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Ikenna44

Nigerians Pick 'Aso Ebi' For Biden/Harris Inauguration

Sodiq Oyeleke Some Nigerians living in the United States have designed a special attire, popularly called “Aso Ebi” , to be won on Wednesday , January 20 for the inauguration of Joe Biden and Harris Kamala as President and Vice President of the US respectively. In a video that surfaced online showing the attire, Biden and Harris ’s names were imprinted on the Aso Ebi showed off by two Nigerian men . The attire also had their pictures and a caption, ‘victory party ’. The Nigerians , whose identity could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report, said they were taking theirs to tailor. [ READ ALSO] Storage facilities: Nigeria may waste 100 , 000 COVID- 19 vaccine doses , say Experts One of the joyous Nigerians said, “ So, Aso Ebi is ready now . Can you see this ? It is ready. I am taking mine to the tailor for the inauguration. ” Another Nigerian , who spoke in Yoruba , said, “We will rock this . We will sweep away all those with negative mindsets out of the white house . ” The term aso ebi is coined from two Yoruba words – aso meaning ‘cloth’ and ebi, which means ‘ family’. It is a uniform dress that is traditionally worn as a means of identification for relatives at weddings , funerals , and other celebrations as a form of support and solidarity. It is made from different attires such as Ankara , Lace, Guinea among others. The PUNCH reports that plans for the inauguration had already been scaled-down out of pandemic concerns and fears of new violence by unyielding Donald Trump supporters after the January 6 riot. Thousands of National Guard troops were filling downtown Washington , the normal crowd has been banned , and streets have been blocked with heavy trucks and concrete barriers. Traditionally, an outgoing president and previous presidents attend inaugurations , underscoring unity and the democratic transfer of power . YOU MAY ALSO LIKE : Dangote completes Nigeria ’ s longest concrete road This year , ex- presidents Bill Clinton , George W. Bush , and Barack Obama will be on the dais. Jimmy Carter, 96 , is staying home , given the pandemic while Trump , who spent the past two months claiming Biden won the election by fraud would not attend. According to reports, Trump , who is planning to leave Washington ahead of inauguration, will be the fourth president to skip the event . The last was in 1869. But outgoing Vice President Mike Pence will attend. Virtual parties and concerts – AFP reports that parades , parties, and concerts would be online or televised. Five days of events are planned , with multiple-artist concerts on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday . On Tuesday , Biden and Harris will lead virtual commemorations across the country for the 400 ,000 Americans dead from coronavirus. On inauguration day they will hold a “Parade Across America ,” an online 50 -state tour of speakers, artists , and performers. The main event on Wednesday night stars John Legend, Bruce Springsteen , Justin Timberlake , Ant Clemons , the Foo Fighters and Demi Lovato . And for at- home parties, there is a curated “Biden+ Harris Playlist. ”

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Ikenna44

I Will Ensure Efficiency Of NDLEA-Marwa Promises

The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA ), retired Brig. - Gen . Buba Marwa, has promised to reposition the agency for efficient fight against illicit drug trafficking. Marwa said this during his inaugural address to staff of the agency on Monday in Abuja , insisting that it was the duty of the NDLEA to stop all forms of drug abuse in the country . He said that NDLEA would be overhauled and expanded in line with the recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse (PACEDA ). “I want to reassure you all that your welfare will be given utmost attention ; the outstanding issues of stagnation in rank, training and postings and due emoluments will be addressed as a priority. “Also, operational and logistics inadequacies in the service will be looked into . Nigeria is the only country we have and we cannot fold our arms . We can, will and must eliminate the drug scourge . “As the lead agency in the drug war in Nigeria , you are all too familiar with the extent of devastation that drug use had caused our nation ,” Marwa said. Marwa said the number of drug users in the country currently could be estimated to be more than 15 million people , going by the recent figures issued by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC ) survey in 2018 . According to him , no fewer than 14 . 3 million Nigerians between the ages of 15 years and 64 years are found to be drug users ; three times the global prevalence . “We will put equal efforts in drug demand reduction as contained in the NDLEA act ; we will develop a strategy of work to meet our objectives, following the National Drug Control Master plan 2021 - 2025 to be released soon, as our roadmap . “With my military background , you know what to expect; NDLEA will safeguard the nation and our youths from the drug menace , that is a task that must be done . “I expect diligence at work and will not hesitate to penalise default , hardwork will be rewarded; I would like to warn those who engage in the dastardly trade of importation , export, cultivation, processing, manufacture , trafficking, sale and consumption of illicit substances to stop forthwith or be prepared to contend with the NDLEA , ” he said. President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Marwa as the new NDLEA chairman on Friday after the tenure of the agency’ s former chairman, retired Col . Muhammad Abdallah’ s expired . Marwa had worked as Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse (PACEDA ) between 2018 and December 2019 alongside others to develop a blueprint on how to end drug abuse in Nigeria .