LIBERIAN WOMAN FOUND HANGING IN LAGOS

The domino effect of Patrick Sawyer's unfortunate sojourn into Nigerian soil still echoes into today, as we read from the PUNCH newspaper that a Liberian woman (known simply as 'Kate') committed suicide in Isheri-Oke over the stigmatization that greeted her.

The #PUNCH newspaper reports below:

While they said that the woman had been sickly for some time, the residents said she did not appear to have any problem with anyone in the community.

But after the outbreak of the Ebola disease that was brought to Nigeria by a Liberian diplomat, Patrick Sawyer, some of the people in the area opted not to have anything to do with her.

One of the residents who pleaded anonymity said, “We see her in this neighbourhood every day. She always looked sick but people stopped selling to her after the Ebola outbreak. It could be because she was Liberian and looked sickly. This might have frustrated her.”

Another resident who spoke to our correspondent after his request for anonymity was granted said, “She attended a church in the area and her church members still saw her yesterday. I used to see her every day in the dress she died in. She was sick and people in this area had avoided her, especially after the Ebola outbreak.”


 Meanwhile, while we cannot confirm this, a blog claims that the woman committed suicide because she tested positive for the HIV virus. "...she recently went to an hospital where some tests were carried out on her, and it revealed she was HIV positive. She has been finding it difficult to live after that, but I never knew she would commit suicide," the blog says.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SET TO BAN POMO

Federal Government may have concluded plans to ban sale and widespread consumption of hides and skins(Pomo)which is a delicacy to most Nigerians. This indication emerged Tuesday  when the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina called for competent regulations that would check the consumption and sale of the product.

 

He said this at the 3rd joint anniversary of Animal Science Association of Nigeria (ASAN) and Nigeria Institute of Animal Science held at the University of Ibadan. If this is achieved, he noted that livestock farmers would stand good chances of making high dollar return if the hides and skins are tanned into leather. The minister who was represented at the occasion by the Director, Animal Production and Husbandry in the Ministry, Dr. Ademola Raji, said, ”I also commend NIAS for its advocacy and public enlightenment programs on Radio and Television that promote value addition in Livestock, as against sale and consumption of primary products alone, particularly with the issue of curtailing the widespread consumption of hides and skins as Kpomo which ought to be tanned into leather for a very high dollar return to the farmer and Tanneries. I expect that competent regulations acceptable by all stakeholders will be developed so as to give credibility that our set standards for food safety are being implemented which will boost value addition.” The theme of the programme was entitled, “Value Addition in the Nigerian Livestock Industry: A strategy for Economic Growth and Stakeholders Empowerment”. The minister stressed that FG would continue to drive its Agricultural Transformation Agenda with increased vigour in all its ramifications, pleading for continuous support and cooperation of all stakeholders in the livestock sector to deliver the benefits. He said,”I am confident that the satisfactory production levels achieved in the poultry and swine segments will soon stretch to reach other commodities such as beef, dairy, micro livestock and animal by products such as leather, bones, hides and skins.

The drive to turn Agriculture into business and not merely a way of life is now in full gear, with the use of mobile phones and e- wallet for input distribution directly to farmers, farmer’s registration with biometric identity cards and the Growth Enhancement Support scheme.

We have all seen the revolution in Rice production and processing; in cassava, sorghum and cotton that have increased output per hectare, through the supply of high quality raw materials to revive industries that have hitherto closed down.” Food production, he said, rose in 2013 by 8 million metric tonnes over 2012 figures which represents over 70% growth of the target set for 2015 by Government. “In 2012, 264,000 hectares of dry season paddy rice cultivated in the Northern states alone yielded 1.1 million metric tonnes.” he added.

Speaking earlier, NIAS President, Professor Placid Njoku, applauded the Federal government for tackling the deadly Ebola virus disease, noting that the institute would encourage its members to undertake visionary studies aimed at producing popular bush meat in the country in ”intensive ,hygienic and Ebola disease free environment.”

SCHOOLS RESUMPTION DATE CHANGED

 

The Federal Government has directed all public, private primary and secondary schools to reopen on Monday, September 22, 2014.

Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, who said this on Friday in Abuja while briefing newsmen after an emergency meeting with state Commissioners of Education, stated that preliminary measures put in place to curb spread of the Ebola Virus Disease is still intact.

Shekarau said that any State Ministry of Education that has not appointed designated Desk Officers on Ebola information should do so urgently before the resumption date.

He urged state governments to support their state Ministries of Education with all necessary funds to ensure effective implementation of the preventive measures.

He said, “We have now agreed that Primary and Secondary both pubic and private will reopen and begin formal classes on Monday, 22 September 2014. While this is in place we have decided to continue the preventive measure.

“All primary and secondary schools, both public and private should be provided with a minimum of two blood pressure measuring equipment by the Ministries of Education. The state ministries should determine the number of such equipment required and forward same to the Federal Ministry of Education.

“The Federal Ministry of Education will liaise with the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure that appropriate equipment is procured. Those states that have not complied with this agreement should please do so.

“State governments are called upon to support their state Ministries of Education with all necessary funds to ensure effective implementation of these preventive measures. Regular washing of the hands is part of the preventive measures. There must be steady supply of water in schools. All states should ensure that this is put in place as the schools reopen.”

Shekarau urged all state Ministries of Education to establish a working and monitoring team for effective supervision of school activities before and after opening of schools.

According to him, each state Ministry of Education should appoint a designated Desk Officer who should also receive appropriate training and who must report on daily basis to the 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,” he added.

The meeting was also attended by senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Health.

INTRODUCING NATURAL GLAMOUR ONLINE BEAUTY STORE

 

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BLESSING OKAGBARE WINS GOLD AT THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES

25 year old Nigerian, Blessing Okagbare raced to victory in the final of the women’s 100 metres in the Commonwealth Games at a record time of 10.85 secs.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN MEETS CHIBOK ABDUCTED GIRLS' PARENTS

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday in Abuja reassured the Chibok community that his Administration is doing everything humanly possible to rescue the over 200 girls abducted from a college there in April and return them safely to their parents.  Speaking at a meeting in the Presidential Villa with parents of the abducted girls, some of the girls who escaped from their abductors and leaders of the community, President Jonathan appealed for their patience, understanding and cooperation.“Anyone who gives you the impression that we are aloof and that we are not doing what we are supposed to do to get the girls out is not being truthful. “Our commitment is not just to get the girls out, it is also to rout Boko Haram completely from Nigeria. But we are very, very mindful of the safety of the girls. We want to return them all alive to their parents. If they are killed in any rescue effort, then we have achieved nothing,” President Jonathan told the parents and community leaders at the meeting which was also attended by Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State and the Senate President, Senator David Mark. The President said that although he was yet to visit Chibok in the aftermath of the abductions, his heart was constantly with its traumatized parents and people, and his desire was to visit them when their daughters have been freed and they can receive him with smiling faces of joy, rather than with tears of anguish. “Our duty now is to take all relevant steps to recover our girls alive and our primary interest is getting them out as safely as possible. I will not want to say much, but we are doing everything humanly possible to get the girls out. “This not the time for talking much. This is the time for action. We will get to the time that we will tell stories. We will get to the time that we will celebrate and I assure you that, by God’s grace, that time will come soon,” President Jonathan told them. Responding to appeals from the community leaders for more help in overcoming some of the challenges imposed on Chibok and neighbouring communities by the Boko Haram insurgency, the President said that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Federal Medical Agencies will intensify their efforts to provide them with additional relief aid and assistance. He also assured them that Chibok and other communities in the three North-Eastern States most affected by the Boko Haram insurgency will be the first beneficiaries of the Victims’ Support Fund, the Presidential Initiative for the North-East, the Safe Schools Initiative and other developmental programmes which the Federal Government is evolving to address the damage, losses, setbacks, economic and social dislocations occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgency. “We solicit your maximum cooperation. Let us work together. Evil can never overcome good. We will surely overcome Boko Haram,” he told them. In his remarks at the meeting, Governor Shettima called for more sobriety, reflection and unity of purpose in the fight against terrorism in the country. He pledged that his state will give President Jonathan the fullest possible support for his efforts to address the problems caused by terrorism and the Boko Haram insurgency. Dr Pogu Bitrus presented the Chibok community’s address to the President. Other speakers at the meeting included a district head, Mr Zannamadu Usman, a member of the Borno State House of Assembly, Hon. Aminu Foni Chibok, parents of the abducted girls and three of the girls who escaped from their captors, Godia Simon, Dorcas Musa and Joy Bishara. National Security Chiefs, Ministers and other senior government officials were also present at the meeting.

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN MEETS MALALA YOUSAFZAI ( PAKISTAN ACTIVIST) IN ABUJA

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan met with Pakistan girls’ education activist Malala Yousafzai  at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to discuss the school girls abducted in the Chibok area of Borno by Islamist militant sect Boko Haram. President Jonathan assured Malala that the girls will be brought back alive. He also presented Malala with a souvenir for her visit. At the press conference, Presidential spokesperson Reuben Abati, as well as Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Minister of State Foreign Affairs Viola Onwuliri.

BOMB BLAST IN JOS

At 2:55pm today, Tuesday, May 20th, two  bombs exploded in  the central area of Jos, Plateau State.The explosions occurred around at Ahmadu Bello Way where the GSM market is located.

IKOYI #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS RALLY TOMORROW