FG to Take over Expansion of Lagos-Badagry Road

23 Sep 2014
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The federal government is set to take over the reconstruction and expansion of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, said yesterday.
Onolememen said this in Lagos during a slide presentation of work on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway by Julius Berger Plc.
The presentation took place at the company’s office complex in Ijora.
Onolememen, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said a new project design that involved five other ECOWAS member-countries was being undertaken.
He gave the assurance that the project would soon be implemented.
The minister said a regional effort would be the best way to handle the road project.
He said he was the Chairman of a five-member Country Project Steering Committee on the project.
“We will definitely get into the construction stage; at that time, all the challenges the Lagos State Government is having on that road will be a thing of the past because we will construct that road,“ he said.
The minister directed Julius Berger to complete rehabilitation of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway in the next eight weeks.
“Take remedial works into consideration; three months is too far and would be chaotic, considering the ember months; maybe, you should look for ways to get less construction time.
“Let us see if we can terminate the emergency works by November,“ he said.
While inspecting the road, the minister said that rigid pavement was being used to reconstruct the road to cater for new load capacity which was not envisaged when the road was built in the 1970s.
He said the federal government decided to take drastic measures to rehabilitate the road due to public outcry, following perennial gridlock on the road in June and July.
He said the completion of a trailer park in Lagos was important as it would accommodate about 500 trucks and decongest the highway.
“Given the clemency of weather, Julius Berger should be able to finish emergency repairs in another eight weeks.
“The new design takes cognizance of heavy traffic.
“Rigid pavement would be used to fight the menace of surface and underground water prevalence on the road,“ he said.
The Lagos State Government embarked on expansion of the Lagos-Badagry Road from four to 10 lanes on April, 2009.
Construction of a light rail line and a Bus Rapid Transit corridor is part of the project, to enhance tourism and economic activities on this axis.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fg-to-take-over-expansion-of-lagos-badagry-road/189698/

Whose report do we believe?

He lamented that: “What is very worrying and discouraging in the whole scenario, is the attitude of the military whom we mortgage and depend on for security. In the face of these attacks, they flee and ask civilians to do the same. There is no doubt that the morale of the security men and women is at its lowest ebb in the North-eastern part of Nigeria.”

25 Towns under the Control of Boko Haram, Says Catholic Church
18 Sep 2014

By Michael Olugbode

The Catholic church yesterday gave a list of 25 towns in three North-eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, presently under the control of the outlawed terrorist group, Boko Haram.

The towns include: Damboa, Buni Yadi, Madagali, Gwoza, Gujba, Gulak, Bama, Gulani, Shuwa, Marte, Kukawa, Michika, Dikwa, Bularafa, Bazza, Gamboru Ngalla and Buni Gari.

Others are Banki, Bara, Pulka, Bumsa, Ashgashiya, Taltaba, Limankara and Njibulwa.

“It may interest you to know the towns that are being controlled conveniently by the Boko Haram. Where their flags are flying in Borno, Yobe States and parts of Adamawa State that make up the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri. Apart from Sambisa which is their main Camp and many more camps which are yet to be touched by the Nigerian troops.

He added that: “Right now we have close to 20 priests taking refuge in Yola.
The church cried out saying that Maiduguri, the Borno State capital “is sitting on a keg of gun powder, with the fall of Bama which is about 71 kilometres away and Konduga, the next major town is Maiduguri.

“There are conflicting reports about Bama as to whether it is in the hands of the terrorists. But the number of civilians that have migrated into Maiduguri on foot from Bama, Kawuri and Konduga is suggestive that the terrorists have an upper hand in the fight.

“We are faced with a huge humanitarian crisis; people are sleeping on the streets in Maiduguri, despite the seven or more camps within the city for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The state government is doing its bit to provide for them but the number is overwhelming and the resources are limited.”

While giving a situation report and update of the activities of the Boko Haram sect in the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri over the last one month, the Archbishop of the Diocese, Oliver Dashe Doeme, said: “The last one month has seen the intensification and aggressive devastation of the Boko Haram activities in northern, central and southern parts of the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri. The brutality and callousness with which people are killed can only be compared to that of the ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Many of our people are being forced out of their ancestral homes, villages and towns.

“Right now, thousands are living in caves on the mountains, some in the forest; the few who were able to escape are being absorbed by friends and relatives in Maiduguri, Mubi and Yola. Thousands have managed to escape into Cameroun and are living under very difficult conditions of lack of food, shelter and medication.”

He lamented that: “What is very worrying and discouraging in the whole scenario, is the attitude of the military whom we mortgage and depend on for security. In the face of these attacks, they flee and ask civilians to do the same. There is no doubt that the morale of the security men and women is at its lowest ebb in the North-eastern part of Nigeria.”

Doeme said: “The level of sophistication and capabilities that these terrorists have attained within five years is very revealing and scary. The mastery and tact with which they fight is unequalled by our military. Their resilience can be compared to that of trained Marines. That is why they are able to over-run towns and villages almost unchallenged. They can boast of armoured tanks and armoured personnel carrier (APC), rocket launchers, anti aircraft and anti tank destroyers, sub-machine guns, new and latest guns AK 47 and an inexhaustible boxes of ammunitions and bullets.”

He added: “While I refused to believe a single narration of this reality because both Christians and Muslims are being affected, both Christians and Muslims have been killed; both Christians and Muslims have been driven out of their ancestral homes, villages and towns, Christians and Muslims have been internally displaced and are refuges in their own home state. There is still a religious under-tone to this whole mess.

“We might shy away from it, we may be silent and unable to speak up or speak out now against the plan to Islamize the North-east and eventually Nigeria. But what we are witnessing in Northern Adamawa is a clear confirmation and the unfolding of this agenda. But I am speaking as a leader and shepherd of the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri and how much destruction and devastation we have seen and are still going through.”

He lambasted government, stressing that: “The near inaction of the government, the lukewarm attitude and the silence of the government is very disturbing. There is a total disconnection between what our so called leaders in Abuja report in the media and the reality on ground. We wish they have the courage to fly into these areas and see things for themselves.

“Our people are dying every day and in most cases with no one to bury them decently, they are left to rot; their homes and properties looted; they have become slaves and prisoners in their fatherland, here is a government that cannot safe guard the lives of its citizens and indeed life has become so cheap that it can be wasted any moment. We used to think that salt is the cheapest commodity in the market, well, life is cheaper now especially in the North-eastern part of Nigeria.”

The Archbishop added: “We are faced with a huge humanitarian crisis; people are sleeping on the streets in Maiduguri, despite the seven or more camps within the city for the IDPs. The state government is doing her bit to provide for them but the number is overwhelming and the resources are limited.”

He decried: “We are again witnessing a mass exodus of our brothers and sisters from the East, South and West. Many people are relocating to other parts of Nigeria; even the soldiers are moving their families out of the barracks to safer towns and cities in Nigeria.

“This is our current situation in the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri. I may not know much about the politics and agenda of Boko Haram, those behind it, the sponsors and sympathizers.”

One thing I know for sure that they are human beings and not spirits, a local terrorist group with an International face and connection.”

He gave a verdict: “Does the government have all the facts and intelligence about this group, YES but the government and our political leaders lack the will to act in the interests of her citizens perhaps because of the political ambitions. As a Nation we are almost loosing this battle because it is spinning out of control. The earlier we come together as Nigerians forgetting our religious, ethnic, regional, cultural and ideological differences to face this menace the better for us. We are sinking fast in the quick sand, let us swallow our empty pride as Nigerians and ask for International assistance in tackling this problem. After all, if we have been assisting other countries and nations restore peace and order why do we feel that it is humiliating to ask for help now that our house is on fire.”

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/25-towns-under-the-control-of-boko-haram-says-catholic-church/189292/

This is the 3rd story in two weeks that I will read raising the specter of using the constitutional provision of war in any part of the nation being sufficient grounds to postpone due elections by six months at each instance. Looks very much like the waters are being tested.

CSOs Reject Calls to Postpone Elections Because of Insecurity

Mark dissociates himself from report on postponement of elections

By Tobi Soniyi and Omololu Ogunmade

Members of civil society organisations (CSO) in the country yesterday in Abuja rejected the call to postpone the 2015 general election on security or any other grounds.

On Tuesday, Senate President, Senator David Mark, while speaking on a motion titled: ‘Threat to National Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of Nigeria by Insurgents,’ said thus: “There is no question of elections, it is not even on the table now. We are in a state of war.”

In his contribution to the debate on the said motion, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu also expressed fear that the 2015 general election might suffer serious problems because of the prevailing security problems.

He argued that some provisions of the constitution were clear that if the nation was at war, the issue of election could be jettisoned.

But rising from a meeting where they assessed INEC’s preparation for Adamawa governorship by election, the CSOs who met under the aegis of Election Situation Room, said the government must accept the fact that it had failed in its duty of protecting lives and properties.

The Chief Executive of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Mr. Clement Nwankwo who spoke on behalf of other organisations, said to postpone the elections because of security challenges would amount to allowing the government to benefit from its failure.

Meanwhile, but in swift reaction, Mark yesterday distanced himself from the reports claiming that he called for the postponement of 2015 elections during debate on insurgency on Tuesday, saying the report was manufactured by the writer to suit “the whims and caprices of his master.”

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, Mark did not at anytime call for postponement of elections neither will he do so.
The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to the lead story of the Daily Trust of Wednesday, September 17, 2014, where in the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, was quoted to have said 2015 election not on the table.

For the avoidance of doubts, the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, made the following remarks in closing the Senate debate on the motion titled: ‘Threat to National Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of Nigeria by Insurgents.’

He said: “At this stage, all of us are involved whether you are in uniform or out of uniform and we have to find a solution to it (Boko Haram). We should back the military, mobilise as much as we can and bring all our war resources and efforts together so that we can prosecute this war. There is no way in which we can say that this (Boko Haram) is exclusively for one section of the country.
Unfortunately, we are not satisfied with the way the war has been prosecuted so far. We want a better strategy and precise statement that will give direction on how we are going to prosecute this war and end it as quickly as possible. It is not a question of election because election is not even on the table now. I would want us in the process of looking at the prayers (of the motion) take those that will assist us to prosecute this war. I agree with all of you that we are in the state of war and what is happening now is a challenge even to our legitimacy in this chamber.’”

“From the foregoing, it is clear that Senator Mark did not call and will never call for the postponement of the 2015 general elections. Rather, he emphasised the danger which Boko Haram portends to our nation and only explained that the issue before the Senate now was not election matters but how to end the Boko Haram war against Nigerians. Mark’s position, which is unequivocal, is that we must as a people stand together to fight Boko Haram and return our nation to the path of peace and unity.

“It is curious and strange that among the arrays of national newspapers, only Turaki A. Hassan of the Daily Trust manufactured his own story to suit the whims and caprices of his masters. We challenge Turaki to produce the verbatim recording of the remarks he ascribed to Senator Mark. It is imperative to make this clarification before readers take away erroneous impression which this reporter has created.”

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/csos-reject-calls-to-postpone-elections-because-of-insecurity/189282/

I thought Apari Dokubo still said at the weekend that the whole Chibok girls saga was a scam? So WAEC is now releasing results for ghost girls?

Chibok girls WASSCE result ready, says Minister

SEPTEMBER 16, 2014 BY JOHN AMEH 12 COMMENTS

The Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, said on Monday that the May/June 2014 West African Senior School Certificate Examination results of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls were ready.

The over 200 girls were abducted in April when members of the Boko Haram sect invaded the Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State.

Their whereabouts remain unknown over 150 days after the sad incident.

The students were taking their examinations when the sect members interrupted the exercise.

Shekarau, who appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Education in Abuja, informed the lawmakers that the Ministry of Education was reviewing the results.

He stated that the review was necessary because the examinations became “haphazard” as a result of the abduction.

He was responding to a question by a member of the committee, who sought to know the fate of the girls.

The minister, who assured the committee that the Federal Government had not lost hope in its bid to secure the release of the girls, added that efforts were also being made to improve on girl child education generally in the North-East zone.

Shekarau said, “By 1pm today (Monday), the President (Goodluck Jonathan) has scheduled a meeting in which I am attending, specifically to address some of the issues of girl child education in that troubled zone. In fact, this morning, I got a communication from the West African Examinations Council that the result of the Chibok Secondary School is out. We (ministry) have to look at it (result) via-a-viz the security situation and implication before the formal release.

“It is right now in my possession. Because when the abduction took place, some remained and completed their examinations, some were taking examinations before they were abducted. So, the result is haphazard. So we are addressing that this afternoon. This is just for the information of the honourable members. It is also a matter of great concern to us. I am sure by 1pm, four, five of us will be sitting with Mr. President to address this issue.”

The minister was primarily invited by the committee to shed light on the decision of the Federal Government to re-open schools on September 22 as against the earlier date of October 13, following the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in the country.

It will be recalled that while government’s efforts to rescue the girls have yet proved positive, about 11 of their parents are reported to have died.

Some Nigerians, using the social media, also launched a campaign, #BringBackOurGirls, in a bid to continuously put the government on its toes.

http://www.punchng.com/news/chibok-girls-wassce-result-ready-says-minister/

Death Toll Hits 50 as Synagogue Workers Flout Fashola’s Orders
16 Sep 2014

Chiemelie Ezeobi

Four days after the foreign guest house section of the Synagogue Church for All Nations (SCOAN), collapsed at Ikotun, Lagos, the death toll yesterday hit 50, with projections for more still in the offing because excavation is still ongoing.

Although six more dead bodies were recovered from the rubble, bringing the 44 recorded on Sunday to 50, the statistics of the victims who were rescued alive still remained at 130.

Meanwhile, despite the order by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to the church workers to evacuate the site of the collapsed building to enable professional rescue workers do their job, the workers are yet to leave.

To fast track the evacuation process, THISDAY gathered that the Police Canine Unit had been contacted to deploy its sniffer dogs to the scene of the collapse to help detect anyone still trapped in the rubble.

Confirming this, the spokesperson of the South-west Zone of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, said the suggestion for the deployment was unanimously agreed upon by all stakeholders because the excavation had gotten to a critical point.

He said: “We are getting close to the area suspected to have more people trapped. The Commissioner of Police in charge of Lagos State Command, Cornelius Aderanti, has ordered the release of five dogs to the crash site.

“This was after a collective decision was reached by all government agencies working at the site. It is on this note that NEMA asked the Police Disaster Management Unit to facilitate and coordinate the dogs immediately.

“The dogs will assist in making the search and rescue faster. It will also help us conclude the operation early because of the unique ability to sniff.”

Hours after the order for the deployment was made, there was no dogs at the site, thereby slowing rescue operations considerably.

In an interview afterwards with THISDAY, Farinloye explained the unavailability of the dogs as at press time.

He said the reason was logistics-based, adding that rescue operations, no matter how slow, would continue until the challenge is overcome and the dogs brought to the crash site.

Meanwhile, the rescue work suffered another hitch as a fire incident occurred although it was quickly contained before its spread to other buildings in that axis.
Confirming the incident, the Managing Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Razaq Fadipe, said during the cause of search and rescue operation, items that were under the rubble of the collapsed building generated excessive heat which resulted in fire outbreak.

Also Fashola who was reacting to the said hostile behaviour of the church worker, who rejected offers by the federal and state emergency workers, had on Sunday ordered that the church evacuate the site for professionals to do their job.

It was yet unclear what the governor’s reaction would be seeing that flagrant disregard of the orders for the workers to evacuate the site and leave the excavation work for the professionals.

Attempts to speak with one of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, (LABSCA) officials at the site proved abortive as he referred all questions to the commissioner for information or the special adviser on media to governor.

THISDAY then called the Special Adviser to the Fashola on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello severally but he didn’t take his calls neither did he respond to the text message sent to him before the paper went to bed.

Fashola who was reacting to the said hostile behaviour of the church workers, who rejected offers by the federal and state emergency workers, had Sunday ordered that the church evacuate the site for professionals to do their job.

He was quoted to have said: “What you need to understand now is that this place is now an accident scene and so all your staff must leave this place. We need to take control of this place and let people who are trained to do this job to do so.
“We understand that this is an unfortunate incident, we understand their sense of sympathy and compassion. But let them allow those who are trained to do the job take over and do the job; that is their training and it won’t make sense if they are getting in each other’s way.

“When we finish, if you have any person, whether an engineer or a medical person you wants to be on the site with them, working with them to know what they are taking there, then it is easier; they can report to you and then report to me. But we can’t continue rescue operations with your men hanging around here.”

It is however, unclear whether the government would toe its usual path, of taking over the property after excavation is over and done with, as they have been doing in times past with collapsed buildings.

But when contacted, Farinloye said the emergency workers finally decided to incorporate some selected church workers that they can manage effectively to assist in rescue operations.

This is just as officials of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) went to the site of the crash yesterday as part of measures to kick start its investigations.

Both agencies had gone to the site based on the allegations of the church that a strange aircraft had flown over the affected building four times at different intervals before it collapsed an hour later at 12.54p.m.

When contacted, the Managing Director of NAMA, Ibrahim Abdulsalam, said the agency was working on the issue but he does not want to comment on it until investigations are completed so as not to jeopardise the outcome.

Another MASSIVE payday for the FRSC 'stakeholders'! Have they already finished digesting all the billions made from new plate numbers and drivers licences? They will not stop milking us until we stop acting like cows. Does anyone know of another country where the police fail to do their work but insist on vehicle owners fitting expensive devices into their vehicles? We just keep setting new records for mumuness.

FRSC to enforce use of speed limiters

Bukola Amusan

From June 1 next year, motorists are expected to have a maximum speed limiter device in their vehicles, to reduce crashes.
Stakeholders spoke at the weekend in Abuja in a communiqué at the end of a one-day forum on the “National Policy on Maximum Road Speed Limiter for Vehicles”.
Speaking with reporters, the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, said the commission was empowered to apprehend anyone who violated the speed limit.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/frsc-to-enforce-use-of-speed-limiters/

Now we are talking. No one should be allowed to cover up the facts of this case. Indeed as a potential crime scene (if the additional floors were put up with necessary approval) I would say any monitor from Synagogue should be himself closely monitored so he doesn't tamper with evidence.

Synagogue: Fashola orders church staff out

Chukwuma Okparaocha -Lagos, with Agency Report

LAGOS State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on Sunday, directed all staff of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Ikotun Egbe, to leave the site of the collapsed building, to allow rescue workers do their job.
Fashola, during his visit to the church, on Sunday, expressed sadness at the loss of lives, adding that the incident was unfortunate.
He urged the General Overseer of the church, Prophet Temitope Joshua, to ask all his staff to step down from the collapsed building site until rescue work was finished.
“When we finish, if you have any person, whether an engineer or a medical person who you want to be on the site and working with them, so as to know what they are taking there, then it is easier; they can report to you and then report to me. But we can’t continue rescue operations with your men hanging around here,” he said.
While commiserating with Prophet Joshua, who came to meet him at the site of the collapsed structure, Governor Fashola, however, directed that the staff of the church should give way for the rescue workers to be able to carry out the job of evacuating the debris and rescuing possible victims still trapped under the collapsed building.
The governor, who was received at the site by the state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olutoyin Ayinde, told Prophet Joshua “what you need to understand now is that this place is now an accident scene and so all your staff must leave this place. We need to take control of this place and let people who are trained to do this job to do so.”
Meanwhile the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), on Sunday, said 44 dead bodies had been recovered, while 130 people trapped in the collapsed building had, so far, been rescued.
The Public Relations Officer of the agency, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Lagos.
Farinloye said 80 per cent of people rescued from the building were women.
He said two female children, aged four and eight, were also among those rescued.
According to him, the continued rescue exercise had increased the number of dead persons from 17 to 44.
God will strike back at my enemies –TB Joshua
Pastor Joshua has said God will get back at those he believed were behind the building collapse incident recorded on his church premises on Friday.
The cleric insisted that the incident was the handiwork of those bent on destroying his reputation and the church, saying that “God will get back at them.”
According to him, the collapse of the guest house which had, so far, reportedly killed over 44 people, was part of a grand scheme to destroy him.
“A big head wears the lion heart. Don’t quickly forget the incident of Boko Haram here, even though it was televised, they said it was a lie, but they later realised it was true. Don’t also forget the Ebola issue here too, they sent messages to all of you, to scare you from coming to this church,” he stated.
“Don’t be scared, you are not the target, I am the target,” he told the congregation, adding that “I know my hours have not yet come. I have not yet finished my job; I have not finished my job.”

http://www.tribune.com.ng/news/top-stories/item/16062-synagogue-fashola-orders-church-staff-out

TB should be prosecuted for building without permit and manslaughter. The police should have arrested all those blocking the rescue effort.

TB should be prosecuted for building without permit and manslaughter. The police should have arrested all those blocking the rescue effort.

I hope LASG will not shy away from applying its law that forfeits all collapsed buildings to the govt. As for NEMA abandoning the site of a disaster because those possibly criminally liable for the disaster were unfriendly, FGN functionaries are apparently as clueless as the head of the FGN. I look forward to Joshua's groupies coming up with a video that foretold this avoidable tragedy, driven by greed, in typical vague language. If they do that they should be asked why their idol, if he foretold, failed to forfend.

I hope LASG will not shy away from applying its law that forfeits all collapsed buildings to the govt. As for NEMA abandoning the site of a disaster because those possibly criminally liable for the disaster were unfriendly, FGN functionaries are apparently as clueless as the head of the FGN. I look forward to Joshua's groupies coming up with a video that foretold this avoidable tragedy, driven by greed, in typical vague language. If they do that they should be asked why their idol, if he foretold, failed to forfend.

BTW it is apparently nothing to do with any naija scientist but typical snake oil that has been peddled by Indians and others for years. Being the usual gbogboise medicine one should be surprised that a so called medical doctor health minister in naija fell for this scam but I guess the billions at stake explains everything.

Mayo Clinic's view:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/consumer-health/expert-answers/colloidal-silver/faq-20058061

My dad takes colloidal silver for his health, but is it safe?
Answers from Brent A. Bauer, M.D.
Colloidal silver isn't considered safe or effective for any of the health claims manufacturers make. Silver has no known purpose in the body. Nor is it an essential mineral, as some sellers of silver products claim.
Colloidal silver products are made of tiny silver particles suspended in a liquid — the same type of precious metal used in jewelry, dental fillings, silverware and other consumer goods.
Colloidal silver products are usually marketed as dietary supplements that are taken by mouth. Colloidal silver products also come in forms to be injected or applied to the skin.
Manufacturers of colloidal silver products often claim that they are cure–alls, boosting your immune system, fighting bacteria and viruses, and treating cancer, HIV/AIDS, shingles, herpes, eye ailments and prostatitis.
However, no sound scientific studies to evaluate these health claims have been published in reputable medical journals. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration has taken action against some manufacturers of colloidal silver products for making unproven health claims.
It's not clear how much colloidal silver may be harmful, but it can build up in your body's tissues over months or years. Most commonly, this results in argyria (ahr–JIR–e–uh), a blue-gray discoloration of your skin, eyes, internal organs, nails and gums. While argyria doesn't pose a serious health problem, it can be a cosmetic concern because it doesn't go away when you stop taking silver products.
Rarely, excessive doses of colloidal silver can cause possibly irreversible serious health problems, including kidney damage and neurological problems such as seizures. Colloidal silver products may also interact with medications, including penicillamine (Cuprimine, Depen), quinolone antibiotics, tetracycline and thyroxine (Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid) medications.
Indiamart's view:

http://www.indiamart.com/healthy-living-india/nano-silva.html

Below is the appeal I received two months ago from a colleague concerning the mainland Hospital Yaba that the FG has chosen as our Ebola 'centre of excellence'. You may judge for yourselves if we can afford to breathe a sigh of relief.

[b]As earlier discussed, there is this hospital formerly called Infectious Disease Hospital but now called Mainland Hospital. It is the road beside Yaba College of Technology (suffice to say the hospital is on the road separating yaba tech from WAEC office) 1, Mainland Hospital Road Yaba. I was there by chance and saw the deteriorating state of things in the hospital and I felt the need to ask people that can help in any little way as little things as bed sheets were not available and many were on bare mattresses.

It is sad enough that most have them feel that they have the death sentence hanging over them already but it’s more depressing when the environment is not even made a little bit conducive for them i.e. things like a television.

These are the list of things the nurses indicated were lacking in the hospital:

• Face mask
• Assistance to repair faulty ambulance
• Generator
• Fans
• Small fridge to store drugs
• Blood bank
• Television
• Thermometers
• Manometer
• Glucometer
• First Aid boxes
• Fire Extinguishers
• Bed sheets
• Gloves


N:B: I don’t know anyone in the hospital neither do I have a contact, and as earlier said, I was there by chance and was just moved to helping in any little way. Some bed sheets have been donated already but am sure they can do with more. [/b]

Below is the appeal I received two months ago from a colleague concerning the mainland Hospital Yaba that the FG has chosen as our Ebola 'centre of excellence'. You may judge for yourselves if we can afford to breathe a sigh of relief.

[b]As earlier discussed, there is this hospital formerly called Infectious Disease Hospital but now called Mainland Hospital. It is the road beside Yaba College of Technology (suffice to say the hospital is on the road separating yaba tech from WAEC office) 1, Mainland Hospital Road Yaba. I was there by chance and saw the deteriorating state of things in the hospital and I felt the need to ask people that can help in any little way as little things as bed sheets were not available and many were on bare mattresses.

It is sad enough that most have them feel that they have the death sentence hanging over them already but it’s more depressing when the environment is not even made a little bit conducive for them i.e. things like a television.

These are the list of things the nurses indicated were lacking in the hospital:

• Face mask
• Assistance to repair faulty ambulance
• Generator
• Fans
• Small fridge to store drugs
• Blood bank
• Television
• Thermometers
• Manometer
• Glucometer
• First Aid boxes
• Fire Extinguishers
• Bed sheets
• Gloves


N:B: I don’t know anyone in the hospital neither do I have a contact, and as earlier said, I was there by chance and was just moved to helping in any little way. Some bed sheets have been donated already but am sure they can do with more.
[/b]

It does appear that Sawyer deliberately targeted Nigeria. He is reported to have wilfully peed on his carers after he was diagnosed in naija. Payback for ECOMOG, Charles Taylor?

Video Shows Sawyer was Very Ill

It has also emerged that Sawyer looked “terribly ill” and might have known he was infected with the virus before travelling to Nigeria, the Liberian media has reported.

According to a review of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) images at the James Spriggs Payne’s Airport, Monrovia, by Liberian newspaper, The New Dawn, Sawyer, also a naturalised American, looked terribly ill and deliberately avoided contact with people just before boarding the Asky Airline flight that brought him to Lagos.

Describing his behaviour as “strange”, the The New Dawn said Sawyer bore a “sad countenance” like he was troubled and sat alone avoiding bodily contact with other passengers who came close to him at the boarding gate of the James Sprigg Payne’s Airport as he awaited his flight to Lagos.

“His strange behaviour and frequent movement up and down as he eagerly awaited his Asky flight had prompted the security camera operator to focus on him. In the video, Patrick could be seen avoiding physical contact with airport employees and other passengers during the check-in process,” the newspaper wrote.

Airport video footage, according to the report, also showed Sawyer lying flat on his stomach on the floor in the corridor of the airport and seemed to be in “excruciating pain.”

The footage showed Sawyer preventing people from touching him. According to the The New Dawn reporter who reviewed the video, he even snubbed an immigration officer who initiated a friendly gesture of a handshake moments before he boarded the airplane.
FrontPage Africa, another Liberian newspaper, also reported that Sawyer, who was believed to have been infected by his sister, told its reporter shortly before he travelled to Nigeria that he had gone in search of his sister’s husband who ran away after she tested positive to Ebola.

The paper said Sawyer vomited a few times among his friends in Liberia just before heading to the airport and also on the plane. FrontPage Africa’s publisher, Rodney Sieh, later told online news medium, Premium Times by telephone that his paper’s extensive reporting on the matter showed clearly that Sawyer knew he had contracted the Ebola virus before travelling to Nigeria.

“He definitely knew he was sick and it was curious that he still decided to travel,” Sieh said. “His sister had died from the virus and he most likely had contact with her.”

According to FrontPage Africa, after Sawyer became ill on the airplane, he denied to First Consultants’ personnel that he had contact with anyone infected with Ebola despite repeated inquiries after initial tests for Malaria and HIV were negative.
The newspaper said Sawyer however flew into a rage and behaved in a disruptive manner at First Consultants after he was told he had tested positive for Ebola.

gevis: D spread of the disease to Nigeria is no mistake at all..he knew he had it, knew he cud spread it by contact, n d best way was to get to Nigeria in a critical state when he knew he wil b no better than a suicide boomer..D most painful part was the number of persons he had contact with when he go faint 4 airport, den Hospital...knowing diff health workers will b attendin to him based on who he be n ds same health workers will also attend to other patients...Wicked man, may ur soul n'vr know Peace n 4 Liberia kip ur planned sorry to urself.

Could this have been a Liberian paying us back for Ecomog's intervention or the 'betrayal' of Charles Taylor by OBJ? From the outset it looked rather willful to me considering the fact that he was seriously symptomatic as soon as the plane landed. The Liberian Finance Minister was on BBC two days ago apologising for the guy's ignoring orders not to travel and saying his entire ministry including himself was still quarantined. If Sawyer had been in search of a cure he surely would have picked his other country the US as the place to fly to.

Ebola: ‘Sawyer disregarded directives not to travel out of Liberia’

Posted by: Dele Anofi, Abuja in News Update 14 hours ago

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, has disclosed that the Liberian national, Patrick Sawyer, was aware of his status as Ebola virus carrier before entering Nigeria.

Onyebuchi, who regretted the outbreak of the disease in the country however described it is a “national emergency.”

Consequently, the Federal government has placed restrictions on repatriation of corpses of Nigerians abroad into the country.

According to the minister, while addressing member of the House of Representatives Committee on Health and other stakeholders at a public hearing on Ebola virus, Sawyer disregarded instructions of Liberian health officials not to travel out of the country.

The minister, however, warned against the use of bitter cola as a preventive or curative measure against the deadly disease.

He said report credited to former Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Maurice Iwu, about the efficacy of bitter cola over the disease was premature and incorrect.

“No evidence shows that bitter kola will prevent or cure Ebola. Iwu’s experiment was inconclusive,” he said.

In his submission, the Project Director, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Prof. Abdulsalami Nasidi, revealed that 70 Nigerians were currently under surveillance for the disease.

According to him, of the 70 primary and secondary patients Sawyer had contact with, 39 were hospital contacts while 22 were airport contacts.

Those in contact with and who attended to Sawyer, according to him include men of the State Security Service (SSS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), medical and airport support personnel.

In his contribution, Director, Port Health Services, Dr. Sani Gwarzo, revealed that restrictions have been placed on the repatriation of corpses of Nigerians abroad into the country.

Besides, Gwarzo added that as part of efforts aimed at containing the outbreak of the virus in the country, 66 personnel were required by the Federal Ministry of Health to man and screen travellers at the country’s several travel entry points.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Ndudi Elumelu, said the meeting was reconvened to find out measures being put in place to curb the spread of the disease as well as the actual number of Nigerians affected.

“Ebola is what most Nigerians are currently worried about, adding that measures must be taken to protect people,” he said.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/ebola-sawyer-disregarded-directives-not-to-travel-out-of-liberia/

Na by mouth and is there an invisible wall that stops Bh from crossing the Niger/Benue? Have our rulers ever heard the word preemption?

Boko Haram: Jonathan orders tight security in educational facilities

on July 31, 2014 / in News 12:00 am / Comments

By Ben Agande
ABUJA—President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the Armed Forces, Police and other national security agencies to strengthen security around educational facilities in states prone to terrorist attacks.

The President also condemned the attacks on two mosques in Potiskum, Yobe State on Tuesday.

Reacting to the suicide bombing of the Aminu Kano College of Islamic and Legal Studies yesterday, President Jonathan said: “No amount of intimidation and violence would stampede the government into abandoning its goal of giving education a new lease of life and opening up access to all young Nigerians who wish to improve themselves”.
Standard Int'l Passport —President Goodluck Jonathan registers for the 64-Page Standard International Passport by the Nigeria Immigration Service at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Standard Int’l Passport —President Goodluck Jonathan registers for the 64-Page Standard International Passport by the Nigeria Immigration Service at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

According to the president, “the callous attacks on soft targets fully affirm that the terrorists are nothing but blood-thirsty adherents of a warped and retrogressive ideology.

“President Jonathan condemns the repeated targeting of worshippers, and innocent students who are the nation’s future by depraved terrorists.

“No amount of intimidation and violence would stampede the government into abandoning its goal of giving education a new lease of life and opening up access to all young Nigerians who wish to improve themselves.

“President Jonathan has, therefore, directed the Armed Forces, Police and other national security agencies to further enhance security around educational facilities in states prone to terrorist attacks”.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/boko-haram-jonathan-orders-tight-security-educational-facilities/#sthash.aWOJ6nhT.dpuf

How is the govt working hard? Didn't they have immigration, Customs, 'Quarantine', NDLEA etc at the borders? So how did your 'hardworking' govt allow a whole dead body get into the country from Liberia abi dem hide am inside wallet? Better indict those who should be indicted and stop dodging the real issue of institutional failures.

AmNotDrunk: FFS. why bring a dead man from that deadly country who died from the deadly virus to Nigeria for Christ sake
The govt we curse almost in every thread are trying hard to protect us from this virus but yet for some reasons I don't know a family would rather take the risk of spreading the virus to the whole country, just to give there brother a " befitting" burial.
Clear indication that we are the cause of our problems.

SMH

Update: https://www.nairaland.com/1837790/boko-harams-sitting-ducks-2#25129871

Earlier post https://www.nairaland.com/1827859/boko-harams-sitting-ducks

Boko Haram’s Sitting Ducks - 2

I reprised my perambulation today to see if things had changed in any way. There was minimal change but just for the worse.

At both Yabatech gates I still saw fellows with metal detecting wands but today there were making no effort to screen anyone. The fellow at the WAEC end was actually trying to use the wand to bat another security man around the head. Maybe that is in the service manual. Cars still not being screened.

Unilag was still carrying its open door ‘policy’ to absurd lengths. Absolutely no attempt to screen cars or pedestrians. No wands or other equipment in view. This despite the various reported bombings of schools in the North in the last few weeks. Could they be depending on the rumoured bomb neutralizing powers of the River Niger? You know, the same way our juju doesn’t cross the Atlantic which is why oyinbos and even our children weaned off our superstitions fail to be affected by the most strenuous exertions of the babalawos and witches.

Ozone’s usual effort was somewhat trammeled by the drizzling rain so no scanning at the outer gate but the bouncers were still on duty at the glass doors into the building proper. Before getting to Ozone however I decided to take a closer look at Marda barrack opposite St Dominic’s, a large Catholic church on Herbert Macaulay Way. Between both premises is a pedestrian bridge berthing just over the fence of each compound. At about 20 feet high the bridge gives those standing on it commanding views of not just the ever busy road but these two sensitive institutions.

My imagination immediately went into overdrive and I wondered how much damage a team of 12 insurgents armed with the usual rocket propelled grenades and AK 47s could do if they simply climbed onto the bridge. Within half an hour they could bring down every single structure within both compounds with casualties better left to the imagination especially if this is done during Sunday service in the church. I couldn’t again help but wonder if those who assess threats in this clime have their heads on backwards or are just fatalists hell-bent on giving BH an easy ride. How come no one had noticed that leaving such a structure overlooking two iconic institutions representing BH’s often stated top enemies was rather tempting fate? This pedestrian bridge is rarely used so one can’t even argue public utility as an excuse yet the worshippers and the ‘professional’ soldiers continue to offer themselves as potential votive sacrifices under its baleful gaze.

Averting my mind to the schools, I imagined a dozen BH vehicles filled with kamikaze fighters driving into either of them and taking over the whole premises. They then proceed to hunt down every living thing and over the next few days the bodies pile up into four or five figures. This sort of ‘spectacular’ drove Al Qaeda to repeatedly target the WTC towers until it achieved success on 9/11. Terrorists have achieved the same at one of India’s high profile hotels and, most recently and proximately, Kenya hosted its own spectacular at a popular shopping mall.

BH must be envious of ISIS recent successes despite its congratulatory message and must be racking its brains for how it can stay in contention for the cup of the crazy terrorists’ league. I lay out these possibilities because I see a need to scare our security operatives and civil administrators into putting their brains in gear and carrying out proper and comprehensive threat assessments particular for institutions that are known to be BH’s favourite targets.

I still do not understand how private, commercial establishments seem to appreciate the threats we face so much better than state institutions. Could it be the fact that the potential losses would be private while for Unilag and the rest the losses, if they ever come, would be ‘public’? Is this the usual cancer of everyone’s business being no one’s business? Would the slackness of security arrangements at places like Unilag , if there is ever a successful attack on them, be justiceable? Could the authorities of such establishments be sued in their private capacity for willfully exposing their patrons to foreseeable harm? Can such suits be brought preemptively to save us all from such avoidable evil days?

If you have influence and contacts at schools, churches etc please use them to bring about more robust threat assessments and proactive countermeasures. Daily, BH innovates with young female suicides as its latest card but we the targets continue to make minimal and token efforts in the ‘fight’ against them. Must we carry our notorious cavalier and corrupt attitude as a nation to this existential arena? What will it take to wake us up from our slumber? I repeat, please use your contacts and influence to ensure our institutions are hardened and advantages currently handed to BH are recovered. We can not guarantee that determined and well resourced terrorists will never have any successes but diligent preparedness will ensure any damage is limited with the terrorists made to pay a significant price.

Abraham Maborukoje Idowu

What's his track record with AIDS or even Malaria sef?

[b]On a more serious note though, our government must begin to spend the N1 trillion annual security budget on something more reassuring than ‘pepper soup’ for the big boys in and out of uniform. It isn’t rocket science or inaccessible military wisdom to know you simply don’t situate the gate into ANY military barrack at the top of a T junction. It is trite to note that vehicle barriers at the gates of military barracks must be made of something stiffer than recycled three inch metal pipes. It might make sense to not advertise the UN materiel at the Yaba Ordnance Depot to the whole world by stacking the UN labeled containers two high right along the fence. You don’t need the stars of a general to realize that a pedestrian bridge shouldn’t be built against the fence of the same depot. Yes, a pedestrian bridge was started across MMW and it would have ended right against the fence of the depot with all comers given a great view of what should ordinarily have been one of the most secure places in Nigeria. The project appears to have been stopped after too many millions had been wasted but I was almost having nightmares while it continued. I kept imagining a BH team armed with rocket launchers and machine guns simply sauntering to the top of the bridge and taking out the whole barrack without suffering a single casualty itself. It was almost a gift from the gods of hell. [/b]