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Thursday 30 October 2014

Emir Sanusi Reconciles with Jonathan.

The frosty relationship between President Goodluck Jonathan and the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, may be a thing of the past as information reaching DailyPost says the two have settled their difference.

According to Premium Times report, the two met at the Presidential Villa in Abuja today and reconciled. The peace meeting, initiated by Emir Sanusi, sources say had all the senior members of the Kano Emirate Council in attendance. The Vice President, Namadi Sambo, the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, Attorney General, Mohammed Adoke, and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Aminu Wali also attended the meeting.

Sanusi, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria stirred the controversy when he accused the Federal Government of diverting monies running into billions of dollars, with no accurate figure, as he kept quoting different figures as the missing money. He was fired in February this year after a Financial Reporting Council report indicted him of financial recklessness among other things.

He became the Emir of Kano after the death of the former Emir, Ado Bayero amid controversies, leading to his being turbaned at the Kano State Government House, a move many say was against the tradition and culture of the Kano Emirate.

Nigeria escapes FIFA ban once again as court dismisses case against NFF.

Nigeria on Thursday escaped being banned by FIFA as Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High court sitting in Jos, Plateau State striked out the case against the Amaju Pinnick-led board of NFF, after the Chris Giwa-led group withdrew its case.

It would be recalled that FIFA had given Nigeria till midday on Friday to sort out the issues with the NFF or be banned. At the resumed sitting of the court on Thursday, the judge announced the dismissal of the case following the withdrawal of the suit by the Chris Giwa-led group.

Allagoa said, “The suit is hereby dismissed as the plaintiffs have announced their intention to withdraw the case from the court.”

Counsel for the plaintiffs, Mr. Ardzard Habilla, who spoke after the ruling said “My client is well aware of the implication of another FIFA ban on Nigeria and has also listened to the appeals from well meaning Nigerians to withdraw the case from court.”

DEFECTION TO PDP: LP gives governor Mimiko 21 day ultimatum to resign.

The National Working Committee, NWC, of the Labour Party, LP, on Wednesday told Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko to respect constitution of the party and resign from office within 21 days.

It would be recalled that Mimiko was elected into office as an LP candidate but recently dumped the party for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The NWC of the Labour Party gave the ultimatum after a meeting in Abuja. The position of the LP was contained in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Ikpe Etokudo.

The statement reads: “The NWC came to the inevitable conclusion that the constitution of the republic and provision of relevant section of the electoral laws must be respected by Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and his new party – the PDP.

“The case of Dr. Boroffice who was elected as a Senator on the platform of our party but defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was cited. The NWC reminded Dr. Mimiko that he was so incensed by Boroffice’s action that he advised the party to approached the court for justice.

“The NWC warned all those concerned to take the path of honour immediately or should expect to defend their deliberate raping of the constitution of the country within next 21 days in court as well as be ready to face the wrath of workers of Ondo State in particular and the nation in general.”

$620,000 BRIBERY SCANDAL: Farouk Lawan fails to stop trial.

Former Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy, Farouk Lawan and the secretary of the committee, Boniface Emenalo, on Wednesday failed to delay the commencement of their trial. They are both accused of receiving $620,000 bribe from businessman, Femi Otedola, to influence the report of the committee in favour of Zenon Oil and Gas Limited which belongs to Otedola.

In her ruling, Justice Adebukola Banjoko, denied a stay of proceedings because there is no valid application before the court, indicating that they had filed an appeal at the appellate court challenging the jurisdiction of the court .

At a previous court sitting, counsel to the accused persons, Mr Mike Ozekhome, told the court that there is a pending appeal before the supreme court challenging the decision of the appeal court on jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter. But the prosecution counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, who opposed the argument, told the court that at the last sitting, the court gave an affirmative order stating that it would proceed with the matter irrespective of the appeal.

FG withdraws Tambuwal’s security detail over defection to APC.

According to reports reaching NUJ-Europe this morning, all the security detail attached to Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Waziri Tambuwal have been withdrawn by the Federal Government.

It would be recalled that Tambuwal had on Tuesday defected from the ruling PDP to the APC.
NUJ-Europe investigation revealed that Police force has disclosed it has withdrawn security aides attached to Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.

According to a reliable source, “early this morning, few minutes after midnight to be precise, top level security report informed the Speaker that orders have been given for the withdrawal of his security details,” a source said.

The source also added that Tambuwal was told that “a verdict will be entered against him by a Court in Abuja on Thursday. The thing here is that why not wait for the verdict before any action is taken? ”

The withdrawal of his security detail might not be unconnected with the plot by the PDP and Presidency to frustrate him over his defection, and ultimately unseat him.

The PDP had on Tuesday called on Tambuwal to do the needful by resigning his position as Speaker having left the party that brought him to the House of Representatives in 2011.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday also held an emergency meeting with PDP leaders, governors and top government officials over his defection, in what a source said was to reach a decision on Tambuwal’s defection.

Wednesday 29 October 2014

2015: Court To Hear Suit Against Jonathan’s Eligibility For Re-election Nov 5

The Appeal of Court, Abuja, on Wednesday fixed Nov. 5, for hearing in an application filed by PDP member, Dr Umar Ardo, seeking to be joined in a suit against President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid.

Ardo, a presidential aspirant from Adamawa brought the application to be joined in an appeal brought by Mr Cyriacus Njoku, challenging the eligibility of President Jonathan to seek re-election in 2015. Njoku, who originally filed the suit and lost at the lower court, appealed against the judgment.

The Justice Abubakar Yahaya-led Court of Appeal panel fixed the date after listening to the submissions of the counsel in the suit. At Wednesday’s resumed sitting, Dr Amuda Kannike (SAN), Ardo’s counsel, submitted that the respondents in the suit, that is, the President and the PDP, had filed separate counter-affidavits to his application.

Jonathan, through his lawyer, Mr Okeaya-Inneh (SAN) however, opposed the application and urged the court to dismiss it.

“The appellant has not shown sufficient interest in this appeal and how his interest will be affected by the outcome of the appeal,’’ Okeaya-Inneh said in his submission.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Justice Mubashiru Oniyangi of the FCT High Court had on March 1, 2013 decided the case in favour of Jonathan. Ardo was, however, not a party to the suit at the lower court. His counsel, Kannike in his submission, faulted the FCT High Court judgment. He argued among others, that the lower court’s decision raised “grave points of constitutional law and jurisprudence that is the first of its kind in Nigeria.’’

(NAN)

Why I stayed away from APC Special Convention—Atiku


Former Vice- President and leading presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has explained his decision to stay away from Wednesday’s Special Convention of the party.

Atiku made the disclosure via his official facebook account (Atiku Abubakar), which boast of 390,408 likes, saying that he was unable to return from a business trip abroad as earlier scheduled to make it to the convention.

“I was scheduled to return to Nigeria yesterday from a quick business trip abroad, but could not, due to last minute logistics changes. This is why I couldn’t attend the APC Special Convention. Apologies to leaders & supporters of our great party, who were expecting me -AA,” he posted on his facebook’s wall.

The Special convention was convened to approve the party’s amended constitution and adopt its revised six point manifesto. It was also an avenue for all the other presidential aspirants to address party’s delegates.

Former military dictator, General Mohammadu Buhari, Kano state governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, his Imo state counterpart Rochas Okorocha, and Leadership newspaper publisher Nda Isaiah addressed the convention.

Culled from Vanguard.

Why the Super Eagles have been performing poorly – Jonathan.

Why the Super Eagles have been performing poorly – Jonathan.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday revealed the reasons why the country’s male national team, super eagles, have been performing poorly of recent.

According to Jonathan, the eagles poor performance is due to internal crises. The president made this known when the Super Falcons formally presented the golden trophy they won at the just-concluded 2014 African Women’s Soccer Championship in Windhoek, Namibia to him.

Minister of Sports, Tamuno Danagogo, led the team’s captain, coach and other officials to present the trophy to Jonathan shortly before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting. Jonathan commended the falcons for doing the country proud and said a team can only succeed when there is discipline and commitment. “Today, we are quite pleased to receive the cup from you. You have made the country proud. Nigeria is known to be a soccer country.

“The male teams have been doing very well. But somehow sometimes, because of certain internal crises, we tend to lag behind. “But the female teams have been doing wonderfully well. We didn’t expect that you would win, but still, that you won for this country is remarkable.

“We thank you for your commitment because it requires discipline to achieve this height. No matter how good you are, even in the academics, you see brilliant boys and girls who ordinarily would have made first class but because of lack of discipline, they don’t make it.

“So, if there is no discipline, you cannot excel in anything. You have the skills but you have also shown discipline that made you excel. We will continue to adore you,” Jonathan said.

He also said he will formally receive the super falcons on 5 November in order for the Federal Government to properly appreciate them. Danagogo while presenting the trophy to Jonathan said he’s (Jonathan) tenacity and support was the reason the falcons won the trophy.

Press Statement : NWC Seals Akwa-Ibom Governorship For Eket Senatorial Zone

Press Statement

NWC Seals Akwa-Ibom Governorship For Eket Senatorial Zone

After a review of the decision of the enlarged State Executive Committee
of Akwa-Ibom state, the National Working committee (NWC) has accepted
and fully endorsed the decision to zone the Akwa-Ibom state governorship
position to Eket Senatorial Zone.

Accordingly, the NWC expects that only aspirants from Eket Senatorial
Zone will present themselves for the governorship primary election in
the state.

In the spirit of internal democracy, the NWC promises that there will be
free, fair and transparent congresses. Aspirants from Eket Senatorial
Zone are therefore encouraged to fully participate in the process.

Signed:

Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary
29/10/2014

Atiku absent as APC holds Extra-ordinary Convention

Happening Now: Atiku absent as APC holds Extra-ordinary Convention.

The opposition All Progressives Congress, APC is currently holding its extra-ordinary convention to approve its amended constitution and adopt its revised six point manifesto without a frontline presidential aspirant, former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Though the convention may not have anything to do with its planned primaries slated for first week of December, 2014, one of the major aspects of the convention, as monitored by DailyPost, was the address made by presidential aspirants of the party at the convention. While the former VP was conspicuously missing at the convention, other aspirants, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, Gov. Rochas Okorocha, Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso and Leadership Newspaper publisher, Nda Isaiah addressed the convention.

It will recalled that there has been rumours about the possibility of the former VP leaving the party for the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM to actualize his presidential ambition. The Atiku media has however denied the report. His absence has again led to the question as to whether he is still considering other options. DailyPost observed that no reason was given for his (Atiku) absence, even as no one spoke on his behalf.

Culled from DailyPost
Nigeria

Tuesday 28 October 2014

Sex with 21 women lowers risk of prostate cancer, academics find

The University of Montreal has found that men who had sex with more than 20 women lower their prostate cancer risk

Sleeping with more than 20 women protects men against prostate cancer, a study has suggested.

Men who had slept with more than 20 women lowered their risk of developing cancer by almost one third, and were 19 per cent less likely to develop the most aggressive form.

In contrast, men who slept with 20 men doubled their risk of developing prostate cancer compared with men who have never had sex with another man.

Researchers at the University of Montreal believe that intercourse protects men, and men who are more promiscuous have more sex than those in monogamous relationships.

However, for homosexual men the benefit is lost because of the increased risk of picking up a sexually transmitted disease, and the damage to their bodies from intercourse. However gay men with just one partner are at no greater risk.

"It is possible that having many female sexual partners results in a higher frequency of ejaculations, whose protective effect against prostate cancer has been previously observed in cohort studies," said lead researcher Dr Marie-Elise Parent.

Sleeping with more than 20 women reduces risk of prostate cancer by nearly one third.

But when asked whether public health authorities should recommend men to sleep with many women in their lives Dr Parent added: "We're not there yet."

The study looked at more than 3,200 men over a four year period between 2005 and 2009.

Overall, men with prostate cancer were twice as likely to have a relative with cancer. However, the researchers were surprised to find that the number of sexual partners also affected the development of their cancer.

Men who said they had never had sexual intercourse were almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer as those who said they had.

When a man has slept with more than 20 women during his lifetime there was a 28 per cent reduction in the risk of having prostate cancer, and a 19 per cent reduction for aggressive types of cancer.

On the other hand, those who have slept with more than 20 men are twice as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer of all types compared to those who have never slept with a man.

And their risk of having a less aggressive prostate cancer increases by 500 per cent compared to those who have had only one male partner.

Dr Parent said that she could only formulate "highly speculative" hypotheses to explain the association.

"It could come from greater exposure to STIs, or it could be that anal intercourse produces physical trauma to the prostate," she said.

Previous studies have found that sexual intercourse may have a protective effect against prostate cancer because it reduces the concentration of carcinogenic crystal-like substances in the fluid of the prostate.

The study, published in the Journal Cancer Epidemiology is the first to find a link between the number of sexual partners and the risk of developing cancer.

"We were fortunate to have participants from Montreal who were comfortable talking about their sexuality, no matter what sexual experiences they have had, and this openness would probably not have been the same 20 or 30 years ago," said lead researcher Dr Marie-Elise Parent.

"Indeed, thanks to them, we now know that the number and type of partners must be taken into account to better understand the causes of prostate cancer."

By Sarah Knapton, Science Editor. Telegraph.co.uk

Sunday 26 October 2014

Adeleke Appointed State Chairman, Ondo State PDP Care-Take-Care Committee

The former National Youth Leader, South West Zone of Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Honourable Dare Adeleke has been appointed State Chairman, Care-Take-Care Committee of the Ondo State PDP as the National Publicity Secretary, Olisah Metuh announced the dissolution of all levels of the executives in Ondo State by the National Working Committee of the party.

It was a welcome development over the weekend as the biggest political party in Africa PDP dissolved Ondo Excos and caretaker committee was constituted. The National Working Committee (NWC) of PDP dissolved the State Committee of the PDP in Ondo State with immediate effect.

According to a Statement issued and signed by the party's  National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Olisa Metuh, the party noted that with the latest announcement, all structures of the party at the ward, local government and state levels stand dissolved. Consequently, a Caretaker Committee has been constituted to pilot the affairs of the state chapter of the party.

The Committee has Hon. Dare Adeleke as Chairman and Hon. Dare Solomon Osawu as Secretary. It urged all members of the party in Ondo state to continue to work together in harmony, as the party was confident more than ever of its total domination of Ondo politics, especially with the rejoining of its political family by the hardworking governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Olusegun Mimiko.

Saturday 25 October 2014

MEET THE MAN WHO TAMED NIGERIA'S LAWLESS CITY

FASHOLA famously claims to be "just doing his job". But in a land where politicians are known for doing anything but, that alone has been enough to make Babatunde Fashola, boss of the vast Nigerian city of Lagos, a very popular man.

Confounding the image of Nigerian leaders as corrupt and incompetent, the 51-year-old governor has won near-celebrity status for transforming west Africa's biggest city, cleaing up its crime-ridden slums and declaring war on corrupt police and civil servants.

Next month, he will come to London to meet business leaders and Mayor Boris Johnson's officials, wooing investors with talk of how he has spent the last seven years building new transport hubs and gleaming business parks.

Yet arguably his biggest achievement in office took place just last week, and was done without a bulldozer in sight. That was when his country was officially declared free of Ebola, which first spread to Nigeria three months ago when Patrick Sawyer, an infected Liberian diplomat, flew into Lagos airport.

Health officials had long feared that the outbreak, which has already claimed nearly 5,000 lives elsewhere in west Africa, would reach catastrophic proportions were it to spread through Lagos. One of the largest cities in the world, it is home to an estimated 17 million people, many of them living in sprawling shanty towns that would have become vast reservoirs for infection. To make matters worse, when the outbreak first happened, medics were on strike.

Instead, Mr Fashola turned a looming disaster into a public health and PR triumph. Breaking off from a trip overseas, he took personal charge of the operation to track down and quarantine nearly 1,000 people feared to have been infected since Mr Sawyer's arrival.

Last week, what would have been a formidably complex operation in any country came to a successful end, when the World Health Organisation announced that since Nigeria had had no new cases for six weeks, it was now officially rid of the virus.

"This is a spectacular success story," said Rui Gama Vaz, a WHO spokesman, who prompted an applause when he broke the news at a press conference in Nigeria on Tuesday. "It shows that Ebola can be contained."

A school official takes a pupil's temperature in front of the school premises in Lagos (Reuters)

The WHO announcement was a rare glimmer of hope in the fight against Ebola, and even rarer vote of confidence in a branch of the Nigerian government, which was heavily criticised over its response to the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls by the Boko Haram insurgent group in April. As a columninst in Nigeria's Leadership newspaper put it last week: "For once, we did not underachieve."

For Mr Fashola's many supporters, it is also yet more proof that the 51-year-old ex-lawyer is a future president in the making, a much-needed technocrat in a country dominated far too long by ageing "Big Men" and ex-generals.

"He is the best governor we have ever had," said Odun Babalola, a Lagos-based pension fund portfolio manager. "He's made a lot of progress in schools, railways, and infrastructure, and unlike a lot of politicians, who are corrupt, he's a good administrator."

True, the successful tackling of the Ebola outbreak was not Mr Fashola's doing alone. For a start, the doctor's strike that was under way when Mr Sawyer collapsed at Lagos airport turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Rather than being taken to one of Lagos's vast public hospitals, where he might have languished for hours and infected numerous fellow patients and staff, he was instead admitted to a private clinic. There he was seen by a sharp-eyed consultant, Stella Adadevoh, who spotted that his symptoms were not malaria as had been first thought.

She then alerted the Nigerian health ministry, and along with other doctors physically restrained Sawyer when he became aggressive and tried to leave the hospital to fly to another Nigerian city. Her quick thinking help stop the virus being spread more widely, but also cost her her life: she caught Ebola herself while treating Mr Sawyer, and has now been recommended for a national award.

Patrick Sawyer (AP)

But even by the time Mr Sawyer had been isolated, the virus was already on the loose. Knowing that he had passed through one of the busiest airports in west Africa, health officials had to try to track down every single person who had potentially been infected by him, including the other passengers on his flight. The list started at 281 people and grew to nearly 1,000. as eight others whom he turned out to have passed the virus to subsequently died.

That was where Mr Fashola stepped in. He broke off from a pilgrimage to Mecca, flew home and then helped set up an Ebola Emergency Operations Centre, which spearheaded the mammoth task of monitoring all those potentially infected. A team of 2,000 officials were trained for the task, who ended up knocking on 26,000 doors. At one point the governor was being briefed up to ten times a day by disease control experts. He made a point of visiting the country's Ebola treatment centre, a way of communicating to the Nigerian public that they should not panic needlessly.

"Command and control is very important in fighting disease outbreaks, and he provided effective leadership," said Dr Ike Anya, a London-based Nigerian public health expert. "He also said exactly the right things, urging for the need to keep calm. Regardless of whether you support his politics, he has been very effective as a governor and I would be happy to see him stand for leadership."

Born into a prominent Muslim family but married to a Christian, Mr Fashola trained as a lawyer and went into politics after being appointed chief of staff by the previous Lagos governor, Asiwaju Tinubu, a powerful politician often described as Mr Fashola's "Godfather". But while he has long enjoyed the backing of a political "Big Man", is his role as a rare defender of Nigeria's "Little Men" that has won him most support.

Once, while driving through Lagos in his convoy, he famously stopped an army colonel who was driving illegally in one of the governor's newly-built bus lanes, berating him in front of television cameras.

"The bus is for those who cannot afford to buy cars," he said. "I want a zero tolerance of lawlesness, and those who don't want to comply can leave our state."

It was one of the first times Nigerians had ever seen a civil servant confronting a member of the security forces, whose fondness for committing crime rather than fighting it has long contributed to Lagos's legendary reputation for lawlessness.

Armed robberies - sometimes by moonlighting police - used to be so common that few people ventured out after dark. Foreign businessmen would routinely travel with armed escorts, and the few willing to live there would stay mainly in a heavily-guarded diplomatic area called Victoria Island, a rough equivalent to Baghdad's Green Zone. Add to that the suffocating smog, widespread squalor and regular three-hour traffic jams, and it was no suprise that the city had a reputation as one of the worst places in the world to live.

Today, much of the problems remain. But members of the vast Nigerian diaspora say they now notice big changes whenever they go back. "When you return you see an absolute difference - things have improved 100 per cent," said Nels Abbey, a London-based Nigerian journalist and businessman. "Traffic is not what it used to be, bus lanes have been introduced, and it feels a lot safer. Fashola has been like a Tory mayor for Lagos - he is trying to make it attractive to the well-off."

Lagos, Nigeria (AP)

Styling himself as Lagos's answer to Boris Johnson has not endeared him to everyone. As well as laying plans for a vast offshore business park intended as an "African Dubai", he has accelerated programs to clear the ever-expanding shanty towns, ordering their occupants to return to their homes in Nigeria's poorest east and north. That has led to criticism from human rights groups, although others say it is hard to see how Lagos will ever improve otherwise. "Do I endorse it?" said Mr Nels. "I am afraid it is a bit of a necessary evil."

Another big achievement has been increasing tax revenues, vital in a city where the GDP of $43 billion makes it the fifth-biggest economy in sub-Saharan Africa. Mr Fashola has tried to sweeten the pill by putting up signs on all new infrasructure projects, saying "paid for by your taxes". It is a rare acknowledgement of gratitude in a country where a guaranteed stream of state oil wealth has historically allowed rulers to remain aloof from the ruled.

However, despite being relected with 80 per cent of the vote in 2011, the main hailed as Nigeria's brightest political hope in years is far from guaranteed a life in office. Having served two terms in office already, he is not allowed to run as Lagos governor again. And as a member of a minority tribe and the country's opposition All Progressives Congress, he currently lacks the political backing to go head to head against Goodluck Jonathan in next year's elections.

In the meantime, fresh from ridding Lagos of Ebola, he is focusing on an arguably even tougher challenge, launching a new initiative to stop motorists stuck in traffic jams from blasting their horns all day. As he put it: "If we can overcome Ebola, then we can overcome noise pollution."

Source : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/nigeria/11184759/Meet-the-man-who-tamed-Nigerias-most-lawless-city.html

Friday 24 October 2014

MEET THE MAN WHO TAMED NIGERIA'S MOST LAWLESS CITY

He famously claims to be "just doing his job". But in a land where politicians are known for doing anything but, that alone has been enough to make Babatunde Fashola, boss of the vast Nigerian city of Lagos, a very popular man.

Confounding the image of Nigerian leaders as corrupt and incompetent, the 51-year-old governor has won near-celebrity status for transforming west Africa's biggest city, cleaing up its crime-ridden slums and declaring war on corrupt police and civil servants.

Next month, he will come to London to meet business leaders and Mayor Boris Johnson's officials, wooing investors with talk of how he has spent the last seven years building new transport hubs and gleaming business parks.

Yet arguably his biggest achievement in office took place just last week, and was done without a bulldozer in sight. That was when his country was officially declared free of Ebola, which first spread to Nigeria three months ago when Patrick Sawyer, an infected Liberian diplomat, flew into Lagos airport.

Health officials had long feared that the outbreak, which has already claimed nearly 5,000 lives elsewhere in west Africa, would reach catastrophic proportions were it to spread through Lagos. One of the largest cities in the world, it is home to an estimated 17 million people, many of them living in sprawling shanty towns that would have become vast reservoirs for infection. To make matters worse, when the outbreak first happened, medics were on strike.

Instead, Mr Fashola turned a looming disaster into a public health and PR triumph. Breaking off from a trip overseas, he took personal charge of the operation to track down and quarantine nearly 1,000 people feared to have been infected since Mr Sawyer's arrival.

Last week, what would have been a formidably complex operation in any country came to a successful end, when the World Health Organisation announced that since Nigeria had had no new cases for six weeks, it was now officially rid of the virus.

"This is a spectacular success story," said Rui Gama Vaz, a WHO spokesman, who prompted an applause when he broke the news at a press conference in Nigeria on Tuesday. "It shows that Ebola can be contained."

A school official takes a pupil's temperature in front of the school premises in Lagos (Reuters)

The WHO announcement was a rare glimmer of hope in the fight against Ebola, and even rarer vote of confidence in a branch of the Nigerian government, which was heavily criticised over its response to the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls by the Boko Haram insurgent group in April. As a columninst in Nigeria's Leadership newspaper put it last week: "For once, we did not underachieve."

For Mr Fashola's many supporters, it is also yet more proof that the 51-year-old ex-lawyer is a future president in the making, a much-needed technocrat in a country dominated far too long by ageing "Big Men" and ex-generals.

"He is the best governor we have ever had," said Odun Babalola, a Lagos-based pension fund portfolio manager. "He's made a lot of progress in schools, railways, and infrastructure, and unlike a lot of politicians, who are corrupt, he's a good administrator."

True, the successful tackling of the Ebola outbreak was not Mr Fashola's doing alone. For a start, the doctor's strike that was under way when Mr Sawyer collapsed at Lagos airport turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Rather than being taken to one of Lagos's vast public hospitals, where he might have languished for hours and infected numerous fellow patients and staff, he was instead admitted to a private clinic. There he was seen by a sharp-eyed consultant, Stella Adadevoh, who spotted that his symptoms were not malaria as had been first thought.

She then alerted the Nigerian health ministry, and along with other doctors physically restrained Sawyer when he became aggressive and tried to leave the hospital to fly to another Nigerian city. Her quick thinking help stop the virus being spread more widely, but also cost her her life: she caught Ebola herself while treating Mr Sawyer, and has now been recommended for a national award.


Patrick Sawyer (AP)

But even by the time Mr Sawyer had been isolated, the virus was already on the loose. Knowing that he had passed through one of the busiest airports in west Africa, health officials had to try to track down every single person who had potentially been infected by him, including the other passengers on his flight. The list started at 281 people and grew to nearly 1,000. as eight others whom he turned out to have passed the virus to subsequently died.

That was where Mr Fashola stepped in. He broke off from a pilgrimage to Mecca, flew home and then helped set up an Ebola Emergency Operations Centre, which spearheaded the mammoth task of monitoring all those potentially infected. A team of 2,000 officials were trained for the task, who ended up knocking on 26,000 doors. At one point the governor was being briefed up to ten times a day by disease control experts. He made a point of visiting the country's Ebola treatment centre, a way of communicating to the Nigerian public that they should not panic needlessly.

"Command and control is very important in fighting disease outbreaks, and he provided effective leadership," said Dr Ike Anya, a London-based Nigerian public health expert. "He also said exactly the right things, urging for the need to keep calm. Regardless of whether you support his politics, he has been very effective as a governor and I would be happy to see him stand for leadership."

Born into a prominent Muslim family but married to a Christian, Mr Fashola trained as a lawyer and went into politics after being appointed chief of staff by the previous Lagos governor, Asiwaju Tinubu, a powerful politician often described as Mr Fashola's "Godfather". But while he has long enjoyed the backing of a political "Big Man", is his role as a rare defender of Nigeria's "Little Men" that has won him most support.

Once, while driving through Lagos in his convoy, he famously stopped an army colonel who was driving illegally in one of the governor's newly-built bus lanes, berating him in front of television cameras.

"The bus is for those who cannot afford to buy cars," he said. "I want a zero tolerance of lawlesness, and those who don't want to comply can leave our state."

It was one of the first times Nigerians had ever seen a civil servant confronting a member of the security forces, whose fondness for committing crime rather than fighting it has long contributed to Lagos's legendary reputation for lawlessness.

Armed robberies - sometimes by moonlighting police - used to be so common that few people ventured out after dark. Foreign businessmen would routinely travel with armed escorts, and the few willing to live there would stay mainly in a heavily-guarded diplomatic area called Victoria Island, a rough equivalent to Baghdad's Green Zone. Add to that the suffocating smog, widespread squalor and regular three-hour traffic jams, and it was no suprise that the city had a reputation as one of the worst places in the world to live.

Today, much of the problems remain. But members of the vast Nigerian diaspora say they now notice big changes whenever they go back. "When you return you see an absolute difference - things have improved 100 per cent," said Nels Abbey, a London-based Nigerian journalist and businessman. "Traffic is not what it used to be, bus lanes have been introduced, and it feels a lot safer. Fashola has been like a Tory mayor for Lagos - he is trying to make it attractive to the well-off."

Lagos, Nigeria (AP)

Styling himself as Lagos's answer to Boris Johnson has not endeared him to everyone. As well as laying plans for a vast offshore business park intended as an "African Dubai", he has accelerated programs to clear the ever-expanding shanty towns, ordering their occupants to return to their homes in Nigeria's poorest east and north. That has led to criticism from human rights groups, although others say it is hard to see how Lagos will ever improve otherwise. "Do I endorse it?" said Mr Nels. "I am afraid it is a bit of a necessary evil."

Another big achievement has been increasing tax revenues, vital in a city where the GDP of $43 billion makes it the fifth-biggest economy in sub-Saharan Africa. Mr Fashola has tried to sweeten the pill by putting up signs on all new infrasructure projects, saying "paid for by your taxes". It is a rare acknowledgement of gratitude in a country where a guaranteed stream of state oil wealth has historically allowed rulers to remain aloof from the ruled.

However, despite being relected with 80 per cent of the vote in 2011, the main hailed as Nigeria's brightest political hope in years is far from guaranteed a life in office. Having served two terms in office already, he is not allowed to run as Lagos governor again. And as a member of a minority tribe and the country's opposition All Progressives Congress, he currently lacks the political backing to go head to head against Goodluck Jonathan in next year's elections.

In the meantime, fresh from ridding Lagos of Ebola, he is focusing on an arguably even tougher challenge, launching a new initiative to stop motorists stuck in traffic jams from blasting their horns all day. As he put it: "If we can overcome Ebola, then we can overcome noise pollution."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/nigeria/11184759/Meet-the-man-who-tamed-Nigerias-most-lawless-city.html

20 COUNTRIES EFFECT VISA BAN ON NIGERIANS!

Please consult the authorities of your country of destinations if you are  and or have had to be travelling from Nigeria as the following countries have imposed visa and entry restrictions on Nigerians:

Belize announced on 18 October that it will stop issuing visas for nationals of Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria. Sierra Leone nationals, who do not need visas to enter Belize, will also be banned. In addition, travellers who have visited any of the aforementioned countries in the past 30 days will be prohibited from entering the country.

Colombia imposed an entry ban from 14 October on any traveller who has visited Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal or Sierra Leone in the past four weeks. The restriction would also reportedly apply to Colombian nationals.

The Dominican Republic has banned entry to travellers who have been in the following countries in the past 30 days: Sierra Leone, Senegal, Liberia, Guinea, and Nigeria, as well as any countries that the World Health Organization has deemed to be affected by the Ebola virus.

Guyana announced on 16 October that visas will not be issued to nationals from Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Furthermore, health officials will screen travellers who have visited these countries in the six weeks prior to their arrival in Guyana.

St Vincent and the Grenadines has banned visitors from Guinea, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

Trinidad and Tobago announced on 16 October that it would deny entry to nationals of Congo (DRC), Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. In addition, travellers who have visited any of the aforementioned countries in the past six weeks will be quarantined for 21 days upon arrival.

The United States announced that beginning 22 October, any passengers beginning their travels in Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea will only be able to enter the country through the following airports: JFK International Airport (JFK, New York state), Newark International Airport (EWR, New Jersey), Dulles International Airport (IAD, Washington, DC), Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL, Georgia) or Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD, Illinois).

Kenya on 10 October announced that it had closed the Suam border crossing (Trans-Nzoia county) with Uganda due to reports of an Ebola-related death in Bukwo district (Uganda). Earlier, the Kenyan authorities on 19 August suspended entry of passengers travelling from and through Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, excluding health professionals supporting efforts to contain the outbreak and Kenyan citizens.

Mauritius on 8 October banned entry to all travellers who have visited Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Senegal and Congo (DRC) in the last two months, rather than just citizens of those countries, as was the case previously. The authorities have announced that entry restrictions for travellers from Senegal and Nigeria will be lifted on 10 October and 17 October respectively, if no further cases of Ebola infection are reported.

Seychelles on 8 October suspended entry to travellers who have visited Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Nigeria or Congo (DRC) 28 days prior to their journey, with the exception of Seychellois citizens.

Equatorial Guinea is denying entry to travellers whose journeys originated in countries affected by Ebola.

Cameroon on 17 September reopened its borders to travellers from Senegal. An 18 August ban remains in place on travel from Nigeria, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states – Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe – have stated that travellers coming from Ebola-affected countries (according to the World Health Organisation, WHO) would be monitored for 21 days and that travel to member countries for any gatherings would be discouraged. The SADC provided no details as to how member countries will carry out the associated screening and follow-up and it is likely that countries will have individual processes. There are also reports that some countries require health documentation for entry. 
Travellers are advised to contact the embassy or health ministry of their destination country to clarify their individual circumstances and prepare their trips accordingly.

Namibia's foreign ministry on 11 September announced that foreigners travelling from countries affected by Ebola would be prohibited from entering the country.

Gambia on 1 September suspended entry of persons who have visited Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone or Nigeria in the 21 days prior to travel. Those travelling indirectly from any of the aforementioned countries to Gambia via another country also come under this measure.
Gabon stated on 22 August that it is restricting the issuance of entry visas to travellers from Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria on a case-by-case basis.

Chad on 21 August closed its land border with Nigeria at Lake Chad. The country previously reportedly banned the entry of any travellers originating or transiting through Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria or Sierra Leone, with airlines serving the country reportedly rerouting flights.

Flights and other transport

Countries that have implemented Ebola-related travel restrictions:
Gambia has banned the entry of flights from Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
Gabon has banned the entry of flights and ships from countries affected by Ebola.

Senegal has banned flights from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Cameroon has banned flights to and from Nigeria.Chad has suspended all flights from Nigeria.
Nigeria has suspended flights to the country operated by Gambian national carrier Gambia Bird.

Côte d'Ivoire has now lifted the ban on passenger flights from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Details of airlines that have restricted flights to Ebola-affected countries:
Air France suspended flights to Sierra Leone from 28 August.
The Togo-based carrier Asky Airlines has suspended flights to and from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Arik Air (Nigeria), Gambia Bird and Kenya Airways have suspended services to Liberia and Sierra Leone.
British Airways has extended their suspension of flights to Liberia and Sierra Leone until 31 December.
Emirates Airlines has suspended flights to Guinea.
Korean Air suspended flights to and from Kenya from 20 August.
Senegal Airlines has suspended flights to and from Conakry (Guinea) until further notice.

Other airlines have modified their routes but are still operating regular scheduled services. These include:
Royal Air Maroc
Brussels Airlines.
Medical screening
Entry and exit health screening is now in place in numerous countries throughout West Africa and is being introduced in Europe and North America countries as well; related measures can include the partial closure of land borders, ports and river crossings in an effort to restrict cross-border travel. Members should allow additional time to pass through medical screening and not travel if they are sick. Staff should continue to monitor local media and this website for developments.

Travel Advice Summary

Defer non-essential travel to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. 
Travellers flying from countries affected by Ebola should enquire with the relevant embassies or health ministries about any requirements conditioning entry at their destination, and prepare accordingly.
Reconfirm bookings on all regional routes as increased demand is likely. We do not hold information on specific flights.
If your flight is disrupted because of suspected Ebola cases, contact the Assistance Centre for additional advice and support with onward travel.
Allow additional time during arrival and departure to pass through enhanced medical screening.

Do not travel if you are sick. Persons with fever or other Ebola-like symptoms may be taken to designated centres or have entry/exit denied.

Thursday 23 October 2014

Opinion: Nigeria Must Not Send Ebola Volunteers To West Africa.

These are the reasons why no a single Nigerian volunteers should go to Ebola endemic west African countries.

I am against this Commando move of Nigeria sending her first set of 250 volunteers to other parts of West Africa hit by the Ebola . Its definitely a suicidal mission that have no gain.

My reasons are as follows;

1. Fellow African nations and their envious senseless citizens NEVER appreciated Nigeria's assistance in the past. Example; South Africa, Zimbabwe, Liberia, Chad, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Sudan and many more

2. Nigeria survived the Ebola spread because non of the Northern Nigeria states contacted it. Had it been any of the Northern states contacted the virus, the Nigerian Ebola story could have been worst than Liberia. Hence, most of these west African countries shares illiteracy attitude in common with the Northern region of Nigeria. Main reason why Ebola spread like wild fire there, and trying to assist them is like going on suicide mission.

3. Nigeria is  facing so many challenges at home which need to be solved. Hence, Nigeria need not to part take on a mission that will complicate her challenges. Nigeria leaders should try first to solve the problems the country is facing before going to other countries to make names.

4. Look at the issue of insecurity, is any country sincerely helping Nigeria? Even to buy arms from other countries to fight terrorists in Nigeria have been a huge challenge. US said no. South Africa said no, and have been making us look foolish before the world. 

5. There will be deadliest Ebola chapter two if Nigeria refused to take serious caution by not putting red alert on its porous borders, and insist on sending innocent Nigerians to the affected places. If the volunteers finally arrived Nigeria with the virus, it will be hard for any country to agree that Nigeria is Ebola free.

6. No matter how Nigeria tries to help other countries in Africa, these countries will not stop killing and insulting Nigerians. South Africa case should be an eye opener to those running the affairs of Nigeria.

Think Nigeria first !

This opinion was written by:
Henry Uche Iwuanyanwu

Sydey, Australia.

You can contact this writter via: zegenpolitics@gmail.com

Jonathan Finally Declares Re-Election Bid

President Goodluck Jonathan has finally declared his intention to run for a second term in office. The President, who made his intention known on Thursday disclosed that he will pick his nomination forms before the expiration of the deadline given to aspirants by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

He made this known in the course of a meeting with Governors elected on the PDP platform at the House 7 wing of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Anchor also gathered that the President has set up a committee which will be responsible for the picking of the form on Dr. Jonathan's return from Israel.

The PDP had announced on Wednesday that purchase of nomination forms would close on October 30.

Members of the committee set up by the President include former PDP National Chairman, Dr. Haliru Bello Mohammed, who is the Chairman, Dr. Ken Nnamani, Vice Chairman, Anyim Pius Anyim (Secretary), Rufa’i Ahmed Alkali (member), Julius Imagwe – SSA – Youth – (member), Baraka Sani (SSA -NSAP) (member).

Governors were also selected to represent zones; they include Liyel Imoke, Cross River (South South), Theodore Orji, Abia (South East), Olusegun Mimiko, Ondo (South West), Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu Niger (North Central), Ibrahim Shema, Katsina (North West) and Ibrahim Dankwambo, Gombe (North East).

The representatives at the National Assembly include Hosea Agbola, (Oyo), Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), Bitrus Kaze (Plateau) and Salmas Badru (Ogun).

Representatives of the Federal Executive Council include; Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dieziani Allison-Madueke ‎(Bayelsa), Minister of Police Affairs, Abduljelili Adesiyan (Osun), Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina (Adamawa), Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed (Bauchi).

Representatives of the PDP include; Deputy National Chairman, Uche Secondus‎ (Rivers), Benue State Chapter Chairman, Emmanuel Egbo, (Benue) National Women Leader, Kema Chikwe (Imo) and North West Zonal Chairman, Ibrahim Kazaure (Jigawa).

Other party members include: Stella Omu (Delta), Walid Jibirn (BOT Secretary, (Nasarawa), Ibrahim Bunu (Borno), Jolly Nyame (Taraba), Aneitie Okon (Akwa Ibom), Peter Obi (Anambra), Remi Adiuku Bakare (Lagos), and A. B. Mamman (PDP National Youth Leader) – FCT.

Others appointed at Presidential discretion include: Halima Alfa (Kogi), Nigeria Ambassador to Netherland, Nimota Nihinlola Akanbi (Kwara), FCT ALGON Chairman, Micah Yohanna Jiba ‎(FCT) and Sam Ikon (Akwa Ibom).
Members of the committee have hinted that the President is expected to formally declare.

Wednesday 22 October 2014

List of MOBO 2014 Award Winners

MOBO BEST GOSPEL ACT

° LIVING FAITH CONNECTION CHOIR

MOBO BEST AFRICAN ACT

° FUSE ODG

MOBO BEST NEWCOMER (IN ASSOCIATION WITH HTC)

° ELLA EYRE

MOBO BEST GRIME ACT (IN ASSOCIATION WITH 1XTRA)

° STORMZY

MOBO BEST HIP HOP ACT

° KREPT & KONAN

MOBO BEST R&B / SOUL ACT

° SAM SMITH

MOBO BEST REGGAE ACT

° STYLO G

MOBO BEST JAZZ ACT

° ZARA MCFARLANE

MOBO BEST SONG

° SAM SMITH – STAY WITH ME

MOBO BEST ALBUM

° SAM SMITH – IN THE LONELY HOUR

MOBO BEST FEMALE ACT

° JESSIE J

MOBO BEST MALE ACT

° SAM SMITH

© NUJ Europe

MOBO 2014 Award Winners

MOBO BEST GOSPEL ACT

° LIVING FAITH CONNECTION CHOIR

MOBO BEST AFRICAN ACT

° FUSE ODG

MOBO BEST NEWCOMER (IN ASSOCIATION WITH HTC)

° ELLA EYRE

MOBO BEST GRIME ACT (IN ASSOCIATION WITH 1XTRA)

° STORMZY

MOBO BEST HIP HOP ACT

° KREPT & KONAN

MOBO BEST R&B / SOUL ACT

° SAM SMITH

MOBO BEST REGGAE ACT

° STYLO G

MOBO BEST JAZZ ACT

° ZARA MCFARLANE

MOBO BEST SONG

° SAM SMITH – STAY WITH ME

MOBO BEST ALBUM

° SAM SMITH – IN THE LONELY HOUR

MOBO BEST FEMALE ACT

° JESSIE J

MOBO BEST MALE ACT

° SAM SMITH

© NUJ Europe

President Jonathan Effects Cabinet Reshuffle

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday carried out a minor re-shuffling of his cabinet as he directed the Minister of State II, for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed, to take over as the Supervising Minister of Information pending the time a substantive minister would be appointed.

The position became vacant following the resignation of Mr. Labaran Maku, who left the Federal Executive Council to pursue his gubernatorial ambition in Nassarawa State.

The new supervising minister of information broke the news to State House correspondents at the end of the weekly FEC meeting presided over by Jonathan.

He said President Jonathan also directed the Minister of State I, Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, to take over as the substantive Minister of State, Education following the exit of Mr. Nyesom Wike, who also resigned to pursue his governorship ambition in Rivers State.

According to Mohammed, Jonathan also directed the Minister of Special Duties, Taminu Turaki (SAN), to act as the Supervising Minister of Labour and Productivity following the exit of Chief Emeka Wogu.

He said the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Aliyu Gusau, would combine his roles with those of the Minister of State, Defence following the resignation of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

Mohammed added that while the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Stephen Oru, will combine his responsibilities with those of the Minister of State, Niger Delta, vacated by Dr. Darius Ishaku; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, will combine his duties with those of the Minister of State vacated by Samuel Ortom.

Except for Prof. Onwuliri’s deployment, all other appointments were in acting capacity pending when new ministers would be appointed to fill the vacancies.

Monday 20 October 2014

Tambuwal has not defected to APC- Aide.

SPECIAL Adviser to the Speaker of Representatives, Malam Imam Imam Monday  denied media reports that his principal, Aminu Tambuwal has defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC. In a signed statement issued  to NUJEurope Chapter by the  media aide to the speaker, he insisted that Tambuwal was still making consultations on his political future and that he has not defected.
The statement read in part said

”due to various media inquiries about the purported defection of the Speaker of the House of Representatives,  Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, we wish to state the following:

1. That today, Monday, 20/10/2014, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, led other members of the party on a reconciliation meeting in Sokoto but the Speaker of the House of Representatives and a member of the NEC of the PDP, Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal CFR, was not invited to the meeting.

2. That Rt. Hon Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal was later invited by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, to attend the meeting of their political family to discuss the political future of Sokoto State.

3. That the Speaker,  Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, duly obliged and attended the meeting.

4. That the meeting had in attendance prominent Sokoto citizens many of who have no known political affiliation. The most notable been the Sardauna of Sokoto and former Minister of Finance, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji.

5. That consultations on the Speaker’s political future continues and the outcome will be made public at the appropriate time.

How Nigeria Defeated Ebola - Comparative Case Study for Other Countries.

The World Health Organization on Monday 20th October 2014, declared Nigeria officially Ebola-free, after 42 days -- or two incubation periods -- without any new confirmed cases of the deadly virus. Same year 2014, Guinea worm was totally eradicated  from her troubled 650,000 cases of outbreak few years back and today, Nigeria officially Ebola free, according to World Health Organization. 

The virus is gone – for now. The outbreak in Nigeria has been defeated.


                                What accounts for this great news?

To a large extent, the answer is straightforward: the country’s strong leadership and effective coordination of the response. The Nigerian response to the outbreak was greatly aided by the rapid utilization of a national public institution (NCDC) and the prompt establishment of an Emergency Operations Centre, supported by the Disease Prevention and Control Cluster within the WHO country office.
Another key asset was the country’s first-rate virology laboratory affiliated with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. That laboratory was staffed and equipped to quickly and reliably diagnose a case of Ebola virus disease, which ensured that containment measures could begin with the shortest possible delay.
In addition, high-quality contact tracing by experienced epidemiologists expedited the early detection of cases and their rapid movement to an isolation ward, thereby greatly diminishing opportunities for further transmission.




How a highly contagious virus was stopped dead in its tracks

Dr Rui Vaz and the WHO country team of epidemiologists, clinicians, logisticians and administrators have identified a number of specific lessons that may be useful for other countries facing their first imported Ebola case or preparing for one. They have also carefully documented a large number of “best practices” for containing an Ebola outbreak quickly.
The most critical factor is leadership and engagement from the head of state and the Minister of Health. Generous allocation of government funds and their quick disbursement helped as well. Partnership with the private sector was yet another asset that brought in substantial resources to help scale up control measures that would eventually stop the Ebola virus dead in its tracks.
Health and government officials fully appreciated the importance of communication with the general public. They rallied communities to support containment measures.
House-to-house information campaigns and messages on local radio stations, in local dialects, were used to explain the level of risk, effective personal preventive measures and the actions being taken for control. On his part, the President reassured the country’s vast and diversified population through appearances on nationally televised newscasts.
The full range of media opportunities was exploited – from social media to televised facts about the disease delivered by well-known “Nollywood” movie stars.

Published by WHO Media Centre

Sunday 19 October 2014

How Mrs Igbo Escaped From Kidnappers'Den

A traumatized middle-aged woman, Mrs. Patience Igho who recently escaped from the den of kidnappers in Agbara forests at the outskirts of Ogun state has recounted her horrible ordeal and how she managed to escape.

According to Igho who sells frozen fish, on that fateful day, she left her house in the early hours of the day with N130, 000 which she wanted to deposit in the bank, Vanguard reports.

The victim Mrs Patience Igho
On her way to Boundary Market in Ajegunle, Lagos, she boarded a commercial bus with four women and two men already seated and she surprisingly found herself in Agbara forest with no clue how she got there.

“It was after I regained consciousness that I found myself with over 200 people. One of them told me that I was at Agbara forest. The person told me that some of them have been there for over seven months,” she said.

READ ALSO: Gunmen Abduct Ogun Lawmaker’s Mother

She explained that her captors later came with water in a dirty container and asked them to drink but she refused and they threatened to kill her and vowed she will be the first person to be sacrificed.

Igho said: “Few hours later, I was surprised to see another victim, a woman, who said she had spent months in captivity. She boldly commended me for not taking the water they offered me saying that if I had taken it, I would have been unconscious and accept every of their demands, adding that she is a mother of four captured with her four children on their way to church on a Sunday morning and three of her children had been slaughtered already.”

They later stripped all the captives naked and shaved their hairs, private part and armpit which they placed inside a pot in preparation for their ritual.

After which the hairs were thrown into a boiling pot and they were forced to recite some incantations.

“Earlier before that, I had seen a young lady who was brought before the pot to recite such words bearing a tattoo of scorpion on her right arms but she screamed Jesus! When the man that was performing the incantation saw the tattoo on her body, he refused to perform the rites on her, saying her blood was contaminated already.

At this stage, we noticed that there were different buckets for sensitive parts like head, ears, private parts, etc. they were placed on top of a slab which butchers use in killing animals. The bold woman told us that politicians and ritualists thronged to the place to buy those parts,” she explained.

READ ALSO: Two Armed Robbers, Kidnappers Killed In Police Shootout

Speaking on how she managed to gain her freedom, she said a man who looked like their leader noticed she was not reciting the incantation and ordered his men to beat her up. While they were beating her, she started screaming, Jesus and called many names ascribed to God.

The leader then rushed out and ordered the boys to dispose me at the nearest Bus-Stop. They bundled her into a bus and dropped her at the back of Agbara market and from there she trekked to Federal Government College, Ijanikin to beg for money from her relatives who stay in that area.

“It was like a nightmare but I experienced it and survived by the special grace of God. I will not wish my worst enemy to go through what I passed through because it was so traumatizing,” she said.

She therefore called relevant security agencies to quickly intervene and raid all the kidnappers hide outs and rescue all the helpless people there waiting for rescue.

Friday 17 October 2014

NUJ_Europe Support Doctors Without Borders (MSF) On Ebola

   Nigeria Union of Journalists Europe (NUJE) support the cause of Doctors Without Borders. 


Nigeria Union of Journalists Europe (NUJE) Council has been giving support to the cause of Doctors Without Borders. In a statement in London that was credited to the acting President of NUJ Europe Council Prince Lashley Oladigbolu, the Union throw their support to MSF  by expressing that "Service to the Humanity is the best work of life. We shall not diminish over our responsibility to maintain media advocacy in the strategies towards informing the people of  Nigeria and the government. With barely two days to be issued WHO Health Bill, Nigerians should be wary of contacting the virus and strictly adhere to preventive meaures of the deadly disease."

The statement further identified that proper hand-washing and dilligent hygene maintainance are significant approach to preventing diseases and should therefore be encouraged among every Nigerians.
In conclusion Prince Oladigbolu shared on his facebook page that "On behalf of the members of Nigeria Union of Journalists Europe Council, I wish to encourage every Nigerians to show their support and continue to appreciate unrelenting efforts by   many volunteers for Doctors Without Borders  (MSF) being geared towards caring for the people affected by Ebola scourge in West Africa. 
Please show your support in every capacity you can to this cause.

Lashley Oladigbolu 
President (Acting) NUJE".


From https://m.facebook/KBJOJO. and https://m.facebook.com/msf.english
We believe that Service to the Humanity is the best work of life.
On behalf of the members of Nigeria Union of Journalists Europe Council, I call on every Nigerians to show their support and continue to appreciate unrelenting efforts by many volunteers for Doctors Without Borders being geared towards caring for the people affected by Ebola scourge in West Africa. 
Please show your support in every capacity you can to this cause.
Lashley Oladigbolu
President (Acting)
NUJE
https://m.facebook.com/msf.english

Ceasefire? How Nigerian Government and Boko-Haram Purpotedly Differed in Ceasefire !

An Unending War: After about five years of hostilities, Nigerian military forces and the Boko Haram terrorist group have agreed to a ceasefire. The development has been confirmed by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh. 

The deal was reportedly struck on Friday with representatives of the Federal Government, the Chadian government and the Boko Haram sect in attendance. The CDS has ordered officers on the field to comply with the terms of the agreement.

There had been rumours of talks between the group and the Federal Government, especially over the release of more than 200 schoolgirls abducted from Chibok, a community in Borno State. "I wish to inform this audience that a ceasefire agreement has been concluded," Badeh said in a statement. 

Chief of Defense Staff Alex Badeh issued an order Friday, telling all service chiefs “to comply with the ceasefire agreement between Nigeria and Boko Haram in all theaters of operations.” The text went out after Danladi Ahmadu, who calls himself the secretary-general of Boko Haram, told VOA that a cease-fire agreement had been reached.

Earlier, Ahmadu and a close advisor to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ambassador Hassan Tukur, told VOA that the sides were holding talks in Saudi Arabia, aided by Chadian President Idriss Deby and high-level officials from Cameroon.Those talks also focused on the release more than 200 girls abducted by Boko Haram six months ago.  There was no immediate word on the fate of the girls.

Ahmadu, who said he is at a location on the Nigerian-Chadian border, said the girls are “in good condition and unharmed.”

On April 14, dozens of Boko Haram fighters stormed a secondary school in the remote northeastern village of Chibok, kidnapping around 270 girls. Fifty-seven managed to escape.Boko Haram leader “Abubakar Shekau” later threatened to sell the remainder as slave brides, vowing they would not be released until militant prisoners were freed from jail. Ahmadu would not elaborate on the conditions under which the girls would be freed. 

The Saudi government is not involved in the negotiations.

Nigerian President Jonathan has been criticized at home and abroad for his slow response to the kidnapping and for the inability of Nigerian troops to quell the violence by the militants, seen as the biggest security threat to Africa’s top economy and leading energy producer.

Boko Haram has said it is fighting to establish an Islamic state in Muslim-majority northern Nigeria.The group has launched scores of attacks in the past five years, targeting markets, bus stations, government facilities, churches and even mosques.  Militants recently took over some towns in the northeast for what the group’s leader said would be an Islamic caliphate.The Nigerian military says the man who appeared in Boko Haram videos as Abubakar Shekau was actually an impostor, and that the real Shekau was killed several years ago.It says the impostor was killed last month during a battle in the town of Konduga. 

A new video of the man appeared a few days later but the military has stood by its assertion that the Boko Haram leader is dead.

The arrowhead of the negotiation is believed to be Danladi Ahmadu, the self-acclaimed Secretary-General of Boko Haram.Though it is not known whether Ahmadu and Abubakar Shekau belong to the same faction as Shekau. The Boko Haram leader had often stated that his organization would not enter into talks with the government.

In his Independence Day speech on October 1, President Jonathan had urged the group to embrace dialogue.

NIGERIA EBOLA FREE ON MONDAY, 20TH OCTOBER, 2014.

.. Good News!
NIGERIA EBOLA FREE ON MONDAY, 20TH OCTOBER, 2014.
Just barely 72 hours, Monday 20th October 2014 will be a 42- day period that no a single new case of ebola virus is detected in a country before World Health Organisation Health Bill clearing any affected countries could be issued.
WHO in Geneva has raised the hope for Senegal and Nigeria.
Nigeria contained the spread of the ebola virus through a succesful implementation of strategies closely employed by her government  and has no single new case since August 8th after thorough isolation and curing the infected victims, but still concerned about the epidemy in the neighouring countries.
Appreciating the greater achievement made the Nigerian health minister, Dr O.Chukwu gave credits to the global apex health body and other health organisations for working hand in hand with the Nigerian counterparts.
“It is important that we let the world know that WHO did well in sending us doctors with practical experience, said Dr. Chukwu. “But we also worked with the CDC, UNICEF, and MSF in managing the disease.”
@nujenews  www.twitter.com/nujenews

Salome Karwah thought her life was over when she tested positive for Ebola


Salome Karwah thought her life was over when she tested positive for Ebola. But after recovering at the Elwa 3 Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Ebola treatment center in Monrovia, Liberia, she began working as a mental health counselor there, helping others to fight the virus. Here she tells her story.
It all started with a severe headache and a fever. Then, later, I began to vomit and I got diarrhea. My father was sick and my mother too. My niece, my fiancé, and my sister had all fallen sick. We all felt helpless.
It was my uncle who first got the virus in our family. He contracted it from a woman he helped bring to hospital. He got sick and called our father for help, and our father went to him to bring him to a hospital for treatment. A few days after our father came back, he too got sick. We all cared for him and got infected too.
On August 21, I and my whole family made our way to MSF’s Ebola treatment center in Monrovia. When we arrived at the treatment unit, the nurses took my mother and me to the same tent. My fiancé, my sister, my father, and my niece were taken to separate tents. My sister was pregnant and had a miscarriage.
They took our blood and we waited for them to announce the results. After the lab test, I was confirmed positive. I thought that was the end of my world. I was afraid, because we had heard people say that if you catch Ebola, you die. The rest of my family also tested positive for the virus.
After a few days in the isolation ward, my condition became worse. My mother was also fighting for her life. She was in a terrible state. At that point, the nurses made the decision to move me to another tent. By then, I barely understood what was going on around me. I was unconscious. I was helpless. The nurses had to bathe me, change my clothes, and feed me. I was vomiting constantly and I was very weak.
I was feeling severe pains inside my body. The feeling was overpowering. Ebola is like a sickness from a different planet. It comes with so much pain. It causes so much pain that you can feel it in your bones. I’d never felt pain like this in my lifetime.
My mother and father died while I was battling for my life. I didn’t know they were dead. It was only one week later, when I had started recovering, that the nurses told me that they had passed away. I was sad, but I had to accept that it had happened. I was shocked that I had lost both my parents. But god spared my life from the disease, as well as the lives of my sister, my niece, and my fiancé.
Though I am sad at the death of my parents, I’m happy to be alive. God could not have allowed the entire family to perish. He kept us alive for a purpose.


I am grateful to the workers here for their care. They are very nice people. They really care for their patients. The care, the medication, and encouragement can help a patient to survive.
When you’re sick with Ebola, you always have to encourage yourself: take your medication; drink enough fluids—whether it’s oral rehydration solution or water or juices—but don’t keep your system empty. Even if they bring you food and you don’t have any appetite to eat, just eat the soup.
After 18 days in the treatment center, the nurses came in one morning and took my blood and carried it to the laboratory for testing. Later that evening, at around 5:00PM, I saw them return. They came and announced to me that I was ready to go home because I had tested negative.
Then I felt that my life had begun again. I went home with joy, despite having lost my parents.
I arrived back home feeling happy, but my neighbors were still afraid of me. Few of them welcomed me back; others are still afraid to be around me—they say that I still have Ebola. There was a particular group that kept calling our house "Ebola home."
But, to my surprise, I saw one of the ladies in the group come to my house to ask me to take her mother to the treatment center because she was sick with Ebola. I did it, and I felt happy that at least she knows now that someone cannot go to a supermarket to buy Ebola. It’s a disease that anyone—any family—can get. If someone has Ebola, it isn’t good to stigmatize them, because you don’t know who is next in line to contract the virus.
Now, I am back at the treatment center, helping people who are suffering from the virus to recover. I am working as a mental health counselor. I find pleasure in helping people, and that is what brought me here. My efforts here may help other people to survive.
When I am on a shift, I counsel my patients; I talk to them and I encourage them. If a patient doesn’t want to eat, I encourage them to eat. If they are weak and are unable to bathe on their own, I help to bathe them. I help them with all my might because I understand the experience—I’ve been through the very same thing.
I feel happy in my new role. I treat my patients as if they are my children. I talk to them about my own experiences. I tell them my story to inspire them and to let them know that they too can survive. This is important, and I think it will help them. 
My elder brother and my sister are happy for me to work here. They support me in this 100 percent. Even though our parents didn’t survive the virus, we can help other people to recover. 

Thursday 16 October 2014

How EBOLA Haemorrhagic Fever Destroy Body Tissues and Organs

 

Ebola isn't a particularly contagious disease.

For every person that has the disease in an outbreak, two people catch it from them. Compare that with measles, where one person usually infects another 18.

So why is the disease so deadly?

First, although it requires direct contact with someone showing the symptoms of ebola, even a very low dose is enough to infect a person.

And when that happens, the virus is particularly ferocious.

Ian Jones, professor of virology at the University of Reading, told Sky News: "When the virus infects an individual, it begins its replication cycle - all viruses want to make more of themselves. But it has a mechanism to hide under the immune system's radar.

"When the immune system eventually kicks in, it does so in an over-reactive fashion and that damages host tissue, as well as trying to kill the virus."

What are the mechanisms behind that?

When ebola enters the body, it targets dendritic cells in the immune system.

Normally, when a virus is detected, these cells tell other cells to produce antibodies.

Ebola prevents that signal getting out. As far as the immune system knows, everything inside the body is fine.

Left alone, ebola then begins replicating rapidly. It then spreads into the bloodstream, infecting the whole body. Cells start to break up and die, in huge numbers. That finally triggers the immune system, which kicks in - far too aggressively.

Ordinarily when you get sick, the body releases proteins called cytokines. Some of these cells tell your blood vessels to become more permeable. This is to let antibodies travel through the body more quickly to fight the disease. 

But once ebola has taken hold of your body, the immune system reacts much too aggressively - and launches a cytokine storm.

This causes blood vessels to become far too permeable, and they leak. At the same time, the body's blood clotting mechanisms also act abnormally.

This causes internal and external bleeding and is why ebola is known as a haemorrhagic fever. It causes tissue damage and organ failure.

In effect, the body turns on itself, then liquefies. Eventually, organs fail, and there is a catastrophic drop in blood pressure, causing death.

Once this process has begun, there is little that can be done to moderate it. This is why available new therapies, like ZMapp, have a far higher success rate the earlier they are given.  

But the worst ever outbreak of the disease will also give us the most information as to exactly how it works.

Around half of those who develop Ebola do survive. No one is quite sure why, but they do seem to then be resistant to the disease afterwards. By studying the antibodies developed biologically, we may find paths to new treatments.

By Tom Cheshire, Technology Correspondent for SKYNEWS

Source: http://news.sky.com/story/1354147/how-the-ebola-virus-turns-the-body-on-itself

Sunday 5 October 2014

EBOLA: US SENDS MEDICAL EXPERTS TO NIGERIA TO STUDY HOW TO CONTAIN EBOLA DISEASE.

EBOLA: US SENDS MEDICAL EXPERTS TO NIGERIA TO STUDY HOW TO CONTAIN EBOLA

Following the reports that United States last Tuesday discovered a case of Ebola Virus Disease, the United States’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has sent its staff to study how Nigeria contained the deadly disease, Vanguard reports.

The CDC seemed impressed by the effective methods Nigeria has employed to contain Ebola.

In a statement released, CDC Director Tom Frieden stated it’s clear the nation (US) needs a quick and thorough response to its first Ebola patient”

 Adding that Nigeria’s “extensive response to a single case of Ebola shows that control is possible with rapid, focused interventions.”

 “The best practices in Nigeria and Senegal suggest the U.S. should monitor all individuals who may have been exposed to Ebola and establish a dedicated management and response system,” Frieden said.

US health officials are expected in Nigeria which it claimed had the best practices in combating Ebola Virus disease which entered into Nigeria through Liberian born American citizen Mr. Patrick Sawyer whose index case was reported on July 20, 2014.

In addition to visiting Nigeria, CDC officials will also visit Senegal to study its containment model.

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