Based on report, as Nigerians joined the rest of the world to celebrate St Valentine’s Day on Wednesday, a survey has indicated that was about 70 per cent increase in the sale of condoms and contraceptives purchased mainly by fun seekers.

A check by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) around Oyingbo, Yaba, Ikeja and University of Lagos (UNILAG) on the day shows that there was an increase in the sale of the materials for safe sex.

NAN reports that though there are many diverse historic stories surrounding how St Valentine’s Day came to existence, the most celebrated account is about a Roman priest beheaded in the third century.

The date is for the celebration of what many chose to call season of love is Feb. 14.

Arguably, no one can agree on exactly what he did or why he was executed but some legends say St. Valentine was a bishop in Terni, Italy.

He was said to have healed the sick, including the blind daughter of a prison guard whom he met while in jail for practicing Christianity in a pagan world.

Some say he was sentenced to death because he tried to convert Emperor Claudius to Christianity.

Others yet say the sentence came because he was caught secretly performing weddings, defying a ban on marriage that had been imposed by the Emperor as a solution to a military recruitment crunch.

The check by NAN on the supermarkets, chain stores and kiosks around Lagos showed that condom sales are on the increase with the sellers’ acknowledging the increase in their sales.

At Anifat Stores, Oyingbo road, there was about 80 per cent increase in the sale of condoms according to the shop owner, Mrs Anifat Adebiyi.

Adebiyi said that it was expected that there should be a major increase in the sale of condoms and contraceptives because there would always be an increase in sexual activities on such a day.

“We do have a sharp increase, and it is expected we have more sales during Valentine’s Days because that is the day many will want to express themselves.

“We are expecting more sales because many will still come to buy, but we don’t normally increase the price of the condoms.

“Condoms are in various qualities depending on the one the consumer may want to buy. It is a season everybody wants to show love through love making.

Another Kiosk owner at Oyingbo said that he was expecting his supplier to give him more quantities because he was almost out of sale.

“I am expecting my supplier for more condoms because there will be more demand today being Valentine’s Day.

“I always have increase in the sale of condoms during Valentine days and it is expected because many anticipate that,’’ he said.

Another check by NAN to the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka shows a lots of Valentine’s Day celebration going on in the campus.

Students in the mood of the season of love showed that they were in the celebration garb with many regarding the day as a time to express undying love among themselves.

Many of the students were dressed in red typifying the colour of the day, while many were also dancing to the music blaring at the popular student arcade from a stand by DJ.

A student in the Department of Education, Kofoworola Majekodunmi, said that it was a day when immoral activities were at its peak because of what many ascribed the day to be.

“ Valentine’s Day is a day for lovers and fun for loved ones, families and friends. It is a day set aside for immoral activities and socials.

“This is also when illicit affairs commence more because people’s perspective says it is a day for lovers and friends,’’ she said.

The Assistant Secretary-General of Anti-Aids Club in the university, Joshua Ogunmola, a student of English Education, said Valentine is a day for lovers, but the club advises students on the need for safe sex.

He said the club preached on the ABC of Sex Abstinence, Be faithful and use Condom; especially Abstinence.

He said that many packs of free condoms were distributed to students.

“The rate at which condom sells during the Valentine Day is about 70 to 80 per cent this is a result of the celebration of today.

“The students want to show appreciation, love and have fun. People abuse this day by luring girls into immoral sexual activities in the name of love and valentine.

Longe Omotosho, a student of Department of Education, emphasised the negative effect saying that people abuse the day by indulging in illicit affairs, most especially students who say is meant for lovers.

“Students should learn to abstain and show love without indulging in illicit affairs which says in the commandment “Thou shall not commit adultery’’.

NAN reports that the kiosks and chains of supermarket said the increase in condom sales is much and the belief that Valentine’s Day is meant for fun and entertainment fuelled the sales.

Meanwhile, many organisations, including the Federal Government had cautioned youths on the use of condoms and abstinence from sex on Valentine’s Day.

Dr Sani Aliyu, Director-General, National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA) on Wednesday urged youths to play safe and stay protected while celebrating Valentine’s Day.

Aliyu made the call at the commemoration of 2018 World Condom Day in conjunction with Valentine’s Day celebration in Abuja.

He also enjoined youths to get tested and know their HIV status.

He said it was important for youths in the country to play safe and stay protected during this season of Valentine to arrest the transmission of new HIV infection.

“It is important for our youths to stay protected, HIV is still much around and the best way for them to protect themselves from HIV is through abstinence.

“However, if they cannot abstain from sex, then they have to use a barrier protection. Yesterday and today is an opportunity for everyone to get tested for HIV.

“All youths should get tested to know their status; it is very easy and not painful.

“Persons who test positive will be placed on medication that will help them live a normal and healthy life, while those negative should take necessary precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones,’’ Aliyu said.

Also, Dr Greg Abiaziem, the Acting Country Programme Manager, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), said the event was targeted at increasing awareness and to promote the prevention of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).

“Others include safer sex, condom use and its role in preventing HIV and unwanted pregnancies.

“It is important to ensure that condom option was made available as preventive measure to youths who can’t abstain from sex as new HIV infections is highest among young people from 15 to 24 years,’’ he said.

The Commander in chief of the armed forces,President Muhammad Buhari, in a statement, has made promise to take Nigeria to the next level.

He made this statement on Thursday at the induction of the Nigerian Air Force’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Tsaigumi, in Kaduna.

According to the president, his administration was determined to overcome all challenges militating against the country’s security and development.

He therefore appealed to all Nigerians to support his administration to achieve its objective.

As it is only through the cooperation of the citizens of the country that the government can achieve great things.

“Let me again reiterate our commitment and firm resolve to take this nation to the next level.

“We remain determined to overcome all challenges to our security and development as a nation.

“I enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to join hands with us to make our collective dreams of greatness a reality.”he said

President Buhari said his government was committed to delivering the much-needed change that would make the difference in the nation.

“Government remains determined, despite numerous challenges to bring about the much-needed change that will lift our beloved nation to its rightful place as a major economic and political force on the world stage,”he added.

Gunmen alleged to be armed robbers have reportedly killed two students of the Federal University, Lafia.

One of the students who was killed, had graduated with first class from the economics department and was processing his final clearance while the other was a 400 level student in the English Department.

The gunmen had stormed the students’ village at Mararaba-Akunza, opposite the university gate at about 10:30pm on Wednesday night and shot sporadically. The bullets hit the victims. One of them died on the spot while the other one died while being rushed to the hospital.

The remains of the two students have been deposited at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia. Confirming the incident, the Nasarawa State police spokesman, DSP Kennedy Idirisu, says investigations into the matter has commenced.

A 10-year-old girl, Vera, and her younger sister, Favour, five, are grappling with injuries inflicted on them by their stepmother.

The woman, Chidima Nnachi, reportedly beat up Vera, rubbed pepper on her eyes and burned her back with a hot knife.

She also reportedly injured Favour on the forehead and inserted pepper in her eyes for allegedly soiling her body.

The family, including Nnachi’s husband, resided on Aso Rock Street, Brucknor Estate, Ejigbo, Lagos State.

While the children were rescued and taken into protective custody by the Office of the Public Defender of the state Ministry of Justice, Nnachi was arrested by the police from the Ejigbo division.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the 29-year-old trader allegedly tortured Vera, a primary four pupil of Ola Olu Montessori School, because she went to play after returning from the school on February 7, 2018.

It was gathered that the children’s mother died in 2012 after she gave birth to Favour.

A neighbour, identified simply as Olajide, was said to have reported the case at the Ejigbo Police Division and the suspect was apprehended.

Olajide told the police that Nnachi had been maltreating the children for a long time, adding that Vera’s groans on that day prompted her to make a report.

He said, “It was a neigbour who called my attention to the maltreatment of the children by their stepmother. I witnessed the torture of the girl (Vera) by her stepmother. She beat her for about three hours on that day. I was sad and informed the community development association chairman who advised that that we should report the case to the police.”

Vera said she had returned from her school – some distance away from the house – on the day with Favour, but returned to the school premises to play.

She said when she returned home around 3.30pm, she met her stepmother, who beat her up with a stick for playing on the street.

The girl added that Nnachi put a knife in a burning liquefied petroleum gas (cooking gas) for some minutes and pressed it on her back.

She said, “On Wednesday, February 7, after the school closed, I went back to the school compound to play and came back home around 3.30pm. When my stepmother returned from her shop in Isheri Osun, she asked me why I left home to play on the street. I told her that I was playing at the school compound, but she said I was lying.

“She started beating me. She put on the cooking gas and placed a knife on fire. She put pepper in my eyes and I could not see again. She then pressed the hot knife on my back. I cried and felt pains.

“The following day, my younger sister woke up in the morning with faeces on her body. She (Nnachi) beat her and put pepper in her eyes too. Our father had travelled when the incidents happened.”

The suspect, the mother of one, in her statement to the police reportedly confessed to assaulting Vera, adding that she did not treat her injuries.

She said, “Favour and Vera have been living with me since 2014 when I got married to their father. I was told their mother died in 2012 after Favour’s birth. On February 7 around 3pm, I came back from my shop in Isheri Osun and met only Favour and my two-year-old child, Dominion, at home.

“I checked everywhere, but did not see Vera. When she later came back, I asked her where she went to. She said she went to another street. As I wanted to beat her, she ran away. Her school proprietress brought her home. When the proprietress left, I put fresh pepper in her eyes and pressed a hot knife on her back several times. Vera was the one who took care of her sister and my son when I had gone to the shop.”

A police prosecutor, Sergeant Koti Aondohemba, brought the defendant before an Ogba Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on five counts of assault.

Aondohemba told the court that the offences contravened sections 10(b)(c)(d) of the Child Rights Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

The charges read in part, “That you, Chidima Nnachi, on February 7, 2018 around 3.30pm, on Aso Rock Street, Brucknor Estate, Ejigbo, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did inflict injuries on one Vera, 10 years old, by burning her back with a hot kitchen knife and caused her bodily harm.

“That you, Chidima Nnachi, did unlawfully assault one Favour, five years old, by flogging her all over her body and inflicting injuries on her back and face, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 10(c) of the Child Rights Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and elected summary trial.

The presiding magistrate, Mr. A.O. Ogbe, granted her bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till March 5, 2018.

Jacob Zuma, the president of South Africa, has resigned after days of defying orders from the ruling African National Congress to leave office and on the eve of a no-confidence vote in parliament.

In a televised address to the nation late on Wednesday, the 75-year-old said he was a disciplined member of the ANC, to which he had dedicated his life.

“I fear no motion of no confidence or impeachment … I will continue to serve the people of South Africa and the ANC. I will dedicate my life to continuing to work for the execution of the policies of our organisation,” Zuma said.

“No life should be lost in my name. The ANC should never been divided in my name. I have therefore come to the decision to resign as president of the republic with immediate effect.”

The resignation ended an extraordinary day in South African politics, which had begun with a dawn raid on a business family at the centre of the recent corruption allegations levelled at Zuma.