Photo: Meet The Hotel Worker Who Returned N17Million

A man in Jigawa has performed a remarkable deed as he found and returned N17 Million.

37-year-old Yusuf Usman discovered the money in an iPad jacket in one of the rooms he supervises at the Three-Star Hotel in, Dutse, Jigawa.

Usman earns just N20,000 monthly but that did not tempt him to keep the money. He said:

 “I have been with State, for the past 15 years and I am currently their Reception Manager. What actually happened was that on that fateful day that I found the money, I was on my way from reception to see one of the house-keepers. I passed through the hotel garden where some of our guests usually relax.

 As I was going, I saw an iPad lying close to one of the flowers in the garden and there was nobody there. So I went and took the iPad so that I could take it to the reception and wait for the owner who may come for it later.

 When I looked at it closely, I saw some foreign currency and some wad of naira notes in the iPad jacket. I quickly took it to the management and I was asked to keep the money and the iPad in my safe at the reception. I did not count the money myself,”

“Three days later, a staff of Jigawa College of Health Technology, Jahun, who came to book the hotel for their guests called me and said that one of the guests, who was lodged in the hotel had called to say that he misplaced his iPad containing some money, but can’t remember whether it was in the hotel he forgot it or not. I told them that it was in the hotel and I found it,”

The reception manager said the people from Jahun were so happy and full of thanks when they came to claim the money.

“When the owner of the money found out that his money has been found, he was very happy. They thanked me and the management of the hotel. The Jigawa College of Health Technology wrote a commendation letter to me.

It was there they stated that the money was over $100,000 because the jacket also had local currency in it. My management also gave me a commendation letter. Governor Sule Lamido was informed and he showered a lot of praises on me.

He was very proud of me,”

“As you can see I am not financially comfortable but that is not the point. What is not yours is not yours. There are three reasons why I will never take somebody’s property. One, stealing is against the teaching of Islam and I was strictly brought up according to Islamic teaching.

 Secondly, my father has always warned me never to tamper with what is not mine because it can bring destruction in my life and thirdly, it is the tradition of our hotel not to hide whatever item we found. Even if it is not me that found the iPad and the money, whoever found it will have returned it. We have a store in the hotel for forgotten items.

 Some items have been there for 10 years. I don’t see what I did as a big deal. I am just doing my duty,”

“I don’t believe that running away with somebody’s money will make me wealthy. Wealth belongs to Allah and if Allah destined me to be wealthy it will come to pass. My wife is so proud of me that her respect for me has doubled,”

Usman admonished the youth to preserve their integrity and to realize that a good name is better than wealth.

Ebola kills another doctor, wife quarantine

… 70 under surveillance
Efforts by the Nigerian Government to contain the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, imported into the country by American – Liberian, late Patrick Sawyer Thursday took a dramatic twist as the virus claimed another life of a medical doctor in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

His death has brought the number of deaths from EVD in Nigeria to six.

The death of the doctor has also led to the quarantine of his wife and 70 persons in the State under surveillance. Disclosing these Thursday, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu explained further that the total number of cases of EVD cases so far reported in Nigeria stands at 15.

“The total number of cases treated at our isolation ward stands at 13.

The total number of those discharged is 7, and the total number currently under treatment is one and the person is stable and improving clinically.” Chukwu said

Throwing light on the death of the doctor in Portharcourt, he disclosed that the wife of of the late doctor is already showing symptoms of Ebola.

According to Chukwu, the late doctor who died last Friday contract the virus from one of the primary contact of the index (first)case (Mr. Patrick Sawyer).

He explained that the primary contact who is presently free from Ebola but further laboratory tests indicate that he had suffered EVD, had evaded surveillance team in the last week of July 2014 and travelled out of Lagos to Port Harcourt where, he consulted with the late doctor and was apparently treated for some symptoms.
” After four days, following a manhunt for him, he returned to Lagos by which time he was found to be without symptoms.

He further explained that the government would not have been interested in the contact’s case after he had completed the 21 days of surveillance, but for the fact that the doctor who treated him died last Friday, 22 nd August, 2014.

The Minister said:”Following the report of the death by the doctor’s widow the next day, the case had been thoroughly investigated and laboratory analysis showed that this doctor died from EVD.

“As a result, several contacts have now been traced, registered and placed under surveillance. However, because the widow is now symptomatic, she has been quarantined pending the outcome of laboratory tests on her.

“The Incident Management Committee has already deployed a very strong team to Port Harcourt to work with the health authorities of Rivers State. Just like the situation has effectively been managed in Lagos and Enugu, the situation in Port Harcourt will also similarly be effectively managed and we have begun to do so.

“The total number of deaths from Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria, therefore, is now 6, the index case (Mr. Sawyer), the 4 primary contacts that died in the isolation ward in Lagos, and a doctor that died in Port Harcourt whose blood sample tested positive after death.

He further disclosed that 70 persons have been placed under surveillance in Port Harcourt.

He charged residents of Port Harcourt not to panic over the situation as the experience gathered from Lagos and Enugu respectively indicate that there is no cause for alarm when the government is fully in control of the situation.

Chukwu appealled to all contacts under surveillance to abide by the advice given to them by the Incident Management Committee.

On Enugu contacts, he said all secondary contacts will be followed up till tomorrow when they are all expected to be discharged from our surveillance.

Fire razes church, shops as tanker explodes in Lagos

 

The incident was said to have started at 5:00am and raged till 10:00am before a team of fire fighters from Oando,Total and fire service arrived at the scene to put it off.

An eyewitness who preferred anonymity said, “the incident began at about 5am, when illegal oil-bunkers were transferring PMS from kegs to the tanker. While transferring fuel from kegs to the tanker, one of the kegs was said to have fallen and caught fire which engulfed the tanker. Fortunately, the other tanker close by was empty it would have been more serious. Immediately the fire started, the culprits all ran away.

The eyewitness added that residents of the area had made several complaints to the police on the activities of these illegal bunkerers but nothing was done until the incident happened.
An official of Total depot who refused to disclose his identity said, “Well we have tried our best to put off the fire so it will not affect other property and total dockyard which of course would have caused a greater damage.

‘Don’t allow your children to travel to Ebola-prone zones’

Don’t allow your children to travel to Ebola-prone zones during the holidays – Delta Education Commissioner cautions parents

DELTA State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare has called on parents to be mindful of the movement of their children/wards during the holidays particularly travelling to highly susceptible places plagued by the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

The commissioner also said that he was sending his officials to the field to monitor strict compliance with the directive of the Federal Ministry of Education that ordered for the immediate closure of all summer holiday lessons.

The Commissioner in a statement in Asaba yesterday stated that the advice has become necessary because “as a ministry that stands in for parents of school age, it is the desire and hope of the ministry to see all of them back to school in good health”.

In a related development, the commissioner said that arrangement was under way to assist teachers in public school to acquire their own laptops on credit and allowed to pay instalmentally to the dealers.

He stated this during the ongoing monitoring of the computer training workshop across the 43 centres in the State.

(WEIRD PHOTOS) NO WAY!!!! COULD THIS BE THE WOMAN WITH THE WORLD'S LONGEST TONGUE

An American named Chanel Tapper claimed the title of world's longest tongue in 2011. It measures at a ridiculous 3.8 inches long, which is twice as long as average. A British man named Stephen Taylor also has a 3.8-inch long tongue and may retake the record since his is still growing.

KEEP SCROLLING: MORE PHOTOS BELOW

Ebola: Jonathan condemns discrimination against Nigerians

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday condemned the stigmatisation of Nigerians by some countries over recent cases of Ebola virus in the country.

Jonathan made this known at a meeting with Dr David Navarro, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Ebola, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati.

The president, according to the statement, decried discriminatory actions by some countries against Nigeria, including the incident which forced Nigeria’s team to the Youth Olympics in China to abandon its participation.

He said that there was no justification for such stigmatisation of Nigerians since the Ebola Virus had been effectively contained in the country and never attained epidemic level.

He called for the immediate cessation of every discriminatory action against Nigerians around the world over the virus and urged the UN Secretary General, Mr Ban Ki-Moon, to support the call.

Acknowledging the secretary-general’s commendation of Nigeria’s response to the Ebola outbreak, the president attributed it to the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health, Lagos State Government and citizens.

“All hands have been on deck to contain the virus here. I commend my team and the Lagos State Government.

“We have been able to set politics aside and work in unison to deal with a national threat.

“All other Nigerians have played a part too by complying with the directives and advice we have issued to stop the virus from spreading any further.

“The success we have had is a testimony to what we can achieve as people if we set aside our differences and work together,’’ he said.

He assured the UN that the Federal Government and its agencies would remain vigilant to guard against further cases of Ebola in the country.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and we will also support other affected African countries as much as we can.

“This is because we cannot be completely safe from the virus as long as it continues to ravage some countries in our sub-region and continent.

“We will continue to work with the international community to curb the outbreak in other countries,’’ Jonathan said.

Earlier, Navarro who had visited Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, before coming to Nigeria said he was in Nigeria on the instruction of the UN Secretary-General to applaud Nigeria’s successful containment of the virus.

“The Secretary-General asked me to come here too, not because you have an Ebola problem, but because you have tackled it in an exemplary fashion. Your personal leadership on the matter has been key.

“There may still be some work to be done before the virus is completely cleared out from here, but other countries can learn from your fine example,’’ he said. (NAN)

Ebola death toll tops 1,500- WHO

(AFP) – The death toll from the Ebola outbreak tearing through West Africa has passed the 1,500 mark while the number of cases has soared past 3,000, the World Health Organization said Thursday.

“The outbreak continues to accelerate,” the UN health body said in its latest update on the killer virus.

As of August 26, a total of 1,552 people had died in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria from the epidemic that reared its head at the beginning of the year, while 3,062 had become infected.

On August 20, the toll stood at 1,427 deaths out of 2,600 cases.

A separate outbreak of Ebola, one of the deadliest viruses known to man, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where 13 people have died, was not included in Thursday’s tally.

“More than 40 percent of the total number of cases have occurred within the past 21 days,” WHO said, adding that most cases were concentrated in just a few localities.

It said the overall fatality rate stood at 52 percent, but varied from 66 percent in Guinea, where the outbreak began, to 42 percent in Sierra Leone.

To date, Guinea has 648 cases including 430 deaths, while Sierra Leon has seen 1,026 cases and 422 deaths.

Liberia has so far counted 1,378 cases and 694 deaths, while Nigeria has seen 17 cases and six deaths, WHO said.

Nigeria confirms Ebola death in Port Harcourt

Nigeria on Thursday said that a doctor had died from Ebola in the southeastern oil city of Port Harcourt in the first case of the deadly virus outside the financial hub, Lagos. 

Health minister Onyebuchi Chukwu said the medic died on August 22 after treating a patient who had contact with a Liberian-American man, who brought the virus into Nigeria and died in a Lagos hospital on July 25.

“Following the report of this death by the doctor’s widow the next day, the case had been thoroughly investigated and laboratory analysis showed that this doctor died from EVD (Ebola Virus Disease),” he told reporters in Abuja.(AFP)

Nigeria has not eliminated Ebola — FG

The Federal Government declared, yesterday, that in spite of the huge success it recorded in curtailing the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, in the country, it has not yet completely eliminated the virus.

HEALTH PERSONNEL IN PROTECTIVE  KITS AT THE NATIONAL HOSPITAL IN ABUJA ON TUESDAY (12/8/14).

Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, disclosed this yesterday when he spoke with state House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting where he briefed the president and members of the Council on the containment of EVD.

The minister spoke on a day President Goodluck Jonathan condemned the stigmatisation of Nigerians by some countries over recent cases of the Ebola Virus in the country.

According to the minister: “I don’t want Nigerians to panic, but I don’t want us to be carried away with euphoria because if we still one case of Ebola Virus Disease, it is an emergency.

“The World Health Organization, WHO, defines Ebola epidemic as when one person is infected with the disease. We have to be cautious as long as there is still a victim in the country,” he said.

According to the Minister: “While Nigeria has successfully contained Ebola Virus Disease, it has not eliminated the disease because there is still a case we are managing and as long as there is one case in the world, every country is still at risk.

“It is still possible that Nigeria may record between one to three new cases because there are people under surveillance. There is a case we are still managing and even that case we are still managing must also have had her own third degree contacts, many of whom are part of this number of people that are under surveillance.
“There is still a chance one of the people under surveillance may fall sick and test positive. So until we give a clean bill of health to every contact, we cannot even say we have eliminated the disease,” he emphasised.
On government’s decision to close primary and secondary schools in the country till October, Professor Chukwu said it was a precautionary measure to safeguard the lives of children.

He also emphasised that there is no need for the country’s borders to be closed just yet, adding that government may consider closing the borders only if it is absolutely necessary to do so.

“There is no panic to close borders, but if it becomes necessary, we may close borders. Our borders are still open, but what we are doing is screening of people coming into the country,” he said.

On the N1.9 billion released by the Federal Government to fight Ebola Virus Disease, Professor Chukwu said the money was for the Federal Ministry of Health and its agencies to contain the spread of Ebola and not to be shared to states of the federation.

Discrimination
Also, President Jonathan, who was not happy with the way Nigerians were being discriminated against in foreign countries on account of the virus in Nigeria, condemned such discrimination when he had a meeting with Mr. David Navarro, a Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General.

He particularly denounced discriminatory actions such as that which forced Nigeria’s team to the Youth Olympics in China to abandon its participation.
Noting that there was no justification for such stigmatisation of Nigerians since the Ebola Virus Disease had been effectively contained in the country and never attained scandalous levels, the President called for the cessation of discriminatory actions against Nigerians over the virus and urged the UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki Moon to support the call.

Responding to the Secretary General’s commendation of Nigeria’s management of the threat of Ebola, President Jonathan praised the Federal Ministry of Health, the Lagos State Government and all Nigerians for the success achieved so far in containing the virus and avoiding a national epidemic.
“All hands have been on deck to contain the virus here. I commend my team and the Lagos State Government. We have been able to set politics aside and work in unison to deal with a national threat.

“All other Nigerians have played a part too by complying with the directives and advice we have issued to stop the virus from spreading any further. The success we have had is a testimony to what we can achieve as people if we set aside our differences and work together,” he told Mr. Navarro.

The President assured the Special Envoy that in spite of the seeming success of its containment measures, the Federal Government and its agencies will remain vigilant to guard against further cases of Ebola in the country.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and we will also support other affected African countries as much as we can because we cannot be completely safe from the virus as long as it continues to ravage some countries in our sub-region and continent. We will continue to work with the international community to curb the out-break in other countries,” President Jonathan pledged.

Mr. Navarro, who had visited Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, the countries worst hit by Ebola before coming to Nigeria, told the President that he had come, on the instruction of the UN Secretary-General, to applaud Nigeria’s successful containment of the virus.
“The Secretary-General asked me to come here too, not because you have an Ebola problem, but because you have tackled it in an exemplary fashion.
“Your personal leadership on the matter has been key. There may still be some work to be done before the virus is completely cleared out from here, but other countries can learn from your fine example,” Mr. Navarro told the President.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Mr. Navarro commended Nigeria’s efforts at containing the Ebola Virus.
He said: “The point I made to the President of Nigeria is that this country and its people have performed excellently in their response to Ebola Virus Disease.
“It has been a whole of country effort. The whole of the society has been involved and the correct procedures are being adopted.

“There will always be out-breaks of dangerous diseases in our world because of globalisation, because we want free movement between countries and between communities and because there are viruses that move from the animal kingdom to the human population.
“The good public health techniques and the full involvement of all of society, strong leadership by all, whatever their political parties, can lead to successful control effort.

“We, of course, regret that some people lost their lives. There may be some one, who got sick and died as a result of this current Ebola problem in Nigeria, but I am confident that the government and the people are responding in a proper way and to ensure that the situation is kept under control by the way they are paying full attention to the people’s rights and entitlements.”
Why First Consultants Medical Centre is still shut.
The First Consultant Hospital, Obalende, where the first case was treated, is still shut because the Lagos State government is waiting for directive from the World Health Organisation, WHO, after de-contamination exercises in the facility.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who explained this in Lagos, said already several de-contaminations have been done in the place confirmed that it was going to take some time before the facility will be opened.
“I need to get clearance from the Ebola Emergency Operation Centre because they are the ones, who could give clearance that the hospital is clean and ready for re-opening. It is after that the state government embarks on its own process.

De-contamination may not be complete because some of the equipment in the hospital may be discarded, burn some materials and other activities. This is to ensure that the hospital is free of the virus. So it will take some time before the hospital will be re-opened, but once we get the approval, WHO and EOC the government will do the needful.”

No Ebola-free certificate
Idris said there is need to report every death and obtain Ebola-free documentation to facilitate the transportation of out-bounds corpses from the state. He however, dismissed rumours about Ebola free certificate, saying, “There is nothing like Ebola-free certificate being issued routinely to persons applying for visas in foreign embassies in Nigeria.
“Clearance certificate are nonetheless issued to contacts that have completed the 21-day maximum incubation period of EVD.”
N1.9 bn not for Ebola fund

Meanwhile, the Health Minister said that the N1.9 billion earlier approved by President Goodluck Jonathan, at the time he declared emergency over the disease, widely believed to be used for containing the virus, is for the improvement of the nation’s general health systems.
“We did say that the N1.9 billion that the President approved was for the Federal Ministry of Health; those ones that the Federal Ministry of Health should champion. That fund was provided based on the budget that the Federal Ministry of Health submitted to Mr. President. It was not termed an Ebola fund.

“I repeat, because now I hear that in some places, even village heads are asking for their own share. Nigeria is always thinking of sharing money. It is money for the Federal Ministry of Health to use in working. They are going to use it to procure more vehicles; which have already been ordered.
“They are going to use it to procure more personal protective equipment which had already been ordered. They are going to use it to provide isolation tents, which again had been ordered, including drugs which will be used to support the patients.

“It is a budget for the Federal Ministry of Health and its agencies as submitted by the Federal Ministry of Health to Mr. President.
“What I am saying is that there will still be other funds that will still be released in various ways, depending on what any of the cognate agencies is requesting from Mr. President that must be done..

Man defiles 11-yr-old step-daughter

A 36-year-old man, Daniel Edet, was yesterday arraigned before a Lagos chief magistrate’s court sitting at Ebute-Metta for allegedly defiling his 11-year-old stepdaughter (names withheld).

The defendant, who is facing a one-count charge preferred against him by the police, was docked before Magistrate E. B. Daodu.

The police prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent. Etim Nkankum, told the court that the defendant committed the offence at his residence, 8, Adisa Idowu Street, Ijegun area of Lagos.

He said the incident happened on August 9, 2014 at about 4.30 pm.

According to the prosecutor, the offence is punishable under Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge .

Magistrate Daodu admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100,000 with one responsible surety in like sum.

She ordered that the surety must deposit N50,000 into the designated account of the chief registrar of the court, adding that the surety must show to court evidence of three years tax payable to Lagos State government.

The matter was adjourned till October 22.

Boko Haram has 50,000 members in its camp – BBOG

The Bring Back Our Girls, BBOG, campaign group has claimed that the Boko Haram has up to 50,000 members in its camp some of whom are desperate to die.

The BBOG group which disclosed this in Abuja, yesterday, claimed it was quoting Mr. Ahmad Salkida, a Nigerian journalist said to be close to Boko Haram.

‘‘According to Mr. Ahmad Salkida, Boko Haram has up to 50,000 people in their camps, most of them are sad and willing to die–as suicide bombers. If we’re not mindful our selfishness in not standing up now will consume us all. For these reasons and others, our advocacy must continue; we must continue telling the truth and demanding for it to be told,’’ the BBOG said.

The group urged good-spirited members of the public to join the advocacy which it said must continue until the abducted girls were returned unharmed.

“We must continue telling the truth and demanding for it to be told,’’ the group added.

It called on the federal government to double its effort in tackling terrorism before it gets out of hands and plunge the country into unprecedented famine.

The group also raised the alarm that Nigeria stands the risk of facing food scarcity, especially beans, which Chibok is the highest producer in the country and called for urgent measures to avert the imminent danger.

‘‘Chibok for instance is the highest producer of beans in the nation; the north-east the largest producer of livestock and other produce, but due to the insurgency, there has been no farming; in due course there would be food scarcity across the nation,’’ the group said.

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Controlling Ebola: FG Shuts Down Schools Till October 13

The Federal Government, yesterday, took far-reaching decisions to curtail the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, in the country as it postponed the resumption of all primary and secondary schools till October 13, even as government cleared the air on the health status of a sister to the late Dr. Stella Ameyo Adadevoh, confirming that she is Ebola-free.
Announcing the shift in resumption date in Abuja, Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, said the decision became necessary in view of the risk posed by the Ebola virus which could easily spread through schools.

-An Islamic school
-An Islamic school

His words:  “All primary and secondary schools, both public and private are to remain closed until Monday October 13, 2014 which is the new school resumption date for all schools throughout the Federation”.  The schools were originally scheduled to re-open in the second week of September.

Shekarau, who briefed the press at the end of a meeting with state commissioners of education, added that all on-going summer schools were also affected with immediate effect.
Further, he said the change in the resumption date was also to enable the Federal and state governments, as well as school authorities put in place adequate preventive measures before the pupils returned to school.

“All state Ministries of Education are to immediately organise and ensure that at least two (2) staff in each school, both public and private, are trained by appropriate health workers on how to handle any suspected case of Ebola and also embark on immediate sensitization of all teaching and non-teaching staff in all schools on preventive measures. This training of staff must be concluded not later than September 15, 2014”.

He further directed states Ministries of Education to establish Working and Monitoring Teams for effective supervision of school activities before and after opening of schools.
“Each state Ministry of Education should appoint a designated Desk Officer not later than September 1, 2014, who should also receive appropriate training and who must report on daily basis to the Honourable Commissioner on situation in the schools. The names of such Desk Officers, their phone numbers and e-mail addresses should be communicated to the Headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education not later than September 1, 2014.
“All primary and secondary schools, both public and private should be provided with a minimum of two (2)  Blood Pressure Measuring Equipment by the State Ministries of Education. The State Ministries should determine the number of such equipment required and forward same to the Federal Ministry of Education not later than September 1, 2014. Ministry of Education will liaise with the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure that appropriate equipment are procured,” he added.

Summer schools closed
“All summer classes currently being conducted by some private schools should be suspended with immediate effect until October 13, 2014.
“All private primary and secondary schools must comply with the directives given under these preventive measures. State governments are called upon to support their Ministries of Education with all necessary funds to ensure effective implementation of these preventive measures”, Shekarau said.
He warned that any private or public school that failed to comply with the directives would be sanctioned.
“Our concern is for the children and we would go to any length to ensure both private and public schools comply. You can imagine if a child is infected in a boarding school of say about 600 children, it would be very dangerous. We are not saying there is Ebola in all states of the Federation but we are putting some preventive measures in place.”
He also advised all tertiary institutions to suspend exchange of staff and students programmes, visits and major international seminars and workshops until further notice. They are also to monitor the movement of foreign students in their campuses. They are to liaise with appropriate government health institutions to organize and ensure effective sensitization programme for all their teaching and non-teaching staff.”

Adedavoh’s sister not positive — FG, LASG
Also, yesterday, cheering news came from both the Federal Government and Lagos State Governments as both have cleared the air over the health status of a sister to the late Dr. Stella, Ameyo Adadevoh.
Briefing the press in Abuja on the update of the EVD in the country, Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, debunked rumours that a sister to the late Adadevoh tested positive to the virus.
Corroborating the minister in Lagos, State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who raised alarm over false stories being disseminated via social media, lamented that such rumours being circulated have been a critical and pervading challenge to the fight against the virus.
Idris said:  “These rumours have the capacity to undermine the efforts being made to contain and manage the outbreak as those who ought to present themselves for treatment may get discouraged, malign government in the face of residents and fuel stigmatisation of individuals and businesses.
“I do not want to mention names because that is part of what we are told not to do but I must say that the report on the woman is false. She was discharged yesterday (Monday) as negative.”
We have contained Ebola – Chukwu
Thirty eight days after importation of the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, into the country by the late American-Liberian, Mr. Patrick Sawyer, the threat of the disease may have been contained, following the survival of eight of the victims, seven of who have been discharged; screening of a total of 321 persons, even as additional 10 contacts were listed Monday in Lagos.
Disclosing this in Abuja, the Health Minister said two more patients with the Ebola virus disease have been discharged from the Isolation Ward in Lagos State, bringing to seven the number of patients that have been treated and declared free from the virus in the country even as the number of deaths from the killer disease scourge still remains five, including the index case, Patrick Sawyer.
Chukwu added that the nation has had 13 cases of EVD including the index case.
“Of these 13, five including the index case unfortunately did not survive the disease and are now late.
However, seven of the infected persons were successfully managed at the isolation ward in Lagos and have been discharged.
“Two of the treated patients, a male doctor and a female nurse were discharged yesterday, both of them primary contacts of Mr. Patrick Sawyer, having satisfied the criteria for discharge.
“As I speak to you, Nigeria has only one confirmed case of EVD, a secondary contact of Mr Patrick Sawyer. This is an indication that, thus far, Nigeria has contained the disease outbreak.
“I wish to reassure Nigerians and indeed the global community that the government shall remain vigilant and will not relent as government continues to work with her partners to ensure that the disease is kept out of the country,” the Minister added.
Besides, the minister informed that 129 persons had been freed from surveillance, having passed through the 21 days incubation period for the virus without testing positive. Similarly, 128 persons are still on the radar of government for the virus, the minister stated.
“All those who are under our surveillance, only one person is symptomatic; we are investigating, the result is not out. All others are not symptomatic,” the Minister stated.
Speaking further, Dr Idris explained that the recovery of seven confirmed cases in the state have buttressed that Ebola infection is not a death sentence.
“The suspected case is awaiting confirmatory test result to inform the next line of action. Currently there are two cases, one confirmed and one suspected in the isolation centre at the facilities in Mainland Hospital, Yaba.”
He disclosed that the seven Ebola-free patients are being re-integrated successfully with their families and communities.
“The common thread amongst the recovered cases is their early presentation for supportive treatment. There is no need to hide friends and relations we suspect have come down with the disease. The earlier they are brought for screening and surveillance, the better the outcome.”
Idris explained that three bodies were cremated and two properly buried after full decontamination of bodies.
Nigeria records 61.5 percent survivors
Nigerian and the world at large yesterday received the cheery news that the country has con
tained the threat of the dreaded EVD following the discharge of seven infected persons out of the 13 confirmed cases. Currently, only one person is at the isolation centre in Lagos and her condition is stable. Two more patients with the Ebola virus disease have been discharged from the isolation ward in Lagos State,
Nigeria lost five persons to the disease including the index (first) case, Mr Patrick Sawyer, the late Liberian-American who brought the disease to Nigeria on July 20, 2014.
With the development, the disease killed 38.5 per cent of those affected in Nigeria. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 90 per cent of those affected die from Ebola.
Through sheer determination and care on the part of government and awareness by the citizenry, Nigeria ensured that only 13 persons out of a population of 167 million were affected and 61.5 per cent of Ebola victims survived the disease. The record is bettered by Uganda, which in 2007 had 149 cases and 37 deaths (25 per cent fatality) and Cote d’ Ivoire that had one case and no death in 1994.

Since the outbreak of the disease in four West African countries — Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria, late December 2013 and this year, the WHO, as of August 22, said that 2615 cases and 1427 deaths (54.57 per cent fatality) have been recorded.

The breakdown of the figures is as follows:
-  Liberia—1082 cases, 624 deaths, 57.67 per cent fatality
-  Sierra Leone—935 cases, 392 deaths, 41.93 per cent fatality
-  Guinea— 607 cases, 406 deaths, 66.87 per cent fatality
-  Nigeria— 13 cases, five deaths, 38.46 per cent fatality.

Nigeria is by far the most populous of these countries with a population of 167 million and yet recorded the least number of cases, an indication of the professional manner the government, health authorities and the citizenry handled the challenge.
The populations of the other countries are:  Uganda (37 million), Cote d Ívoire  (16 million), Guinea (10 million), Sierra Leone (six million) and Liberia (3.5 million), whose total of 73 million is about half of Nigeria’s population.

Don’t stigmatise discharged patients
Imploring all Lagosians not to stigmatise all cases and contacts that have been given a clean bill of health, Idris urged them to facilitate their re- integration into the society.

He cited the American doctor who was recently discharged by Emory Hospital, USA and how he was openly embraced by both the hospital staff and family members, “setting for us an example to follow in the integration process of discharged cases and contacts,” Idris said.
The Commissioner allayed fears of discharged patients coming down with the virus again saying that the chances are almost nil but does not mean that such patients could not be re-infected with another strain of the virus but not the particular virus that late Sawyer imported into the country.

“The process by which cases and indeed contacts are discharged is also in line with best practices, involving reviews by critical members of the Ebola Emergency Operations Centre,” he added.
Further, he pointed out that a contact becomes infective only when symptoms appear-fever being a game changer.
“By and large, only symptomatic contacts are admitted. Asymptomatic contacts are admitted when the index of suspicion that they may be lost to follow up is high.
“Contacts are monitored twice daily for temperature changes and symptoms. On self-admission or evacuation of contacts for conducts of confirmatory test, their homes including areas of common use with co-tenants, offices and relevant general surfaces are decontaminated,” he said.

On other challenges, Idris said that rejection of febrile patients in hospitals without proper assessment may also increase stigma and deter self-reporting.
He explained that not everybody with fever or haemorrhage has come down with EVD.   A situation where these cases are automatically referred to Mainland General Hospital is not good practice.

The commissioner appealed to medical practitioners in both public and private health facilities to commence the management of these cases using universal safety precautions and only refer them if there is an indication to do so.

Why First Consultants Medical centre is  still shut
On when First Consultant Hospital, Obalende, where the first case was treated, will be reopened, Idris said the state government is waiting for directive from the World Health Organisation, WHO, as there will be many decontamination exercises in the facility.
The Commissioner who said already several decontaminations have been done in the place confirmed that it was going to take some time before the facility will be opened.

“I need to get clearance from the Ebola Emergency Operation Centre because they are the one who could give clearance that the hospital is clean and ready for re-opening. It is after that the state government embarks on its own process. Decontamination may not be complete because some of the equipment in the hospital may be discarded, burn some materials and other activities. This is to ensure that the hospital is free of the virus. So it will take some time before the hospital will be reopened, but once we get the approval WHO and EOC the government will do the needful.”

No Ebola-free certificate
Idris said there is need to report every death and obtain Ebola-free documentation to facilitate the transportation of out-bound corpses from the state.
He however, dismissed rumours about Ebola free certificate saying that: “There is nothing like Ebola-free certificate being issued routinely to persons applying for visas in foreign embassies in Nigeria. Clearance certificate are nonetheless issued to contacts that have completed the 21-day maximum incubation period of EVD.”

N1.9 bn not for Ebola fund – Chukwu
Meanwhile, the Health Minister said that the N1.9 billion earlier approved by President Goodluck Jonathan, at the time he declared emergency of over the disease, widely believed to be used for containing the virus, is for the improvement of the nation’s general health systems.
“We did say that the N1.9billion that the President approved was for the Federal Ministry of Health; those ones that the Federal Ministry of Health should champion. That fund was provided based on the budget that the Federal Ministry of Health submitted to Mr. President. It was not termed an Ebola fund.”

“I repeat, because now I hear that in some places, even village heads are asking for their own share. Nigeria is always thinking of sharing money. It is money for the Federal Ministry of Health to use in working. They are going to use it to procure more vehicles; which have already been ordered.
“They are going to use it to procure more personal protective equipment which has already been ordered. They are going to use it to provide isolation tents, which again have been ordered, including drugs which will be used to support the patients. It is a budget for the Federal Ministry of Health and its agencies as submitted by the Federal Ministry of Health to Mr. President.

“What I am saying is that there will still be other funds that will still be released in various ways depending on what any of the cognate agencies is requesting from Mr. President that must be done.
“Now, in the case of Lagos State, after the President met with all Governors, together with their Commissioners for Health, it was clear, even from the statement made by the Governor of Lagos State, that Lagos State is also under pressure because many of the workers we are using are from Lagos State. We can’t shortly go and start recruiting people. We work with the state. It is just that in every epidemic, the Federal Government with the Minister of Health in the front takes control of epidemics. It is not a state government matter.

“But, we use state personnel as well and local government personnel; we used everybody, our partners are part of it. But, the leader of the team is the Minister of Health.
“So, Lagos State government has been spending money. They pay salary to staff; they’ve been recruiting more staff. They give these staff incentives. They provided the isolation wards. But, we led and decided who should work there. The Minister of Health created the teams that are working,” Chukwu argued.
Earlier, National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, had donated one million Naira to help contain the virus.

He said: “This is the first time in the history of our country that our elected and appointed people and leaders have risen to the great challenge we are facing. I want to commend the health workers for the risk they have taken, their commitment, and their dedication to their duties in assisting the entire populace to completely be ready for this challenge.

“There is no way that the Federal Government alone can be left alone to face the burden of the Ebola challenge. It is my well-considered opinion that citizens of this country, corporate organizations should try and make their own contributions to help in the awareness for people to understand what the challenges we are facing with this Ebola scourge,” he added.
Ogun free of Ebola — Soyinka
In a related development, the Ogun State Government   has refuted a report making the rounds that the state had recorded cases of Ebola Virus at Imeko-Afon Local Government Area.
Describing the report as false and unfounded, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, remarked that the state is yet to record any case of Ebola virus to date. Speaking in Abeokuta, Soyinka called for calm and urged the people to adopt hygienic steps provided by the Ministry of Health, as government was taking necessary steps to prevent the disease.
“The State government has increased the number of health workers who are well trained on how to restrain movement of foreigners into the state, while some health workers are presently undergoing training on how to curb the spread of the disease,” Soyinka said.
Members of the public are directed to report persons showing symptoms of Ebola virus to the Ministry of Health or call toll free  09099140121, 09091140122 and 09021715984.
Youths protest location of quarantine centre
Hundreds of youths in Emohua Local Government have protested the location of Ebola quarantine centre in the community.
The protesting youths who said there was  no case of Ebola in the state yet, expressed fear the disease could spread if the community was retained as a quarantine centre.
Speaking on the incident, the State Commissioner of Health, Dr Sampson Parker, allyed their fears, saying the quarantine centre would not create any problem.
Parker, who confirmed arrival of a foreign medical team from the Elizabeth Griffin Research Foundation, USA in Port Harcourt said the team would train medical personnel and doctors in the state on how to manage Ebola cases.
“They are to be trained on how to handle Ebola Virus Disease, if it comes into Rivers State. It is a pre-preparedness training against Ebola.
“The health workers involved are not only to be drawn from the Rivers State government, but from all facilities, private hospitals, multi-nationals, Police, the Armed Forces, every one that has something to do with health care; every facility, every establishment that has something to do with health care is represented here.
Ebola fight gets $150 million from Development Bank
In a related development, the African Development Bank will prepare an additional $150 million in funding for nations stricken by the Ebola virus as the WHO plans to seek more resources and money to fight the outbreak.

The worst-affected countries may see 1 percentage point to 1.5 percentage points shaved off economic growth because of the disease, the bank’s president, Donald Kaberuka, stated in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The money will be distributed in loans and grants to bolster epidemic preparedness and response, the WHO said. The bank previously pledged $60 million to help the countries fight Ebola.

More than $430 million will be needed to bring the worst Ebola outbreak on record under control, according to a draft document laying out the WHO’s battle strategy. The sum now being sought is six times more than the $71 million the WHO suggested was needed in a plan published less than a month ago.
“The response at the beginning wasn’t robust enough,” David Heymann, a professor of infectious diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine who worked on the first recorded Ebola outbreak in 1976. “It’s a step forward that they’ve made the plans and I’m glad they’re emphasizing rapid containment as a start.”

Ebola has killed 1,427 people in Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria since December. The WHO plan sets a goal of reversing the trend in new cases within two months, and stopping all transmission in six to nine months. It requires funding by governments, development banks, the private sector and in-kind contributions, according to the document obtained by Bloomberg News.
More than half the cost will be needed for the treatment, isolation and referral centers that are bearing the brunt of the epidemic, according to the WHO plan.

19 yr old rapes chicken to death in Ondo, says a spirit directed him to do so

A 19 year old welder apprentice was caught yesterday August 19th after having sex with a chicken at the Continental area of Akure, the Ondo state capital.

According to reports by Vanguard, the boy was discovered to have committed the act after the owner of the chicken, Mrs Stella Akintola, who is the boy's neighbor and reared chickens in the compound, heard her chickens making noise inside their pen and decided to go and find out why they were restless. Continue...


When she got to her hen pen, the young man surfaced from a corner and said he had stomach upset and was on his way out of the compound toilet. Mrs Akintola not suspecting anything then moved to use the compound toilet where she discovered one of her chickens lying dead in the toilet.

When she tried to raise an alarm, the young man quickly appealed to her not to shout confessing that he was responsible for the chickens death and promised to replace the dead chicken. However when she examined the chicken with some of her neighbors, they discovered that the young man had actually had sex with the chicken until it died.

His neighbours said it wasn't his first time, that he'd been driven out of his village, Afo in Ose council area of the state after being caught having sex with a goat. He moved out of the village to stay with his brother in Akure where he committed the same act.

When interrogated, the suspect said a spirit actually directed him to commit the crime.
"I was already sleeping when a spirit just came upon me and directed me to go to the back of the building. I did not know what I was doing again until when I discovered that I had slept with the hen.” he said

Nicki Minaj's Video for 'Anaconda' Is Finally Here (Watch and Download Nicki Minaj - Anaconda Video)

At last—ANACONDA IS HERE.
After weeks of teasers, rumors, memes, concern trolling, and more teasers, the video for Nicki Minaj's 'Anacoda' made its debut on her Vevo channel at midnight. Some have had a mixed reaction to the song but it's selling really well. We'll probably have a longer take on the video later, but for now, watch it and let me know what you think.

HOW YOU CAN SURVIVE EBOLA

Following news of survival of some of the health workers who contracted Ebola virus from Patrick Sawyer, Experts have said that some people are able to survive the disease due to the workings of their immune system. In fact according to research, some people have immune systems that will prevent the disease altogether.


“Doctors don’t know for certain who will survive Ebola, and there is no specific treatment or cure for the disease. But studies suggest there are some biological markers linked with a higher chance of surviving Ebola,” the experts say.

In the view of Derek Gatherer, a Bioinformatics researcher at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom, who studies viral genetics and evolution, “when a person becomes infected with Ebola, the virus depletes the body’s immune cells, which defend against infection.

“In particular, the Ebola virus depletes immune cells called CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes, which are crucial to the function of the immune system”, Gatherer noted, arguing that “if a person’s immune system can stand up to this initial attack — meaning their immune cells are not as depleted in the first stages of infection — then they are more likely to survive the disease.

“The patients that survive it best are the ones who don’t get such a bad immune deficiency. But if the body is not able to fend off this attack, then the immune system becomes less able to regulate itself”, Gatherer said.

Another marker linked with people’s ability to survive Ebola is a gene called human leukocyte antigen-B, which makes a protein that is important in the immune system. A 2007 study found that people with certain versions of this gene, called B*07 and B*14, were more likely to survive Ebola, while people with other versions, called B*67 and B*15, were more likely to die.

Some people may be resistant to Ebola infection entirely, if they have a mutation in a gene called NPC1. Studies show that, when researchers take cells from people with the NPC1 mutation and try to infect them with Ebola in a laboratory dish, these cells are resistant to the virus.

Gatherer said in European populations, about 1 in 300 to 1 in 400 people has this mutation.

“But in some populations, this mutation is more common: in Nova Scotia, between 10 and 26 per cent of people have this mutation. But the frequency of this mutation in African populations is not known,” he said.

Also giving an insight, Lagos state Governor Babatunde Fashola remarked: “This is a virus that will run a maximum of 21 days. What we must do is people who show some signs of illness should come in very early so that we can continue to hydrate them, give electrolyte balance so that their nervous system do not go into shock and wherever it is necessary to provide antibiotics for patients; and their body can fight the virus which

Ebola: First Nigerian Patient Discharged From Hospital

The Minister of Health yesterday said that the first Nigerian Ebola patient has been discharged from hospital after the patient was declared fit and free from the virus.

The minister also announced that the drug, Nano Silva, which was thought could be used to treat Ebola patients in Nigeria, was said not to have met the requirements of the National Health Research ethics code.

TONTO DIKEH' GETS A G-WAGON WORTH N25M, N5MILLION ROLEX FOR HER BIRTHDAY (SEE PHOTOS)

Lucky Tonto Dikeh Her boo who she now refers to as Mr X,bought her a G-Wagon worth about N25m..She calls it her best gift and says it is being shipped into the country.Her boo also gave her the big faced rolex watch..That's 5 million or more ..She also got a massive one of a kind cake from her stylist Swanky Jerry..

The Abia yellow syndrome

THERE is a yellow rainbow across the skyline of Abia State. There is a yellow syndrome pervading the state. The colour, yellow, is ubiquitous in all nooks and crannies and has transformed into a mental construct. There is yellow everywhere. Governor Theodore Orji has painted Abia yellow with his Youth Empowerment Programme.
For a visitor to Abia, the sea of yellow vehicles on the roads, all bearing the emblem of state and signaling the spirit of magnanimity of the leader, is a sight to behold. They vehicles come in a variety of form, model, brand and make. They also come in classes. There are the long caravans, the small taxis, the mini-buses that do the long inter-state journeys, the tricycles and the posh trucks of class and comfort. They all bear tell-tales of the glories of Abia and speak about a government’s effort to re-construct the society by empowering the people.
Indeed, the Abia Youth Empowerment Programme is a dynamic apparatus of the Ochendo administration geared towards reining in the youth and empowering them with a means of livelihood. It is a welfarist policy and one of the most successful policy thrust of the government. Orji has deployed this process to engage and harness the potentials of the youths of Abia and thereby focus their minds towards meaningful endeavour. Borne out of a bitter experience of a generational youth deviance which manifested in the regime of criminality by the Abia youths, with the vice of kidnapping almost grounding the state, the empowerment programme is an effort at social reconstruction and capacity building. The resultant effect is the prevailing social stability in the state.
One key mechanism in the empowerment scheme is the donation of free vehicles to jobless youths to enable them engage in transport business. All vehicles under this platform are painted in yellow with the emblem of state hanging on the roof. With the countless number of such vehicles on Abia cities and communities, the project has turned Abia into a yellow state with a yellow syndrome.
Today, the Abia yellow automobiles have transformed into a symbol. In a quite significant manner, they speak of the passion of the leader for the large and sensitive segment of the society – the youth. It has become a very dynamic vehicle for driving and delivering democracy dividend in Abia. On Monday, July 21, Ochendo, in his well-honed manner, painted the Headquarters of the Bende Local Government yellow. It was a day for the three local governments of Arochukwu, Ohafia and Bende. Lined up in the open field and in waiting for the arrival of the governor were over 200 brand new vehicles, all painted in yellow, which were later distributed to deserving youths free of charge. Thirteen other beneficiaries received N2 million each as empowerment grant to enable them   groom small-scale businesses.
By the time he mounted the rostrum to speak, Ochendo went down memory lane and recalled the state’s recent history. There was a time when youths in the state went berserk and took to criminality. This experience, according to him, was what inspired the vision of the Abia Youth Empowerment Programme. “In my campaign, I promised the youths of Abia that I will initiate a different form of empowerment from what they used to know, as well as initiate the political inclusion of the youths of Abia if I am returned to power for a second term as the governor,” the governor declared.
The Ochendo’s administration is investing huge sums of money and resources in running and maintaining the empowerment programme. This vision has seen the governor working in cooperation with his first son, Chinedu and the First Lady in a tripartite arrangement that has seen the first lady running a large-scale free training programme in her Skill Aquisition Centre and other free humanitarian services under her pet project, The Hannah May Foundation- a pet project of Her Excellency, for rendering help and selfless support to all vulnerable groups in the society. The foundation had in the past distributed wheel chairs, artificial limbs, foodstuff and other consumables; and also built and furnished bungalows for some homeless families and widows. The Hannah May Foundation has worked in tandem with the Governor in the responsibility of empowering women and youth in Abia State, with a vision and mission to show love by making life meaningful.
The Governor’s son, Chinedu alias Ikuku, has become a charismatic icon of the youths by virtue of his Youth Foundation programme which he runs through his 14-man committee. Her Excellency’s Skill Acquizition Centre has to date trained over 850 youths in a six months intensive programme in tailoring, sewing, fashion designing, fish farming, interior decoration, photography, GSM operations, etc.
The yellow train of the youth empowerment programme has been moving through the three zones of the state. The car-dashing scheme was initiated in Aba last year to the jubilation of the people. It was the first in the history of the state. But, in their usual fashion, the critics of the state made a mince meal of it. Today, the Governor remembers the scenario vividly: “When I commenced the empowerment of our youths in Aba North and South by rewarding our youths with brand new vehicles, buses, Keke Napep and other valuable items – our political opponents in their blind criticism accused us of empowering urchins and the dregs of the society – they in fact derided us”. But, history has vindicated Ochendo for the yellow vision is one of the most admired programmes of the state by the people.
Indeed, the Abia Yellow Syndrome stands today as a symbol of a people-oriented programme directed towards uplifting the common man.
It is a development mechanism that follows the bottom-top approach of developmental index. This mechanism focuses on the people’s immediate needs.
Today, in Abia, the yellow colour has transformed into the proverbial silver lining on the sky, signifying a new hope, a new life. It resonates very loudly with the message of the Ochendo Promise – the promise of liberation and of a new beginning. The yellow colour, in semiotic forms, encapsulates the ideology of the liberation of a people and a revolution that has seen to the building of a new Abia of peace, harmony and security.