Nigeria’s Drug Agency Fingers Ogogoro As Cause Of Strange Deaths In Ondo, Rivers: Bans It Nationwide

June 8, 2015

Director-General-of-NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii,

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has blamed consumption of local gin, otherwise known as Ogogoro, for the deaths of 38 people in Rivers state and a similar incident in Ode-Irele, Ondo state recently.

The Director-General of the agency, Dr. Paul Orhii, who spoke to newsmen in Abuja today, announced a total ban of the product across the nation, and asked the general public against its consumption.

Saying that Ogogoro has now turned out to be deadly due to its toxic contents, Dr. Orhii said: “the public should desist from the consumption of unregistered locally made spirits (Ogogoro) and other unregistered bitters. The government will confiscate all illegally brewed alcoholic beverages across the country.”

The NAFDAC boss was joined at the media briefing by the National Coordinator of the National Center for Disease Control ( NCDC), Abdulsalami Nasidi.

According to Orhii: “Preliminary investigation by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and World Health Organisation (WHO) ruled out any infectious diseases and confirmed the possibility of poisoning as the cause and in turn advised NAFDAC to conduct further investigation.

“The symptoms suffered by victims included vomiting, abdominal pain, blurred vision, headache, dizziness and loss of consciousness with subsequent sudden deaths of 18 victims.

“Results of the laboratory investigation revealed methanol toxicity. Five samples were found to contain high concentration of methanol (Ogogoro) which is unwholesome and unfit for human consumption.

“Blood methanol concentration above 1500-2000mg/L will certainly lead to dead in untreated patients.”

Speaking, the National Coordinator of NCDC, Professor. Nasidi said his center would work in collaboration with NAFDAC to fight against the illegal production of locally gin.
“We are working to combine force with NAFDAC to launch an attack on these people. We will immediately confiscate their products.”
“All locally produced methanol must be checked before releasing it to the public. We need to sensitize Nigerians on the need to beware of the locally brewed gin.”

The general public have however been advised to immediately report and evacuate to the nearest tertiary health institution any suspected case for prompt medical attention as according to him. [myad]

Buhari Regards Boko Haram Insurgents As Godless

Greenbarge Reporters

June 8, 2015

UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki Moon, President Muhammadu Buhari and Foreign Minister of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the cocktail reception at the Munich residence

President Muhammadu Buhari has described members of the deadly Boko Haram sect as Godless, saying that they neither know God nor believe in Him.
The President who held a meeting with President Francois Hollande of France after his participation in today’s G-7 Outreach Programme in Germany, vowed that his Administration is totally committed to ending the group’s insurgency in the shortest possible time.
A statement by the Senior Special to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu quoted the President as saying that Nigeria will welcome greater support and cooperation from France and other friendly nations for its ongoing efforts to overcome Boko Haram and restore full security and normalcy to areas affected by the group’s atrocities.
He said that his administration is already taking concrete action to build a more efficient and effective coalition of Nigeria and neighbouring countries against Boko Haram.
Nigeria, he said, would appreciate more intelligence on the terrorist group’s links with ISIS, movements, training and sources of its arms and ammunition to facilitate the perfection of fresh tactics and strategies being evolved to overcome terrorism and insurgency in the country and its sub-region.
President Buhari reiterated at the talks with his French counterpart that there was absolutely no link between religion and the atrocities of Boko Haram.
In his remarks at the meeting, President Hollande commended President Buhari’s concerted efforts to galvanize Nigeria’s armed forces, security agencies and neighouring countries for more decisive action to eradicate Boko Haram.
The French leader assured President Buhari that France will give Nigeria and its coalition partners greater support against terrorism and insecurity, including military and intelligence cooperation, to help them overcome the security challenge posed by Boko Haram and its global terrorist allies as quickly as possible.
He also called for greater bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and France in other areas including trade, economic and cultural relations.
Mallam Shehu said President Buhari also received similar pledges of enhanced support from Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada and Chancellor Angela Merkel who he also conferred with before departing from the venue of the G-7 2015 Summit.[myad]

Nigerian Army Unfolds Operational Details To Defeat Boko Haram

Greenbarge Reporters

June 8, 2015

President Muhammadu Buhari And Service Chiefs

Nigerian Army has confirmed the take-off of the Military Command and Control Centre (MCCC) tagged as Operation Zaman Lafiya, in Maiduguri, Borno State, as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari in his inagural speech on May 29.
In what is seen as a double assault of Boko Haram, an alternate command centre has also been established in Yola in neighbouring Adamawa State.
Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, who was part of the advanced team said in a statement today the team, which led by a two-star General, has already commenced work in earnest.
He said that the team is made up of elements of the office of the Chief of Army Staff, all the relevant Army Headquarters Departments and other combat support components.
Colonel Usman said that the action is in compliance with the Presidential pronouncement and the chief of army staff’s directive, adding that a reconnaissance and advance team for the establishment of the Military Command and Control Centre for Operation Zaman Lafiya for fight against terrorism and insurgency has moved to Maiduguri, Borno state.
“The centre will serve as a forward command Base for the Chief of Army Staff and other Service Chiefs.
“The Centre is essentially an elaboration of an already existing Army Headquarters Command and Control arrangement. From now on, the fight against terrorism and insurgency would be monitored, coordinated and controlled from the centre. I wish to inform you that it’s establishment would not create another layer of command structure but would add impetus and renewed vigour to Operation Zaman Lafiya, all aimed at bringing terrorism and insurgency to an end. An alternate command centre is also being established in Yola.” [myad]

Curious Resurgence Of Boko Haram

Greenbarge Reporters

June 8, 2015

To properly comprehend the import of the curiousity dodging the resurgence of the dangerous activities of Boko Haram in Borno and Yobe states, it is important to revert briefly to the recent historical facts.
A couple of weeks before the immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan handed over power to President Muhammadu Buhari, he, Jonathan, Promised publicly that there would be no Boko Haram by the time he would hand over.
Jonathan, encouraged by the success the soldiers claimed to have made, especially in Sambisa forest had concluded, with confidence, that he would hand over Boko Haram-free Nigeria to Buhari on May 29.
There was report that Sambisa forest and, indeed, the strong hold of the sect on the two endemic states of Borno and Yobe have been liberated from them. There was silence jubilation in many parts of the country.
The curious thing about the whole thing was that activities of Boko Haram actually subsided during the April 28 and May 11 general elections, and even during events that led to the formal inauguration of Buhari on May 29.
However, Boko Haram resurfaced a few hours after the inauguration of President Buhari and has been striking, causing more harms almost on daily basis since then, to lives and property in Borno and Yobe states in particular.
This is the crux of the matter. The question is what has happened to the promise of the immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan of handing over a Boko-Haram free Nigeria to President Buhari?. What game are the faceless sponsors of this sect playing on the nation’s psyche, and indeed, who actually are behind the sect?
It really beats one’s imagination that members of Boko Haram who have shown no respect of time and space, would suddenly go to sleep for the period the elections were being held and coming back to duty just when the new President was about to resume duty. [myad]

Cleanse The Presidency Of Augean Stable, Seadogs Advises President Buhari

Greenbarge Reporters

June 7, 2015

National Association of Seadogs has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to take urgent steps to dismantle the bureaucracy in the Presidency so as to bring in new persons with fresh ideas and orientation.

The group said that Buhari’s second coming would start on good note if he first beamed his anti-corruption searchlight on his immediate environment by ordering all senior members of his government to publicly declare their assets on assumption of duty.

These were some of the recommendations contained in a paper presented by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Paul Erokoro, on the occasion of the association’s feast Barracuda held in Abuja over the weekend.

The lawyer who spoke on effective measures to deal with the pervasive corruption in the land, said one of the things President Buhari must do if he is to be taken serious in fighting corruption is to dismantle the bureaucracy around the presidency and to ensure that only persons who are qualified and above board are appointed to strategic positions. [myad][Htab]
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Boyfriend, 3 Of His Friends Allegedly Gang-Rape 20-Year-Old Student

Greenbarge Reporters

June 7, 2015

A 20 year-old female student (name withheld) of the Adeyemi University of Education, Ondo has been allegedly gang-raped by her boyfriend and his three male friends.

The culprits are said to have been arrested by the Police and are currently cooling off at the Police detention.

It was gathered that the suspects, who are students in the Department of Business Education in the institution allegedly had canal knowledge of the girl until the lady became unconscious.

The incident was said to have taken place at the residence of one of the suspects in Oka area of the ancient town.

It was learnt that the Police swung into action immediately the case was reported at the Ondo Police division, after which, the matter was reported to the management of the college through the Dean of Students Affairs of the college.

According to a source, the victim who resides outside the campus of the institution was said to have followed her boyfriend to visit another friend, where four of them eventually had canal knowledge of her.

The source explained that, on returning to her residence, the victim collapsed on the road, with blood stain on her body, a situation that attracted passersby who rushed her to the hospital and reported the matter at Enuowa police station in Ondo.

However, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Mr. Wole Ogodo was unavailable for comment but a source in the Ondo Police division confirmed the incident and said the matter would soon be transferred to the Headquarters of the command in Akure for further investigation.

He also disclosed that the sexually assaulted lady had been receiving treatment at a private hospital in the town. [myad]

Boko Haram, Corruption, Power, Top President Buhari’s “Wish-List” To G7 Summit In Germany

Greenbarge Reporters

June 7, 2015

President Muhammadu Buhari, Signing Bilateral Agreement in Germany

In line with the request by the G7 Industrialised nations, the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Munich, Germany with the “wish list” of Nigeria. Top on the wish list are the issues of Boko Haram insurgency, corruption, power, unemployment and the economic downturn.
The G7 had earlier requested the then President-elect to prepare a shopping list and come with it for their consideration in what is seen as an excellent goodwill gesture towards the new leader and the country.
According to a statement from Munich today by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Malam Garba Shehu, President Buhari placed greater emphasis on the security challenges.
President Buhari was quoted as saying: “we have a problem which they know.”
The President said he has used every opportunity at his disposal ahead of the G7 Summit to discuss the country’s needs with specific reference to terrorism and development needs at person-to-person levels and phone conversations with some of the leaders.
“These development issues, many and varied as they are, touch on the economy, combating corruption, increased foreign direct investment, FDI; power and energy, infrastructure, environment, enhanced transparency in elections and good governance.”
President Buhari is happy that the leaders of the industrialized nations have shown a preparedness to work with Nigeria to help the country solve some of its problems.
In the course of the Summit, President Buhari will hold meetings on the sidelines of the Summit with the host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the French President, Francois Hollande, Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe and the World Bank President Dr. Jim Yong Kim. [myad]

FIFA U20 World Cup: Nigeria Sails To Next Level, Beats Hungary 2-0

Greenbarge Reporters

June 7, 2015

The Nigeria under 20 football team, the Flying Eagles, has moved from its final group game to the group of 16, having today, thrashed its Hungarian counterpart by two goals to zero. The team will now face Germany in the next round in the ongoing FIFA Under 20 World Cup championship.

The team finished with 6 points from three games while Brazil finished top of the group after spanking Korea DPR also today.

It was Taiwo Awoniyi that got the two goals for Nigeria in the game against Hungary as the young striker popularly referred to as the ‘New Yekini’ finally came to the party after firing blanks in the Flying Eagles first two games against Brazil and Korea DPR.

Awoniyi opened his goal scoring account in the 33rd minute when he dodged his marker to volley in at the near post after Saviour Godwin gave in him a low cross.

He sealed second place and all three points for Nigeria in the 54th minute when he made the most of the chance gifted him by Hungary defenders who committed a comical error.

While African champions, Nigeria, face European champions, Germany, on June 11, other pairings involving African teams pitch Ghana against Mali; while Senegal, the fourth team from the continent, will play Ukraine in the Round of 16. [myad]

Fake Medical Doctor Rose To Level 13 In Ministry With Alleged Stolen Licence

Greenbarge Reporters

June 7, 2015

A senior official in the Federal Ministry of Health, Martins Ugwu, who has been practicing as a medical doctor for close to 10 years, has been arrested by the police upon discovery that he stole the medical license from his friend.

Ugwu, who is a Senior Medical Officer II on Grade Level 13, was found to have impersonated his friend, Dr. George Davidson Daniel, who is undergoing a residency training programme in Jos, Plateau State.

He allegedly stole the license from his friend for whom he was best man during his wedding in 2006. They both hailed from Orukpa in Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State.

It was learnt that Ugwu, who was due to be promoted as Assistant Director in Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Health, has been working in the civil service since 2006 under the name of Dr. George Davidson Daniel until he was indicted by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria as an impostor.

Ugwu, who was arrested by the police last Thursday, was however released a few hours later, fueling speculations that the policemen might have been compromised.

Ugwu’s arrest was sequel to an investigation by the MDCN, which registers all Nigerian doctors and regulates their practice, after investigations uncovered two Dr. Daniels—the same name on two separate identity photographs.

The MDCN, in a letter to the Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission, dated June 4, 2015, signed by the Registrar, Dr. A. Ibrahim, described Ugwu as an impostor, adding that the case had been reported to the police for further investigation and action.

It reads: “Records available to the council revealed that this Dr. Davidson Daniel George is an impostor as he is impersonating another Dr. Davidson Daniel who is the genuine doctor and currently undertaking his residency training in Jos, Plateau State.

“Council summoned and interacted with the genuine doctor who gave some vital information on the impostor. Council has reported the matter to the law enforcement agency as a case of impersonation, with the genuine doctor deposing to a statement with regards to what happened between him and the fake doctor whose real name is Mr. Martins Ugwu.

“As it is, Mr. Martins Ugwu is an imposter. You may therefore wish to take further actions to deal with this matter in accordance with the provisions of the law.”

But the MDCN said it was dissatisfied with police handling of Ugwu’s case and promised to take up the matter with the Inspector-General of Police.

The council cited a previous arrest of a fake doctor arraigned for prosecution, insisting that prosecuting police officers have never called the council’s investigators to court as witnesses while the case stalled in court.

The council said so far, it is currently investigating and prosecuting some 40 cases of quacks in courts.

Ironically, Ugwu was part of a government committee that met more than 200 contingents returning from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea where they had volunteered to help fight Ebola under an African Union mission, last week in Abuja.

The Head of Inspectorate Department, MDCN, Dr. Henry Okwuokenye, who led the team of investigators, confirmed Ugwu’s arrest in Abuja. [myad]