English Premier League results on Saturday, the opening day of the new
top-flight season:
Leicester 2 (Ulloa 22, Wood 86) Everton 2 (McGeady 20, Naismith 45)
Manchester United 1 (Rooney 53) Swansea 2 (Ki 28, Sigurdsson 72)
QPR 0 Hull 1 (Chester 52)
Stoke 0 Aston Villa 1 (Weimann 50)
West Brom 2 (Berahino 42-pen, 74) Sunderland 2 (Cattermole 5, Larsson 85)
West Ham 0 Tottenham 1 (Dier 90+3)
Saturday, 16 August 2014
Controversy surrounds Ribadu's defection to PDP
not aware that the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial a
Crimes Commission, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu has defected to the party from the
All Progressives Congress.It said that though there were rumours that
he had defected to the party, Ribadu was yet to formally defect to the
ruling party.
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Ibrahim Jalo,
who spoke with our correspondent in Abuja on Saturday, said because of
this, there was no way the party would react to the rumour of his
defection or not.He said, "We have not been told that he has defected.
There are rumours here and there, but as I speak with you, we have not
been told he has moved."It is after the official defection that we can
be able to say whether he had moved or not and whether he will get
waiver or not. Even at that, he has to ask for the waiver."Ribadu is
under pressure from the national leadership of the party and the
Presidency to defect and contest the governorship election of Adamawa
State under the platform of the ruling PDP.The former chairman of the
EFCC was the presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of
Nigeria in 2011.Our correspondent learnt in Abuja that those who have
so far indicated interest to contest the election under the platform
of the PDP are the former Military Administrator of Lagos State,
General Buba Marwa, former Senator representing Adamawa Central,
Abubakar Girei, a former Political Adviser to the President, Ahmed
Gulak, and former Minister, Idi Hong.Others include: Dr. Umar Ardo,
former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education
Commission, Dr. Ahmed Modibo, Mr. Markus Gundiri and the son of former
PDP national chairman, Mr. Awual Tukur.The acting Governor, Bala
Ngilari has also announced his intention to contest following the
pressure he received from 13 of his colleagues from the State House of
Assembly.
PUNCH
NMA Rejects Sack Of Medical Doctors
of the Federal Government's directive terminating the appointment of
resident doctors in all government hospitals.
At a media briefing in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory on Friday,
the association directed all its members not to accept any letter
terminating their appointment from the government.
The President of the association, Dr Kayode Obembe, asked medical
doctors across the nation not to pick up locum appointment with
government hospitals.
Obembe said: "NMA demands immediate withdrawal of the suspension
circular and unconditional reinstatement of the so-called sacked
resident doctors.
"Government should show commitment on her part in resolving the
current impasse with the NMA rather than resorting to punitive
measures that will only further aggravate the already deplorable
situation.
"NMA condemns in totality the alleged presidential directive via the
Federal Ministry of Health suspending Residency Training Programme in
Nigeria," the NMA President added.
He maintained that the association would not suspend its
more-than-a-month old strike even if the government reinstated the
sacked resident doctors, adding that the government must meet its
"24-point demand".
The President of NMA further said that the government's stance would
worsen the present industrial disharmony.
He urged all doctors to remain committed towards containing the Ebola
outbreak, and advised the government to ensure that all persons under
surveillance for Ebola Virus infection do not travel outside their
domain of residence.
The medical association had on July 1 embarked on an indefinite strike
after the government failed to meet its demands which include the
stoppage of the appointment of non-doctors as directors and
consultants.
Ebola: First Nigerian Patient Discharged From Hospital
The Minister of Health in Nigeria, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, says
the first Nigerian Ebola patient declared fit and discharged from
hospital.
Professor Chukwu told journalists in Lagos on Saturday that the
patient, whose identity has not been revealed, was asked to go home
after all the necessary medical examinations were carried out.
"The total number of Ebola cases now stands at 12, while the number of
deaths remains four. The people under surveillance in Lagos is now
189, while six are in Enugu, in southeast Nigeria," Professor Chukwu
said.
The minister also announced that the drug, Nano Silva, which was
thought could be used to treat Ebola patients in Nigeria, was said not
to have met the requirements of the National Health Research ethics
code.
His statement is coming two days after the death of a fourth Ebola
patient was reported.
In an effort to contain the spread of the virus, the Lagos State
government, the only state in Nigeria with reported cases of Ebola,
had provided an isolation unit to accommodate persons who tested
positive to the virus.
At a press conference in Abuja on Thursday Professor Chukwu, said
eight persons were still alive, more than half of them are doing very
well and actually showing signs of recovery ... under treatment," Prof
Chukwu said.
The discharged patient is believed to be among those he earlier said
were recovering.
The World Health Organization has called this Ebola outbreak, whose
worst affected countries include Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, an
international emergency. It has killed around 55 to 60 percent of
those who have contracted the disease.
President Goodluck Jonathan last week declared the Ebola outbreak in
Lagos State a national emergency and approved an intervention fund of
1.9 billion Naira to contain the disease.
the first Nigerian Ebola patient declared fit and discharged from
hospital.
Professor Chukwu told journalists in Lagos on Saturday that the
patient, whose identity has not been revealed, was asked to go home
after all the necessary medical examinations were carried out.
"The total number of Ebola cases now stands at 12, while the number of
deaths remains four. The people under surveillance in Lagos is now
189, while six are in Enugu, in southeast Nigeria," Professor Chukwu
said.
The minister also announced that the drug, Nano Silva, which was
thought could be used to treat Ebola patients in Nigeria, was said not
to have met the requirements of the National Health Research ethics
code.
His statement is coming two days after the death of a fourth Ebola
patient was reported.
In an effort to contain the spread of the virus, the Lagos State
government, the only state in Nigeria with reported cases of Ebola,
had provided an isolation unit to accommodate persons who tested
positive to the virus.
At a press conference in Abuja on Thursday Professor Chukwu, said
eight persons were still alive, more than half of them are doing very
well and actually showing signs of recovery ... under treatment," Prof
Chukwu said.
The discharged patient is believed to be among those he earlier said
were recovering.
The World Health Organization has called this Ebola outbreak, whose
worst affected countries include Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, an
international emergency. It has killed around 55 to 60 percent of
those who have contracted the disease.
President Goodluck Jonathan last week declared the Ebola outbreak in
Lagos State a national emergency and approved an intervention fund of
1.9 billion Naira to contain the disease.
Ebola: First Nigerian Patient Discharged From Hospital
The Minister of Health in Nigeria, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, says
the first Nigerian Ebola patient declared fit and discharged from
hospital.
Professor Chukwu told journalists in Lagos on Saturday that the
patient, whose identity has not been revealed, was asked to go home
after all the necessary medical examinations were carried out.
"The total number of Ebola cases now stands at 12, while the number of
deaths remains four. The people under surveillance in Lagos is now
189, while six are in Enugu, in southeast Nigeria," Professor Chukwu
said.
The minister also announced that the drug, Nano Silva, which was
thought could be used to treat Ebola patients in Nigeria, was said not
to have met the requirements of the National Health Research ethics
code.
His statement is coming two days after the death of a fourth Ebola
patient was reported.
In an effort to contain the spread of the virus, the Lagos State
government, the only state in Nigeria with reported cases of Ebola,
had provided an isolation unit to accommodate persons who tested
positive to the virus.
At a press conference in Abuja on Thursday Professor Chukwu, said
eight persons were still alive, more than half of them are doing very
well and actually showing signs of recovery ... under treatment," Prof
Chukwu said.
The discharged patient is believed to be among those he earlier said
were recovering.
The World Health Organization has called this Ebola outbreak, whose
worst affected countries include Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, an
international emergency. It has killed around 55 to 60 percent of
those who have contracted the disease.
President Goodluck Jonathan last week declared the Ebola outbreak in
Lagos State a national emergency and approved an intervention fund of
1.9 billion Naira to contain the disease.
the first Nigerian Ebola patient declared fit and discharged from
hospital.
Professor Chukwu told journalists in Lagos on Saturday that the
patient, whose identity has not been revealed, was asked to go home
after all the necessary medical examinations were carried out.
"The total number of Ebola cases now stands at 12, while the number of
deaths remains four. The people under surveillance in Lagos is now
189, while six are in Enugu, in southeast Nigeria," Professor Chukwu
said.
The minister also announced that the drug, Nano Silva, which was
thought could be used to treat Ebola patients in Nigeria, was said not
to have met the requirements of the National Health Research ethics
code.
His statement is coming two days after the death of a fourth Ebola
patient was reported.
In an effort to contain the spread of the virus, the Lagos State
government, the only state in Nigeria with reported cases of Ebola,
had provided an isolation unit to accommodate persons who tested
positive to the virus.
At a press conference in Abuja on Thursday Professor Chukwu, said
eight persons were still alive, more than half of them are doing very
well and actually showing signs of recovery ... under treatment," Prof
Chukwu said.
The discharged patient is believed to be among those he earlier said
were recovering.
The World Health Organization has called this Ebola outbreak, whose
worst affected countries include Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, an
international emergency. It has killed around 55 to 60 percent of
those who have contracted the disease.
President Goodluck Jonathan last week declared the Ebola outbreak in
Lagos State a national emergency and approved an intervention fund of
1.9 billion Naira to contain the disease.
Van Gaal accepts blame as Man United crash
to a 2-1 loss at home to Swansea City on Saturday in his first Premier
League game as manager.
The 63-year-old Dutchman is bidding to transform United's fortunes
after a dismal seventh-place finish last season, but his tenure got
off to a similarly disappointing start as Swansea claimed a first
league win at Old Trafford.
Manchester United's Dutch manager Louis Van Gaal watches from the dug
out during the English Premier League football match between
Manchester United and Swansea City at Old Trafford in Manchester,
north west England on August 16, 2014. Swansea City won the game 2-1.
Ki Sung-yueng put Swansea ahead in the 28th minute and although new
United captain Wayne Rooney hooked home a 53rd-minute equaliser, Gylfi
Sigurdsson gave the Welsh side victory with 18 minutes to play.
"We were very nervous in the first half, made the wrong choices, and
that is a pity. In the second half we never played as a team.
Therefore I'm responsible," said Van Gaal.
"It is very disappointing that we have lost our first home match. We
didn't reach the level we can play at.
"That is disappointing because we have done it much better and when
you cannot do it in your first home match that is disappointing,
especially for the fans."
Van Gaal set his team out in the 3-4-1-2 formation that he had
successfully introduced in pre-season, but Ki's goal forced him into a
half-time switch.
Nani came on for striker Javier Hernandez, with Ashley Young moving to
left-back, but although Rooney equalised soon after and then hit the
post from a free-kick, United struggled to create further chances.
"We had more chances than Swansea, but that shall say nothing about
the result," Van Gaal added.
"It is the goals that count. I thought we would win (at 1-1), but
because we are not playing as a team in the second half, we made the
wrong decisions going forward.
"My players did their utmost best, which I said in the dressing room,
but you also need to play as a team and reach your level."
With new left-back Luke Shaw sidelined by a hamstring injury, United
had only one close-season signing in their starting XI in the shape of
former Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera.
Injuries obliged Van Gaal to hand competitive debuts to youngsters
Tyler Blackett and Jesse Lingard, but he dismissed suggestions that
the result would force him to take emergency action in the transfer
market.
"No, because that is a short-term assault. Of course we need
defenders, but I have already said that in former press conferences,"
he told BT Sport.
"You cannot say because of one game that we lost, and all the others
we won, that it is the defence (that is responsible). It's the team."
AFP
Stolen Babies Reunited With Parents In Imo
well as 24 years old Vivien Iwuji reunited with their 2 week old
babies who were kidnapped few hours after they were born.
While presenting the babies back to their parents at the Imo State
Police Command Headquarters in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the
state police commissioner, Abdulmajid Ali, vowed that the Imo State
Police Command would not rest until the issue of child stealing and
child trafficking were brought to its barest minimal.
The Imo police boss said that three suspects had been arrested in
connection to the incident and they are presently cooling their feet
in the police cell as investigations are ongoing.
While narrating the incidence, the head of the anti-human trafficking
unit of the Imo police command, Mrs Elizabeth Okosun, said the police
were able to recover one of the babies after a tip-off by a commercial
tricycle rider who suspected the shady behaviour of the suspects when
they were about travelling with the baby to another state.
Vivien Iwuji , a 24 year old student, said that she was deceived by
her sister-in-law that a family friend will take care of her baby
after delivery not knowing she had the intention of selling her baby.
The Imo Police commission appealed to religious and community leaders
to furnish the police with adequate information if any woman or family
without a history of a recent pregnancy was seen with a newborn baby.
Two hundred years after the abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave
trade, the trafficking of African children continues unabated. This is
one of the most horrific violations of a child's right. Trafficking
can be defined as "the recruitment, transportation, transfer,
harboring or receipt of a child for the purpose of exploitation".
Reasons for trafficking children include: sexual exploitation, forced
labour and/or slavery, domestic servitude, forced marriages, illegal
adoptions, and even forced organ removal or human sacrifice.
Nigeria acts as a source, transit and destination country for
trafficking children to Europe, the Middle East and other countries
throughout Africa. UNICEF has estimated that over 1.2 million children
worldwide are trafficked each year. The highest rates of child
trafficking in Nigeria are found in the Niger Delta region, according
to research by NAPTIP, the Nigerian Anti-Trafficking Agency.
Channels TV
Nigerians Are Giving Up On Android, Want Their Blackberry Back
Nigerians are giving up on Android and heading back to BlackBerry
after having initially adopted Android devices due big displays,
available apps and low hardware pricing, tossing aside the fact the
devices cost more due to their data consumption and carrier pricing on
data plans.
Speaking with Digital Savvy on the matter, a smartphone dealer, David
'Professor' Apple, said that many Android phone users were switching
back toBlackBerrydevices because of high data subscription costs on
Android. "This is the reason many Android users are going back
toBlackBerry. The cost of subscription is relatively high.Most
Blackberry subscriptions cost N1,000 on most networks and the data
that comes with it can conveniently last up to a month. But for
Android, the charges are far higher and the data for one month does
not last," he said.
Apple is not alone in his view. Quite a number of Android users have
been up in arms, saying that the data subscription for their
smartphones is insufficient for their activities online.Many complain
that the Android subscription at N1000 hardly lasts up to a week. Some
say they even use it up in one day!
The gap between the data available for Android subscription compared
to BlackBerry at the same cost is wide. Presently among all the
networks, N1,000 subscription valid for one month barely attracts up
to 400MB even with all the bonus data some networks offer.
For N1,000, Glo provides 350MB, while MTN has the lowest among
networks with its 260MB. Compare this to BlackBerry subscriptions
which average 1GB on most networks. Airtel offers up to 2GB, while Glo
offers 3GB for N1000 monthly. Again, MTN offers the least at 350MB for
N1,000. Yet it still is more than what it offers for Android at the
same cost.
For those of us with carrier plans that are equal across the board and
WiFi readily available, it doesn't mean a lot, but in places where the
plans are still differentiated by which device you're using it's a
pretty big issue. As the Tribune notes, many Nigerians are making use
of BBM accounts for adverts and publicity, so if they can get more
data for less then the choice of using a BlackBerry is a fairly simple
one to make.
As for the other benefits of BlackBerry 10, it seems Nigerians are
well ahead in recognizing those as well compared to North America and
they already know that BlackBerry 10 is NOT like BlackBerry OS of
earlier days and are returning their Android devices for BlackBerry 10
smartphones.
This time around, the BlackBerry 10 series which users have observed
not to 'hang' or have battery issues, appears to be their preferred
choice for most of them. According to one of the 'returnees', who
simply identified himself as Kunle, "I moved from BlackBerry to
Android; now I just got a Z10." No doubt some people will say 'So
what, it's Nigeria' but it's that kind of love BlackBerry has to have
on their side and when they find out the experience on BlackBerry 10
meets their needs exceptionally well and for now at least, costs them
less, it'll be hard to remove that. On top of that, Nigeria is one of
the most developed countries in Africa with an economy worth
approximately $510B and growing, it's one of the top ten most
populated countries in the world and with over 100 million cell phone
users, they have the ability to affect change. We don't even have to
mention the fact that BlackBerry 10 can run a lot of the Android apps
that attracted them in the first place.
Family of shot US teen urges calm
The family of the black teenager shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri,
has appealed for calm after police revealed he was a robbery suspect.
CCTV footage appears to show Michael Brown, 18, stealing from a
convenience store and intimidating the owner.
Mr Brown's family said their son was not "perfect" but criticised what
they see as a police attempt to "justify the execution-style murder".
The killing sparked days of angry clashes between police and protestors.
"Stay with us, we don't want to see any violence on the streets.
Please continue to peacefully protest," said Michael Brown's cousin,
Eric Davis.
There were no reports of unrest for a second successive evening on
Friday, as a few hundred people demonstrated quietly at a filling
station. which was looted and burnt last weekend.
Civil rights leader Al Sharpton says a rally, led by Michael Brown's
family is planned for Sunday.
"The family have never said that Mike Brown was perfect," said a
lawyer representing Brown's family.
Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson said the officer who shot Brown
did not know that he had allegedly stolen goods from a nearby store.
"The initial contact between the officer and Michael Brown was not
related to the robbery," he said.
Instead, he added, the reason for the stop was that Brown "was walking
down the middle of the street stopping traffic".
has appealed for calm after police revealed he was a robbery suspect.
CCTV footage appears to show Michael Brown, 18, stealing from a
convenience store and intimidating the owner.
Mr Brown's family said their son was not "perfect" but criticised what
they see as a police attempt to "justify the execution-style murder".
The killing sparked days of angry clashes between police and protestors.
"Stay with us, we don't want to see any violence on the streets.
Please continue to peacefully protest," said Michael Brown's cousin,
Eric Davis.
There were no reports of unrest for a second successive evening on
Friday, as a few hundred people demonstrated quietly at a filling
station. which was looted and burnt last weekend.
Civil rights leader Al Sharpton says a rally, led by Michael Brown's
family is planned for Sunday.
"The family have never said that Mike Brown was perfect," said a
lawyer representing Brown's family.
Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson said the officer who shot Brown
did not know that he had allegedly stolen goods from a nearby store.
"The initial contact between the officer and Michael Brown was not
related to the robbery," he said.
Instead, he added, the reason for the stop was that Brown "was walking
down the middle of the street stopping traffic".
UK airport closed after aircraft landing incident
problem with its undercarriage while landing.
The LinksAir plane, which had two crew members and one passenger on
board, was flying to the airport in South Yorkshire from Belfast City
Airport.
The passenger was taken to hospital for checks after the incident at
19:30 BST, the airport said.
It added that the Jetstream 31 aircraft remained near the runway and
could not be moved until investigators arrived.
It said the runway might remain closed until Saturday lunchtime.
Steve Gill, the airport managing director, told the Doncaster Free
Press: "Our apologies go to any passengers expecting to fly into or
out of Doncaster Sheffield Airport tonight. Our team will work to
ensure the airport reopens as soon as possible."
Bobby Fett, 39, from Newcastle upon Tyne, was at the airport on board
a plane due to depart for Romania at the time of the Belfast flight's
arrival.
He and fellow passengers were told by the pilot there was a "problem
on the runway".
"The crash happened as I was sat on the plane about to depart," he said.
"I was sat at the rear on my aircraft and was informed by the pilot
that there was a problem on the runway.
"When I looked out I saw what looked to be a small aircraft with its
right wing down on the floor. It was obvious it had an undercarriage
problem by the way it was sat."
Four inbound scheduled flights and three outbound services were
affected on Friday evening, the airport said.
A further three outbound flights are expected to be diverted on
Saturday morning.
At 22:00, there were about 300 people in the airport terminal awaiting
information, the airport added.
All passengers are advised to contact their airlines.
Deceased nurse infected with ebola on first day at work-Onyinyechi Anugwolu, sister
nurse, Justina Obioma Ejelonu who died of the dreaded Ebola Virus
Disease, has said she and her family members have been stigmatised
since the news of the death of her sister was announced.
In a phone conversation withSaturday PUNCHon Friday, Anugwolu said her
late sister had been falsely described as the nurse who fled the
quarantine centre in Lagos and came down to Enugu to see her family.
While describing the story as false, Anugwolu said she had not seen
her sister for over eight months, saying her sister had not visited
her in Enugu for a long time.
"We have been stigmatised. Some people called some of my colleagues in
the office and told them my sister, Obioma, was the one that came down
to Enugu. They said she ran to her sister's house in Trans Ekulu and
also mentioned my office name, Women for Women International.
"Apart from that, my parents are also being stigmatised. The story
going round in the village is that my parents came to
Ebola: Nigerians blast US FDA for calling its experimental drug, pesticide
U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suffers huge social media
backlash from Nigerians yesterday, over its description of Nano Silver
as a pesticide, a drug which was recently announced by the country's
Health Minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu, to be an experimental treatment of
patients affected with the deadly Ebola disease.
The FDA's warning was made on the heels of comments by Chukwu, who
reportedly said on Thursday that eight Ebola patients in Lagos will
receive an experimental treatment called nano-silver.
The agency said it had received consumer complaints about the Ebola
claims. "Individuals promoting these unapproved and fraudulent
products must take immediate action to correct or remove these claims
or face potential FDA action," the agency said.
As the US FDA's warning went viral, Nigerians erupted with outrage on
social media as they mostly express the need for their country to
protect lives of its citizenry after US declined giving out its'
Zimapp.
One Joseph Anthony writes, "West made a lot of mistakes on the road to
there so called "state of art medicines". We had no opportunity to
scrutinize Zmapp. Let's take a bold step to try something. Nothing is
as strong as a proof.
We may try it with rodents and watch out for cultured results or
patterns and if we get the gut feeling to proceed based on the results
the why not! Let's ignore everyone. For once let's look inward for
solutions we are not toilet to receive processed products by others."
He ended
Another commentator, who identifies self as Zuby expressed that when
an African says he can cure AIDS or Ebola they tell him to shut up,
say it's impossible or not possible without testing it. He stressed
that the drug should be offered to one person who already has Ebola
and if it doesn't work then we know for sure it's doesn't.
Abidemi Adekunle pleaded with America, saying they should be
magnanimous enough to release the very drug that is working for them
to other nations now that WHO has authorised the use of experimental
drug.
"If its pesticide, we need it that's all. How do we come about Ebola?
In fact I guess they cultured the virus and send it to Africa because
we rejected gay marriage. If you could remember that such has been
done some years back against China through SARS" says one Anigbogu
Okechukwu
From the FDA's report, it was also revealed that Silver has been in
use for centuries. FDA states that over the years, tiny silver
particles known as nano-silver have controversially been incorporated
into a variety of consumer products such as socks and bedding to help
block odors caused by bacteria and mold over.
This is happening at a time doctors and nurses attending to victims of
the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, at Mainland Hospital, Lagos
isolation centre, downed tools following allegation of negligence by
concerned relatives and associates of the female medical doctor and
health workers who contracted the EVD from the late Liberian-American,
Patrick Sawyer.
Meanwhile Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, had pleaded with
the health workers on the need to get back to during a media briefing
in Lagos, yesterday.
Fashola laments that Lagos State was yet to receive the experimental
Ebola drug (Nano Silver) and a kobo out of the N1.9 billion Federal
Government intervention fund.
backlash from Nigerians yesterday, over its description of Nano Silver
as a pesticide, a drug which was recently announced by the country's
Health Minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu, to be an experimental treatment of
patients affected with the deadly Ebola disease.
The FDA's warning was made on the heels of comments by Chukwu, who
reportedly said on Thursday that eight Ebola patients in Lagos will
receive an experimental treatment called nano-silver.
The agency said it had received consumer complaints about the Ebola
claims. "Individuals promoting these unapproved and fraudulent
products must take immediate action to correct or remove these claims
or face potential FDA action," the agency said.
As the US FDA's warning went viral, Nigerians erupted with outrage on
social media as they mostly express the need for their country to
protect lives of its citizenry after US declined giving out its'
Zimapp.
One Joseph Anthony writes, "West made a lot of mistakes on the road to
there so called "state of art medicines". We had no opportunity to
scrutinize Zmapp. Let's take a bold step to try something. Nothing is
as strong as a proof.
We may try it with rodents and watch out for cultured results or
patterns and if we get the gut feeling to proceed based on the results
the why not! Let's ignore everyone. For once let's look inward for
solutions we are not toilet to receive processed products by others."
He ended
Another commentator, who identifies self as Zuby expressed that when
an African says he can cure AIDS or Ebola they tell him to shut up,
say it's impossible or not possible without testing it. He stressed
that the drug should be offered to one person who already has Ebola
and if it doesn't work then we know for sure it's doesn't.
Abidemi Adekunle pleaded with America, saying they should be
magnanimous enough to release the very drug that is working for them
to other nations now that WHO has authorised the use of experimental
drug.
"If its pesticide, we need it that's all. How do we come about Ebola?
In fact I guess they cultured the virus and send it to Africa because
we rejected gay marriage. If you could remember that such has been
done some years back against China through SARS" says one Anigbogu
Okechukwu
From the FDA's report, it was also revealed that Silver has been in
use for centuries. FDA states that over the years, tiny silver
particles known as nano-silver have controversially been incorporated
into a variety of consumer products such as socks and bedding to help
block odors caused by bacteria and mold over.
This is happening at a time doctors and nurses attending to victims of
the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, at Mainland Hospital, Lagos
isolation centre, downed tools following allegation of negligence by
concerned relatives and associates of the female medical doctor and
health workers who contracted the EVD from the late Liberian-American,
Patrick Sawyer.
Meanwhile Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, had pleaded with
the health workers on the need to get back to during a media briefing
in Lagos, yesterday.
Fashola laments that Lagos State was yet to receive the experimental
Ebola drug (Nano Silver) and a kobo out of the N1.9 billion Federal
Government intervention fund.
Iyanya's Manager, Ubi Franklin in Ghastly Car Accident
following to say about it:
Iyanya, Emma Nyra and Manager,Ubi Franklin
Ubi Franklinwas involved in a car accident last night and is currently
in the hospital.
In Every situation Give Thanks. I had a few friends who were
celebrating Birthdays last nite and in was invited to party with them
at a Club on Victoria Island. I got into the car and was so tired to
Drive to one of my friends Drove, on our way back I saw a friend I
haven't seen in a while at another club trying to park I stopped to
say hi and we entered the second club after a few minutes I decided to
leave, right outside the club is a shawarma spot I got some and then I
and my friends were headed Home and I was trying to eat my sharwama
while my friend drove us home. That's the Last I could remember. I
found myself covered with Airbags and I came out of that car that
tumbled and a good Samaritan took us to the Hospital.
It's time to forget my mistake - Suarez
team-mates for the first time on Friday and says it is time to forget
the past two months.
On Thursday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport decreed that Suarez's
four-month ban from all football-based activity should not exclude him
from training.
Fifa hit Uruguay star Suarez was hit with the sanction after he bit
Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup - the third time
he has been found guilty of such an offence.
The striker - who joined Barca from Liverpool for a reported EURO 88
million (£75m) last month - joined in training with the rest of the
Spanish giants' squad on Friday, and could make his debut for the club
in Monday's friendly against Club Leon at Camp Nou.
And even though he cannot play competitively until late October - with
his first appearance potentially set to be against Real Madrid - the
27-year-old expressed his delight at being able to practice with his
team-mates.
"I'm very happy to return to playing football and to be with my
peers," Suarez told Barca's official website.
"It was a situation that made me uncomfortable. I'm paying for a
mistake I made and have already apologised, but this should be
forgotten.
"We must think about the future - [which] is to be at Barcelona, the
club where I had dreamed of playing.
"I am very grateful to the club for all they have done for me in the
last weeks and days. They have treated me very well and I appreciate
that."
EFCC arrests former bank manager over alleged N81m fraud
A former branch manager of one of the new generation banks, (Ecobank
Plc), Victor Amushie has been arrested by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission for an alleged credit fraud in the sum of N81
million.
The suspect allegedly packaged loan facilities for himself, using
several names and accounts of some customers of his bank, with whom he
shared the proceeds.
The loans went bad and the bank had to hold Amushie, who was on the
verge of running out of the country before being apprehended by
operatives of the EFCC.
Details of the loan disbursement showed that he granted a total sum of
N57, 979, 024. 07( Fifty Seven Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy Nine
Thousand, Twenty Four Naira, Seven kobo only) to Onezh Oil and Gas
Limited; N11, 317, 562.73( Eleven Million, Three Hundred and Seventeen
Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty Two Naira, Seventy Three kobo) to
Esubeb Staff Multipurpose Cooperative and N11, 728, 162. 48 (Eleven
Million, Seven Hundred and Twenty Eight Thousand, One Hundred and
Sixty Two Naira, Forty Eight kobo only) to Ogochukwu Amanda.
Amushie is in the custody of the EFCC and will be charged to court as
soon is investigation is concluded.
Plc), Victor Amushie has been arrested by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission for an alleged credit fraud in the sum of N81
million.
The suspect allegedly packaged loan facilities for himself, using
several names and accounts of some customers of his bank, with whom he
shared the proceeds.
The loans went bad and the bank had to hold Amushie, who was on the
verge of running out of the country before being apprehended by
operatives of the EFCC.
Details of the loan disbursement showed that he granted a total sum of
N57, 979, 024. 07( Fifty Seven Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy Nine
Thousand, Twenty Four Naira, Seven kobo only) to Onezh Oil and Gas
Limited; N11, 317, 562.73( Eleven Million, Three Hundred and Seventeen
Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty Two Naira, Seventy Three kobo) to
Esubeb Staff Multipurpose Cooperative and N11, 728, 162. 48 (Eleven
Million, Seven Hundred and Twenty Eight Thousand, One Hundred and
Sixty Two Naira, Forty Eight kobo only) to Ogochukwu Amanda.
Amushie is in the custody of the EFCC and will be charged to court as
soon is investigation is concluded.
Comical Stuffs
A little boy and a little girl attended the same school and became
friends. Every day they would sit together to eat their lunch.
They discovered that they both brought chicken sandwiches every day!
This went on all through the fourth and fifth grades until one day he
noticed that her sandwich wasn't a chicken sandwich.
He said, " Hey, how come you're not eating chicken, don't you like it
anymore?" She said, " I love it but I have to stop eating it."
"Why?" he asked. She pointed to her lap and said "Cause I'm starting
to grow little feathers down there!"
"Let me see" he said. "Okay" and she pulled up her skirt. He looked
and said, "That's right you are, better not eat any more chicken."
He kept eating his chicken sandwiches until one day he brought peanut
butter. He said to the little girl, "I have to stop eating chicken
sandwiches,
"I'm starting to get feathers down there too!"
She asked if she could look so he pulled down his pants for her. She said
"Oh, my God, it's too late for you, you've already got the neck and
the gizzards!"
friends. Every day they would sit together to eat their lunch.
They discovered that they both brought chicken sandwiches every day!
This went on all through the fourth and fifth grades until one day he
noticed that her sandwich wasn't a chicken sandwich.
He said, " Hey, how come you're not eating chicken, don't you like it
anymore?" She said, " I love it but I have to stop eating it."
"Why?" he asked. She pointed to her lap and said "Cause I'm starting
to grow little feathers down there!"
"Let me see" he said. "Okay" and she pulled up her skirt. He looked
and said, "That's right you are, better not eat any more chicken."
He kept eating his chicken sandwiches until one day he brought peanut
butter. He said to the little girl, "I have to stop eating chicken
sandwiches,
"I'm starting to get feathers down there too!"
She asked if she could look so he pulled down his pants for her. She said
"Oh, my God, it's too late for you, you've already got the neck and
the gizzards!"
Fashola Commissions Tejuosho Market
Lagos State, Governor Babatunde Fashola, has commissioned the first
phase of the popular Tejuosho Market, gutted by fire seven years ago.
The commissioning is coming six years after the reconstruction of the
market started under a 25-year Build, Operate and Transfer, BOT lease
agreement.
The reconstructed Tejuosho Market which now has over 4,000 shop space
with lock up and K-Clamp shops, located along the Ojuolegba-Itire
Road, Yaba is now open for commercial activities.
phase of the popular Tejuosho Market, gutted by fire seven years ago.
The commissioning is coming six years after the reconstruction of the
market started under a 25-year Build, Operate and Transfer, BOT lease
agreement.
The reconstructed Tejuosho Market which now has over 4,000 shop space
with lock up and K-Clamp shops, located along the Ojuolegba-Itire
Road, Yaba is now open for commercial activities.
EPL kicks off in style
goals of the most captivating and entertaining league in the world,
the English Premier League return to the stable tomorrow, with record
champions Mancheter United kicking off the 2014-2014 season, with an
home game against Swansea.
Mancheter United had a miserable 2013/2014 season, which resulted in
the sack of Coach David Moyes. Dutch tactician, Luis van Gaal has been
drafted in to tinker the English giants to winning way again, with
anxious Red Devil fans waiting to see their team dismantle Swansea in
the lnchtime kickoff match at Old Trafford.
On the strength of what they saw in the pre-season, where Red Devils
were unbeaten, fans are seemingly optimistic of a greast season under
the guandance of van Gaal. With Wayne Rooney wearing the caotain's
armband, expectations are high that the former Everton striker will
fire in the goals that will lift United to the summit of the table,
pending the outcomes of the other six fixtures holding later today.
In other games, Everton will travel to face Leicester City, QPR tackle
Hull City, while Stoke City, parading Eagles forward Osaze Odemwingie
host Aston Villa at the Brittania Stadium.
Osaze, who had a good performance for Nigeria at the last World Cup in
Brazil will be inching to lead Stoke City's attacking assault on Aston
Villa.
The former Lille, CSKA Moscow and West Brom forward, netted five times
in 15 appearance for Stoke City last term and will be raring to
improve on his goals record for Stoke.
Osaze's former club West Brom host Sunderland, Tottenham are on the
road to battle West Ham while Community Shield winners, Arsenal
entertain Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal fans will be particularly keen to see if Chilean striker
Alexis Sanchez will score in his first EPL match and lay the marker in
the race of who emerges the top scorer when the league ends next year.
How Nyako beat security, escaped to Britain
Nyako, escape from Nigeria a few hours before his impeachment despite
the presence of eagle-eyed security agents waiting to arrest him to
answer for his actions?
This is a question that has continued to prop up within the security
establishment in Nigeria now that it has become clear that the former
governor had fled the country and settled in Europe, apparently to
avoid being prosecuted or persecuted by his traducers.
Nyako, according to findings by Saturday Vanguard, escaped from
Nigeria through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja in a
private jet on July 15, 2014.
The former Chief of Naval Staff's successful flight from the country
at the time he did, is said to be causing unease and serious
embarrassment to the nation's security establishment, as it is being
suspected that the man could not have taken off without the support of
insiders.
Saturday Vanguard was told by competent sources that Nyako was
assisted to flee by those who were also detailed to stop him from
slipping off their hands.
It was learnt that Nyako had sought the assistance of some sympathetic
security agents and secured their subtle support on how to leave the
country undetected just before his ouster by the House of Assembly and
beat the hordes of security agents, who had been detailed to arrest
him.
The former Chief of Defence Staff is said to have made arrangements to
leave Yola, the state capital for Abuja a day before his impeachment,
having been convinced that the seven-man panel raised by the House of
Assembly had indicted him on many fronts.
It was learnt that on the day of the impeachment, Nyako had prepared a
phantom convoy of about 10 cars, which he used in confusing security
agents to believe that he was still around in the country, many hours
after he had sneaked out of town.
According to a competent source, who was privy to the movement, Nyako
had earlier that morning of July 15, 2014, left his Abuja residence
with some of his close aides in a private car and was ushered into a
waiting private jet at the NAIA Abuja.
The jet, according to the source, is owned by a top Nigerian, who is
sympathetic to Nyako and believes that he was hounded out of office
because of his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to
the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).
The source explained that since the former governor's flight from the
private wing of the NAIA Abuja was pre-arranged, security agents, who
would have arrested Nyako on arrival at the airport, rather gave him a
quick pass and he flew out of the airport in a jiffy.
Findings show that about an hour after Nyako's plane had taken off
from the private wing of the airport, his phantom convoy made its way
to the airport giving security agents the erroneous belief that he was
inside his official car.
The security agents waited for the governor to arrive so as to stop
him from flying. It was too late.
In the convoy, a Land Cruiser Jeep emblazoned with the Coat of Arms
and Marked "Adamawa State Governor", occupied the space meant for
Nyako but the former governor was not in any of the vehicles.
On stopping the convoy and searching, the security men, who had now
been alerted to grab Nyako, only found some of his aides in his
official car. They were livid.
One of Nyako's aides told Saturday Vanguard that the security men had
to quickly ferry the former naval officer out of the country because
they feared for his life.
The source explained that there were unconfirmed reports that the man
could be harmed after being removed from office.
"We had information that they would deal with Nyako in ways he did not
anticipate because of the letter he wrote accusing the Federal
Government of committing genocide in the North under the guise of
fighting terrorism," one of his aides said. "That is why it was
imperative for the security officials, who knew the plot to harm him
to assist him out of the country. Indeed, we can say that it is the
same people, who had the duty to arrest him that assisted him to leave
the country because of the fear that he could be harmed because of the
gamut of security information at his disposal," another source said.
A few days after Nyako had left Nigeria, the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, said it was finding it difficult to track
down the former governor for arrest over alleged misappropriation of
funds.
A spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the commission
might be tempted to declare Nyako wanted if he continues to hide.
Vanguard.
7 Things You Must Know About Tetracycline
Nigeria is an antibiotic and one of the medications that have been
seriously abused.
It's a first choice for many people in treating diarrhea; and a lot of
them do not use the right dosage. Many people are guilty of this.
Here are very important facts you must know before you use another
dose of tetracycline.
1. Don't use less than the required dose. Some people use only 2 or 4
capsules and they stop. This will cause resistance, and it may not
work for you when you use it another time.
2. Tetracycline is not to be taken by children less than eight years.
The drug may cause permanent discolouring of your teeth.
3. Pregnant women (or those planning to get pregnant soon) or nursing
(breast feeding) mothers should not us tetracycline.
4. Tetracycline should not be taken with milk, yoghurt or other dairy products.
5. Tetracycline should NOT be used at the same time with oral
contraceptives. This is because taking the drug at the same time with
some oral contraceptives may cause the contraceptive not to work.
6. Tetracycline might produce some side effects such as diarrhoea,
blurred vision, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, infections of the
vagina, etc as adverse effects.
7. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or other health
professionals before using tetracycline or any other antibiotic.
References:
Emdex
Health Tips
Unexplained weight loss (with no increase in exercise or decrease in
food intake) can be a sinister symptom. Please get it evaluated.
food intake) can be a sinister symptom. Please get it evaluated.
Friday, 15 August 2014
Jonathan hosts Omoni Oboli for private screening of her movie
President Goodluck Jonathan received Nollywood actress,Omoni
Oboli,yesterdayfor a private screening of her movie, titled: "Being
Mrs Elliot".
The screening which took place at the Presidential Banquet Hall, State
House, Abuja was graced by other dignitaries including Vice
PresidentNamadi Sambo,AY Makun, Lepacious Bose, Mahmood Ali-Balogun,
andChioma Udeamong others.
Oboli,yesterdayfor a private screening of her movie, titled: "Being
Mrs Elliot".
The screening which took place at the Presidential Banquet Hall, State
House, Abuja was graced by other dignitaries including Vice
PresidentNamadi Sambo,AY Makun, Lepacious Bose, Mahmood Ali-Balogun,
andChioma Udeamong others.
Al Gore sues Al Jazeera over TV deal
news network is withholding tens of millions of dollars that it owes
for buying Current TV from him and other shareholders for $500 million
last year. (Mark Humphrey/Associated Press)
Former Vice-President Al Gore is suing Al Jazeera America, saying the
news network is withholding tens of millions of dollars that it owes
for buying Current TV from him and other shareholders for $500 million
last year.
David Boies, Gore's attorney, said in a statement that Al Jazeera
America "wants to give itself a discount on the purchase price that
was agreed to nearly two years ago." He said the suit was filed in
Delaware Court of Chancery on Friday.
Al Jazeera America didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Qatar-owned news channel took over Current TV's signal last August
and hired a slew of U.S. TV news veterans like Soledad O'Brien and
John Seigenthaler. It is available in nearly 60 million U.S. homes.
Gore and co-founder and former Current TV CEO Joel Hyatt each had 20
per cent stakes in Current, while Comcast Corp. had less than a 10 per
cent stake. Another major investor in Current TV was supermarket
magnate and entertainment industry investor Ron Burkle.
AP
Iraq crisis: Sunni leaders propose deal with new PM
with the new prime minister, a move that could help break political
deadlock.
The mainly Shia Muslim government is locked in a fight with Islamic
State (IS), an extreme Sunni group leading an insurrection in the
north.
Fighting has flared up in mainly Sunni Anbar province, west of
Baghdad, parts of which have been under IS control.
In New York, the UN imposed sanctions on IS members and another group.
Unconfirmed reports emerging on Friday night suggested IS rebels have
killed at least 80 men of the Yazidi faith in a village called Kocho,
45km (28 miles) south-east of Sinjar.
"They arrived in vehicles and they started their killing this
afternoon," one Kurdish official Reuters news agency.
"We believe it's because of their creed: convert or be killed."
Yazidi and Christian people in northern Iraq have faced persecution by
the jihadists, prompting US-led air strikes and aid drops and calls
for other Western states to arm opponents of IS.
At an emergency EU meeting in Brussels, the 28 member-states were left
to decide individually whether they would arm Iraq's Kurds, the main
opponent of IS in the north.
IS-led violence has driven an estimated 1.2 million Iraqis from their
homes. Whole communities of Yazidis and Christians have been forced to
flee in the north, along with Shia Iraqis, whom IS do not regard as
true Muslims.
Chink of hope
A group of leaders from restive Sunni provinces issued a joint
statement addressed to new Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who
took over from Nouri Maliki on Thursday.
They said they could join the new government if the security and civil
administrations in their areas were given equal status to that of the
central government.
But they demanded that the Iraqi authorities stop the bombardment of
Sunni provinces and cities, and said that local people should be
allowed to run Sunni provinces.
Calling for a reform of the Iraqi army, they asked for the release of
political detainees, an end to executions and the withdrawal of
militias from Sunni cities.
In order to drive a wedge between Iraqi nationalist Sunnis and Islamic
State, the Iraqi Sunnis must first be won over - not only by giving
them seats in government, but by empowering them in their own areas.
Many have said they would then turn on the Islamist radicals and there
are signs that it may have started to happen in some areas.
In 2007 the Sunnis drove al-Qaeda out of western Iraq altogether. This
will be a much tougher affair.
If it is to stand a chance, the Sunnis will need all the help they can
get from Iraqi government troops, Kurdish Peshmerga forces and
American airpower. Nor can it really start in earnest until a solid
new power-sharing deal is struck in Baghdad.
The removal of Mr Maliki, who was hated by the Sunnis, has provided a
chink of hope in Iraq's crisis, BBC World Service Middle East editor
Sebastian Usher reports.
There is no doubt that Sunni tribes are essential to any solution, but
it will take a great deal to restore any of their trust in central
government, he says, noting that other Sunni leaders have already
dismissed the political transition as all but meaningless.
Fighting flared up on Friday with IS militants in Anbar.
AFP news agency quoted a Sunni tribal leader, Sheikh Abduljabbar Abu
Risha, as saying an "uprising" was under way against IS, while Anbar
police chief Maj-Gen Ahmed Saddak said security forces were backing
the fight to drive out IS.
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's most influential Shia cleric,
threw his weight behind the new Iraqi prime minister on Friday.
BBC
Ebola: Nano-silver is pesticide, says US FDA
aware of products being sold online that fraudulently claim to prevent
or treat Ebola.
The FDA's warning comes on the heels of comments by Nigeria's top
health official, Onyebuchi Chukwu, who reportedly said earlier
Thursday that eight Ebola patients in Lagos will receive an
experimental treatment called nano-silver.
Erica Jefferson, a spokeswoman for the FDA, said she could not provide
any information about the product referenced by the Nigerians.
The FDA did not specify any products in its warning.
Silver has been used as an antibacterial for centuries. Tiny silver
particles known as nano-silver have controversially been incorporated
into a variety of consumer products such as socks and bedding to help
block odors caused by bacteria and mold.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers nano-silver a
pesticide. Manufacturers of products that contain it must register
them with the agency.
Nano-silver is also sometimes sold online as a dietary supplement even
though Danish researchers found in a recent study that nano-silver can
penetrate and damage cells.
The FDA regulates dietary supplements and said in its statement that
"by law, dietary supplements cannot claim to prevent or cure disease."
The agency said it had received consumer complaints about the Ebola claims.
"Individuals promoting these unapproved and fraudulent products must
take immediate action to correct or remove these claims or face
potential FDA action," the agency said.
The Ebola outbreak ravaging West Africa has claimed 1,069 lives so
far. Most have been in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Nigeria has
confirmed 10 cases of the disease and four deaths.
My Quotes
Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate
version of somebody else. - Judy Gerland
version of somebody else. - Judy Gerland
Ukraine'destroys' Russian military vehicles
from Russia, as a controversial Russian aid convoy still waits at the
border.
Nato said the column was a military "incursion", prompting the UK to
summon Russia's envoy to explain.
Russia's defence ministry denied any such column had entered Ukraine.
Meanwhile Ukrainian border guards have arrived to inspect Russia's aid
convoy, which was sent to help eastern Ukraine cities held by
pro-Russian rebels.
Berlin meeting
The alleged incursion by Russian military vehicles into Ukraine was
witnessed on Thursday by two UK newspaper reporters.
The BBC's Daniel Sandford in Moscow says the crossing was a reminder
of the extent to which the Kremlin has been backing the rebellion in
eastern Ukraine.
It is not known whether the troops moving with the military column
were Russian or pro-Russian separatis.
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko said on his presidential
websitethat he had discussed the incident with UK Prime Minister David
Cameron.
Mr Poroshenko said the information was "trustworthy and confirmed
because the majority of the machines had been eliminated by the
Ukrainian artillery at night".
Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for the Ukrainian military, added:
"Appropriate actions were undertaken and a part of it no longer
exists."
The UK Foreign Office summoned Russian Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko
"to clarify reports of Russian military incursion".
EU foreign ministers warned they were ready to consider further
sanctions 'in light of the evolution of the situation on the ground'
Russia's defence ministry said the incursion reports were "some kind
of fantasy".
It said: "There was no Russian military column that crossed the
Russian-Ukrainian border either at night or during the day."
Meanwhile Ukraine's Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin sent out a tweet
saying he would be meeting Russia's Sergei Lavrov in Berlin on Sunday,
along with their French and German counterparts, adding: "We need to
talk."
Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said: "We see a
continuous flow of weapons and fighters from Russia into eastern
Ukraine, and it is a clear demonstration of continued Russian
involvement in [its] destabilisation."
Van Persie will miss Swansea Cityclash - Van Gaal
The Netherlands striker has not trained sufficiently since returning
from the World Cup to be considered as the Red Devils chase a second
successive opening day win over the Swans
Robin van Persiehas "no chance" of featuring for Manchester
Unitedagainst Swansea Cityon Saturday, according to manager Louis van
Gaal.
The striker returned to pre-season training late after reaching the
World Cup semi-finals, under Van Gaal, with the Netherlands.
And, asked whether Van Persie might be fit enough to play on Saturday,
Van Gaal said: "No chance. He has to train."
The comments echo the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona coach's
statement from earlier this month, when he predicted Van Persie would
not be ready.
"Robin wants to play every game, I know that, but so do the other 30
players in the squad," he said at the time. "But players have to train
and Robin needs a full training regime behind him before he can play
again."
Big-money signing Luke Shaw will also miss out on Saturday after
picking up a hamstring injury, but Van Gaal is confident of filling
the gap left by the teenager.
"We played in the USA [pre-season tour] with Reece James and Ashley
Young in that position [left wing-back]," he reminded reporters. "I'm
not worried."
Sam Johnstone, Antonio Valencia, Jonny Evans and Danny Welbeck all
join Shaw in being unavailable for the Premier League curtain-raiser
through injury.
from the World Cup to be considered as the Red Devils chase a second
successive opening day win over the Swans
Robin van Persiehas "no chance" of featuring for Manchester
Unitedagainst Swansea Cityon Saturday, according to manager Louis van
Gaal.
The striker returned to pre-season training late after reaching the
World Cup semi-finals, under Van Gaal, with the Netherlands.
And, asked whether Van Persie might be fit enough to play on Saturday,
Van Gaal said: "No chance. He has to train."
The comments echo the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona coach's
statement from earlier this month, when he predicted Van Persie would
not be ready.
"Robin wants to play every game, I know that, but so do the other 30
players in the squad," he said at the time. "But players have to train
and Robin needs a full training regime behind him before he can play
again."
Big-money signing Luke Shaw will also miss out on Saturday after
picking up a hamstring injury, but Van Gaal is confident of filling
the gap left by the teenager.
"We played in the USA [pre-season tour] with Reece James and Ashley
Young in that position [left wing-back]," he reminded reporters. "I'm
not worried."
Sam Johnstone, Antonio Valencia, Jonny Evans and Danny Welbeck all
join Shaw in being unavailable for the Premier League curtain-raiser
through injury.
Maigari Returns to Office Aug 18 -Minister
Maigari, the impeached Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation,
would return to the office on Monday.
Danagogo said in Abuja after Maigari's visit that the return was based
on the agreement of all parties involved in the crisis to ensure that
the problems were solved.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the Board of the NFF had on
July 24 impeached Maigari on grounds of financial misappropriation,
misapplication and maladministration.
The board had since then appointed the first Vice Chairman, Mike Umeh,
to act as the chairman.
But FIFA, the world football governing body, had requested for an
explanation on the processes that led to Maigari's impeachment which
the board had replied.
However, FIFA in another letter had advised that Maigari be allowed to
preside over the forthcoming NFF congress on Aug. 26.
The minister told newsmen that the crisis in the football house was over.
He said, "Before the letter from FIFA, there was a stakeholder's
advice to both Maigari and Umeh, that with just two weeks to the NFA
elections, they should work together.
"What we have been trying to do as stakeholders since the crisis
started is to ensure that all these problems are solved.
"And by the grace of God, we have reached that stage now where we have
gotten Maiagri's commitment and his board members.
"From now onward, stories about fights and crisis in the NFF are over
and Maigari will return to office on Monday."
He said the board members had resolved to work with Maigari to ensure
that the electoral process was smooth for credible leaders to emerge.
He said, "I met with the board members a couple of days ago and we
have resolved that they are going to work together peacefully.
"They said they will make sure that the electoral process goes on so
that more people will have forms to contest so that the best leaders
of our football can emerge without any form of bias or restriction.
"What President Goodluck Jonathan has done in this country is that
processes leading to elections will be free and fair, manifestly
transparent, that there will be no favoured candidate.
"What Maigari has assured me now is that he will copy the president's
example and we will support him to make sure that there is that free
and fair election."
NAN reports that the NFA election is scheduled to hold on August 26 in Abuja.
West Africans Banned from Some Youth Olympics Events Over Ebola Fears
in certain events at the Youth Olympics, organizers saidFriday, in an
effort to protect all participants from the Ebola outbreak in the
region.
The gamesare set to kick off this Saturday and run until Aug. 28 in
Nanjing, China.
Athletes from West Africa, where Ebola has spread rapidlyover the
past several weeks, will have their temperature and wellbeing checked
throughout the 12-day games. The prohibition will also directly impact
three West African athletes who will not be allowed to compete in
combat sports and events in the pool to prevent potential infection.
"We regret that due to this issue some young athletes may have
suffered twice, both from the anguish caused by the outbreak in their
home countries and by not being able to compete in the Youth Olympic
Games," the International Olympic Committee and the Nanjing Youth
Olympic Organizing Committee said in a joint statement. The
committees also said countries are free to decide on their own whether
or not to attend.
The Olympic committees said the World Health Organization had been
working with the Chinese government in preparation for the games in
light of the largest Ebola outbreak in history, but that these
policies will serve as an extra precaution.
The Youth Olympic games started in 2010 and are held every four years.
Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki Steps Down, Gives Up Post to Rival
Iraq's embattled Nouri al-Maliki has stepped down as prime minister,
caving in to international and domestic pressure to give up his post
to a rival politician.
The move defuses a political deadlock that has plunged Iraq into
uncertainty and opens way for the formation of a new government that
could take on a growing insurgency by Sunni militants that has
engulfed much of the country.
Al-Maliki made the announcement on national television late Thursday,
standing alongside senior members of his Islamic Dawa Party, including
rival Haider al-Abadi. He said he was stepping aside in favor of his
"brother," in order to "facilitate the political process and
government formation."
The premier-designate al-Abadi, a veteran Shiite lawmaker, now faces
the immense challenge of trying to unite Iraqi politicians. The
country's major political factions deeply distrust each other and the
army seems unable to regain territory in the north and west taken by
militants from the Islamic State group.
Al-Maliki had been struggling for weeks to stay on for a third
four-year term as prime minister amid an attempt by opponents to push
him out, accusing him of monopolizing power and pursuing a fiercely
pro-Shiite agenda that has alienated the Sunni minority.
The United States, the U.N. and a broad array of political factions in
Iraq had backed al-Abadi, saying only a new leader could unify a
country under siege from the Islamic State extremists who have
captured large swaths of Iraqi territory.
Al-Maliki said his decision reflected a desire to "safeguard the high
interests of the country," adding that he would not be the cause of
any bloodshed.
His refusal to give up the post after eight years in power had
provoked a political crisis that escalated this week in Baghdad. The
pressure intensified when his Shiite political alliance backed
al-Abadi to replace him, and President Fouad Massoum nominated
al-Abadi on Monday to form the next government. Al-Maliki threatened
legal action against the president for what he said was a violation of
the constitution.
But in a meeting of his party earlier Thursday, al-Maliki agreed to
endorse al-Abadi, two senior lawmakers from his State of Law
parliamentary bloc -- Hussein al-Maliki and Khalaf Abdul-Samad -- told
The Associated Press. The two said al-Maliki also agreed to drop a
suit before the constitutional court challenging al-Abadi's
nomination.
The White House commended al-Maliki's move and expressed hope that the
power shift "can set Iraq on a new path and unite its people" against
the threat from Islamic militants, national security adviser Susan
Rice said in a statement.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the move "sets the stage for a
historic and peaceful transition of power in Iraq."
Al-Maliki had grown increasingly isolated as he was deserted not only
by his Shiite allies but also top ally Iran, the United States and the
U.N. backed al-Abadi, who has 30 days to put together a Cabinet for
parliament's approval.
The U.N. Security Council urged al-Abadi to work swiftly to form "an
inclusive government that represents all segments of the Iraqi
population and that contributes to finding a viable and sustainable
solution to the country's current challenges."
Iraqis of all sects welcomed Thursday's announcement.
"Now, all we want is a government that respects the people and does
not discriminate against them," said Youssef Ibrahim, 40, a Sunni
government employee in Baghdad.
Adnan Hussein, 45, a Shiite in Sadr City, said he believes al-Maliki
is to blame for much of Iraq's troubles. "The years he ruled were the
worst in Iraq's history and he bears that responsibility," Hussein
said.
The U.S. and other countries have been pushing for a more
representative government that will ease anger among Sunnis, who felt
marginalized by al-Maliki's administration, which helped fuel the
dramatic sweep by the Islamic State extremist group.
The militants' lightning advance across much of northern and western
Iraq since June has driven hundreds of thousands of people from their
homes, and last week prompted the U.S. to launch aid operations and
airstrikes as the militants threatened religious minorities and the
largely autonomous Kurdish region.
caving in to international and domestic pressure to give up his post
to a rival politician.
The move defuses a political deadlock that has plunged Iraq into
uncertainty and opens way for the formation of a new government that
could take on a growing insurgency by Sunni militants that has
engulfed much of the country.
Al-Maliki made the announcement on national television late Thursday,
standing alongside senior members of his Islamic Dawa Party, including
rival Haider al-Abadi. He said he was stepping aside in favor of his
"brother," in order to "facilitate the political process and
government formation."
The premier-designate al-Abadi, a veteran Shiite lawmaker, now faces
the immense challenge of trying to unite Iraqi politicians. The
country's major political factions deeply distrust each other and the
army seems unable to regain territory in the north and west taken by
militants from the Islamic State group.
Al-Maliki had been struggling for weeks to stay on for a third
four-year term as prime minister amid an attempt by opponents to push
him out, accusing him of monopolizing power and pursuing a fiercely
pro-Shiite agenda that has alienated the Sunni minority.
The United States, the U.N. and a broad array of political factions in
Iraq had backed al-Abadi, saying only a new leader could unify a
country under siege from the Islamic State extremists who have
captured large swaths of Iraqi territory.
Al-Maliki said his decision reflected a desire to "safeguard the high
interests of the country," adding that he would not be the cause of
any bloodshed.
His refusal to give up the post after eight years in power had
provoked a political crisis that escalated this week in Baghdad. The
pressure intensified when his Shiite political alliance backed
al-Abadi to replace him, and President Fouad Massoum nominated
al-Abadi on Monday to form the next government. Al-Maliki threatened
legal action against the president for what he said was a violation of
the constitution.
But in a meeting of his party earlier Thursday, al-Maliki agreed to
endorse al-Abadi, two senior lawmakers from his State of Law
parliamentary bloc -- Hussein al-Maliki and Khalaf Abdul-Samad -- told
The Associated Press. The two said al-Maliki also agreed to drop a
suit before the constitutional court challenging al-Abadi's
nomination.
The White House commended al-Maliki's move and expressed hope that the
power shift "can set Iraq on a new path and unite its people" against
the threat from Islamic militants, national security adviser Susan
Rice said in a statement.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the move "sets the stage for a
historic and peaceful transition of power in Iraq."
Al-Maliki had grown increasingly isolated as he was deserted not only
by his Shiite allies but also top ally Iran, the United States and the
U.N. backed al-Abadi, who has 30 days to put together a Cabinet for
parliament's approval.
The U.N. Security Council urged al-Abadi to work swiftly to form "an
inclusive government that represents all segments of the Iraqi
population and that contributes to finding a viable and sustainable
solution to the country's current challenges."
Iraqis of all sects welcomed Thursday's announcement.
"Now, all we want is a government that respects the people and does
not discriminate against them," said Youssef Ibrahim, 40, a Sunni
government employee in Baghdad.
Adnan Hussein, 45, a Shiite in Sadr City, said he believes al-Maliki
is to blame for much of Iraq's troubles. "The years he ruled were the
worst in Iraq's history and he bears that responsibility," Hussein
said.
The U.S. and other countries have been pushing for a more
representative government that will ease anger among Sunnis, who felt
marginalized by al-Maliki's administration, which helped fuel the
dramatic sweep by the Islamic State extremist group.
The militants' lightning advance across much of northern and western
Iraq since June has driven hundreds of thousands of people from their
homes, and last week prompted the U.S. to launch aid operations and
airstrikes as the militants threatened religious minorities and the
largely autonomous Kurdish region.
Ferguson Police Name Officer in Michael Brown Shooting Death
identified as Darren Wilson.
Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson told reporters that Wilson is 28
years old, white and a six-year veteran of the police force with no
disciplinary record. He said Wilson was "treated for injuries" that
occurred during the confrontation with Brown last Saturday.
In a statement to reporters and members of the local community Friday,
Governor Jay Nixon asked for calm while investigations into events
surrounding the shooting continue and praised Highway Patrol Captain
Ronald Johnson, who was placed in charge security in Ferguson
Thursday.
Johnson also addressed the crowd Friday morning, saying no calls to
the police or arrests were made, tear gas deployed or roadblocks put
in place on Thursday. "Last night was a great night," he said. "People
were talking people were inspiring each other getting their voices
out." Johnson promised that moving forward police will "communicate
better" with the community. During Johnson's remarks, members of the
public continued to express outrage over the actions of law
enforcement over the preceding days. Johnson repeated calls that the
"inner anger we have" not lead to further violence.
"We need to make sure we don't burn down our own house, that we don't
vandalize our own building," Johnson said. "That doesn't not prove a
point that hurts this community and that's what I do not want."
Jackson provided few additional details about Wilson or what led to
the shooting. But he did say Wilson was responding to an armed
robbery, and police documents released Friday indicated Brown was
suspected of stealing $50 worth of cigars from a convenience store.
Surveillance video and images from the convenience store were also
released, depicting what Jackson called a "strong-arm robbery" and
what the police documents described as a suspect matching Brown's
description involved in the robbery.
Police have said Brown was killed in a struggle for an officer's gun,
but at least one witness has disputed that account.
Immediately following the announcement, peaceful protests continued at
the QuikTrip convenience store where the police released Darren
Wilson's name in a press conference.
The town of Ferguson, a suburb of St. Louis, erupted in violence in
the days after the shooting, which critics held up as an example of
excessive police force and racial inequality in the criminal justice
system. Tensions escalated throughout the week as protesters,
sometimes violent, were met with heavy-handed policing by Ferguson and
St. Louis County police. The situation began to calm on Thursday after
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon pulled the county police from the town and
replaced them with state troopers. President Barack Obama also
appealed for calm Thursday.
"We need to get justice in this case," Nixon said on MSNBC Friday
before the announcement by Ferguson police. "It's good news after a
great deal of prodding they're going to release the name of this
officer.
"We saw an acceleration in the tone and the armor and knew it was time
to make a change," Nixon said. "Folks felt like they were under siege.
When police forces work best, they're part of the community, not a
separate force to control that community."
Peter Obi Resigns as APGA BoT Chairman and Leader
The former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, has tendered his
resignation letter as Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance
and the Chairman of the Party's Board of Trustees.
In a resignation letter addressed to the National Secretary of the
Party and submitted in the Party's Abuja office on Thursday, Mr Obi
said that he was resigning as Leader and BoT Chairman, into which he
was appointed in January 2014 by the National Executive Council of the
Party, which, according to him, was yet to be ratified by a Convention
of the party as stipulated by the constitution.
Obi cited family and personal reasons, but did not give details. He,
however, wished the party well in future endeavors. He stated that he
remains an ordinary APGA member.
When contacted, his Media Aide, Mr Valentine Obienyem, confirmed the
development.
"If you recall, my boss was nominated the Leader of the Party and the
Chairman of her Board of Trustees in January. The nomination was yet
to be ratified by a Convention of the Party, when he submitted his
letter of resignation.
"Since the convention will take place next year, people have found it
convenient to blame him for the woes of the Party on the reason that
he had failed to intervene on matters affecting the party, not knowing
that without ratification of his nomination, he had no platform under
which to intervene," he said.
Obienyem said that his boss remained an APGA member, and would
continue to support the Party at all times.
APGA is presently witnessing mass exodus of her key members, who cite
the appropriation of the party by one man as a reason.
Peter Obi was Governor of Anambra State in Nigeria from March 17, 2006
to November 2, 2006, when he was impeached and from February 9, 2007
to May 29, 2007 after his impeachment was overturned.
Although a fresh election was held on April 29, 2007, he was
reappointed Governor on June 14, 2007 after a court ruling that he
should be allowed to complete a four-year term.
He won a February 6, 2010 election for a second term as governor and
was succeeded on March 17, 2014, by Willie Obiano of the All
Progressives Grand Alliance.
resignation letter as Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance
and the Chairman of the Party's Board of Trustees.
In a resignation letter addressed to the National Secretary of the
Party and submitted in the Party's Abuja office on Thursday, Mr Obi
said that he was resigning as Leader and BoT Chairman, into which he
was appointed in January 2014 by the National Executive Council of the
Party, which, according to him, was yet to be ratified by a Convention
of the party as stipulated by the constitution.
Obi cited family and personal reasons, but did not give details. He,
however, wished the party well in future endeavors. He stated that he
remains an ordinary APGA member.
When contacted, his Media Aide, Mr Valentine Obienyem, confirmed the
development.
"If you recall, my boss was nominated the Leader of the Party and the
Chairman of her Board of Trustees in January. The nomination was yet
to be ratified by a Convention of the Party, when he submitted his
letter of resignation.
"Since the convention will take place next year, people have found it
convenient to blame him for the woes of the Party on the reason that
he had failed to intervene on matters affecting the party, not knowing
that without ratification of his nomination, he had no platform under
which to intervene," he said.
Obienyem said that his boss remained an APGA member, and would
continue to support the Party at all times.
APGA is presently witnessing mass exodus of her key members, who cite
the appropriation of the party by one man as a reason.
Peter Obi was Governor of Anambra State in Nigeria from March 17, 2006
to November 2, 2006, when he was impeached and from February 9, 2007
to May 29, 2007 after his impeachment was overturned.
Although a fresh election was held on April 29, 2007, he was
reappointed Governor on June 14, 2007 after a court ruling that he
should be allowed to complete a four-year term.
He won a February 6, 2010 election for a second term as governor and
was succeeded on March 17, 2014, by Willie Obiano of the All
Progressives Grand Alliance.
Adidas Terminates Contract With NFF
Kit manufacturer and partner of the Nigeria Football Federation,
Adidas, has written to the NFF intimating the Nigerian federation of
its decision not to renew the current contract.
The letter, which was addressed to the federation and dated August 12,
2014 ,was signed by two officials of the company with corporate
headquarters in Germany. The document was signed by the VP Global
Sports Marketing Football, Claus-Peter Mayer and the Marketing Manager
Federations and Leagues, Kai-Philipp Stief.
The letter which was obtained by The PUNCH correspondents read,
"Adidas has conducted an analysis of its football partnerships and
related businesses. Based on this evaluation and in combination with
the recent correspondence between the parties, we regret to inform
that adidas has decided not to extend its partnership with the Nigeria
Football Federation as per the end of the Agreement (i.e 31 December
2014).
"Adidas will continue to fulfil its obligations under the agreement as
previously communicated and respectfully requests the Nigeria Football
Federation to do the same for the remainder of the contract period
(including the obligation to share any third party offer pursuant to
Adidas' right of first refusal)."
The implication is that the NFF will have to search for another global
brand for the national teams. Adidas was their partner when Nigeria
won the 1994 Africa Nations Cup in Tunisia and when the country first
featured at the FIFA World Cup, USA '94. Nigeria switched to rivals
Nike when both parties separated. The Nigeria federation and Adidas
became partners again following the new contract signed on March 6,
2010.
The first mention of the termination came just as the 2014 World Cup
was ending as the NFF board was sacked by the sports minister Tammy
Danagogo following a court ruling in Jos. Then it was said that the
global brand was reacting to the confusion in the Nigerian football
scene. The termination decision was quickly denied.
Adidas did not state their specific reason for pulling out but the
situation in the Nigerian federation has since degenerated to the
lowest ebb since the World Cup ended with the president, Aliyu
Maigari, announced as impeached by the board. This was later followed
by another suspension of two other members seen as loyalists of
Maigari. Followers of the game believe the decision of the German
company could be related to the uncertainty surrounding the country's
football administration.
The world football governing body FIFA on Thursday stepped in again
into the Nigerian crisis and asked that Maigari should be reinstated
as the president of the federation. He will preside over the August 26
general election of the federation.
PUNCH
Adidas, has written to the NFF intimating the Nigerian federation of
its decision not to renew the current contract.
The letter, which was addressed to the federation and dated August 12,
2014 ,was signed by two officials of the company with corporate
headquarters in Germany. The document was signed by the VP Global
Sports Marketing Football, Claus-Peter Mayer and the Marketing Manager
Federations and Leagues, Kai-Philipp Stief.
The letter which was obtained by The PUNCH correspondents read,
"Adidas has conducted an analysis of its football partnerships and
related businesses. Based on this evaluation and in combination with
the recent correspondence between the parties, we regret to inform
that adidas has decided not to extend its partnership with the Nigeria
Football Federation as per the end of the Agreement (i.e 31 December
2014).
"Adidas will continue to fulfil its obligations under the agreement as
previously communicated and respectfully requests the Nigeria Football
Federation to do the same for the remainder of the contract period
(including the obligation to share any third party offer pursuant to
Adidas' right of first refusal)."
The implication is that the NFF will have to search for another global
brand for the national teams. Adidas was their partner when Nigeria
won the 1994 Africa Nations Cup in Tunisia and when the country first
featured at the FIFA World Cup, USA '94. Nigeria switched to rivals
Nike when both parties separated. The Nigeria federation and Adidas
became partners again following the new contract signed on March 6,
2010.
The first mention of the termination came just as the 2014 World Cup
was ending as the NFF board was sacked by the sports minister Tammy
Danagogo following a court ruling in Jos. Then it was said that the
global brand was reacting to the confusion in the Nigerian football
scene. The termination decision was quickly denied.
Adidas did not state their specific reason for pulling out but the
situation in the Nigerian federation has since degenerated to the
lowest ebb since the World Cup ended with the president, Aliyu
Maigari, announced as impeached by the board. This was later followed
by another suspension of two other members seen as loyalists of
Maigari. Followers of the game believe the decision of the German
company could be related to the uncertainty surrounding the country's
football administration.
The world football governing body FIFA on Thursday stepped in again
into the Nigerian crisis and asked that Maigari should be reinstated
as the president of the federation. He will preside over the August 26
general election of the federation.
PUNCH
Ebola scare: Enugu residents wear gloves to work, market
citizens have resorted to taking precautionary measures to protect
themselves from contracting the disease.
A correspondent who monitored activities in Enugu on Friday, reports
that people were seen wearing on hand gloves to markets and their
offices as well as buying hand santisers.
Also the people who use public transportation now put on long
laboratory coats to avoid body contact with other passengers.
Mr Ndubuisi Iloh, a civil servant, who wore white gloves to an event
in Enugu, said that it was a protective measure due to his usual
culture of shaking hands with people.
"I usually forget that I should not shake people and because of that,
I wear my gloves so that even if I shake, I will not contract Ebola
virus.
"There are some elders you cannot afford not to shake because they
will read a different meaning to it.
"Although they said it is when a person is down with sickness that he
or she can transmit the virus, but how will you know if someone is
sick or not when you see him outside,'' he queried.
Mrs Ezinne Uduma, a house wife, who also wore white gloves to the
market, said the gloves had become necessary, to avoid unnecessary
contact at the markets.
"I thank God because I heard that the woman who sneaked out from her
surveillance place in Lagos has been taken back; but the problem is
that they said some people are under surveillance.
"We don't know them and it is possible they are people we relate with;
so I take precautionary measures to protect myself.
"I also bought hand gloves and sanitiser for my children because they
attend holiday lessons. We are scared, but it is only God that can
save us,'' Uduma said.
Also commenting, Miss Ogechi Nwachukwu, an Economics student at the
Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), said:"I go to
school at Agbani campus and we usually struggle for bus. Many people
sweat after this and inside the bus, especially when you are seating
down.
"I bought this lab coat in the market so that people's sweat will not
touch me. Well, people usually laugh at me but most times, they think
I am a medical student.''
Sanitisers were no longer available at popular stores located at
Independence Layout in Enugu metropolis while hand gloves now cost
N900 as against N800 before the Ebola virus outbreak.
(NAN)
First Suspected Ebola Case Reported in Kwara
Prof. Sunday Opabola, on Thursday said that a suspected case of Ebola
disease has been reported in the state.
He stated that the suspect is a seven-month old baby, who came with
his parents from Ibadan for a visit at Ilorin.
Addressing journalists in Ilorin on Thursday, he stated that it has
not yet been confirmed that the child is infected with Ebola and that
there is no confirmed case of the disease in the state, as being
rumoured. He added that residents of the state should not panic.
Opabola, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara State
Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, on Public Health, clarified that
the baby, who was on Wednesday suspected to have been infected with
Ebola, was found with some symptoms, which he said are not exclusive
to Ebola disease.
According to him, the symptoms also manifest with patients of Lassa
fever, cholera, malaria and some other diseases.
Opabola said that the baby initially manifested symptoms of malaria,
and after treating him for about two days without improvement, his
mother was advised to take him to a private paediatric specialist
hospital in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
He added that after a clinical assessment on the patient by the
medical director of the hospital, the baby was diagnosed with
Ebola-like symptoms, such as fever, diarrhoea and vomiting of contents
that partly contained blood.
According to him, the doctor consequently made a report of the baby's
case to the relevant government agency for necessary actions.
He stated that the government has temporarily closed down the private
hospital where the baby was initially admitted.
Opabola, who is also a Professor of Medicine, said the state
government immediately took the baby to the Specialist Hospital at
Sobi in Ilorin, for proper attention. He added that samples from the
patient had already being taken for tests at the University Teaching
Hospital, Lagos, and another unnamed testing centre in Lagos.
He stated that results of the tests are expected to be ready on Friday (today).
The SSA disclosed that medical personnel attending to the baby at the
specialist hospital use Personal Protective Equipment, while ambulance
used to take him to the hospital is to be regularly decontaminated.
The ambulance, he said, has been dedicated to conveying possible Ebola
patients.
We've not reintroduced ATM charges --CBN
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday said it has not
reintroduced charges on the use of Automated Teller Machines, ATMs as
being speculated.
The Director, Banking & Payments System Department of CBN, Mr. Dipo
Fatokun, who explained this to Vanguard after his remarks at the
meeting held by Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum in Lagos, said: "It
is not a reintroduction per se . You have to agree with me that when
the amendment was made in November 2012, it used to be a N100 for any
remote-on-us withdrawal that you did. And you know that the
remote-on-us is when you as a card holder goes to the ATM of a bank
other than your bank to withdraw cash. It was removed then so that
people would be encouraged to go to other ATMs without paying for it.
But the truth is that as we said in the circular on the Introduction
of Fees on Remote-On-Us ATM Withdrawal Transactions recently, that
N100 included the N35 that goes to the issuing bank, which has now
been completely waived.
The issuing bank does not make any thing, but in going to other ATMs
to make withdrawal , your bank, that is, the acquirer bank incurs
cost of N65 which they pay to the switches and the owner of the ATM
that you are using.
Continuing, he said: "Between 2012 and recently when the review was
done, it was discovered that people have actually turned ATMs into
their personal purses because nothing is charged. Somebody needs
N500, or N1000, he will go to ATM and withdraw, he needs N2000, he
will go to ATM and withdraw, so that in a day some people can
patronise ATM for up to four or ten times. That has created a huge
cost burden for the banks that issue the cards. It was becoming
discouraging to them.
"So that is why we said, you can go to an ATM other than your bank ATM
to withdraw up to three times and no charges would be imposed on
you, but it is when you make the fourth withdrawal that you will
pay the N65 that ordinarily your bank would have paid on your
behalf. But of course if you go to your bank's ATM, the issuer, for
withdrawal you can withdraw as many times as you like without being
charged. So, it does not discourage financial inclusion. You should
bear in mind that when you talk of cashless regime, you are
encouraging people to do their transactions electronically other than
the use of cash. So it is a motivation for people to patromise the
ATM. "
reintroduced charges on the use of Automated Teller Machines, ATMs as
being speculated.
The Director, Banking & Payments System Department of CBN, Mr. Dipo
Fatokun, who explained this to Vanguard after his remarks at the
meeting held by Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum in Lagos, said: "It
is not a reintroduction per se . You have to agree with me that when
the amendment was made in November 2012, it used to be a N100 for any
remote-on-us withdrawal that you did. And you know that the
remote-on-us is when you as a card holder goes to the ATM of a bank
other than your bank to withdraw cash. It was removed then so that
people would be encouraged to go to other ATMs without paying for it.
But the truth is that as we said in the circular on the Introduction
of Fees on Remote-On-Us ATM Withdrawal Transactions recently, that
N100 included the N35 that goes to the issuing bank, which has now
been completely waived.
The issuing bank does not make any thing, but in going to other ATMs
to make withdrawal , your bank, that is, the acquirer bank incurs
cost of N65 which they pay to the switches and the owner of the ATM
that you are using.
Continuing, he said: "Between 2012 and recently when the review was
done, it was discovered that people have actually turned ATMs into
their personal purses because nothing is charged. Somebody needs
N500, or N1000, he will go to ATM and withdraw, he needs N2000, he
will go to ATM and withdraw, so that in a day some people can
patronise ATM for up to four or ten times. That has created a huge
cost burden for the banks that issue the cards. It was becoming
discouraging to them.
"So that is why we said, you can go to an ATM other than your bank ATM
to withdraw up to three times and no charges would be imposed on
you, but it is when you make the fourth withdrawal that you will
pay the N65 that ordinarily your bank would have paid on your
behalf. But of course if you go to your bank's ATM, the issuer, for
withdrawal you can withdraw as many times as you like without being
charged. So, it does not discourage financial inclusion. You should
bear in mind that when you talk of cashless regime, you are
encouraging people to do their transactions electronically other than
the use of cash. So it is a motivation for people to patromise the
ATM. "
Pastor's Daughter Raped During Robbery
allegedly raped the daughter of a genuine pastor of a popular church
during a robbery operation.
The suspect, Ayodele Ademola, aged 55 and a woman, Aina Mohammed were
among other 22 suspected criminals paraded by Deputy Commissioner of
Police, Okaula at the state Police Command yesterday.
The police boss said: "On July 22, 2014 at about 11:45pm, one pastor
reported that four armed men jumped into his compound, knocked on his
window and ordered him to open his main door.
"He stated further that he complied and three armed men entered his
living room while one was standing outside with a gun.
"They ordered everyone to lie down and ransacked the whole house. They
carted away valuable items. The robbery victim revealed further that
during the robbery operation, one of his daughters was raped by one of
the men.
"On receipt of the information, policemen of the command swung into
action and through investigation led to the arrest of all the
members of the robbery gang.
It was the devil --Suspect
"Ademola, in his confessional statement said he did not know what came
over him when he raped the girl.''
He said: "My wife is dead. I have three children, a boy and two girls.
When we were robbing the house, we ordered all of them to lie down.
Then, I saw the girl who had a wrapper round her waist. I ordered her
to remove her pants but she refused. I then begged her to do so and
she did. It was the devil. I was the only one that raped the girl."
One of his partners in crime, Azeez Rafiu, 27, confirmed that it was
the 'pastor' that raped the girl.
He said: "We warned him but he would not listen. It was this same
pastor that introduced me to the group.
"He promised to buy me a motorcycle after he had paid me N10,000 for
taking him round the city. I never knew he was an armed robber until
he deceived me that we were going to a party but ended up robbing a
house with other members. That time, he told me it was too late for me
to turn down his invitation."
The police boss said all the suspects would soon be charged to court.
One of the suspects, Aina Mohammed, a married woman, said her husband
did not know she was an informant to a gang of robbers.
During interview, she said, her boyfriend who is in Agodi Prison,
linked her with the other suspects.
Lagos Sex workers lament low patronage caused by Ebola
Kate, Bright and Happiness sat on the lawn of a Lagos brothel, sipping
lager and chatting with men in groups of two or four. Business had
been good, they said, until Ebola arrived.
"I have been in this business for two years but business has never
been this slow," said Kate.
"I used to have an average of seven customers per day but I can hardly
see four now since this Ebola disease came to town," the 25-year-old
told AFP.
"Many of our customers are afraid to come to us for fear of
contracting the disease. This Ebola wahala (problem) is really bad
business. The government should do something about it."
With Ebola spread through the bodily fluids of an infected person,
including sweat, the sex workers say they've been particularly badly
hit by public fears.
"This disease is bad-o!" said 23-year-old Bright. "It is worse than
HIV/AIDS. You can prevent HIV by using condoms but you can't do the
same with Ebola.
"If care is not taken we will soon be driven out of business because
nobody wants to die."
- Bushmeat hit -
Sex workers aren't the only ones in the informal economy -- in which an
estimated three-quarters of Nigerians work -- who are feeling the
effects of Ebola. Three people have died of the disease in Lagos, and
more are expected.
Sellers of bushmeat, a popular delicacy in Nigeria and elsewhere in
the region, also complain of fewer customers.
The hunters, who catch animals such as antelope, porcupine and bush
rats, fear for their livelihoods if the trend continues.
Fruit bats and monkeys are both thought to transmit the virus.
Guinea, which with Sierra Leone and Liberia has had more than 1,000
deaths from Ebola since the start of the year, banned the consumption
of bats to try to control the spread to humans.
Nigeria has issued similar warnings about bushmeat but not outlawed
the practice.
Vivian Lateef Koshefobamu has been in the bushmeat business nearly 30
years. But the 45-year-old's stall stands alone and even then only
displays a few pieces of roasted meat.
"The customers have all run away for fear of Ebola," she told AFP.
"They are scared. Most of the bushmeat sellers are also not coming to
sell for the same reason. But I'm not afraid."
The health advice was "mere propaganda to spoil our business", she added.
- Everyone a suspect -
Elsewhere in megacity Lagos, home to more than 21 million, everyone
from market traders and undertakers, bank workers to shop assistants
openly discusses their fears and how they've changed their behaviour.
At the Oke Arin and Balogun markets in central Lagos, some traders
wear gloves and protective masks and swear that trade is slack --
although the teeming crowds suggest otherwise.
In banks, cashiers and other staff dealing with banknotes and the
public do the same.
Taxi, motorised rickshaw and bus drivers fear carrying contaminated
passengers. Few people shake hands. Everyone is wary. Even the bus
queues have become slightly more orderly.
"If somebody should have sweat on his or her body and I get in contact
with the person, I'm aware of the fact that I might get the virus,"
said bus passenger Kolawole Olalekan.
"So, everybody now... we all get into the bus gently. No rushing like
the normal Lagos hustle and all."
At MIC Royal, a firm of undertakers potentially on the front line
given that the bodies of Ebola victims can still pass on the virus
after death, bosses decided to turn down business.
"Our company has not buried any Ebola victim since the outbreak and we
will not handle such a job if given," said senior manager Tunji
Adesalu.
"As undertakers, we appeal to the bereaved to encourage the cremation
of their dead in order to reduce the risks of contracting the Ebola
virus."
From Vanguard
lager and chatting with men in groups of two or four. Business had
been good, they said, until Ebola arrived.
"I have been in this business for two years but business has never
been this slow," said Kate.
"I used to have an average of seven customers per day but I can hardly
see four now since this Ebola disease came to town," the 25-year-old
told AFP.
"Many of our customers are afraid to come to us for fear of
contracting the disease. This Ebola wahala (problem) is really bad
business. The government should do something about it."
With Ebola spread through the bodily fluids of an infected person,
including sweat, the sex workers say they've been particularly badly
hit by public fears.
"This disease is bad-o!" said 23-year-old Bright. "It is worse than
HIV/AIDS. You can prevent HIV by using condoms but you can't do the
same with Ebola.
"If care is not taken we will soon be driven out of business because
nobody wants to die."
- Bushmeat hit -
Sex workers aren't the only ones in the informal economy -- in which an
estimated three-quarters of Nigerians work -- who are feeling the
effects of Ebola. Three people have died of the disease in Lagos, and
more are expected.
Sellers of bushmeat, a popular delicacy in Nigeria and elsewhere in
the region, also complain of fewer customers.
The hunters, who catch animals such as antelope, porcupine and bush
rats, fear for their livelihoods if the trend continues.
Fruit bats and monkeys are both thought to transmit the virus.
Guinea, which with Sierra Leone and Liberia has had more than 1,000
deaths from Ebola since the start of the year, banned the consumption
of bats to try to control the spread to humans.
Nigeria has issued similar warnings about bushmeat but not outlawed
the practice.
Vivian Lateef Koshefobamu has been in the bushmeat business nearly 30
years. But the 45-year-old's stall stands alone and even then only
displays a few pieces of roasted meat.
"The customers have all run away for fear of Ebola," she told AFP.
"They are scared. Most of the bushmeat sellers are also not coming to
sell for the same reason. But I'm not afraid."
The health advice was "mere propaganda to spoil our business", she added.
- Everyone a suspect -
Elsewhere in megacity Lagos, home to more than 21 million, everyone
from market traders and undertakers, bank workers to shop assistants
openly discusses their fears and how they've changed their behaviour.
At the Oke Arin and Balogun markets in central Lagos, some traders
wear gloves and protective masks and swear that trade is slack --
although the teeming crowds suggest otherwise.
In banks, cashiers and other staff dealing with banknotes and the
public do the same.
Taxi, motorised rickshaw and bus drivers fear carrying contaminated
passengers. Few people shake hands. Everyone is wary. Even the bus
queues have become slightly more orderly.
"If somebody should have sweat on his or her body and I get in contact
with the person, I'm aware of the fact that I might get the virus,"
said bus passenger Kolawole Olalekan.
"So, everybody now... we all get into the bus gently. No rushing like
the normal Lagos hustle and all."
At MIC Royal, a firm of undertakers potentially on the front line
given that the bodies of Ebola victims can still pass on the virus
after death, bosses decided to turn down business.
"Our company has not buried any Ebola victim since the outbreak and we
will not handle such a job if given," said senior manager Tunji
Adesalu.
"As undertakers, we appeal to the bereaved to encourage the cremation
of their dead in order to reduce the risks of contracting the Ebola
virus."
From Vanguard
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