Photo: This is the minibus of a governor?

Nigeria at risk of Ebola Virus - FG

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, has said that Nigeria is now at risk of contacting the deadly Ebola virus which has been spreading across neighboring West African countries in recent times. The virus which first broke out in Guinea in January this year, is said to have no vaccine at the moment and has killed a total of 87 people with 137 cases reported since the outbreak. 

 

Ghana only recently reported a case of Ebola Virus Disease. Continue...

Facts about Ebola Virus Disease as stated by Wikipidea

-Its a viral disease that has no cure and no vaccine

- Affects mostly Africans

- It kills very fast

-It is transmitted by direct contact with infected blood or body fluid or via reuse of infested hospital injections

-Symptoms of infection includes fever with chills, joint pain, muscle pain, and chest pain,abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, respiratory tract disorder such as sore throat, cough, hiccups, impaired circulatory system symptomology, discharge of blood from nose, vagina, gingiva(gum), rash all over the body.

- It takes 13 days for the symptoms to manifest after contacting the virus.

 

-Prevention is first by Quarantine, that is, the separation of infected person from the public to forestall the spread of their infected body fluid and blood. Animal products such as meat should be thoroughly cooked before consumption. Constant washing of hands after each activity, avoiding eating of fruits without washing, as well as non consumption of fruits that have been eaten by bats

Boko Haram bomb police station, bank, court in Jigawa stat

Boko Haram members yesterday April 9th bombed a police station, a bank and a Sharia Court in Gwaram Sabuwa, Gwaram LGA of Jigawa State killing at least 4 policemen, one civilian, with quite a number of others sustaining various degrees of injury.

According to eye witnesses, the men, who were about 20 in number and came in motorcycles and other vehicles, operated from 1am to 2am unhindered. They later told the villagers that they would be back again if they continue sending their children to school, operating football viewing centres and  accepting polio vaccines. Continue...

The  Assistant Inspector General of Police,  Zone 1,  Mr. Tambari Muhammed confirmed the incident and said more policemen have been drafted to the village.

Meanwhile the Boko Haram men also attacked Shadna, a village in Bosso  LGA of Niger State last night when the villagers were having their monthly cultural dance meeting. Two people were killed while three persons sustained injuries and were transported to the hospital for medical attention.

Happy birthday to Africa's leading entrepreneur - Aliko Dangote

He's an inspiration to many so it's only deserving to wish him a happy birthday. Africa's richest man, with an estimated net worth of $25 billion as of March 2014, Aliko Dangote, is a year older today Thursday April 10th. Wishing him many more successful years ahead!

Ikorodu boat mishap: Private operators complain of low patronage

“For now, there is about 45 per cent patronage. We are still hoping that our regular passengers will come back.”

Private ferry operators at the Majidun Jetty in Ikorodu, Lagos State, have resumed operations five days after a boat mishap which left at least nine people dead.

The operators had on April 2 suspended their services following the mishap.

Divers had removed the wreckage of the boat belonging to Bell Marines Company which capsized on the Lagos Lagoon.

A correspondent, who visited the jetty on Wednesday, reports that about 30 boats were securely anchored in the last five days with 18 resuming operations.

Several vehicles belonging to passengers, who had boarded the boats to Victoria Island and other destinations, were also seen at the various car parks at Majidun.

The News Agency of Nigeria, however, gathered from the operators that patronage had also dropped considerably following the mishap.

“For now, there is about 45 per cent patronage. We are still hoping that our regular passengers will come back.

“For example, before now,  we used to ferry about 300 passengers daily, but now it has reduced to between 80 and 90 passengers,” Blessing Ikediashi, Operations Manager, Donimo Logistics, said.

Mr. Ikediashi said the company had put the necessary measures in place to guarantee passengers’ safety.

She added: “Experience, they say, is the best teacher. We have told our boat captains to reduce their speed in order to avert accident; we have told them to slow down.

“We are going to intensify regular drilling for our captains. In fact, all our captains are skilled in repairing boat propellers if and when they breakdown.”

She advised passengers to always wear the life jackets given them by boat operators, adding some passengers were in the habit of not using the life jackets.

“Some will wear it at the jetty only to remove it mid-sea, complaining of heat.’’

Also at Metro Ferry in Ikorodu, safety instructions for passengers were on display on the notice boards.

It read in part: “Please ensure that your life jackets are fastened. In case of emergency or mishap such as accidents or any form of attack, please remain calm and listen to follow-up instructions from the captains.

“In case of boat collision leading to loss of control by the captain and eventual capsize, do not panic, open your eyes and be at alert.

“Locate the closest exit from your sitting position. There are exits at the back and front of the boat. Where you are not close enough, make use of the windows by sliding the glass apart.

“In the event of any of the cases mentioned above, you can call any of these numbers: 08093940112, 08093940289, and 08093940110.”

Sakari Dekina, the Operations Manager, Metro Ferry, also advised passengers to be more vigilant while boarding a boat.

“Ensure you know the capacity of the boat before boarding, and ask about the boat’s engine capacity.

“For instance, a 200-horsepower engine is an ideal engine for a 20-passenger boat.

“If you notice any water in the boat, ask questions because it can be a leakage. If it is a leakage, then the boat is not good to go on that trip,” he said.

(NAN)

I’ve been insulted over meeting with Jonathan —Fani-Kayode

A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, says his closed-door meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday has earned him insults.

Fani-Kayode, an ardent critic of the President, laments on Wednesday, that what transpired at the meeting had been the subject of so much “online speculation.”

Writing on his Facebook page, he insists that he has a right to pay a courtesy visit to Jonathan, just as governors who belong to the opposition All Progressives Congress do.

He notes that he will not declare if he is dumping the APC or not over an alleged plan by the party to field a Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket.

“What I have said is very simple and clear. I will say nothing until I am ready. Let those that are insulting me and making assumptions continue to do so. That, in itself, tells me a lot,” he stated in a reply to an inquiry by one of his Facebook fans.

The former minister, however, adds that he aligns himself with the opinion of one of his friends,  Biodun Ishola-Ladepo,  who he quotes as saying, “If I were Femi Fani-Kayode and my party planned to field a Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket, especially in the age of Boko Haram, I would bolt faster than Hussein Bolt.”

Fani-Kayode says he is glad that “someone is seeing things clearly”, adding that he wants the leadership of the party to break its “silence” on the issue.

“This is not about leaving parties but about principle. Let us hope that the leadership of the APC sees it fit to clarify this matter at the soonest and assure us all that they will do no such thing.

“Their silence on the matter and their refusal to rule it out is simply fuelling more speculation and dissent from within,” he adds.

Meanwhile, Fani-Kayode has continued to receive online criticisms occasioned by his visit to the Presidential Villa.

Special Assistant to a former Governor of Kwara State, Abubakar Saraki, on Media and Advocacy, Bamikole Omishore, accuses Fani-Kayode of making a “U-turn.”

Urging him to give a comprehensive explanation for the circumstances surrounding his visit to the Villa, Saraki’s aide tweets, “I’m sure Femi Fani-Kayode is loving all this attention. I’m still waiting for his next letter on why he left or why he is not leaving.

“I’m still waiting for him to tweet on his decamping to the Peoples Democratic Party. Want to know the rationale behind the U-turn.”

 Also on Twitter, Ville Tony in a protest message to the former minister writes that it was high time Nigerians realised that their political leaders were not guided by ideology.

 “It is time Nigerians realised that our politicians are a bunch of selfish sociopaths! I was of the mind that Fani-Kayode’s criticisms of GEJ were based on sound ideological leaning. But his defection to PDP reeks of opportunism,” Tony says.

Arguing that it will be out of place for Fani-Kayode to decamp to the party (PDP) he had once described as a “sinking ship”,  one Adékúnlé Al-Muftau writes on Facebook that his body language speaks volumes.

Al-Muftau says, “There is nothing wrong in visiting one’s President; there is nothing wrong with standing against a Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket. But so much will be wrong with you leaving APC to go back to a PDP you once described as a sinking ship.

“I understand you did not say you have jumped ship, but saying ‘I will talk when I am ready’ could as well mean ‘Read my body language.’ You said APC governors visited the President, is it not part of the governors’ job to meet with their President? That analogy does not correctly equate your visit and theirs.  But then you have a right to visit your President. We are patiently waiting for you to talk.”

But the Presidency says Fani-Kayode’s visit to Presidential Villa is a good development,  adding that he is “welcome home.”

The Presidency,  through the Special Assistant to Jonathan on New Media, Reno Omokri, states on Twitter that Fani-Kayode’s homage to the President is as a result of some previous extensive discussions.

“I’m glad that what we discussed has materialised. My joy knows no bound. You never belonged with them. Welcome back home!” Omokri says.

Lending a voice of support to Fani-Kayode, political blogger, Japheth Omojuwa, says he should not be castigated for whatever decisions he takes.

“You may not like Fani-Kayode but to say a Muslim/Muslim ticket would not be an issue in an increasingly polarised Nigeria is to deny reality,” Omojuwa says in a Twitter post.

Punch

UEFA Champions League: Bayern, Atletico complete semi-finalists

Barcelona lost to their La Liga rivals.

The semi-finalists for this season’s UEFA Champions League are now complete as Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid secured their places on Wednesday night.

While Bayern secured their place via a 3-1 win over Manchester United at the Allianz Arena, Atletico Madrid finally won the supremacy contest between them and their La Liga rivals as they piped the Catalans by a lone goal.

In the game in Germany, for so long at the Allianz Arena, Manchester United’s game plan seemed to be working. But just before the hour mark it came all crashing as Bayern Munich came from a goal down to register a 3-1 win over the Red Devils.

Patrice Evra, scoring his first champions League goal after seven years gave United a surprise lead against their hosts. But, United enjoyed the lead for just 22 seconds as Bayern bounced back to score three to end up 3-1 winners on the night.

The victory for the German and reigning European champions meant they secured qualification for the UEFA Champions League semi-finals via a 4-2 aggregate score line having played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg last week at the Old Trafford.

With the first half ending goalless both teams came smoking in the second half creating early chances after the resumption of play.

In the 57th minute, Evra scored a wonderful goal that gave the visitors a glimpse of hope of sneaking through. However, Mario Mandzukic restored parity as he stole the ball in front of Evra to nod the ball past De Gea and into the bottom corner.

Barely 10 minutes later, Thomas Muller put Bayern ahead before Arjen Robben sealed victory with a brilliant solo effort to end the match 3-1.

In the all-Spanish tie between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, the home side went through via a 5th minute strike from Koke as they finished 2-1 aggregate winners.

The semi-final roster now has Chelsea, Real Madrid and the latest entrants Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid. Draws will be conducted on Friday to release the semi-final pairings.