Jose Mourinho was at pains to point out that he
wanted his Manchester United players to
sacrifice for their team after Sunday’s 1-3 win
over Swansea City. The Portuguese suggested
that he needed players who were willing to play
despite carrying knocks, or not being 100%,
which certainly threw criticism in the directions
of Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw, both of whom
made themselves unavailable for selection this
weekend due to knocks. Both England
internationals were said to be ‘baffled’ by their
manager’s words, having been reportedly using
pain-killing injections to get through games at
points this season.
One player that played through the pain at the
Liberty Stadium, and presumably gathered even
more favour with his manager was Paul Pogba.
The Frenchman scored an exquisite half-volley
in the first half to open the scoring before Zlatan
Ibrahimovic’s brace gave United total control of
proceedings.
Speaking to MUTV after the game, Pogba was
full of praise for his team’s first half
performance:
“I think every player wanted to win this game
and everyone was focused. We gave it our best
and gave everything, the first half was
unbelievable. It was one of the best first-half
performances so far and that’s how we have to
play, we have to give everything, we have to
press all together and when we play together we
play like that.” ( Quote via espn ).
Pogba also mentioned that he had been playing
with an injury. The Frenchman had to be
removed during the first half of United’s 2-1
defeat to Fenerbahce in Turkey on Thursday
night, and there were doubts over whether the
former Juventus midfielder would be fit for the
Premier League clash.
Speaking on the injury, Pogba said: “It is not
gone. It’s still here. I was fit enough to play and
after the gaffer put me in I played and I give my
best every time.”
Hopefully Pogba doesn’t aggravate the injury
while on national team duty with France. United
can’t afford not to have him fit for the Arsenal
clash.
Given that Mourinho has clearly got some issues
within the United dressing room regarding how
willing his players are to play for him and their
club, it will be particularly gratifying for the
former Chelsea boss that his club’s record
signing has little in the way of a mental block
when it comes to playing for United. Pogba has
notched four goals since his summer move, and
has been steadily improving the quality of his
performances over the last month or so;
Mourinho will be hoping that this is a trend
which continues.
Thursday, 10 November 2016
Monday, 10 October 2016
No regrets writing petition against Aregbesola – Osun judge
A former judge of the Osun State High
Court, who was recently retired by the
National Judicial Council, Justice Olamide
Oloyede, has said she has no regrets
writing the petition against Governor Rauf
Aregbesola and his deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-
Tomori.
The retired judge said this while featuring
on a radio programme, Frank Talk, aired by
Rave FM and monitored by our
correspondent in Osogbo on Monday.
Oloyede, however, apologised to the
governor and the deputy for using certain
words which she ought not to have used in
the petition but stressed that she was
convinced beyond doubt that she did no
wrong by writing the petition where she
asked the members of the House of
Assembly to impeach Aregbesola and
Laoye-Tomori.
She explained that she had no animosity
against the governor, adding that she did
not violate any section of the constitution
for talking about the issues affecting the
people of the state.
Oloyede said, ” I have no regrets writing
that petition, but I think in retrospect I have
come to realise that perhaps, I did employ
some words or language in respect of Mr.
Governor and his deputy, which I ought not
to have and so, today I am tendering an
unreserved apology, public apology for the
choice of certain words which I would not
repeat.
“However, as far as the substance of that
petition is concerned, I remain resolute and
I am convinced that my actions were done
in fidelity to my office and to the
constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigerian , which I swore to uphold and out
of love for my country.
“As we say in law, the fact speaks for itself
and as I said earlier, the petition speaks for
itself. I would rather not go over the
content of the petition, which I believe is in
the public’s possession. My reason for
writing is clearly stated there. I am a
person known for my own conviction and
the only regret I have, I have said it, every
other thing I said I meant it word for word.”
She stated that some believed that the
judiciary should only be seen and not heard
even if the country was collapsing, but
Oloyode said she did not belong to this
class of people.
DSS lied to justify assault on judiciary – Wike
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike,
has said the Department of State Services
resorted to “deliberate misinformation and
concocted stories” to justify its
“unconstitutional” assault on the nation’s
judiciary.
Wike maintained that the DSS lacked the
constitutional powers to be involved in the
legal process to discipline a serving judicial
official, pointing out that a legal process
must be followed.
The DSS had stated that its operatives
swooped on some judges in the country
because there were allegations that they
(judges) were involved in corrupt practices,
adding that various amount of money, in
different denominations, were found in the
judges residences.
Speaking during a special dinner for the
management and players of Rivers United
at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on
Saturday, Wike said the “weak blackmail of
the DSS” would not lessen the crime it had
committed against the Nigerian state by
assaulting the judiciary.
He said, “Their blackmail stories will not
move me. They will concoct all kinds of
stories to justify this undemocratic illegality
perpetrated against the judiciary.
“It is really unfortunate that DSS would
concoct a false defence that $USD2 million,
(that is N900m) was found in the house of
the judge. It is unfortunate that the DSS is
coming up with flimsy excuses.”
However, a Government House statement
by Wike’s aide on Electronic Media, Simeon
Nwakaudu, read, “It will be recalled that the
governor and the DSS operatives had their
encounter outside the gate of a judge’s
residence.
Buhari not yet Nigerian President – Rep
A House of Representatives member for
Orumba North-South in Anambra State,
Mr. Sopuluchukwu Ezeonwuka, has urged
President Muhammadu Buhari to come to
terms with his position as the President
of Nigeria.
Ezeonwuka spoke at Oko, Orumba North
Local Government Area of Anambra State
on Saturday during his reception by the
Okeani General Assembly.
He accused the Buhari administration of
bigotry and lopsidedness in actions.
He said, “The moment you contested an
election and won, you become the President
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not
the President of the North or South.
“Check out the appointments made by
President Muhammadu Buhari, south
easterners were nowhere. In appointments
of 24 persons, you have 21 from the North,
one or two in the South-West, one in the
South-South, and none in the South-East.
“It’s quite unfortunate that Buhari has not
yet assumed the position of the President of
Nigeria. He is like somebody on a specific
mission.”
The lawmaker, who is a member of the
House Committee on Customs, pointed out
that no person of Igbo origin was
represented in the Customs management.
“The APC government should know that we
are an integral part of this country called
Nigeria. One thing is clear, the
marginalisation of the Igbo will not last
long. If you keep telling some people that
you don’t want them, they can take a
decision,” he said.
‘Tinubu’ and Aregbesola pays Fayose a visit
The All Progressives Congress, APC,
popularity is beginning to be eroded
in South-West.
Feelers from South West also shows
that APC is no longer a favored
party in the region as the People’s
Democratic Party seem to rising in
popularity.
It however came as a surprise when
Tinubu’s henchman, Governor Rauf
Aregbesola of Osun state, visited
Governor Ayodele Fayose in Ado-
Ekiti.
APC has already condemned the
visit labeling it as a contempt for the
party’s leadership in the state.
Aregbesola was in Ado-Ekiti on
Saturday on invitation of Fayose for
the 20th Year Anniversary of Ekiti
State.
At the event, Aregbesola described
Fayose as “omoluabi” and a
hardworking governor who had
turned around the fortunes of Ekiti
State.
Aregbesola also described Governor
Fayose as a “Reliable person” and
that in spite of political differences,
he and Fayose shared many things
in common.
Then Aregbesola said “Sooner than
later, there will be realignment of
forces.”
That was the statement that broke
the camel’s back.
The State publicity secretary of APC,
Taiwo Olatunbosun, said:
“Aregbesola’s visit to Fayose
praising him as ‘omoluabi’ is
embarrassing.
“It is shocking that Aregbesola as a
governor would be visit Ekiti State
without putting the leaders into
confidence.
“More so on a visit to a man who
once wished the President dead.
“Fayose had done unbelievable
things both in Nigeria and abroad to
bring Buhari’s government down.
“Worse still, Aregbesola was praising
the man who will stop at nothing to
bring APC-led Federal Government
down.
“We find it most embarrassing that
one of our leaders would be
planning a re-alignment of forces
with a governor that has made life a
nightmare for our members.
“We also find it spiteful that
Aregbesola would sit with Fayose on
this same program where the latter
berated Buhari to no end.
“Fayose described the President’s
programs as a theory that is
compounding problems for
Nigerians, and Aregbesola said
nothing.
DSS to raid Tinubu’s home on orders from Above
The National Leader of the All
Progressives Congress, APC, party,
Bola Tinubu, has begun mending
relationship with his former
political enemies.
APC’s leadership crisis has turned a
once cordial relationship Tinubu
had with President Buhari into a
sour one.
The crisis began before the 2015
general elections but became full-
blown after Buhari was sworn in as
president.
The feud was largely kept under
cover until the Ondo State
governorship primaries blew off the
lid.
But pro-Tinubu elements within the
party and other sympathizers have
vowed to resist any attempt to
humiliate Tinubu
A chieftain of the party in Osun
State, said, “This is the beginning of
the end of the APC. The party will
shatter into smithereens.
“We know the political leader of the
South-West and that person is
unmistakably Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
“They are envious of Tinubu’s
achievements, but they don’t have
Tinubu’s clout.
“None of those scrambling to wear
Tinubu’s shoes have the clout to do
so.
“They may even send the DSS after
him. Asiwaju knows that they may
come for him,” the source said.
Another reconciliatory move
between Tinubu and the Ondo State
Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko is
ongoing.
Some Yoruba leaders had
volunteered to broker a truce
between Tinubu and Mimiko. Recall
that both of them went for war
during Mimiko’s re-election bid.
Osun State Governor, Rauf
Aregbesola, a staunch Tinubu
loyalist, is said to be the arrowhead
of the move to reconcile Tinubu and
Mimiko.
Another source told this news house
that “Asiwaju has realized that they
are ready to go to war with him so
he is consolidating.
“This is not a time to hold on to past
wounds and we are glad Yoruba
elders who were critical of Tinubu
before are rallying round him.
“They now understand that this is a
South-West matter. It is beyond our
national leader.
“Don’t forget what Pa Ayo Adebanjo
said; he said any insult to Asiwaju is
an insult to the Yoruba race and
Adebanjo is not known to be
flippant in his choice of words.”
Also, a former leader of Afenifere,
told our correspondent in
confidence that Tinubu had
reconciled with some Yoruba
leaders.
Sunday, 9 October 2016
Good News! Nigerian Customs Lifts Ban on Importation of Rice…See Fresh Details
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col.
Hameed Ali (rtd), has ordered the removal of
rice from the import restriction list, and also
re-introduced the payment of import duty on
all land borders across the federation.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen in
Abuja, the Public Relations Officer of Nigeria
Customs Service, Wale Adeniyi, disclosed that
the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col.
Hameed Ali (rtd), has ordered the immediate
lifting of the ban on rice importation from
import restriction list and the re-introduction
of import duty payment at land borders.
According to Vanguard, he said the restriction
was only applied at land border stations before
now, adding that the customs boss had lifted
restriction on rice at border stations.
Adeniyi said that all rice imports through land
borders by rice traders would attract the
prevailing import duty of 10 per cent with 60
per cent levy, adding that rice millers
(preferential levy) with valid quota allocation
would also attract duty rate of 10 per cent
with 20 per cent levy on rice importation.
“Over the years importation has been restricted
to the seaports because border authorities
have found it difficult to effectively monitor
and control importation of rice.
“When the decision to ban it (rice) was taken
it was not an effective measure because
smuggling of the product thrives with people
using different means of conveyance including
small trucks, bicycles and even animals –
putting them on donkeys and some actually
carry it on their heads.
“These new measures will be for customs to
re-organize their anti-smuggling operations in
the border areas and ensure that all those
importers through the borders bring their rice
through approved routes and pay their extant
duty,” he said.
Friday, 7 October 2016
Why forgery charges against Saraki, Ekweremadu were withdrawn – FG
The Federal Government on Friday withdrew
the forgery charges it instituted against the
Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, his
deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, and two others.
Lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Aliyu Umar
(SAN), told the trial judge, Justice Yusuf
Halilu of the Jabi Division of the High Court
of the Federal Capital Territory, that the
charges were being withdrawn because of a
pending case related to the charges before
the Federal High Court in Abuja.
He said, “This government respects the rule
of law, and hierarchy of the judiciary. It is
obvious from these two applications (filed
by Saraki and Ekweremadu) and the similar
case before your learned brother, Justice
Kolawole, at the Federal High Court who is
dealing with the issue that we are
withdrawing the charges.
“It is trite that two matters of the same
subject matter cannot be before different
courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
“Therefore, the amended charge dated
October 5, 2016 and also the original dated
June 10, 2016 and filed the same date be
struck out and all the four defendants be
discharged.”
The case before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of
the Federal High Court in Abuja which was
referred to by the prosecutor was a civil
case filed by a serving Senator, Gilbert
Nnaji, to challenge the then ongoing
investigation into the alleged forgery of the
Senate rule by Saraki and others.
The application by Umar for the withdrawal
of the charges was not opposed by the
defence lawyers comprising, Messrs
Ikechukwu Ezechukwu (SAN), Mahmud
Magaji (SAN), Paul Erokoro (SAN) and
Joseph Daudu (SAN).
Justice Halilu subsequently struck out the
case and discharged all the four accused.
APC feud: Fayose condemns attack on Tinubu
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose,
has condemned the attack on Asiwaju Bola
Tinubu, saying the “humiliation of Tinubu is
as good as (the) humiliation of the Yoruba
race.”
The governor said allowing the National
Leader of the All Progressives Congress to
be embarrassed like past Yoruba leaders
would not be in the interest of the race.
Speaking through his Special Assistant on
Public Communications and New Media,
Lere Olayinka, Fayose said, “Even though I
am not a member of APC and I will never
be, I have elected to stand in defence of the
Yoruba nation once again by saying no to
the continuous dishonourable treatment
being meted to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, having
paid his dues.
“If Tinubu is allowed to be embarrassed
and disgraced just the way our past leaders
were humiliated by these same elements,
the Yoruba nation would have been made
to suffer for uprightness.”
The governor condemned the Tuesday
sponsored protest against the APC leader
at the party’s national secretariat.
Some youth groups had protested in Abuja
to condemn Tinubu for demanding the
resignation of the APC National Chairman,
John Odigie-Oyegun, over his role in the
Ondo Governorship primaries that produced
former Nigerian Bar Association President,
Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).
Oyegun reportedly overruled the majority
decision of the National Working Committee
of the APC that voted for cancellation of the
primaries.
Fayose said, “It is unfortunate that Tinubu
is now being vilified in a party he invested
heavily in; and his fellow kinsmen that he
brought up politically are part of this
conspiracy.
“In their desperation, they have even tried
to set him against the Vice-President, Prof.
Yemi Osinbajo, by insinuating that he tried
to prevent his (Osinbajo) emergence as
President Mohammadu Buhari’s running
mate. This is sad!
“When other tribes protect their own, it is
becoming historically common among the
Yoruba to allow themselves to be used
against their leaders just for momentary
political gains at the expense of the
collective interests of the Yoruba nation.
“It should be noted that late Chief Obafemi
Awolowo was sent to jail by the conspiracy
and collaboration of some Yoruba with the
external aggressors.”
Fayose argued that Tinubu is a prominent
stakeholder and people should not watch
while those he used his own sweat to make
conspire with others to humiliate him.
“Most importantly, it is my position that
irrespective of political affiliation, no leader
of the Yoruba nation must be vilified
unduly, especially by the same people who
humiliated our past leaders such
as Obafemi Awolowo, Adekunle Ajasin, Bola
Ige, Bisi Onabanjo, Lateef Jakande, and
others.
“To me, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu should not be
seen just as an APC leader, but
acknowledged as a major stakeholder in the
Yoruba nation that we must all protect
beyond politics.
”It should be recalled that these were
among the issues that I raised when I
visited Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun
State a few months ago on the need to
work together beyond party affiliations.
“Here in Yorubaland, it is said that if a
household is at peace, it is because the
bastard child of the family is yet to attain
the age of maturity and those people that
Asiwaju Tinubu made, but are now being
used against him, should watch it.
“I therefore condemn this conspiracy
against Asiwaju Tinubu and I admonish
those that are hoping to make political
benefits from it to have a rethink.”
The governor, who called for greater unity
among the Yoruba, added, “We are first
Yoruba before becoming members of
political parties. It is my opinion that our
leaders must be defended and protected,
not-minding the personal gains of today.”
Arsenal star injured during international break
the international break. The time when clubs
send their highly paid players off to represent
their countries and then sit at home biting their
fingernails and hoping none of them get injured.
But they often do.
Spanish newspaper Marca report on Friday that
Arsenal may have an injury to be at least a little
worried about. Hector Bellerin has been away
with Spain’s U21 side, and playing against San
Marino (which somehow makes it all the more
annoying) he received a ‘nasty tackle’ to his
right ankle.
Nobody wants a nasty San Marino tackle to their
right ankle, and Bellerin was hurt. Marca say the
player is now awaiting the results of relevant
medical tests to determine the ‘extent of his
injury’.
The Spanish newspaper say that Bellerin didn’t
train yesterday with Spain but that was ‘as a
precaution’. It doesn’t sound ultra serious,
there’s no talk of a possible long lay-off, but it’ll
be a worry nonetheless.
With all due respect to San Marino, Wenger’s
face will be a picture when he hears Bellerin may
be out injured because he was tackled by a
trainee dentist, or similar.
Monday, 12 September 2016
Economy will bounce back- buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has saluted
Nigerians for their steadfastness in spite of
the difficult economic times confronting the
country.
He also told Nigerians that the current
economic recession was caused by
cumulative effects of worldwide economic
downturn and failure in the past to plan
and save for difficult times.
Buhari, in his Eid-el-Kabir message to
Nigerians released in Abuja on Sunday,
gave the assurance that his administration
would get the economy right back on track.
According to him, the Federal Government
is “working round the clock” to address the
current hardship the country is going
through.
The President said, “It is impossible to
separate the present from the past to
appreciate the extent to which mistakes of
the past are affecting everyday life today.
“I assure you that this administration is
working round the clock to remove the
hardships the country is going through.”
Buhari said developmental programmes had
been designed to reinvigorate the economy
and to enhance the living standards of the
ordinary people.
These, according to the President, include
rail and road constructions, housing
projects, support for small and medium
scale farmers, youth and women
empowerment programmes and support for
revival of industries.
He added,“We are getting security right. We
are stopping corruption in its tracks and we
will get the economy right by the grace of
God.’’
Buhari enjoined Muslims to live by the
dictates of Islam by maintaining good
relationships with their Christian brothers
and sisters.
He further charged them to maintain the
spirit of the Nigerian nation as patriots.
“The lessons of the Eid are piety and
sacrifice and, my dear brothers and sisters,
you have exhibited these in equal measure.
I wish everyone happy holidays,” he said.
Also, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto
State on Sunday said in spite of the current
economic challenges, Nigeria would return
to the path of growth and fiscal stability.
This was contained in Tambuwal’s Eid-el-
Kabir message to the people of the state,
issued in Sokoto by his media aide, Mr.
Imam Imam.
He said that there was hope that measures
being put in place by the Federal
Government would yield positive results,
adding that “there is a silver linen in the
horizon.”
Tambuwal said that the reforms instituted
by the All Progressives Congress-led
Federal Government were necessary in order
to halt the drift and commence the journey
to development and self-reliance.
“We may be facing tough challenges now,
but I believe they are just for the short
term.
“Measures put in place by government will
have positive impact in the medium and
long term.
“This administration has shown strong will
to diversify the economy and reduce
reliance on oil. That measure has started
yielding result,” he said.
The governor said that in the state, various
initiatives aimed at mitigating the effect of
the economic downturn had been
implemented, with many people already
responding to government’s call to return
to the farm.
He said, “Our citizens accepted our calls
and incentives to return to the farm, we
expect to have bumper harvests this year,
especially in crops like rice, wheat, onion
and millet.
“This will go a long way in enhancing their
income and at the same time, tackling other
socio-economic challenges confronting
them.”
However, the immediate past Chairman of
the Osun State chapter of the Christian
Association of Nigeria, Rev. Elisha
Ogundiya, has called on the Federal
Government and governors of the 36 states
of the federation to demonstrate sincerity in
their efforts to stir the nation’s economy
out of the current recession.
Ogundiya, who said this in an interview with
one of our correspondents in Osogbo on
Sunday, stressed that the present economic
situation was brought upon the nation by
insincerity and greed of a few leaders.
The ex-CAN chairman said corruption was
a major problem which drove Nigeria into
the bad situation and called on leaders and
followers to shun the ungodly act in order
for the resources of the country to go
round.
The former CAN chairman stated that with
sincerity of purpose and selfless service,
Nigeria would come out of the economic
challenges stronger.
Ogundiya said, “If there is no integrity, we
will still go back to square one. No matter
what they want to do to get out of this
economic situation, there must be sincerity
on their part and Nigerians should also
support the government in the interest of all
of us.
“Whether they want to invest in tourism,
agriculture or any other sector, the Federal
Government and the state governments
must be honest in all their dealings. Their
aides should also be honest. If we are
sincere, this problem won’t last beyond the
necessary time,but with insincerity, we will
continue to sink deeper in it.
“It is good to buy locally made goods but it
is wrong to ban importation when such
products are not produced locally. What is
happening to rice now will not be if we
produce enough rice in Nigeria. Nigerians
will buy locally produced goods if they are
available and importation of such is banned
or there is heavy tariff on them.”
According to him, worsening economic
situation is one of the signs of the end
time, but he said with genuine repentance
from wickedness, God would rescue the
ship of the nation from the brink.
Thursday, 8 September 2016
FIFA confirm transfer ban on Real, Atletico Madrid
FIFA on Thursday dismissed appeals by
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid against a
ban on registering new players in the next
two transfer windows for irregularities in
the signing of foreign players under 18.
Real, who called the ruling “profoundly
unfair”, and Atletico were also fined 360,000
($358,000) and 900,000 Swiss Francs
respectively.
However, the two Spanish giants — last
season’s Champions League finalists —
have announced they will launch a final
appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
(CAS).
“The FIFA Appeal Committee has decided to
reject the appeals lodged by Spanish clubs
Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid and to
confirm in their entirety the decisions
rendered by the FIFA Disciplinary
Committee in the respective cases relating
to the protection of minors,” FIFA said in a
statement.
Both clubs were sanctioned in January, but
by appealing had temporarily held off the
ban during the transfer window which
closed last month.
They will now not be able to register any
new players in either of the next two
windows, in January 2017 and July-August
2017, before being able to do so once again
in January 2018.
Barcelona served a similar ban in 2015,
with an appeal to CAS proving unsuccessful
in their case.
European champions Real responded by
saying they will now go to the CAS in an
attempt to have the decision overturned “as
quickly as possible”.
“The club regrets the decision on the
ground that it is profoundly unfair and
contrary to the most elementary principles
of penal law,” read a statement posted on
their website.
“The club will begin the appropriate appeals
procedure before the Court of Arbitration for
Sport, requesting that the decision be
completely overturned, with absolute
confidence that said organisation will come
to an entirely favourable decision.
“Real Madrid will request that the procedure
be undertaken in an urgent manner in order
to obtain a decision from the CAS as
quickly as possible.”
Under international football rules, players
under 18 cannot be transferred to another
country, except in limited circumstances,
and all transfers need the approval of a
special FIFA committee.
Atletico insisted they had such clearance
from FIFA for the players under
investigation.
“Our club does not agree with the ruling
and therefore has decided to appeal before
the Court of Arbitration for Sport,” Atletico
said in a statement.
“Our organisation wishes to state that one
hundred percent of the licenses of our
players who are part of this investigation
and continue at the club have been
regularised by FIFA itself, receiving
authorisation from the sub-committee to
process the license and compete in different
(under-age) categories.”
Atletico used the close-season window to
make several new signings, including those
of France striker Kevin Gameiro from Sevilla
and Argentina midfielder Nicolas Gaitan
from Benfica.
Real had an unusually quiet summer in the
transfer market, although they did bring
Spain striker Alvaro Morata back to the
club from Juventus for around 30 million
euros ($34 million).
BREAKING: INEC postpones Edo election
The Independent National Electoral
Commission has agreed to shift the Edo
State governorship election by two weeks.
The decision to postpone the election was
reached at a security meeting held in Benin,
the Edo State capital this evening.
A national commissioner at the commission
said the Chairman of the commission, Prof.
Mahmoud Yakubu, and other national
officials of the commission are planning to
address a press conference shortly.
Details later…
Buhari lambasts Nigerians, says change isn’t about economic progress
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that
before Nigerians demand to see the
changes he promised them during the 2015
election, they must first change their own
attitude by shunning corruption and other
social vices.
He adds that change is not about
economic or social progress, but it is in
terms of citizens’ personal behaviour.
Buhari said this while delivering a speech at
the inauguration of the national re-
orientation campaign tagged, ‘Change
Begins With Me’ in Abuja on Thursday.
The President acknowledged that Nigeria is
currently passing through a challenging
period where hardly anything works
normally.
He lamented that honesty, hard work and
godliness had given way to all kinds of
manifestations of lawlessness and
degeneration in our national life.
Buhari said, “Our citizens must realise that
the change they want to see begins with
them, and that personal and social reforms
are not a theoretic exercise. If you have not
seen the change in you, you cannot see it in
others or even the larger society.
“In other words, before you ask ‘Where is
the change they promised us?’, you must
first ask, ‘How far have I changed my
ways? What have I done to be part of the
change for the greater good of society?’
The President said his government had
done well in the fight against corruption,
adding that the fresh campaign was a way
of getting Nigerians to join in the struggle.
He added, “The campaign we are about to
launch today is all about the need for us to
see change, not merely in terms of our
economic, social progress but in terms of
our personal behaviour on how we conduct
ourselves, engage our neighbours, friends
and generally how we relate with the larger
society in a positive and definitive way and
manner that promotes our common good
and common destiny, change at home,
change in work place, change at traffic
junction, change at traffic lights, etc.”
He said the value system of the nation had
been eroded and that was why students
would prefer to embrace cultism rather than
face their studies. He said it was for the
same reason youths were vandalising oil
pipelines thus robbing the nation of much-
needed resources.
Buhari said the disintegration of social
values encouraged impunity and corruption
in the public sector which ultimately led to
the current economic recession.
Tuesday, 6 September 2016
How wanted journalist, Salkida, was arrested at Abuja airport
The Department of State Services has
arrested Ahmed Salkida, a journalist, who
was declared wanted by the Nigerian Army
last month.
It was learnt that Salkida was arrested at
the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,
Abuja, on Monday afternoon shortly after
his flight landed.
The suspect, who is based in Dubai, is one
of the three persons declared wanted for
their alleged link to Boko Haram.
Salkida, a female lawyer, Aisha Waliki; and
Ahmed Bolori were declared wanted by the
military after Boko Haram released a video
showing some of the Chibok girls it
abducted on April 14, 2014.
A security operative, who spoke to one of
our correspondents on condition of
anonymity on Monday, said, “When we
declared him wanted, he said he was
willing to return to Nigeria but only on the
condition that we send him a flight ticket.
“His Nigerian passport had expired but the
Federal Government instructed the Nigeria
Immigration Service not to issue him a new
passport because he could run away after
getting the passport. So, he was given an
Emergency Travel Certificate, which allows
the holder to travel only to his country of
citizenship.
“With nowhere to run to, he had no choice
but to return. So, immediately he boarded
the plane from Dubai, we started waiting for
him at the airport.”
It was learnt that the suspect had been
taken to the office of the DSS, where he
would be debriefed.
It was unclear if he would be transferred to
the Nigerian Army’s custody.
The Acting Director, Army Public Relations,
Col. Sani Usman, told one of our
correspondents that he had not got any
information that the Directorate of Military
Intelligence had arrested Salkida.
He promised to call NAIJATONIC on the
development whenever he got information
on the issue.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 1,500 members of
Boko Haram have surrendered to Nigerian
troops in the troubled North-East.
Investigations by naijatonic revealed that
some of the Boko Haram members
surrendered to troops at Buni Yadi, Yobe
State, last week while others surrendered at
various battle fronts in Borno State.
It was learnt that those who surrendered to
security forces recently were over 700,
bringing the total number of those who had
surrendered between April 2015 and August
2016 to 1,500.
The Acting Director, Defence Information,
Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, who confirmed
the figure in a telephone conversation with
Naijatonic on Monday, had earlier said
800 of the insurgents surrendered to
security forces in April 2016.
Abubakar said the 700 insurgents, who
surrendered recently, were undergoing
security profiling and documentation.
He said the military was encouraging the
Boko Haram fighters to abandon their
struggle and surrender to security forces.
Abubakar said, “In the North-East, the
operation is going on well and so many
Boko Haram fighters have been suffering.
“For now, over 1,500 have surrendered to
troops. It used to be 800 but because of
the increasing number of those who are
surrendering, we have over 1,500.
“I believe so many of them will come out
too and we are encouraging them to come
out, they shouldn’t continue to suffer.
“We are encouraging those who are still
hiding to come out and abandon their
unholy struggle. They are undergoing proper
security profiling and documentation.”
Chibok girls: Police stop BBOG protest again
The police on Tuesday prevented the
#BringBackOurGirls coalition from marching
to the Presidential Villa, two weeks after
stopping the group from achieving the same
goal.
The BBOG coalition, which accused the
government of ‘benumbing apathy’ to the
cause of rescuing Chibok girls, had planned
attempted to march to the Presidential Villa
for the fourth time on Tuesday morning.
The group had on three occasions taken its
protests to Aso Villa, but was prevented
from reaching the seat of power by armed
policemen who blocked the access road.
After stopping an attempt by the group to
reach the Villa on August 22, the Inspector-
General of Police said the police were not
interested in preventing the group from
meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari
but that that protest train had to be
stopped to avoid rowdiness around the seat
of power.
Ahead of Tuesday’s protest, the Federal
Capital Territory Police Command
warned the BringBackOurGirls group that it
needed police approval without which the
protest would be stopped.
A statement by the FCT Police Public
Relations Officer, Anjuguri Manzah, last
night, said protest carried out in recent
time in Abuja had obstructed traffic and
created tension.
“These indiscriminate actions which are
carried out in disorderly and sometimes
riotous manner create unwarranted tension
and apprehension among law abiding
citizens and in the process obstruct
legitimate business activities,” the
statement read in part.
Undeterred, the BBOG coalition and
sympathisers had gathered on Tuesday for
the protest only to meet a wall of
policemen along the way to the Presidential
Villa.
Edo election: ‘Buhari’s visit’ll boost APC’s chances’
The All Progressives Congress in Edo on
Tuesday said President Muhammadu
Buhari’s visit to the state would boost the
party’s chances at Saturday’s governorship
election.
Buhari is in Benin to attend the party’s
grand finale campaign rally at Samuel
Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin ahead of
September 10 governorship election in Edo.
The APC Chairman in the state, Mr. Anselm
Ojezua, said this at the Samuel Ogbemudia
stadium, in Benin.
He said although the party and its
candidate, Godwin Obaseki, had prepared
well for the election, “the President gracing
the final rally will no doubt further enhance
the chances of the party at the poll”.
The chairman said that the president “will
not be oblivious of the fact that his visit is
important being his first major governorship
poll to be conducted since assumption of
office on May 29, 2015.
“As for us, we have worked hard for the
election, but the visit of Mr. President
today, Tuesday, is going to be an added
advantage to us,” he said.
President, who arrived the Benin airport at
10:20am, is leading other notable party
members to visit the crown prince and the
Ediaken of Uselu, Eheneden Erediauwa, in
his palace at Uselu.
APC supporters, in their numbers, started
arriving at the stadium, the venue of the
rally as early as 7a.m.
Prominent members of the party already at
the stadium were the former Deputy
Governor of Edo, Rev. Peter Obadan; the
state Chairman of the party, Mr Anselm
Ojezua; and Great Ogboru from Delta.
Others are the Speaker, Edo House of
Assembly, Dr. Justin Okunobor; former Gov.
Oserheimen Osunbor, and Mr. Chris
Ogiewonyi.
Monday, 5 September 2016
B’Haram members plan to join army, says DSS
The Department of State Services has said
some members of the dreaded Boko Haram
sect were making plans to join the army.
It, however, added that two members of the
sect, who were specialists in the making of
Improvised Explosive Devise, were arrested
before their desire to join the army was
fulfilled.
The spokesperson for the DSS, Mr. Tony
Opuiyo, who stated this in a statement in
Abuja on Sunday, said the suspects were
arrested in Kano.
He said, “In response to the regrouping of
Boko Haram elements in Kano State, the
DSS in concert with the military, carried out
coordinated operations in the state which
led to the apprehension of two high profile
members of the sect.
“They are Ibrahim Abubakar and Idris Audu
(a.k.a. AYA). Audu is an IED specialist who
was being groomed to penetrate security
agencies in the country.
“Audu had already perfected plans to seek
for recruitment into the next recruitment
scheme of the Nigeria Army, before his
arrest.”
He attributed the success recorded in the
arrest of these two suspects to the
service’s sustained tactical and counter-
terrorism operations.
Opuiyo also said the service on August 22,
arrested one Samuel Asuquo, who was
described as a kidnap kingpin, at Nasarawa
Bakoko village in Cross River State.
He said the suspect was the mastermind of
the kidnap of three Australian staff of
Lafarge Cement Company, for which his
gang received a ransom of N150m.
On the economic front, Opuiyo said the
service was currently intensifying action
against high level fraudsters whose
unwholesome activities were negatively
affecting investors’ confidence with
multiplier risk to genuine businesses
nationwide.
He said, “Accordingly, one Izuagie
Mohammed was arrested in Benin City, Edo
State on August 24, for impersonating the
Accountant General of the Federation.
“Mohammed had allegedly defrauded
unsuspecting members of the public posing
as the Nigerian AGF on Facebook and
promising them facilitation of the Central
Bank of Nigeria empowerment loan, before
he was apprehended by the Service.
He assured all law abiding citizens and
residents that the DSS would not rest on
its oars in its determination to ensure a
safe environment for all to carry out their
legitimate business
I can’t stop Buhari from seeking re-election –Obasanjo
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo
has denied an online report quoting him as
saying that he had warned President
Muhammadu Buhari not to seek re-election
in 2019.
The report, which was credited to him
through his former Chief Press Secretary,
Alex Nwokedi, in an on-line publication,
Post Nigeria, dated September 3, 2016,
claiming that Obasanjo had warned
President Muhammadu Buhari against
seeking re-election in 2019.
But Obasanjo has described the report as
“completely false and destructive by those
behind it.”
The former President, in a statement
issued by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi,
in Abeokuta on Sunday, said there has been
no communication between him and
Nwokedi in the last three years, and
wondered why any news would be
attributed to him, as published by the on-
line publication.
The statement read in part, “My belief is
that democracy allows for anybody
including President Buhari for that matter to
contest any election and it is the
prerogative rights of Nigerians to vote or
not to vote for them.
“I have not communicated with Alex in the
last three years, so how could a story be
credited to me when I did not authorise
such or communicated with him in the last
three years?”
Obasanjo said he could not even stop any
of his children not to seek elective post,
because that was part of the freedom of
democracy.
It read further, “I condemn in the highest
manner the story and those behind it. And
for those behind it, they are simply enemies
of democracy and freedom of expression.”
Obasanjo said that he was still committed
to the peace and progress of the country’s
democratic development.
He assured Nigerians that with patience,
the current democratic experience would
bring relief to the masses.
Deputy governor urges media to promote good governance
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr
Idiat Adebule, says the media has a huge
role to play in ensuring good governance in
Nigeria.
Adebule spoke at an event organised by the
Lagos Information Chapel of the Nigerian
Union of Journalists in Lagos, a statement
said on Sunday. The statement quoted the
deputy governor as saying any government
that wanted acceptability must make
effective and prompt information available
to the people.
Adebule who was represented by the Tutor
General/Permanent Secretary of District 1,
Dr Abiose Ayandele, noted that information
managers in the state had been
professional in the dissemination of
information about policies and programmes
of the government to the citizenry.
She said, “The state information managers
do not only excel in the propagation of the
state government’s activities, they are also
good at agenda setting.
“The Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led
administration is committed to improving
the welfare of Lagos residents through
infrastructure provision. We are sure that
our information managers will maintain the
practice of reporting government activities
promptly.”
The Commissioner for Information and
Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said
intellectually-motivated and thought-
provoking gatherings must be encouraged,
noting that such events were important to
any nation that was desirous of greatness.
Ayorinde, who was represented by the
Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Toro
Oladapo, said, “In reality, the success of a
government is not felt except through
strategic communication, which is where
members of the Lagos NUJ deserve
commendation.”
Oke rejects Ondo APC primary result
Two DAYS after the primary of the All
Progressives Congress in Ondo State, some
of the governorship aspirants of the party
have been reacting to the outcome of the
election.
A former President of the Nigerian Bar
Association, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, won
the primary held on Saturday in Akure, the
state capital, defeating all the 23 other
aspirants of the party.
One of the governorship aspirants of the
party, Chief Olusola Oke condemned the
emergence of Akeredolu as the party’s
candidate for the governorship poll, faulting
the result of the primary.
However, two aspirants, Dr. Segun Abraham
and Mr. Victor Olabimtan, hailed the
conduct of the exercise, saying the election
was free and fair. They congratulated
Akeredolu and pledged to support his
governorship bid.
Speaking through his Director-General of
his campaign, Mr. Bola Fisayo, on Sunday,
Oke said the election was not a true
reflection of the delegates that participated
in the primary last Saturday.
Oke was the candidate of the Peoples
Democratic Party in the 2012 governorship
election. He specifically alleged that some
names of the delegates were removed from
the delegates’ list while non-delegates were
allegedly allowed to vote.
He explained that the list of delegates
handed over to the aspirants at a meeting
with the Presidency was different from the
list of delegates brought by the Chairman
of the Election Committee, who is also the
Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed
Abubakar.
According to him, the delegates’ list was
shown to the aspirants at the eleventh hour
and there was no adequate time to
scrutinise the list by most of the aspirants.
He alleged further that about 110 names
belonging to Oke’s camp were removed
from both Ondo East and West Local
Governments while their names were
replaced with non-executive members of
the party.
He said, “There was nothing we could do at
that particular time. I can confirm to you
that 80 per cent of those that cast their
votes for Abraham came from Oke’s camp.
“The election did not represent the true
position of the delegates, the accreditation
gave room for manipulation and the whole
process was laced with fraud and the result
released did not represent the true
reflection of the delegates as non-delegates
were allowed to participate in the election”
But Abraham, while congratulating
Akeredolu, in a statement he issued on
Sunday, commended the electoral
committee for conducting a hitch-free
election.
He said, “My special regards and admiration
for Alhaji Baderu Abubakar, the Governor of
Jigawa State, and his team for their sterling
quality and integrity in conducting the APC
governorship primary in Ondo State.”
Abraham, who pledged to join hands with
Akeredolu to reposition the state, also
assured the people of the state that the
APC government would not disappoint
them.
Ekiti to decentralise state, LG workers’ payments
Ekiti State Government has hinted that it
may stop the central payment of state and
local government workers’ salaries, saying
local governments will be encouraged to
pay their workers.
Governor Ayodele Fayose spoke in Ado Ekiti,
the state capital, during a meeting with
directors of finance and accounts, directors
of administration, chief internal auditors
and others from across ministries,
departments and agencies in the state.
Fayose, in a statement by his Chief Press
Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, in Ado Ekiti on
Sunday, also warned public servants
against signing documents without
thoroughly going through them.
According to him, any negative fallout from
a signed document would be blamed on any
officer that signed it.
The meeting was convened to find solutions
to the problems associated with generating
wholesome nominal and pay rolls by MDAs
in the state, the statement added.
The governor frowned on a situation where
people, who had left the service or died,
still had their names on the nominal roll.
“Why should we be spending our scarce
resources wastefully? We are no longer
going to tolerate the issue of buck passing,
where someone will claim he is not the one
that generates the nominal roll and so does
not properly go through it before preparing
the pay roll.
“Henceforth, the nominal and pay rolls must
be properly scrutinised by the internal
auditors before being signed. The system
has adequate checks and balances already
in place and if not for collusion by
concerned public servants, no sharp
practices could take place.
“It is advisable that every officer properly
goes through any document before signing
such, as the person who endorses any
document is going to be held responsible in
case of any issue,” he said.
The governor, after listening to complaints
by internal auditors that they did not have
computers to be able to verify the soft
copies of pay rolls sent to them from the
Accountant-General Office, directed that all
the officers should by next week be sent on
computer training and afterwards be
provided with personal computers.
Earlier, the Deputy Governor, Dr Kolapo
Olusola, said in the course of staff
verification conducted last year, a lot of
anomalies were discovered in the system.
He listed the sharp practices to include
over-payment, under-payment, paying dead
or retired officers, over-deductions, illegal
promotion, among others.
Sallah forces Reps to postpone resumption
The House of Representatives has
postponed by one week its anticipated
resumption, naijatonic learnt in Abuja on
Sunday.
This also implies that the expected action
of the 360-member legislature on the
budget padding allegations levelled against
the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, and three
other principal officers, will be delayed by
at least one week.
The other three are the Deputy Speaker, Mr.
Yussuff Lasun; the Chief Whip, Mr.
Alhassan Ado-Doguwa; and the Minority
Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor.
Lawmakers proceeded on their annual
recess on July 20 and were scheduled to
reconvene on September 13.
Findings by The PUNCH showed on Sunday
that the resumption date had been
postponed by one week due to the
forthcoming Eid-el Kabir festivities.
A senior National Assembly official stated
on Sunday, “The Sallah proper will be on
Monday, September 12, just one day to the
original resumption date.
“Taken that the Federal Government will
naturally declare Monday and Tuesday
(September 13) as public holidays to mark
the Sallah, it is no longer feasible for the
House to reconvene on September 13.
“We are now looking at a date from
Tuesday, September 20.”
Meanwhile, a former Deputy Minority Whip
of the House, Mr. Garba Dhatti, confirmed
to naijatonic on Sunday that the
resumption would be delayed by “three
weeks.”
Dhatti, who is still a serving member,
stated, “The end of recess will now be up to
three weeks (September 20).
“It has to be after Sallah, which you know
is Monday (September 12).”
The development came as the Chief Whip of
the 7th House (2011-2015), Mr. Ishaka
Bawa, told naijatonic that there was
“nothing abnormal” for Dogara and other
principal officers to receive higher
allocations for intervention or constituency
projects in the 2016 budget.
Bawa said in every budget year, principal
officers were allocated higher votes for
projects in line with a “parliamentary
tradition in practice over the years.”
Citing the instance of the 7th Assembly,
where he was the fourth highest-ranked
principal officer, Bawa disclosed that each
of the 10 principal officers received higher
project allocations according to their ranks.
He also confirmed that all the principal
officers had higher project votes than those
he called “floor members.”
Bawa added, “As a principal officer in the
7th Assembly, the funds allocated for my
projects were higher than that of Dogara,
who was a ‘floor member’ at the time.
“Dogara was a floor member. Even as the
Chairman, Committee on House Services,
the funds for his projects were nothing
compared to that of the least-ranked
principal officer.
“Principal officers got their allocations pro-
rata. They then identified the projects which
were domiciled in the relevant Ministries,
Departments and Agencies for execution.
“Every member knows that this has been
the practice and the 8th Assembly principal
officers have done nothing new.”
According to Bawa, the allocations of
Dogara and the other three principal officers
in the 2016 budget are not padding “so
long as they were contained in the budget
that was considered, passed by the
National Assembly and signed into the law
by Mr. President.”
Bawa, a lawyer, argued that the padding
allegations could “only be sustained if there
is proof that the money (N40bn) was added
to the budget after the National Assembly
passed it and on its way to the President’s
office.”
A former Chairman, Committee on
Appropriation, Mr. Abdulmumin Jibrin, had
alleged that the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu
Dogara, and three other principal officers
requested the inclusion of N40bn projects in
the 2016 budget, besides sundry projects in
sums ranging from N20bn to N30bn.
He claimed that his refusal to oblige the
four principal officers and his opposition to
several alleged financial infractions were
responsible for his sacking by Dogara on
July 20.
The leadership of the House denied the
alleged padding, saying all insertions into
the budget followed the “due process of
legislation and budgeting.”
However, it said Jibrin’s allegations would
be investigated internally by the Committee
on Ethics and Privileges after the House
would have reconvened on the initially fixed
September 13.
The police, the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission and the Presidential
Advisory Committee Against Corruption are
already investigating the allegations.
Jibrin had petitioned the agencies and the
Independent Corrupt Practices and other
related offences Commission as well as the
Department of State Services.
Also on Sunday, Jibrin suggested how the
budgeting process and other finances of the
House could be reformed to plug alleged
loopholes for “fraud.”
Jibrin said he made the submissions to the
Presidential Advisory Committee Against
Corruption during his visit to the body in
Abuja on Wednesday last week.
He said he told the committee, which is
chaired by Prof. Itse Sagay, that the
legislature was abusing its power of
appropriation and should be stopped.
Jibrin suggested that copies of the budget
should always be circulated to all members
while the highlights and the details must be
considered together by lawmakers.
He added, “The most important reform here
is to ensure that budget estimates and
details are returned to the floor of the
House at the same time for passage.
“This will check the insertions by some
standing committee chairmen and principal
officers in the process of budget passage.
On the internal finances of the House, Jibrin
said such funds should be made public so
that Nigerians could follow the spending
pattern of lawmakers.
Sunday, 4 September 2016
67% Increase In Cement Price Causes Scare For Builders
In the last few weeks, the price of the
product has increased from 1,500 Naira
to as high as 2,500 Naira.
The unexpected increase in price has
been generating reactions from citizens
of the nation that has huge housing
deficit.
In Ilorin, in the South-west Region,
people who need cement for different
purposes are asking the Nigerian
government to set up a cement factory
to check the incessant increase due to
monopoly.
An architect at the site of a shopping
complex construction, Christopher
Okebuko, lamented that the increase
from 1,500 Naira last two weeks to
2,500 Naira has affected the cost of the
project.
“I cannot go back for project variation
now,” he said.
Slid Into Recession
Other people also lamented how the new
price has affected them.
A civil servant, Olanrewaju Ahmed, said
he had borrowed money to buy the
building materials in order to complete
his personal house.
He asked the government to intervene in
the situation triggered by the nation’s
economy that has slid into recession.
Mr Ahmed believes such intervention
would reduce the sufferings of the
masses.
In another part of the nation, Asaba, the
capital of Delta State, sales persons at
Chinedu Oko Building Materials Plaza
along the Asaba-Onitsha expressway,
lamented drastic reduction in sales and
income.
Construction workers, however, believes
that industrialisation and patronage of
made in Nigeria goods would help
reduce the pressure on the Naira which
would in turn revamp the economy.
Figures released by the National Bureau
of Statistics on August 31 showed that
Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
contracted by 2.06% in the second
quarter of 2016
According to the report, the decline has
caused the Naira to get weaker while
lower oil prices dragged the oil sector
down.
Five New Cases of Lassa Fever Discovered In Four States
Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said
that two cases were reported from
Plateau State, one from Rivers, and one
each from Bauchi and Gombe. They all
occurred between August 24 to
September 2.
The individual with the Lassa fever in
Gombe died on August 22 while others
are still alive.
According to the agency, public health
response has commenced in all the
affected states under the leadership of
the respective state’s Ministries of
Health.
“Resources were immediately mobilised
from the Nigeria Centre for Disease
Control and its partner, the Nigerian
Field Epidemiology and Laboratory
Training Programme (NFELTP), to
support the investigation and
management of cases in the affected
states,” the agency said in a statement.
Natal multimammate mouse is the primary
animal host of the Lassa virus
The Chief Executive Officer of the NCDC,
Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, stressed the need
for early detection of the disease and
reporting of the cases.
“We commend the early detection and
reporting of the most recent cases, as it
significantly improves the likelihood of
survival for the cases and also reduces
the risk of further transmission. We also
urge all States to report cases
immediately for Lassa fever while
improving on the timeliness of their
reporting generally,” Dr. Ihekweazu
stated.
As a result of increasing number of
cases of Lassa fever, the NCDC also
issued an advisory to all States,
reminding them of the steps they have to
take to prepare and respond to cases of
Lassa fever and other haemorrhagic
fevers, as well as the resources that they
can access for this.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control
further reiterated its commitment to
supporting the States to prevent the
spread of Lassa fever in Nigeria.
Virus Spreads To Human
Lassa fever fresh cases resurfaced on
August 22, with Delta State recording the
death of a medical doctor.
After his death, several other persons
have been placed under surveillance in
different states , with
sensitisation campaigns also increasing.
The virus spreads to human from
rodents and it is then shed in their
excreta (urine and feces), which can be
aerosolised.
In fatal cases, Lassa fever is
characterised by impaired or delayed
cellular immunity leading to fulminant
viremia.
Infection in humans typically occurs by
exposure to animal excrement through
the respiratory or gastrointestinal tracts.
Inhalation of tiny particles of infectious
material (aerosol) is believed to be the
most significant means of exposure.
It is possible to acquire the infection
through broken skin or mucous
membranes that are directly exposed to
infectious material.
Transmission from person to person has
also been established, presenting a
disease risk for healthcare workers.
