EBERE WABARA

summons; pplural: summonses.

“It is the Federal Board that is alwaysy gguiltyy of that, because it is them who take riff-raffs as welfare officers.” (Nigeriang Tribune, Augustg 22) ‘Riff-raff’, jjust like ‘stuff’, is uncountable.

“Modern technologygy has reduced the world into (to) a hamlet where the inhabitants are their brothers’ keepers.”p This way:y brother’s keeperp (fixed idiom), irrespective of the number of people involved.

“The coincidence in the timingg of all those sleazyy ggossipsp in soft-sell magazinesg and the beginninggg of his fashion pparade….” ‘Gossip’, in this context, is uncountable.

“More overagedg pplayersy for yyouth soccer“(Sundayy Tribune, August 20) Get it right: overageg pplayers.y

“Residents of some of the troubled spotsp in Libyay in disarray”y (SATURDAY CHAMPION, August 26) Witness to lexical mayhem: trouble spots.

“…rummaginggg all the bagsg and ransackingg everyy nook and corner.” (Source: as above) Stock expression:p nook and cranny.y

Leadershipp of Augustg 21 disseminated seven improprieties:pp “The ppolice requiresq (require)q a redeemer who can upliftp the Force from the batteringg it (they)y suffered during the long years of militarization.”

“I inquiredq from those that appearpp to know and theyy said that the ppresident is (was) roaming the countryy in the name of campaigns.”pg

“There is (are) no electricity,y no security,y no water, no roads, no health facilities in Nigeria.”g

“Foreigng companiesp will be fallingg over themselves (one another) to come and invest here if we gget the 2019 elections right.”g

“...ggiven the lame-duck pposture of the opposipp ition pparties, the APC simply held sway from the onset (outset).”