Total Nigeria Limited has announced its move to partner with various Federal Government Institutions and international companies to fast-track the construction of solar power plants in Nigeria. The project is being contemplated under Public Private Partnership (PPP) with State Governments fully involved. The Executive Director of the Total Nigeria Limited, Mr. Olubunmi Obembe said this known today when he led a delegation on a courtesy visit to Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said that the Company in its bid to become a major global player in the solar energy market, acquired US based SunPower, a world leader in solar power operation. Obembe said that the company is collaborating with three States of Nassarawa, Ekiti and Katsina for the development of 150mw in Nassarawa State; 80mw in Ekiti State and 30mw/100mw in Katsina state. He said that the organization is at various levels of discussion with other States. According to him, the project is expected to deliver in the next five to eight years, 1700mw of solar Independent Power Projects, distributed across the country with a minimal size of 30MW, emphasizing that their objective is to have the first project ready by second quarter of 2015. Responding, Vice President Namadi Sambo said that President Goodluck Jonathan government is ready to fully utilise abundant renewable energy resources to enhance electricity supply across the country. Sambo said that the global trend in power generation is efficient utilization of renewable energy, particularly solar energy, which he said Nigeria has in abundance. He stressed that the administration is doing everything possible to ensure it meets Nigeria’s electricity demand. “The issue of power is one of the cardinal point of this administration and anything that will increase the supply of power in Nigeria will be deeply welcomed and the administration will do everything to ensure that it succeeds.” The Vice President commended Total for its determination to ensure utilization of Nigeria’s solar energy as a source of electricity generation, adding: “it is impressive this has been handled in the highest corporate level.” He assured Total of the government’s commitment to ensure that the noble objective is achieved. [myad]
A Lagos constitutional lawyer, Chief Femi Falana (SAN) has asked the police and federal authorities to quickly withdraw all masked police and security personnel from election duties in Osun State before Saturday governorship election in the state. This even as he declared that wearing of masks by security agents during election is illegal. Falana was reacting to the news that armed police personnel wearing masks would be deployed to man the polling units during Saturday’s election in the State. In a statement issued today in Lagos, the lawyer recalled an interactive meeting held by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba with the governorship candidates and political party representatives in Osun State at Osogbo yesterday where it was announced that armed police personnel wearing masks would be deployed to man the polling units. He recalled also that it was announced too that the use of telephone handsets and other gadgets to take photographs of ballot papers by individual voters had been prohibited by the authorities. “As both announcements are part of the culture of impunity in the country, it is pertinent to state the position of the law on the official pronouncements. “Firstly, by virtue of Section 125 (3) of the Electoral Act 2011 (as amended) the secrecy of voting is limited to individual voters as no person shall:- “a. interfere with a voter casting his vote, or by any other means obtain or attempt to obtain in a polling unit information as to the candidate for whom a voter in that place is about to vote for or has voted for; “b. communicate at any time to any other person information obtained in a polling unit as to the candidate to whom a voter is about to vote or has voted for. “The above provision of the law does not prevent voters from recording the details of ballot papers in the course of casting their votes once they do not obtain information from other voters concerning the candidates they may have voted for. It is therefore totally misleading on the part of the INEC leadership to say that it is illegal to take photographs at the polling units If INEC has nothing to hide, it should not prevent voters from recording the details of their individual ballot papers. “Secondly, it is public knowledge that the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has been campaigning with masked men with the connivance of the Police Authorities. Instead of banning the provocative harassment of law abiding citizens by the official terrorists the Government has announced that many more of such masked men would be deployed under the pretext of maintaining law and order during the Osun State Governorship election. “I wish to state that neither the Police Act nor the Electoral Act has authorized the wearing of masks by security personnel during elections in Nigeria. It is pertinent to draw the attention of the Federal Government to section 280 of the Nigeria Police Force Regulations which provides that “Orders of dress and dress regulations, shall be promulgated by the Inspector-General of Police in Force Orders. “The Inspector General of Police has neither promulgated that police personnel involved in election duties should wear masks nor published any such dress order in the Police Force Orders. To that extent, it is illegal on the part of the police or other security personnel not to wear name tags for proper identification during election duties. “In the recently concluded governorship election in Ekiti State there was no deployment of security personnel wearing masks. What has warranted the desperate deployment of masked men to police the Osun State governorship election? If the INEC is committed to the conduct of transparent governorship election in Osun State it should not prevent voters from recording the exercise with electronic gadgets. If the Police Authorities are committed to the maintenance of law and order they should withdraw all masked police and security personnel from election duties in Osun State. “Having regard to the level of mobilization on ground and the vigilance of the people of Osun State the Federal Government should be held responsible for the imminent break down of law and order by armed thugs who have been officially sanctioned to hide behind the masks to rig the Osun State governorship election. However, it is not too late in the day to jettison the illegal plot to manipulate the governorship election in Osun State.” [myad]
World football governing body, FIFA has demanded for a full explanation regarding the purported dismissal of Aminu Maigari as president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Maigari was allegedly sacked by his executive committee on July 24.
In a letter dated August 4, 2014, to NFF general secretary, Musa Amadu and signed by deputy secretary general, Markus Kattner, FIFA demanded a more detailed explanation leading to Maigari’s sack.
FIFA asked for the agenda of the executive committee meeting that sacked Maigari, the conditions for the amendment of the agenda and whether the president was given the chance to defend himself.
FIFA also stated that the dismissal of any executive committee member was the prerogative of the NFF general assembly and not the executive committee.
The world football ruling body also expressed surprise that despite the lifting of the suspension of the country, the situation in Nigeria has become “so inextricable”.
Elections to the executive committee are due to be conducted on August 26.
And on the heels of the letter from FIFA, the NFF executive committee on Thursday suspended two other members, Chris Green and Yusuf Ahmed, for what they described as “anti-board activities.” [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan said proudly in Washington DC that Nigeria is the 26th largest economy in the world and the largest trading partner of the United States in Africa. He said that latest figures show the volume of trade between Nigeria and the U.S. to be $36 billion and is still counting.
Speaking at a dinner held in his honour by the United States Chambers of Commerce and the Corporate Council on Africa, President Jonathan said that his administration will continue to grow with greater cooperation between Nigeria and its allies in the United States Government and private sector.
He welcomed the support of the Obama Administration and both organisations for ongoing efforts to positively transform the Nigerian economy and ensure that it becomes one of the twenty largest economies in the world by the year 2020.
Jonathan called for greater direct investment in Nigeria from the United States, even as he said that recent developments showed the need for increased international recognition of Nigeria’s role in the global economy.
President Jonathan said that the World Economic Forum on Africa which Nigeria hosted recently attracted over $68 billion in investment to the African continent in the form of Foreign Direct Investments, as well as private and public investments targeted at projects that would foster the agriculture sector, improve infrastructure such as roads, railways, hospitals, education, skill development and ICT across African countries.
“We remain the largest source of natural gas and have large areas of unexploited fertile lands for agriculture. We have a huge stock of untapped solid minerals and we continue to make Nigeria an attractive destination for foreign investors through the constant implementation of our policy of creating an attractive and conducive climate for investors,” President Jonathan told the gathering.
The President said that while the oil and gas industry remains Nigeria’s main source of revenue and foreign exchange earner, his administration is working very hard to fully diversify the country’s economy and will welcome greater support from the United States for its efforts to make other sectors of the Nigerian economy more productive.
He assured American investors that his administration was taking all necessary action to overcome the Boko Haram insurgency and achieve greater security of lives and property in all parts of Nigeria.
President Jonathan left Washington DC to return home after the dinner and talks earlier yesterday with President Barack Obama and other African Heads of State and Government at the first United States-African Leaders Summit. [myad]
Nigerian armed forces have appealed for the support of traditional rulers and religious leaders in the ongoing war against criminality and terrorism even as they warned parents and guardians to be watchful of their wards.
The chairman of the Forum of Spokespersons for Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA), Major General Chris Olukolade made the appeal at the Palace of Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu when he led other members of the forum to the Palace after their monthly meeting and advocacy engagements in Lagos today.
Olukolade who is also the Director Defence Information noted that most undesirable elements who perpetrate evils live among innocent citizens in the community, adding: “they should therefore be properly warned or be exposed to security agencies.”
Olukolade gave the reasons for the formation of FOSSRA under the auspices of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), saying that it has ensured better interaction with the media and other practitioners in information management, a development that has brought about mutual understanding.
“We now have better inter-agencies cooperation, greater improvement in civil-military relationships, which have contributed immensely in various operations to protect lives and property”.
In his remarks, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu urged security agencies to improve on the inter-agency collaboration and avoid frictions and misunderstanding to ensure synergy and focus in tackling terrorist activities in the country. He said the establishment of FOSSRA should nip in the bud the occasional inter-agency rivalry being witnessed among the security forces.
According to the monarch, national security is an issue that affects everyone and as such, all Nigerians must take it more seriously especially now that the country is facing challenges.
He commended the FOSSRA for its regular dissemination of information, urging it not to relent in its duty of keeping the citizenry updated on security and emergency situations.
“The forum has been doing well and I encourage it to keep the flag flying. On my part, I will ensure that I contribute my quota in making Nigeria a safer place.
“Being a former AIG (of Police) myself, I don’t joke with security matters. In fact, there are times I pick my phone and inform senior security officials of any useful intelligence at my disposal.
“We have nowhere to go, this is our country and we must all join hands to make it work irrespective of religion, ethnicity or political affiliation”, he added.
FOSSRA is a body under the auspices of Office of National Security Adviser that coordinates public information activities of armed forces, security and response agencies. Its members are spokespersons of military, security and response agencies as well as special paramilitary outfits in Nigeria. They include Defence Headquarters, Army, Airforce, Navy, Police, State Security Service, Office of National Security Adviser, National Intelligence Agency, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Commission, Nigeria Prison Service, National Immigration Service, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) National Emergency Management Agencies (NEMA) and Fire Service. [myad]
A professor of Epidemiology and Community Health Science, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Tanimola Akande has described Ebola virus as having very tricky symptoms, which often mimic that of common illness, such as malaria, dengue, lassa and typhoid fever. He notes that many health workers may have already come in contact with an infected patient without knowing it.
“When a patient comes to your hospital and presents you with symptoms, such as fever, headache, general body pain, you are likely not to wear gloves or biohazards suits before treating the patient. That is the tricky part. You are infected before you know it is Ebola.”
To contain the transmission of the disease, Akande urges Nigerians to stop eating bush meat, as well as to wash their hands and fruits regularly before eating.
He also advises health workers to wear protective kits always while attending to their patients.
In deed, Ebola Virus Disease is presently the enemy that is knocking at the door of many West African countries and its effects are fast spreading. It is currently ravaging Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia and has killed a nurse in Nigeria, as the biggest health challenge facing the sub region at present.
Unlike other viruses, such as the Hepatitis A, B,C, which can stay in the body fluids of an infected person for 15 years without any symptoms, the Ebola virus, which symptoms include bleeding from the mouth and anus, can kill its victims within days .
Akande says that its mode of transmission is a major reason why it is deadlier than most viruses for, according to him the fact that Ebola has no cure is not the reason why it is deadly.HIV also has no cure, yet it does not kill all its victims, if it is properly managed. Ebola is deadlier because it is easy to contract; it is in all the body fluids of an infected individual as its infection can be through saliva, blood, sweat, sperm, excreta, body tissue. It can also be contracted by touching the surface an infected person has touched.
“Also, the natural host for Ebola is fruit bats, chimpanzees and other forest animals that many eat daily in different parts of the country. You can get it just by coming in contact with the blood of an infected animal. Any virus that can be contracted through food has the potential to wipe off many lives.”
Akande states, “We have been talking about HIV/AIDS, but Ebola is deadlier than HIV/AIDS. People who have HIV live for years if they take their drugs but any contact with an infected Ebola person is almost a death sentence because the virus has no vaccines, and no drugs. The best one can get is only palliative management”.
Ebola is the nightmare virus. It is feared as the second coming of the plagues of the 1400s. Why is this one virus so much more deadly than other viruses? Simply put, experts list five reasons why everyone must watch out for this virus.
Low survival rates
The chance of survival is almost zero, especially in Africa. It kills 90 per cent of those infected with the virus. Death is certain if the patient starts bleeding. Bleeding, of course, is its “trademark”.
From a medical point, any one that contracts this disease should be isolated –to wait for death! It is sad! It kills faster than AIDS, and in an equally dramatic way. Because of its mode of transmission, you cannot bury dead patients in the usual way — patients, dead or alive, are absolutely avoided! Dead bodies are equally infectious.
It is almost incurable.
The problem is that there is no drug yet for treatment or vaccine for prevention. Four different viruses cause this disease. At least, we have some drugs for HIV/AIDS patients, to help them live longer and better. The treatment offered for Ebola Virus Disease is for the person to die better and more peacefully. The vaccines we have can only prevent monkeys and mice from the disease! Antivirals do not work.
It is highly contagious
HIV/AIDS requires blood transmission or intimate contact for transmission; this disease requires contact with body. Transmission is by coming in contact with body fluids from diarrhea, vomitting, and bleeding. Doctors and medical staff attending to the patients wear protective kits from head to toe, making them look like astronauts heading for the moon! HIV is highest among commercial sex workers and gays; the people with the highest risk of Ebola Viral Disease are medical workers, their families, and their friends. Hunters that encounter monkeys and bats, and marketers of bush-meats should be careful.
No definite way to protect yourself
There is ABC of HIV/AIDS prevention. There are ways of preventing malaria. But preventing Ebola Virus Disease is not specific or clear-cut. You are advised to wash your hands frequently with soap and water, avoid contact with infected people (and their secretions and blood), and avoid contact with objects contaminated by infected people. Prevention is by hygiene! [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan has made it clear that some of the security problems now faced by Nigeria and other African countries are transnational in scope and cannot be solved by any country acting alone. Jonathan, in Washington DC today, called for more effective global action and implementation of all existing international protocols against terrorism and violent extremism. Presenting the Nigeria’s statement at the US-African Leaders Summit that was concluded today, President Jonathan demanded a more effective international sanctions regime against countries, organizations and individuals that sponsor terrorism in any part of the world. The President said that because terrorism, piracy and transnational organised crimes have become global in scope, greater regional and international collaboration is needed to combat them. “Several African countries, including Nigeria, are now challenged by terrorism and violent extremism. For several countries in the continent, terrorism has become a real threat to social progress, peace and security. “The violent and criminal activities of Boko Haram in my country have captured the world’s attention. This has been especially so since the terrorist group abducted some girls from their school dormitory in the North-Eastern Nigeria in April. “Nigeria may be the epicentre of Boko Haram terrorist activities at the moment, but its affiliation with international terrorist networks, dramatically increases its capacity and reach beyond Nigeria’s borders. “Nigeria is doing everything possible to combat Boko Haram and violent extremism. While we continue to enhance our intelligence and military capacities, we are, at the same time, working on political and socio-economic solutions. We are also building partnerships, both at the regional and international levels, to combat the threat posed by terrorism in our sub-region. “In this enterprise, we are pleased to acknowledge the supportive role of the United States. The assistance that we continue to receive from the United States and our other international partners is proof indeed that partnership can multiply our strengths in addressing common challenges. “We call for an effective international sanctions regime that would hold accountable any country, institutions and individual that finances terrorism in any part of the world. This inaugural Africa-US Summit must also call for effective action and implementation of all existing international protocols on this critical issue. “Because terrorism, piracy and transnational organised crimes are global in scope, greater regional and international collaboration is required to combat them. We must act in concert.” The President had conveyed the same message at a bilateral meeting with Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday, saying that Nigeria, the United States and the global community must work with greater synergy and unity of purpose to overcome Boko Haram and other terrorist groups. At the meeting which took place in the Roosevelt Room in the West Wing of the White House, Vice President Biden described Nigeria as an “extremely important” ally of the United States. He reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to working with Nigeria to overcome the Boko Haram insurgency, adding that his country was also willing to give Nigeria any assistance it may require to contain the more recent threat of Ebola. President Jonathan and Vice President Biden also discussed further joint cooperation to boost trade and investments, agricultural development and access to electricity in Nigeria. [myad]
Former Nigeria Vice President Atiku Abubakar has appealed to the electorate in Osun State to vote wisely on Saturday by returning the incumbent governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for another four-year term. In a statement from his Media Office, Atiku, who is chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) and whose first wife, Hajiya Titi Atiku Abubakar hails from Ilesa in Osun State, called on his in-laws to trounce the PDP at the governorship election slated for this Saturday. The former Vice President spoke when a section of Osun leaders paid him a courtesy visit in his office. Atiku told the visitors that he was one of them by marriage, adding: “in fact, I am a son of the soil who share your revered ideals and tradition of honesty, modesty, dedication to duty, steadfastness, integrity and communal responsibility. We do have a common bond of a lifetime. So I am urging you to team up with the progressives in your state and Nigeria to put in place good governments that would benefit all and sundry. Please, don’t let me down. Vote Aregbesola and APC.” The APC cheiftain said that besides the matrimonial bond, he has political tentacles that stretch the length and breadth of Nigeria and beyond. According to him, his relationship with Governor Aregbesola dates back to many years even as he said: “Ogbeni is a people’s politician, a great policy maker and implementer. He is humane, simple and humble. He has the fear of God and respect for men and women. He is a steward of high repute and his numerous works and high performance ratings would see him win a second term massively.” Atiku’s solidarity flight to Ibadan enroute Osogbo yesterday was said to have been cancelled due to bad weather condition. It is on record that Hajiya Titi Atiku Abubakar, the wife of Atiku, holds some of the highest traditional titles ever bestowed on any woman in Yorubaland and Osun State respectively. Amongst them are the Yeye Adimula of the Source (Mother and Pillar of Support for Yorubaland, Ile Ife); the Yeye Odo of Osun State (Mother of Osun Youths) and the Yeye Atayase of Ijesaland (Mother of Improvement). [myad]
James Safechuck, 36, has sued the world pope master, late Michael Jackson, alleging that he abused him when he was 10 years old at the time the pair were working on a Pepsi advert together.
Reports said that. Safechuck’s lawyers filed the claims against Jackson’s estate on Monday. The court documents claim that Jackson “engaged in a calculated course of conduct to lure both (Safechuck) and his parents into a false sense of security and normalcy that was far from reality. And (Jackson) was successful in his efforts to the point that Safechuck endured repeated acts of sexual abuse of a heinous nature and was brainwashed by the decedent into believing they were acts of love and instigated by James himself rather than the decedent.” The initial hearing for the case has been set for September 4.
However, the lawyer for the Jackson estate, Weitzman, has asked for the claims to be dismissed, saying: “Mr. Safechuck’s request to file a late claim against the Jackson Estate so he can recover money from Michael’s beneficiary will hopefully be rejected. This is a person that made his claim five years after Michael died, more than 20 years after the incidents supposedly happened and has given sworn testimony that Michael never did anything inappropriate to him.” Jackson, who died in 2009, was previously accused of four child sexual abuse charges but was acquitted in 2005. [myad]
From left: Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka and FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed during the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, today, Wednesday.
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You May Have Been Infected Before You Know It Is Ebola – Expert
A professor of Epidemiology and Community Health Science, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Tanimola Akande has described Ebola virus as having very tricky symptoms, which often mimic that of common illness, such as malaria, dengue, lassa and typhoid fever. He notes that many health workers may have already come in contact with an infected patient without knowing it.
“When a patient comes to your hospital and presents you with symptoms, such as fever, headache, general body pain, you are likely not to wear gloves or biohazards suits before treating the patient. That is the tricky part. You are infected before you know it is Ebola.”
To contain the transmission of the disease, Akande urges Nigerians to stop eating bush meat, as well as to wash their hands and fruits regularly before eating.
He also advises health workers to wear protective kits always while attending to their patients.
In deed, Ebola Virus Disease is presently the enemy that is knocking at the door of many West African countries and its effects are fast spreading. It is currently ravaging Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia and has killed a nurse in Nigeria, as the biggest health challenge facing the sub region at present.
Unlike other viruses, such as the Hepatitis A, B,C, which can stay in the body fluids of an infected person for 15 years without any symptoms, the Ebola virus, which symptoms include bleeding from the mouth and anus, can kill its victims within days .
Akande says that its mode of transmission is a major reason why it is deadlier than most viruses for, according to him the fact that Ebola has no cure is not the reason why it is deadly.HIV also has no cure, yet it does not kill all its victims, if it is properly managed. Ebola is deadlier because it is easy to contract; it is in all the body fluids of an infected individual as its infection can be through saliva, blood, sweat, sperm, excreta, body tissue. It can also be contracted by touching the surface an infected person has touched.
“Also, the natural host for Ebola is fruit bats, chimpanzees and other forest animals that many eat daily in different parts of the country. You can get it just by coming in contact with the blood of an infected animal. Any virus that can be contracted through food has the potential to wipe off many lives.”
Akande states, “We have been talking about HIV/AIDS, but Ebola is deadlier than HIV/AIDS. People who have HIV live for years if they take their drugs but any contact with an infected Ebola person is almost a death sentence because the virus has no vaccines, and no drugs. The best one can get is only palliative management”.
Ebola is the nightmare virus. It is feared as the second coming of the plagues of the 1400s. Why is this one virus so much more deadly than other viruses? Simply put, experts list five reasons why everyone must watch out for this virus.
Low survival rates
The chance of survival is almost zero, especially in Africa. It kills 90 per cent of those infected with the virus. Death is certain if the patient starts bleeding. Bleeding, of course, is its “trademark”.
From a medical point, any one that contracts this disease should be isolated –to wait for death! It is sad! It kills faster than AIDS, and in an equally dramatic way. Because of its mode of transmission, you cannot bury dead patients in the usual way — patients, dead or alive, are absolutely avoided! Dead bodies are equally infectious.
It is almost incurable.
The problem is that there is no drug yet for treatment or vaccine for prevention. Four different viruses cause this disease. At least, we have some drugs for HIV/AIDS patients, to help them live longer and better. The treatment offered for Ebola Virus Disease is for the person to die better and more peacefully. The vaccines we have can only prevent monkeys and mice from the disease! Antivirals do not work.
It is highly contagious
HIV/AIDS requires blood transmission or intimate contact for transmission; this disease requires contact with body. Transmission is by coming in contact with body fluids from diarrhea, vomitting, and bleeding. Doctors and medical staff attending to the patients wear protective kits from head to toe, making them look like astronauts heading for the moon! HIV is highest among commercial sex workers and gays; the people with the highest risk of Ebola Viral Disease are medical workers, their families, and their friends. Hunters that encounter monkeys and bats, and marketers of bush-meats should be careful.
No definite way to protect yourself
There is ABC of HIV/AIDS prevention. There are ways of preventing malaria. But preventing Ebola Virus Disease is not specific or clear-cut. You are advised to wash your hands frequently with soap and water, avoid contact with infected people (and their secretions and blood), and avoid contact with objects contaminated by infected people. Prevention is by hygiene! [myad]