the teams with more information on Ozzie’s condition.

Zoo Atlanta says it will share these results once they are available.

“This is a devastating loss for Zoo Atlanta. While we knew this time would come someday, that inevitability does nothing to stem the deep sadness we feel at losing a legend,” said Raymond B. King, President, and CEO.

“Ozzie’s life’s contributions are indelible, in the generations of individuals he leaves behind in the gorilla population and in the world’s body of knowledge in the care of his species. Our thoughts are with his care team, who have lost a part of their lives and a part of their hearts.”

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The zoo officials explained that Ozzie was a true living legend in the fabric of Zoo Atlanta’s history and, like his peer, the late Willie B., was an icon in his own time, symbolic of the dramatic rebirth of the Zoo in the 1980s.

He was the only surviving member of the original generation of gorillas who arrived at Zoo Atlanta with the opening of The Ford African Rain Forest in 1988.

World’s Oldest Male Gorilla, Ozzie, Dies at Age 61

Two police officers have been confirmed dead after gunmen attacked Kwalam village in Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

Another police officer was abducted by the gunmen during the attack which occurred in the north-western region of the country.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Lawal Shisu, confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday.

He explained that the incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, adding that the assailants set one of the improvised police vehicles ablaze.

“Upon receipt of the report, we mobilised a team of policemen and headed to the scene and upon arrival, we engaged them in a gun duel and they fled away,” Shisu said.

“ASP Anas Usaini and Insp. Sunusi Alasan were dead close to an improvised patrol vehicle which was set ablaze.”

Preliminary investigation, he stated, showed that the hoodlums invaded the residence of a 60-year-old man identified as Alhaji Ma’aru Abubakar in Kwalam town, and abducted him.

The command’s spokesman, however, assured residents that the police were intensifying efforts to arrest the attackers and bring them to justice.

Gunmen Kill Two Officers, Abduct Policeman In Jigawa

Senegal’s ruling coalition acknowledged defeat in two local polls seen as a key test of support ahead of an eagerly-awaited general election.

President Macky Sall’s alliance said it had lost the capital Dakar and the country’s largest southern city, Ziguinchor, in Sunday’s mayoral and local ballots.

The vote, seen as a litmus test for Sall, were the first in his West African country since deadly riots last year over the arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko.

“Overall, the national trend shows our coalition winning easily in several regional capitals,” the ruling Bennoo Bokk Yaakaar alliance said in a statement on Sunday evening.

“But our bid to take Dakar and Ziguinchor has not been conclusive.”

Final results have not yet been declared but the mayoral vote in Ziguinchor, capital of Casamance, appears to have been won by Sonko.

Sonko is seen as one of the main contenders to replace 60-year-old Sall in the forthcoming 2024 presidential election.

Sall was first elected in 2012 on promises to help the poor in the nation of 17 million people. He won a second term in 2019, beating Sonko, but has come under increasing criticism since then.

The president is accused of arranging court cases against his rivals. These include Sonko, who was summoned in March last year to answer charges of rape he said were politically motivated.

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The move sparked several days of violence in which at least 12 people died, shocking a country considered to be a beacon of stability in a volatile region.

The opposition fears that Sall will seek to exploit constitutional changes approved in 2016 to argue that a two-term limit for presidents does not apply, and run for a third term in 2024.

The president is well respected on the international scene, particularly over jihadist violence in the Sahel region, but his critics view him as serving the business interests of Senegal’s former colonial power France.

Senegalese Government Recognizes Poll Defeat In Key Cities

Gunmen have kidnapped the Commissioner for Industry, Trade, and Investment in Bayelsa State, Federal Otokito.

Police authorities in the state confirmed Otokito’s abduction on Friday in a statement, barely a day after the incident took place.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Bayelsa, Asinim Butswat, revealed that the commissioner was abducted on Thursday night at Otuokpoti, a riverine community in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.

He explained that the gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, stormed Otokito’s residence in Otuokpoti at about 11pm.

The commissioner was later whisked away in a waiting speedboat to an unknown destination, said Butswat who added that the police were already investigating the matter.

He stated that the command has launched a manhunt for the gunmen to rescue the abducted commissioner and ensure his captors were arrested and brought to justice.

Read the statement signed by the command’s spokesman below:

Police intensify efforts to arrest the suspects and rescue the kidnapped victim.

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted Hon Federal Otokito at his residence in Otuokpoti, a riverine community in Ogbia Local Government Area Bayelsa State.

Preliminary investigation reveals that the kidnappers stormed the residence of Hon Federal Otokito on 20th January 2022 at about 2300hours and whisked him away in a waiting speedboat to an unknown destination.

The Command has launched a manhunt for the rescue of the victim and the arrest of the suspects.

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Gunmen Abduct Bayelsa Commissioner, Federal Otokito

Mali held a state ceremony on Friday for former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was ousted in a 2020 coup and died last week.

Interim Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga attended the ceremony in a military camp in the Sahel state’s capital Bamako, where the ex-leader’s coffin was draped in the Malian flag.

Keita’s relatives attended too, as well as former Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara, Guinea’s foreign minister, and foreign diplomats in Bamako.

Thousands of people also gathered at the former president’s residence in Bamako to pay their respects.

Keita, who was elected in a landslide in 2013 and won re-election five years later, died aged 76 on Sunday. He is due to be buried at his Bamako residence later on Friday.

Mali’s brutal jihadist conflict overshadowed Keita’s presidency, which along with a flagging economy and perceived government corruption, contributed to mass protests against him in 2020.

Young army officers led by Colonel Assimi Goita forced him out of office on August 18, 2020, detaining Keita and other leaders.

Under pressure from the West African bloc ECOWAS, the junta that emerged from the rebellion released Keita on August 27 and returned him to his residence in Bamako, under surveillance.

He suffered a mini-stroke the following month, and was sent to the United Arab Emirates for treatment.

The ruling junta would stage went on to stage another coup in May 2021.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in December agreed to sanction Mali after the junta proposed staying in power for up to five years before staging elections — despite international demands to respect a promise to hold the vote in February.

Goita, the head of the ruling junta, has declared a three-day national holiday in Keita’s honor, starting from Friday.

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Nigerian newspapers,on one page.