CBN put ATM Fee at N65

Business News:

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reinstated the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) transaction fees it scrapped some months back. The CBN announced the development in a note to banks dated August 13, 2014, pegging the new fee at N65 per transaction for withdrawals from ATMs not operated by the bank that issued the debit card. Cash withdrawals on the ATMs of issuing banks shall be at no cost to the card holder. The directive takes effect on September 01, 2014. The apex bank had in December 2012 suspended the payment of N100 fee per transaction by customers.

Nigeria to receive Ebola experimental drug from a Nigerian scientist; another death also recorded in Lagos

News:

By our correspondent in Abuja. The Nigerian Government said on Thursday that it is waiting to receive an experimental medicine called Nano Silver, for the treatment of the Ebola disease. The Minister of Health, Mr. Onyebuchi Chukwu in a briefing in Abuja said the experimental medicine which he said is expected to arrive Nigeria today, was facilitated by a Nigerian scientist in diaspora, but did not disclose the identity of the donor. Liberia Wednesday received doses of ZMapp, an experimental medicine, from the United States after the World Health organization (WHO) said it was ethical for experimental medicines to be administered on Ebola patients. The Minister further disclosed that some persons under close watch over fears that may have been infected by the virus “have been allowed to go home after completing the mandatory 21 days incubation period without showing any symptoms”, adding that the nurse that fled from quarantine in Lagos to Enugu did not show symptoms of the deadly disease when she traveled to Enugu. A statement issued clarifying the Minister’s earlier briefing said, “At the time she made the trip, she was yet to show any symptom and did not infect anyone on her way as transmission of the disease is only possible when a carrier of the virus becomes ill. However, she has since been brought back to Lagos. Before the return journey, she had become symptomatic and had to be conveyed to Lagos with her spouse in special ambulances. The husband is not symptomatic neither is he positive for Ebola Virus Disease but has been quarantined given the intimate contact with her while in Enugu. “It is therefore important to emphasise that there is no Ebola Virus Disease in Enugu. All cases are still confined to Lagos State. Also, reports of Ebola Virus Disease in Abia, Imo, Akwa Ibom and Anambra States as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja have all been investigated and none of them was found to be Ebola Virus positive.” Over 1000 persons have been killed since the latest Ebola outbreak with Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone mostly hit. The full text of the statement from the Minister’s office is reproduced below: “Confirmed Cases Still 10, 4 Now Dead, No Ebola in Enugu, all Cases Confined to Lagos Nigeria has now recorded ten (10) confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). Out of these, four (4) have died and six (6) are currently under treatment. (It is important to note that the number of confirmed cases remains ten (10) as at today and not eleven (11) as earlier announced this morning. We regret the error which arose from double counting in the process of communicating the additional death from the operational centre in Lagos to the Federal Ministry of Health). The fourth death recorded today was a Nigerian nurse who participated in the initial management of the index case. The total number of persons under surveillance in Lagos is now 169. These are all secondary contacts as all the primary contacts have completed the 21-day incubation period and have been delisted to resume their normal lives. Enugu State now has 6 persons under surveillance as 15 after complete evaluation were found not to have had contact with the nurse, a primary contact of the index case who became symptomatic and tested positive and is one of the 10 confirmed cases. The nurse who had been placed under surveillance in Lagos disobeyed the Incidence Management Committee and travelled to Enugu. At the time she made the trip, she was yet to show any symptom and did not infect anyone on her way as transmission of the disease is only possible when a carrier of the virus becomes ill. However, she has since been brought back to Lagos. Before the return journey, she had become symptomatic and had to be conveyed to Lagos with her spouse in special ambulances. The husband is not symptomatic neither is he positive for Ebola Virus Disease but has been quarantined given the intimate contact with her while in Enugu. It is therefore important to emphasise that there is no Ebola Virus Disease in Enugu. All cases are still confined to Lagos State. Also, reports of Ebola Virus Disease in Abia, Imo, Akwa Ibom and Anambra States as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja have all been investigated and none of them was found to be Ebola Virus positive. On Monday the 11th August, 2014 the Honourable Minister of Health convened an Emergency National Council on Health (NCH) Meeting as Chairman, with the Minister of State for Health, the Commissioners for Health in the 36 States and the Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. The meeting reviewed the state of preparedness of the country to contain the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease and resolved on actions to be taken. In furtherance of the national containment efforts, President Goodluck Jonathan himself convened a meeting of the 36 State Governors and the Minister of the FCTA, Commissioners for Health and the Secretary of Health of the FCTA on 13th August. The meeting was briefed by the Minister of Health, the Project Director of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Nigeria. The Governor of Lagos State also briefed the meeting on the situation in Lagos. Each State of the Federation and the FCTA reported on the status of their preparedness to prevent and mitigate the disease through their Commissioner of Health and the Secretary of Health in FCTA. The vast majority of the States were fully prepared while a few others are in the process of completing all the requirements. Since the last press briefing, the Minister of Health and the Minister of Labour and Productivity have met with the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to secure their buy-in on the strategy to contain the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak. The private sector stakeholders and Foundations are also showing interest in containing the EVD outbreak and here today, there will be a special announcement by the Dangote Foundation. It is also important to note the laboratories where specimen can be taken for laboratory analysis. They are: a. NCDC Laboratory at LUTH, Idi-Araba Lagos b. NCDC Laboratory at Asokoro, Abuja c. Redeemer’s University Laboratory, Lagos-Shagamu Express Way d. UCH Laboratory, Ibadan Let me once again reassure Nigerians that the Government is working hard to ensure the containment of the outbreak. Thank you. Dan Nwomeh Special Assistant on Media and Communication to the Minister Federal Ministry of Health.” Meanwhile, Nigeria has recorded another death of Ebola victim. The the Victim who is a nurse died in a Lagos hospital where she was receiving treatment. The nurse was one of the nurses that had contact with the Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer that brought the virus into Nigeria.

FG sake 16,000 resident doctors

Breaking News:

President Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday suspended the Residency Training Programme for medical doctors in Nigeria indefinitely and sacked Resident Doctors in all federal government owned institutions. The President’s directive follows the protracted industrial dispute between doctors under the auspices of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and the federal government over pay and poor funding for government owned health institutions. An internal memo to all heads of federal tertiary health institutions signed by the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, L.N. Awute, on behalf of the Minister of Health, directed them to sack all Resident Doctors in their facilities with immediate effect and directed that measures be taken to restore full medical services in their hospitals. A member of the board of the NMA has described the sack of resident doctors and the suspension of the Residency Programme as a knee jerk reaction to the dispute between the federal government and the NMA. In a reaction to the development, the official who asked not to be identified in this report said that an emergency session of delegates has been called by the NMA to deliberate on the development adding that a formal statement condemning the decision of the president will be issued momentarily. The official said the President targeted the weakest link amongst doctors by going after thousands of the residents adding that with their sack those hospitals no long qualify as teaching or specialist hospitals because you cannot operate them without residents and consultants. The official said: “It is just like you cannot have a school when there are no students and teachers”. The official also added that, “We have been through this before at least twice. Government never learns. The action of the President is disappointing. Instead of addressing the serious issues we want dealt with the President is escalating the problem”.

You Can't Give Me Ultimatum, Jonathan tells Northern Elders

News: By our correspondent.

President Goodluck Jonathan has replied the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) who gave him an ultimatum to produce the missing Chibok girls or forget about 2015 presidency. In statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, August 12, by the President’s Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, the presidency said he needs no ultimatum from anybody or group to live up to his responsibilities to the Nigerian people. Viewing the ultimatum with concern, the Presidency said the issue of insurgency, especially those based on Islamic extremism was not only a Nigerian problem but a global phenomenon which required tact, military capability, serious de-radicalisation techniques and community-based counter-insurgency programmes. He explained that the federal government was acquiring more advanced weapons and technologies for the military and security agencies and were improving on their operational capabilities and efficiencies which is why the government recently requested for an additional funding of $1 billion, adding that more military personnel have been drafted to the region to strengthen the fighting power of the security agents. “We are taking advantage of the offers from our international military and intelligence allies to assist in identifying key locations. We are working with our neighbours to secure the borders and limit the movements of the Boko Haram fighters, building on the agreements reached at the recent summits in Paris and London,” the statement read. The presidency said the government was also targeting the source of the insurgents’ fund with a view to stopping money inflow into the coffers of the terrorists. Rejecting the opinion of the northern elders that the crisis rocking the nation was engineered by the present administration to annihilate and weaken the North, the Presidency said with all the efforts and support of allies, they are closer to bringing the girls back safely.

Umeh, Odegbami, Ogunjobi disqulified from NFF election

Sports News:

The three presidential candidates of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have been banned by the electoral committee of the football body. The Acting president of the NFF,Mike Umeh,former Nigerian footballer Segun Odegbami and former NFF general secretary of the NFF Taiwo Ogunjobi are those disqualified from the contesting at the general elections. Chris Giwa,owner of the Nigerian Premier League side, Giwa FC is now the only candidate not disqualified from those vying for the Presidency of the NFF. The disqualified candidates is expected to head to the appeals committee to see if their disqualifications will be upturned. Reports have it that Chris Giwa,is the preferred candidate of the National Sports Commission(NSC). The NFF's election is scheduled to come up next week in Warri, Delta State. It is not known if it will be postponed.

United release 2014/15 squad numbers

Sports News:

Manchester United are pleased to announce the club's shirt numbers for the 2014/15 Barclays Premier League season. Summer signing Luke Shaw will wear the no.3 jersey while fellow new recruit Ander Herrera will wear 21. Adnan Januzaj has also adopted the no.11 shirt that Ryan Giggs famously made his own during his illustrious Reds career. Anderson has been given the no.28 shirt, Nick Powell has taken no.22 and James Wilson has changed from no.47 to no.49. Shirt numbers for the 2014/15 season: 1. De Gea; 2. Rafael; 3. Shaw; 4. Jones; 6. Evans; 8. Mata; 10. Rooney; 11. Januzaj; 12. Smalling; 13. Lindegaard; 14. Chicharito; 16. Carrick; 17. Nani; 18. Young; 19. Welbeck; 20. van Persie; 21. Herrera; 22. Powell; 23. Cleverley; 24. Fletcher; 25. Valencia; 26. Kagawa; 28. Anderson; 29. Zaha; 30. Varela; 31. Fellaini; 34. Lawrence; 35. Lingard; 36. Vermijl; 38. M Keane; 39. Thorpe; 40. Amos; 41. James; 42. Blackett; 45. Petrucci; 46. Rothwell; 48. W Keane; 49. Wilson; 50. Johnstone.

Tension in Port-Harcourt; PHALGA Chairman slumped and died

Breaking News:

Tension is rising in some areas in Port Harcourt, particularly in Obio-Akpor area of the state. Violence has also erupted in four other areas in the Local Government. This is unconnected with the planned 2 day visit of Governor Rotimi Amaechi to Obio-Akpor. Obio-Akpor is the stronghold of the Minister of state for Education, Nyesom Wike. Youths dressed in black and red numbering in their hundreds had early Wednesday morning gathered at the palace of a Chief, Eze Anthony Owabie. The youths were said to be mobilised by the Peoples Democratic in the state to stop Governor Amaechi from gaining entrance into the community. Meanwhile,the caretaker committee Chairman of Port-Harcourt City Local Government Area (Phalga) and also Chairman of Rivers State Sports Council, Mr Charles Paul has slumped and died. This was confirmed by the Rivers State Government, but the cause of his death is yet unknown.

Uduaghan Mourn Late Adviser and Issele-Uku Monarch

Press Release: Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has expressed deep shock over the death of Mr. Sunny Ofili, Special Adviser on Information Communication Technology (ICT), Obi of Issele-Uku Henry Ezeagunam and one of his sons involved in a ghastly crash on Sunday. A dumb-struck Governor Uduaghan said he was highly pained by the development, noting that he was finding it difficult to accept that they are no more. "I have not been able to say anything. Eating is only a formality. I can't ‎ believe what happened. This death is a personal calamity" he declared. A statement signed by Felix Ofou, Press Secretary to the Governor also conveyed his regrets and wishes to the Delta State Executive Council, families of the deceased and people of Issele-Uku directly affected by the death and asked God to grant them fortitude to bear the loss. "My heart is with their families. I share in their pain. Sunny Ofili's colleagues and friends are affected. Issele-Uku has lost a king has been thrown into mourning. I only ask God to grant everyone involved fortitude to bear the loss" he added. Governor Uduaghan however said the late adviser will particularly be missed for his innovative spirit, gentle disposition and team effort, adding that Ofili enjoyed a personal relationship with him. "He enjoyed a personal relationship with my family and I. He was one of the few people appointed because of what I knew of them. I appointed him based on merit and everyone attests to his capacity and attributes" he enthused. PRESS UNIT GOVERNMENT HOUSE, ASABA AUGUST 12, 2014

Adamawa governorship election holds Oct 11 -INEC

News: Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed October 11 for the governorship bye-election in Adamawa State. Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman , Mr. Kayode Idowu, confirmed the date the on Tuesday. The bye-election was necessitated by the removal of the former governor of the state, Murtala Nyako, and the resignation of the former Deputy Governor, Bala Ngilari, on the same day. The House of Assembly on July 15, the same day it received Ngilari’s resignation letter, removed Nyako, after he was said to have been found guilty of the impeachable offences levelled against him. The then Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Ahamadu Fintiri, was then sworn in as the acting governor after the removal of the former governor and the office of the Deputy Governor declared vacant on July 15. The constitution requires INEC to conduct a bye-election for the office being occupied by an acting governor within 90 days of the vacancy in the office. Ninety days would elapse on October 15. Meanwhile, Ngilari has denied his purported resignation from office and he is currently before a Federal High Court in Abuja, urging the court to order that he be sworn in as the governor following Nyako’s removal. Through the suit filed on his behalf by his counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, Ngilari said his purported resignation letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Assembly was in breach of constitutional provisions which strictly provides that such letter should be sent to the governor of the state. He maintained that Nyako was still in office as of July 14 when he wrote the letter, arguing that that since the letter fell short of the constitutional requirement, the letter amounted to nullity. He maintained that the House of Assembly had therefore acted on it in vain. The suit which is before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday adjourned the suit till September 10 for mention.

Ebola: Ivory Coast ban passenger flights from three countries.

Ivory Coast has banned all passenger flights from three countries hit by Ebola in an attempt to prevent the spread of the deadly virus. It is the only country, after Saudi Arabia, to impose such a ban, amid mounting concern about the outbreak which has killed nearly 1,000 people. The ban covers Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, which are worst affected by Ebola, Ivorian officials said. It excludes Nigeria, where a tenth Ebola case has been confirmed. (BBC)

Pictures of the vehicle late Ofili rode.

By our correspondent.10-08-14.

The Vehicle Late Sunny Ofili rode before his death.

Breaking News: Gov Aregbesola declared winner of Osun Governorship election by INEC.

By our correspondent. 10-08-14.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rauf Aregbesola, as winner of the governorship election held on Saturday in Osun State. Aregbesola polled a total of 203,090 votes, winning the highest number of votes in 22 of the 30 Local Government Areas of the State, defeating his closest challenger, Iyiola Omisore of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 120,433. Omisore won in eight local government areas. Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Fatai Akinbade, got 18,135 votes to come a distant third. "Having satisfied the requirements of the law and scoring the highest numbers of votes, Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress is therefore returned elected," the Chief Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Bamidele Omole, said. Full result of election by Local Government Areas below: Ejigbo LGA Wards: 11 Reg voters: 50,674 No. of accredited voters: 33,752 APC: 17,700 PDP: 12,495 LP: 391 Total valid votes: 31,301 Rejected votes: 1,604 Total votes cast: 32,905 Ife South LGA Wards: 11 Reg voters: 44,555 No. of accredited voters: 23,033 APC: 7,325 PDP: 12,811 LP: 146 Total valid votes: 20,901 Rejected votes: 1,108 Total votes cast: 22,079 Atakumosa East LGA Wards: 10 Reg voters: 31,136 No. of accredited voters: 17,597 APC: 9,287 PDP: 6,294 LP: 120 Total valid votes: 16,395 Rejected votes: 974 Total votes cast: 17,369 "Election did not hold in one of the polling units because of some disagreements there," the Collation Officer said. Olorunda LGA Wards: 11 Reg voters: 71,981 No. of accredited voters: 38,301 APC: 26,551 PDP: 8,483 LP: 410 Total valid votes: 36,234 Rejected votes: 1,263 Total votes cast: 37,497 Osogbo LGA Wards: 15 Reg voters: 118,535 No. of accredited voters: 56,741 APC: 39,983 PDP: 11,513 LP: 673 Total valid votes: 53,387 Rejected votes: 2,066 Total votes cast: 55,453 Iwo LGA Reg voters: 66,898 No. of accredited voters: 41,229 APC: 20,827 PDP: 15,493 LP: 790 Total valid votes: 38,377 Rejected votes: 1,996 Total votes cast: 40,373 Ayedire LGA Wards: 10 Reg voters: 25,880 No. of accredited voters: 17,200 APC: 7,724 PDP: 7,813 LP: 423 Total valid votes: 16,268 Rejected votes: 799 Total votes cast: 17,067 ============== Egbedore LGA Reg voters: 33,547 No. of accredited voters: 19,293 APC: 10,615 PDP: 7,024 LP: 157 Total valid votes: 18,144 Rejected votes: 819 Total votes cast: 18,963 ============= Obokun LGA Wards: 10 Reg voters: 37,985 No. of accredited voters: 22,063 APC: 11,696 PDP: 8,618 LP: 84 Total valid votes: 20,932 Rejected votes: 871 Total votes cast: 21,803 ========== Irewole LGA Reg voters: 52,885 No. of accredited voters: 31,731 APC: 18,328 PDP: 10,330 LP: 117 Total valid votes: 29,850 Rejected votes: 1,131 Total votes cast: 30,981 ============ Ayedade LGA Wards: 11 Reg voters: 51,108 No. of accredited voters: 27,311 APC: 12,801 PDP: 11,255 LP: 137 Total valid votes: 25,428 Rejected votes: 1,441 Total votes cast: 26,869 =================== Ifelodun LGA Wards: 12 Reg voters: 53,372 No. of accredited voters: 32,613 APC: 17,447 PDP: 12,442 LP: 96 Total valid votes: 33,113 Rejected votes: 1,141 Total votes cast: 31,972 ============== Ede North LGA Wards: Reg voters: 49,253 No. of accredited voters: 28,289 APC: 15,403 PDP: 10,427 LP: 54 Total valid votes: 26,591 Rejected votes: 1,288 Total votes cast: 27,879 ============== Isokan LGA Wards: Reg voters: 28,472 No. of accredited voters: 22,194 APC: 9,758 PDP: 10,028 LP: 197 Total valid votes: 20,860 Rejected votes: 1,028 Total votes cast: 21,888 ================ Ife North Wards: 10 Reg voters: 45,457 No. of accredited voters: 21,175 APC: 8,603 PDP: 9,841 LP: 265 Total valid votes: 19,506 Rejected votes: 1,231 Total votes cast: 20,737 ==================== Ola-Oluwa Wards: 10 Reg voters: 25,550 No. of accredited voters: 16,495 APC: 7,927 PDP: 4,963 LP: 2,476 Total valid votes: 15,735 Rejected votes: 614 Total votes cast: 16,349 =================== Ife East LGA Wards: 10 Reg voters: 81,437 No. of accredited voters: 39,008 APC: 13,821 PDP: 20,831 LP: 297 Total valid votes: 36,142 Rejected votes: 1,836 Total votes cast: 37,978 ================= Ife Central Wards: Reg voters: 94,722 No. of accredited voters: 37,955 APC: 9,680 PDP: 24555 LP: 102 Total valid votes: 35,308 Rejected votes: 1,742 Total votes cast: 37,054 ===================== Irepodun LGA Wards: 11 Reg voters: 36,521 No. of accredited voters: 22,426 APC: 13,314 PDP: 7,386 LP: 343 Total valid votes: 21,401 Rejected votes: 856 Total votes cast: 22,257 ==================== Ila-Orangun Wards: 11 Reg voters: 33,577 No. of accredited voters: 20,076 APC: 10,825 PDP: 7,916 LP: 43 Total valid votes: 19,150 Rejected votes: 727 Total votes cast: 19,877 "However, in Ward 1, 571 votes were cancelled for the following reasons: results of the election was not collated as there were some anomalies reported at that polling booth," said the Collation Officer. ============= Ede South Wards: 10 Reg voters: 35,941 No. of accredited voters: 21,250 APC: 11,738 PDP: 7,462 LP: 46 Total valid votes: 19,933 Rejected votes: 933 Total votes cast: 20,866 ===================== Atakumosa West LGA Wards: 11 Reg voters: 24,625 No. of accredited voters: 13,173 APC: 6,928 PDP: 5,142 LP: 76 Total valid votes: 12,575 Rejected votes: 446 Total votes cast: 13,021 ==================== Oriade LGA Wards: 12 Reg voters: 47,140 No. of accredited voters: 25,398 APC: 12,523 PDP: 10,214 LP: 136 ============== Orolu LGA Reg voters: 24,914 No. of accredited voters: 16,882 APC: 8,558 PDP: 6,786 LP: 440 Total valid votes: 16,070 Rejected votes: 569 Total votes cast: 16,639 =================== Boripe LGA Wards: 11 Reg voters: 47,100 No. of accredited voters: 24,497 APC: 12,723 PDP: 9,344 LP: 249 Total valid votes: 23,014 Rejected votes: 1,004 Total votes cast: 24,018 "However, we received a petition from APC complaining about over voting in Ward 11," said the Collation Officer. =================== Ilesa West Wards: Reg voters: 52,397 No. of accredited voters: 23,553 APC: 15,427 PDP: 5,449 LP: 32 Total valid votes: 21,641 Rejected votes: 1,128 Total votes cast: 22,769 Odo-Otin LGA Wards: 15 Reg voters: 48,577 No. of accredited voters: 27,398 APC: 11,950 PDP: 12,902 LP: 518 Total valid votes: 25,946 Rejected votes: 1,146 Total votes cast: 27,092 Ilesa East Wards: 11 Reg voters: 54,566 No. Of accredited voters: 24,718 APC: 16,106 PDP: 5,913 LP: 44 Total valid votes: 22,970 Rejected votes: 1,104 Total votes cast: 24,074 Boluwaduro LGA Wards: 10 Reg voters: 16,839 No. Of accredited voters: 10,603 APC: 4,891 PDP: 5,035 LP: 19 Total valid votes: 10,175 Rejected votes: 355 Total votes cast: 10,530 Ifedayo LGA Wards: 10 Reg voters: 13,044 No. Of accredited voters: 8,627 APC: 4,225 PDP: 3,982 LP: 17 Total valid votes: : 8,405 Rejected votes: 165 Total votes cast: 8,570 Meanwhile, Omisore has petitioned INEC discrediting the election and arguing that APC flouted the Electoral Law during the exercise. The petition came before INEC announced the final result. Titled: Protest On The August 9, Gubernatorial Election' Omisore argued that the candidate of the APC, Rauf Aregbesola flouted provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 by announcing results. "I hereby condemn the APC candidate, Raufu Aregbesola declaring his own version of the results without recourse to INEC. With the facts of results, it is apparent that the PDP candidate, Dr. Iyiola Omisore is leading." "This act of APC is in conflict with the provisions of Electoral Law 2010 whereby a candidate can concoct figures and release to confuse the public thus make this election inconclusive until facts behind the figures are released by the INEC. "The peace and stability of this state is such under an unprecedented threat. The results so far by APC remained cancelled."

Breaking News: SA ICT to Delta Governor and Issele-Uku Traditional ruler die in ghastly motor accident.

By our Correspondent.10-08-14.

The Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor on Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), Mr. Sunny Ofili has died in a ghastly motor accident on Saturday evening (09-08-14). Mr. Ofili died along with the traditional ruler of Issele-Uku, Obi Henry Ezeagwunam, on their way to Asaba, the capital at Issele-Azagba, Ofili’s home town, a community closed Asaba. Until his death, Ofili oversees the Directorate of Science and Technology and was a publisher of Delta Herald Newspapers and he was formerly based in the state of Maryland in the US resident where he used to edit a website, called “Times of Nigeria.” It was said that Mr. Ofili was interested in running for the seat in the Delta State House of Assembly to represent Aniocha North constituency. He was survived by his wife and three female children.

Nigerian doctor who had contact with Sawyer has tested positive to Ebola and a nurse died of the virus

By our correspondent- 07-08-14 The Nigerian doctor that attended to Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian-America that died at First Consultant Hospital in Lagos has tested positive to the dread Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). This was confirmed by the Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu during a press conference in Abuja. The minister said eight other persons that also had first degree contact with the Liberian, have also been quarantined and are now under strict observation. Sawyer died about four days after flying into Nigeria on his way to Calabar for a conference of the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS). He has since been cremated. Ebola has killed 729 people in West Africa. Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, has confirmed that a Nigerian nurse who had primary contact with the late Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian who imported the deadly Ebola virus into Nigeria, is dead. The Minister said at a news conference on Wednesday, that the nurse died on Tuesday as a result of the virus. He also said the nurse was the first Nigerian to be claimed by the virus aside Mr. Sawyer who brought the disease into the country. According to Prof Chukwu, the test conducted on those quarantined shows that Nigeria now has seven confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). “Yesterday, 5th August, 2014, the first known Nigerian to die of the EVD was recorded and this was one of the nurses that attended to the Liberian. The other five cases are currently being treated at the isolation ward in Lagos,” Chukwu said. He emphasised that all Nigerians diagnosed of the EVD, including the dead nurse, were primary contacts of the index case. The minister assured that the 24/7 Emergency Operations Centre which he mentioned in the last press conference will be fully functional by Thursday. "It will be headed by Dr. Faisal Shuaibu as the Incident Manager. He will later today lead a 6-man inter-agency team drawn from National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the US CDC, the WHO, UNICEF and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to Lagos to complete the setting up of the Centre.” "They will be joined by the other personnel from the Lagos State government and the federal hospitals in the Lagos area as well as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. I have also appointed a Director of Communication and Community Mobilization who will be based in Lagos- Prof. O. Onajole of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.” He also said a special team is being set up to provide counseling and psychosocial support to patients, identified contacts and their families. "Within the week, the Minister of Information and I would be visiting Lagos State to assess the situation on ground. I once again reassure Nigerians that the government is working hard to ensure the containment of the outbreak," the minister said. He added that, for this purpose, the federal government would recruit additional health personnel. Chukwu also disclosed that government is making arrangements for more isolation tents to quicken the pace of providing isolation wards in all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. He therefore uses the medium to appeal to the striking doctors to resume and help the country prevent the spread of the disease.

Panel dissmissed all allegations against Nasarawa Governor

News: The probe panel set up to look into the allegations of misconduct and misappropriation leveled against the Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-makura, by the State House of Assembly has dismissed the charges. In the Tuesday sitting of the probe panel constituted by the State Chief Judge on the request of 20 lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who were pushing the impeachment, the members of the panel set aside the allegations. After the panel’s decision, the state Governor Al-makura described the ruling as “victory for democracy”, but reiterated that he was ready at any time to defend his innocence. There was wild jubilation in Lafia after the ruling, as huge crowd of the governor’s supporters throng the streets, welcoming the decision. The governor said he had been vindicated by the panel’s decision. “Those who raised the allegations against me could not come forward to prove or substantiate the it,” the governor said, referring to the PDP lawmakers. The state House of Assembly had on July 14, through a resolution, moved for the impeachment of Governor Al-makura over a 16-count charge of misconduct and breach of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and unanimously asked the State Chief Judge to set up a panel to look into the allegations. However, after the State’s Chief Judge set up the panel as requested, the PDP members insisted that the panel should be disband. The 20 lawmakers at a sitting in a hotel at Karu Local Government Area, agreed to a resolution to request that the Chief Judge should disband the panel, saying they have no faith in its membership. They were absent from the Monday sitting of the probe panel held at the Ministry for Local Government, located along Shendam Road. Also at the sitting on Tuesday, the lawmakers pushing for Al-makura’s impeachment, represented by a team of lawyers, again protested against the panel sitting on two grounds. They challenged the membership of Mr Mohammed Sabo Keana and Mr Mohammed Usman as members of PDP while Mr Joel Galadima as public office holder, running contrary to section 188 (5) of the constitution. The counsel to the lawmakers insisted that the constitutional provisions and requirement must be followed by the State Chief Judge in the appointment of panel members and procedure for the panel sitting. Governor Al-makura through his counsel, Mr Nnoruka Udechuckwu, however, disagreed with the lawyers representing the lawmakers.

Policemen Posted to Osun for election, attacked NNPC Mega Station manager.

NEWS: Report by our correspondent. 3-08-14. Some policemen posted to Osun State for the August 9th election, attacked the manager of the Asaba 1 NNPC Mega Station and other staffs of the filling station today. The policemen who were said to be attached to MOPOL 29 in Anambra State made a stopover at the filling station to purchase fuel when the incident occurred at about 10am local time. Some of the policemen were found urinating at an unauthorized place in the filling station, when a policeman attached to the filing station who was duty accosted them, asked them to stop the act and use the restroom. The angry looking policemen bounced on the filing station’s attached policeman for asking them to stop their uncivilized act. Eye witnessed told our report that got to the filling station shortly after the incident that the manager of the filing station who went to intervene on the matter was attacked by the policemen and was beating up. It was learnt that other staffs that went to intervene were also beating and teargas. The incident at the NNPC Mega Station Asaba 1 indicates what to expect during the State of Osun’s of election that is slated for 9th of August 2014 by these policemen that are supposed to be “Our Friend” as they always, “Police Is Your Friend”. The attitude of some policemen unleashing terror on innocent Nigerians such as what was demonstrated by some of the policemen from MOPOL 29, Anambra State today, should be tackled by the new acting Inspector General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba.