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NDLEA Arrests Syndicate Selling Cookies Laced With Drugs For School Children In Abuja 

By
Ola Akinola
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0

For allegedly selling cookies laced with drug to secondary school students and unsuspecting members of the public in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) , a 300-level university student,  Rhoda Agboje, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)

Agboje was arrested alongside  her boyfriend, Ifeayin Nwankwo, while the anti-narcotic are still on the trail of other members of the syndicate.

The syndicate as gathered produced the cookies with a highly psychoactive variant of cannabis known as Arizona, in addition to alcohol and Rohypnol, among other ingredients.

The NDLEA Director, Media & Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, was blown open following the arrest of Rhoda Agboje with four pieces of the drug cookies on April 18, 2021.

According to him, “She was arrested at the NNPC Cooperative estate, opposite Gaduwa estate in Abuja, based on a complaint that she gave an unsuspecting young girl the cookies to eat. After eating the drug cookies, the girl lost her mind and could not sleep, making incoherent utterances due to the effects of the cookies.

” Under interrogation, the prime suspect, Rhoda confessed she prepares the cookies with a friend and sells each pack of three pieces at N1, 500. A follow-up operation in her boyfriend’s house led to the recovery of over 200 pieces of the drug cookies”

Meanwhile , the Commander, FCT Command of the NDLEA, Mohammed Malami Sokoto, explained that ” her boyfriend, Ifeanyi Nwankwo and all the equipment used for the production of the cookies were brought to the office for further investigation.

“The suspect confirmed that she sells at parties and to unsuspecting members of the public, including school children that are the most vulnerable. The suspect also supplies some supermarkets and clubs in the FCT.”

Commending officers and men of the FCT Command for unravelling the syndicate, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) described the syndicate’s act as criminal, while adding that it was “equally unconscionable by deliberately luring schoolchildren into drug under the cover of selling to them biscuits or cookies.

“I wish to draw the attention of parents to this new devious strategy to get children addicted to drug cookies and to urge them to remain vigilant while monitoring what their wards bring home from school or consume as snack”, Marwa stated.

Senate Confirms Usman As Commissioner, NpopC

By
Ola Akinola
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0

The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Muhammad Dattijo Usman as a Federal Commissioner of the National Population Commission (NpopC) .

The Chairman of Senate Committee on National Identity and National Population, Senator Saidu Alkali, on Tuesday while presenting the report, said the nominee possesses the requisite qualifications, integrity, leadership qualities and comportment to discharge his responsibilities.

Usman’s confirmation followed the consideration of a report by the Committee of the Upper Chamber on National Identity and National Population.

The Committee Chairman, the appointment of the nominee satisfies the requirements of Section 154(1) of the Constitution of the a Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

Dattijo Usman, who was the Registrar of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, between 2007 and 2012, is a member of the African Council on Communication Education; Member, Association of Nigeria University Professional Administrators (ANUPA); Member, Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM); Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration; and Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

Woman Stabs Boy 14 To Death In Bayelsa

By
Ebenezer Adurodija
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0

A 14-year-old JSS1 student on Tuesday was stabbed to death in the Okaka area of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital by a women identified as Arugu Benedicta.

Our correspondent gathered that the tragic incident happened after the woman reportedly went berserk and stabbed the Government Science and Technical College student in the morning.

The deceased identified by neighbours as Joseph Thomas was fondly called ‘Daddy’s Boy’, was said to be preparing to go to school when he was attacked by the woman.

The brutal incident, we gathered caused pandemonium and anger as some residents descended on the woman and were mobbing her before a team of policemen arrived at the scene and rescued her.

Benedicta was said to have stabbed Thomas on the upper part of his shoulder and chest, which led to his untimely death.

According to sources, the victim’s grandmother and his assailant had been allegedly embroiled in a lingering feud before Tuesday’s incident.

“She held a knife in her hand and went to the residence of the boy shouting and this made the boy to come out, and she stabbed him several times on his shoulder and chest”, a neighbour was quoted to have said.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa Command, Mr Asinim Butswat, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident.

He said, “The suspect, one Arugu Chidinma Benedicta, stabbed one Joseph Thomas, 14 years, with a knife, the victim was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre where he eventually died.

“The suspect was mobbed before the arrival of Police. She was, however, rescued by the Police and she is receiving treatment at FMC.”

Vice Chancellor Identify Animal Protein As Major Cause Of Cancer

By
Ola Akinola
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0

…Warns Against Consumption Of ‘Ponmo’, Red Meat

The Vice Chancellor (VC) of the Precious Cornerstone University (PCU), Ibadan, Prof. Kola Oloke has identify consumption of animal protein as the major cause of cancer.

While assuring that the disease which has led to death of many was not only preventable but also curable.

Oloke, added that the consumption cow skin popularly known as ‘porno’ is not only of no nutritional value, it also poses as threat to human body.

The renowned Microbiologist gave this hint while speaking at a seminar titled; ‘Life Style, Diseases and Management’, held at the PCU campus on Tuesday in Ibadan, he also called for caution in the consumption of red meat and other animal protein.

According to him; “Consumption of animal protein can lead to diseases in the body. More importantly, it causes cancer. Run away from meat, especially the red meat. If you want to eat chicken, eat the local one. Animal skin known as ponmo is harmful to the body; it has no nutritional value” .

“60 percent of chronic diseases attacking individuals could be prevented through healthy diet. “Other lifestyle measures, must include managing stress, avoiding toxins (like alcohol and tobacco), regular exercise and ensuring adequate sleep.”

Beans he recommended as the best meal for cancer patients. Even as he maintained that diseases such as cancer could be cured through nutrition as lifestyle could determine the level of sicknesses individual could be nursing in the body.

He said; “One of the things that cancer cells thrive on,is sugar. So if you can take off the consumption of sugar from any cancer patient, you would have helped the patient. Some foods and fruits are high in sugar content such as banana, apple, pineapple and carbohydrates. Also, cancer patients should avoid animal-based milk but can be consuming plant-based milk.

“The best meal for cancer patients is beans prepared with olive oil and not red oil. Snail, croaker fish,carbage and leafy vegetables, among others, are good and nutritious for cancer patients.”

He, added that with proper nutrition, cancer cells could be killed. “Consumption of walnuts can kill cancer.Soya products are equally good but avoid soya oil. Soya milk is good for breast cancer”

The numerous home and international awards recipient further stressed that with good diet, man could live beyond 100 years, “Eating vegetables is one of the surest ways of staying healthy. Sugar or sweet things are greatest enemies of man.”

While noting that plant-based foods lower diabetes and liver risk, he averred that the consumption of vegetables help a great deal, in controlling sugar levels, listing some other foods that could decrease heart attack, stroke and cancer, among others, to include, Avacado, Green Tea, and natural Orange Juice, warning people to be mindful of their intakes.

“In Europe during World War II, the death rate caused by heart disease, fell, as people were forced to eat less cholesterol-ridden foods. In other words, it is better for your heart for you to eat a low fat, vegetarian diet while bombs drop around you than to enjoy your steak in peace,” advised the VC.

According to the VC, with meat associated infectious diseases, millions of cases of food poisoning are recorded every year which could be traceable to the consumption of meat, especially those “with mad cow disease and helminthic infestations”

He enjoined people to work out their lifestyle by living a healthy life. He thereby further stated : “Rhythmic activities of our mind and body, include hormones; circulation, digestion, brain waves and state of consciousness.Realise that your next day begins when you go to sleep. Maintain a healthy BMI, good nutrition, regular exercise and a spiritual practice.”

Delta Police Nabbed Two Notorious Kidnappers, Seven Cultist, Drug Barons

By
Ebenezer Adurodija
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0

Police operatives in Delta State on Tuesday arrested two notorious kidnappers terrorizing Oghara, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

This was contained in a statement issued by Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), DSP Edafe Bright and made available to newsmen stating that information was received by the DPO Oghara Division CSP Jimoh Hassan that one Solomon Otomi erewo and his girlfriend, Rukewe Urhiephroune were kidnapped by four unknown gunmen with an unregistered Merc Des GLK along Ibori road Oghara were kidnapped while returning to their house.

The statement read in bits; “On receipt of the information the DPO swiftly mobilized patrol teams, vigilantes and anti cults to the bush where information has it that the kidnappers took the victims to.

“On sighting the headlights of the police patrol vehicles, the kidnappers all ran to different direction abandoning the victims, the police were able to rescue the victims unhurt. Meanwhile the victims’ Mercedes benz GLK through technical intelligence was later traced to oviore near isiokolo in Ethiope East LGA where with the assistance of the army”.

He,however, revealed that two of the suspected kidnappers who were identified as Oghenetewhe and gift were arrested while the Mercedes Benz has been recovered from them.

He said there is an ongoing manhunt for the fleeing members of the gang.

In another development, some hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers were operating along Ogor-Ivwreni road.

The Divisional police officer ‘A’ Division Ughelli mobilized and led patrol teams to the scene, rescued one Ovwenu Augustine ‘m’ and Victor Orogunu ‘m’ who sustained gunshot injuries on his right leg, the police rushed them rushed to the Hospital for treatment.

The exhibits recovered from the scene are one (1) corolla ash in colour with Reg. No. GBJ 73 FD Delta, one (1) Hyundai black in colour Reg. No. WWR 180 PR Delta and one (1) Benz 200E white in colour with Reg. No. CL 193 ABJ Abuja.

Edafe revealed that based on intelligence two drugs barons in Warri axis of the state where nabbed.

He said that, “DPO ‘A’ division Warri, CSP T.Y. Mahmud Mobilized Quick Response Team stormed the black spot opposite Army check point Adisa, where one Samaila Abubakar ‘m’ 20yrs and Haashimu Aiki, 16yrs were arrested”.

He revealed that the Eighty (80) wraps of skunk, twenty-eight (28) pieces of Tramadol, six (6) tablet of Cwion, fifteen (15) packs of Tygra 200mg, twelve (12) packs of blue Vega, forty-one packs (41) of red Vega, one (1) packs of Rislar were found in the possession of the suspect

He also mentioned that the second suspected drug dealer Onyeka Henry allegedly confessed to the crime during interrogation claimed to have started a new leaf.

He also confirmed the arrest of seven cult members of two rival groups in Pessu Community, Warri South Local Government Area of the state.

Edafe mentioned that five of the suspects were identified as members belonging to Pessu community, saying that the suspects were apprehended with the assistance of the youth chairman and security head.

” One Locally Made Double Barrel Pistol with a live Cartridge was recovered. Two of the rival cult leaders Godswill Oghmienor , 25yrs and Okonedo Moses aged 22yrs both of Aye cult group were later arrested” he asserted.

APC Objects To Increase In Petrol Pump Price

By
Ola Akinola
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0

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress Caretaker Committee, Sen. John James Akpan Uddoedehe on Tuesday hinted that the party object to any planned hike in the pump price of petroleum products.

While allaying the fears Nigerians, amidst fuel queues noticed in some urban cities including the nation’s capital..

The party is not oblivious of the ripple effect such increase on the people against backdrop of an already haemorrhaging economy, stressing that the time was not right for any increase, he added.

He gave this hint the during the launch of a quarterly media parley organized by APC Professionals Forum , geared to systematically showcase laudable achievement of the party despite widespread criticism that the administration was a failure.

Udoedehe who represented the APC National chairman at the event said the party took the position despite the difficulty the government has found itself, and commended President Mohammadu Buhari for responding to the plight of Nigerians.

He said the president has also responded to the complaint of various stakeholders of the party, many of whom he said benefited from recent board appointment exercise announced by the government, and lauded initiative of the Forum.

The government he disclosed is also not relenting extending patronage to all those working and defending president Mohammadu Buhari from lies perpetrated by critics.

According to him; “Another thing we have achieved which is recent is the issue of the pump price of petroleum. The party said no to it even though they have discussed it. It doesn’t matter the circumstances. The party say the time is not ripe.

“That is the position of the party. And they listened. We have tabled the matter”

“One of the thing they are doing for you now, is that we should attach you to all political appointees who are working for the party, who keep defending the President from lies of the detractors and those who are against him. They want to downgrade the government.

“There have not been a government like this in the history of the nation. And i am not playing politics. Show me any government that has done much than President Buhari that has direct link with the masses.

He continued; “If you go to the villages, the camps are full with people taking their 20k from the PWF. everywhere in Nigeria. People are having accessi.

“The president has thrown his door open for everybody. It doesn’t matter which party you belong. In the days of PDP, it was not so. It is either PDP or nothing. The President allows everyone to key into his program. As I am talking with you now, people are collecting loans and Covid-19 palliative. Go to the ministry of labour and you will find people collecting 450k to 1 million. And they are not saying anything. Nigerians are enjoying the program.

“And he is a listening President. We thank you the professionals. In the face of difficulties, frustration and in all, you still stand with the party. You still defend the President”.

He , however, urged the professionals to contest positions available in the country , promising to compensate them in the event of failure.

Meanwhile, National Coordinator of the APC Professional Forum , Akin Akintayo has restated the goal to continue stand as guardians to the core values that led to the formation of the party and to ask necessary questions whenever necessary. He said :

“During electioneering process, political parties goes into social contract with her citizens after election is won and concluded with primary responsibility to deliver social contract promised during the electionering campaigns. In this scenario, the Nigerian people voted for our party as a better alternative to PDP 2015 and 2019 respectively to rescue them from the misgovernance of the past.

“It is on this note, we as a responsible party, government, stakeholders should be asking ourselves; how far so far in the policy formulations and implementation in line with manifesto and agenda we promised Nigerians as a party”.

Senate Refuses To Intervene In Cement Prices

By
Ola Akinola
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0

The upper chamber of the National Assembly on Tuesday refused to intervene on what would have reduce the country’s cement prices.

In particular, the Senate made a proposal to reduce cement prices to the lowest price. The Senate’s action is a sequelae of the debate.

The motion was initiated by Senator Ashiru Oyelola Yisa (Kwara South) and five others and was titled “Nigeria Needs to Relax Cement Policy.”

“Urging the Senate to recommend that the Federal Government relax her current cement production policy, especially the permit restrictions, in order to attract more investors in order to provide Nigerians with more cement at a moderate price.

According to him, “Urged the Federal Government to set up a Committee to investigate anti-competitive practices by local cement producers; direct the cement industries in Nigeria to increase their production and reduce the price of 50 Kg of cement to barest minimum considering the de that the materials for its production are mainly sourced locally.”

The resolution, which eventually scaled through was the “Call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to provide more industrial incentives and industrial protections such as offering concessionary loans and larger tax incentives for new entrants in order to boost production of cements, reduce price and encourage more valuable producers in Nigeria.”

Findings by our correspondent revealed that China produces the most cement globally by a large margin, at an estimated 2.2 billion metric tons in 2020, followed by India at 340 million metric tons in the same year. China currently produces over half of the world’s cement. Global cement production is expected to increase from 3.27 billion metric tons in 2010 to 4.83 billion metric tons in 2030.

The recommendations rejected by the Senate, according to findings, would have helped the nation to move higher in cement production and by extension job creation.

Similarly, Senator Ibrahim Gobiri (Sokoto) said that liberalizing the policy will collapse the industry.

He said that they must protect their enterprise and industries, adding, “If you want to establish an industry go ahead and establish it.”

On his part, Sen. Sadiq Sulaiman (Gombe Central), noted that with the increase in unemployment cement industry is a critical commodity to provide jobs, stressing, “Senate must pay attention to the prayers.”

Leading debate on the motion, Senator Yisa noted that cement is one of the few building materials in which Nigeria is self-sufficient, adding that as at 2018, the installed capacity of cement producers was about 47.8MMT which is far above the estimated (2018) consumption of about 20.7MMT. “Yet, the prices of cement in Nigeria (N380) is about 240% higher than global average.”

The lawmaker pointed out that Cement takes a large share of domestic expenditure, and the price of such commodity significantly impacts the government’s ability to provide much-needed infrastructural works required for the growth of our economy.

According to him; “The recent increase in price of Cement (from N2,600 – N3,800) slowed down the amount of construction work being embarked upon thus negatively affecting labour engagement and almost collapsed the procurement plan of the governments in 2020 Appropriation Act;

“The Nigerian cement market is oligopolistic in nature with three players (Dangote Cement (60.6%); Lafarge Africa Plc (21.8%) and BUA Group (17.6%) largely dominating the scene therefore making it susceptible to price fixing practices.

“If the status quo persists, the negative consequences of high prices on the economy will outweigh the benefits of producing cement locally.

“The significant rise in cement prices in the country and the low purchasing power of Nigerians may result in substandard building constructions and non-completion of planned infrastructural works.

“There is an urgent need to encourage more local production of cement to satisfy the demands of Nigeria with a steady growth rate of approximately 3% per annum; a housing deficit of 30 million units and less engagement of over 10.5 million workforce of the building and construction industry.

“Unfavourable government policies such as imposition of multiple taxes, erratic power supply, government ban on importation in violation of ECOWAS Trade liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and subsequent lifting of importation in favour of few producers have negative implications on the growth of our infrastructures.”

Civil Servants Can’t Continue To Operate In Old Ways And Expect New Results, Yemi-Esan

By
Ola Akinola
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0

The Head of the Federal Civil Service, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, warned on Tuesday that civil servants cannot continue to do things in the old order and expect the service to provide new results.

Yemi-Esan made the above statement in Abuja on Tuesday, when the African Governance Initiative (AIG) formally handed over the Federal Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) Office of the Head of Civil Service.

She explained that in today’s technological advancement and digital age, the civil service system cannot lag behind or operate in isolation.

She underscored the need for civil servants to embrace new ways of doing things to ensure effective service delivery.

According to her; “We certainly cannot continue to do things in the old order and expect new results. To keep abreast therefore, the Civil Service must continue to be dynamic and innovative,” she said.

“What we are witnessing here today therefore is a clear testament of our resolve to embrace new ways of doing things that promote the delivery of services in an effective and efficient manner, and evolve to a world class service towards the realisation of a new civil service of our dreams.

“It therefore behooves us as custodians of public interest to avail ourselves of opportunities such as the SOPs will present to us to improve our capacities and competencies for enhanced productivity and self- development instead of always depending on support from the system,”.

To enthrench digitalisation and efficient service delivery in the service, Yemi-Esan said her Office in partnership with AIG, has initiated plans to obtain relevant International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification which is an independent, non- governmental, international organization that develops standards to ensure the quality, safety, and efficiency of products, services, and systems.

She further said her office was also working with SERVICOM to ensure compliance and effective implementation of SOPs across Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs).

Explaining the objectives of SOPs to the civil service, Yemi-Esan said, “the main objective of SOPs is to develop an effective system that complies with industry-specific regulations and standards, to significantly reduce or avoid operational errors as well as unwanted work variations.

“SOPs also ensure the
repeatability and consistency of the performance of any type of process.

“It helps employees to perform complicated tasks: ones in which remembering every detail of a procedure can be difficult or in which a precise sequence of steps is essential.

“It is instructive to note that in view of the importance of the SOP Manuals to the seamless implementation of the Enterprise Content Management Solution (ECMS) and in line with international best practices, the Office decided to take the lead and has gone further to approve the immediate Service-wide development of SOPs starting with four selected MDAs as pilot.

“These MDAs are the Federal Civil Service Commission, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, State House and the Federal Ministry of Transportation.”

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of AIG, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, lamented that over the years, Nigerian civil service had not developed SOPs for implementation.

Aig-Imoukhuede stressed the need for digitalisation of the civil service for efficient service delivery, adding that great institutions across the world operate on standards.

He further explained that AIG had partnered the OHCSF in the planning and developing of SOPs, noting that it would entrench continuity and sustainable development in the civil service.

COEASU Calls On FG On Speedy Passage of Colleges Act

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

The College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) called on the Minister of Education Adamu Adamu to vigorously promote the passage of the bill in order to review the “College of Education Act”, which has yet to be considered by National Assembly.

According to COEASU President Nuhu Ogirima,the passage of the bill and the final approval of the President, Muhammadu Buhari will undoubtedly bring new light to the education colleges, especially the six recent onesupgraded to a federal institution.

On the Composition of the Management Officers/Principal Officers and Governing Councils of the six (6) new FCEs, COEASU lauded the Federal Government for the manifestation of the rare spirit of confidence and trust exhibited in considering a good percentage of those appointed into the various leadership positions.

It said the Union is not oblivious of the limitations or constraints imposed by the Acts establishing the COEs and the NCCE, currently undergoing appropriate legislative process at the National Assembly, which may have informed some decisions on choice of officers.

Ogirima added that, if anything, such a development should rather be seen as strengthening inter-institutional bonds and the promotion of cross-breeding of intellectual ideas among academics in tertiary institutions.

He said in the interim, the fulfillment of pledge to repositioning the sector and government’s recourse to merit in these appointments rather than primordial considerations coupled with the uncommon political will to establish the new colleges is a proof of FGN’s pragmatic sense of purpose to ease access to tertiary teacher-education.

The COEASU Boss took to a statement on Tuesday in Abuja to commend the government, where he equally emphasized the need to be purposive and comprehensive in handing over the instructional mandate of the various institutions to the appointed Provosts of the six colleges.

The Federal Ministry of Education and the National Commission For Colleges of Education NCCE should properly guide the processes of accessing the funding windows available to enable the systematic but firm take-off of the institutions.

He further stated that, “Such processes need take cognizance of the noble anti-corruption policy of the FGN. To us as a Union, the composition of the various bodies is a step towards fulfilling the age-long quest for efficiency, consistent with the statute, in service delivery.

“Councils need be cognizant of their roles and should, as much as possible, avoid the overbearing tendencies more often than not exerted on College Managements. The FME would need to address this critical concern with the desired urgency, given its implication on industrial relations in the institutions.”

Arik Air Resumes Direct Flights From Lagos to Kano

By
Gladys Phillip
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0


Arik Air is resuming direct flights from the nation’s commercial capital, Lagos to the ancient city of Kano effective from today Tuesday, April 27, 2021.

Arik said the three weekly flights would operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

This was contained in a statement by the spokesman for the airline, Mr. Adebanji Ola stated that the decision to re-introduce direct flights between Lagos and Kano was informed by the importance of both cities as centres of commerce.

Arik Air has always been known for the promotion of economic activities among the components states of Nigeria, he added.

Commenting on the new route, Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Arik Air, the management was delighted to return flight services to Kano.

According to him ; “We are pleased to announce the return of services to the ancient city of Kano. Our flights will offer our customers the advantage of direct air travel between Lagos and Kano.

“Customers on this route should expect the traditional Arik Air hospitality and exceptional service that have become the hallmark of the airline.”

The statement advised customers to book online at www.arikair.com for cheaper fares or visit any of the airline’s Airport/City Ticketing offices.

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