Delta state government has insisted there is no case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) anywhere in the state and encouraged residents not to panic but remain vigilant, just as it described rumour bearers as uninformed people.

Statements signed by the Delta state Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah Esq and made available to Blank NEWS Online reads:

“The Delta State Government hereby assures all residents that there is no Ebola patient in the state. All stories about an EVD patient or death in any hospital in Delta State should be disregarded as mere rumours from uninformed people.

“We hereby declare emphatically that there is no Ebola outbreak in Delta State. All residents should go about their normal duties without any fear. However, we urge everybody to remain vigilant.”

It recalled that “On Thursday, September 4, 2014, a woman who arrived from Lagos checked into the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba seeking medical attention.

“While waiting to be attended to by the medical personnel, the subject showed the level of discomfiture that elicited suspicions of a probable Ebola disease.

“The subject was isolated while samples of her blood were taken to test for Ebola. On Friday, September 05, 2014, the result turned out negative to Ebola Virus Disease. The patient has since been admitted into FMC Asaba and is receiving treatment for the other ailments that were diagnosed.

“Earlier, a similar rumour over the death of another lady at Eku Specialist Hospital, Eku had also proved negative. The woman, a diabetic patient, had checked into the hospital on returning from a visit to Port Harcourt but died on Thursday, September 4, 2014, a development that aroused suspicions of Ebola disease. It eventually emerged that the woman’s health was exacerbated by her high intake of salt when people were falsely led to believe that drinking salt solutions would stave off Ebola Virus Disease.

“Deltans and all residents of Delta State are hereby assured that the state remains Ebola-free while the Inter-Ministerial Ebola Virus Outbreak Preparedness and Response Committee is working round the clock to monitor and evaluate every suspected case.

“While we encourage every resident to remain vigilant, care must be taken not to engage in wild speculations that trigger panic among the people.

Rather engage in uninformed speculations, anybody concerned about his or her observations should contact the committee on the dedicated lines.
The lines are: 08037857479, 08063927202, 07037120510 and 08037438829 while the SMS Centre is 32581.”

Medical personnel particularly those involved in emergency cases have been called upon to adopt all precautionary measures in the prevention, containment and management of the Ebola Virus Disease.

The Delta State commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Otumara, made the call at a training held for ambulance service personnel in the State on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Asaba.

Dr Otumara represented by the functioning Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Michael Omatsola, said that there was no need for panic over the issue of the, Ebola Virus Disease but that all hand must be on ground to combat it.

He said that the training was packaged to equip participants with relevant information on the causes, treatment and how to avoid spreading the disease, as well as respond to suspected cases of the EVD.

Describing the trainees as strategic personnel in the conveyance of confirmed and suspected cases, the Commissioner urged them to be proactive at all times and consider their life saving role as imperative in overcoming EVD challenge.

A resource person and Director in the Ministry of Health, Dr Gloria Patrick-Ferife, who spoke on Decontamination, enjoined the participants and other healthcare givers to observe strictly every standard measure in handling their gloves, gown, apron, masks, respirator, goggles, face shield and other medical equipment used in conveying patients in an ambulance.

In explaining the measurements for preparing disinfectants, she emphasized that they should be used before and after the evacuation of any confirmed or suspected case of the EVD.

In a lecture on the overview of the Ebola Virus Disease, Dr Ojodume Okuguni, said that even though there was no known cure for the disease, emergency personnel should be professional in the handling of cases rather than exhibit panic and apprehension.

Another resource person and State Chief Epidemiologist, Dr Charles Ofili educated the participants on the protocols for wearing and removing personal protective equipments (PPE), emphasizing that wrong applications of the PPE could expose one to the Ebola Virus when handling a confirmed case.

The workshop featured practical demonstration on the gowning of personal protective equipment (PPE), decontamination exercises of personnel, equipment and the environment by participants, as well as questions and answers sessions.

Delta state government has frowned at myriad of claims by certain traditional medicine practitioners and spiritual healers in the state who say they can cure persons infected with the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

The state government, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah Esq and made available to Blank NEWS Online on Thursday, September 4, 2014 vowed to arrest anybody that makes such claims.

The statement reads:

“The attention of the Delta State Government has been drawn to claims by some individuals, especially traditional medicine practitioners and spiritual healers bordering on their purported ability to cure the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

“These claims are completely false, untenable, dangerous and represent a threat to public health. It is hereby restated that there is no known cure yet for the Ebola Virus Disease. The media, especially television and radio broadcast houses should refrain from promoting any claim of cure for EVD by any unorthodox medical practitioner. Any jingle and promotional programme claiming to have the cure for EVD should no longer be broadcast.

“Traditional medical practitioners and spiritual healers are hereby warned to desist from making any claim of cure for EVD. Anybody that makes such claims again will be considered a threat to public health and arrested by the relevant security agencies.

“The World Health Organisation (WHO) and health agencies in Nigeria have made it clear that observance of strict hygiene and health rules to stave off contact with the disease remain the best option. Experts have also advised that regular washing of hands with soap, avoiding contact with infected persons and avoiding eating bush meat not sufficiently cooked will protect everybody from being infected with the disease.

“The governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, CON, has constituted an Inter-Ministerial Ebola Virus Outbreak Preparedness and Response Committee to superintendent efforts at preventing an outbreak of EVD in Delta State.

“We hereby assure all residents of Delta State there is no outbreak of EVD in the state. However, everybody should remain vigilant and observe basic rules of cleanliness.

Anybody with information on probable outbreak of the disease should contact the Committee on the following numbers:
08037857479, 08063927202, 07037120510 and 08037438829. SMS Centre: 32581.”

Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has assured that all non-indigenes disengaged from the Abia civil service will be recalled.

He gave the assurance in Umuahia when he met with the Association of All States Resident in Umuahia who paid him a courtesy visit led by Chief Joseph Akwobi.

The Governor said the process has started with the reinstatement of more than 2000 of the disengaged non-indigene workers and told those not yet recalled in the teaching and other categories that they have not been forgotten.

According to him, the re-absorption of the disengaged workers is being done in phases to ensure that those taken back are paid their salaries, saying that he is conscious of the effect of the policy on the affected persons.

The Governor said he expected reciprocation from other South-east governors who disengaged Abia indigenes from their workforce.

He assured the non-indigenes resident in the state of the safety of their lives and property and recalled that Abians have lived cordially with them over the years.

According to him, his administration has greatly empowered non-indigenes resident in the state both in appointments and giving contracts to them and never discriminated against them.

He however thanked them for their contributions towards the growth of the state’s economy as well as their support to his administration.

Earlier, the president, Association of All States Resident in Umuahia, Chief Innocent Egbughara, explained that they changed the name of the association from Association of Umuahia Urban Dwellers Development Union to include non-indigenes outside the urban areas and thanked the Governor for reengaging some sacked indigenes back into service and appealed to him to recall the rest.

He commended the Governor for the management of security in the state and for extending appointments and his empowerment programme to them as well as the maiden Abia Revenue Summit organized by the government to checkmate double taxation by revenue agents.

In the spate of the national security challenges, an appeal has gone to the Presidency and Nigerian Security Council to urgently recall the over 10,000 Nigerian trained Soldiers recruited into the Nigerian Army since 1979 till date who were allegedly dismissed by the Military.

Blank NEWS Online findings reveal that the disciplinary processes which led to the alleged dismissal of majority of the Nigerian soldiers had procedural lapses as sundry issues raised against them were not properly investigated.

The ex-soldiers have therefore appealed to the Presidency and Nigerian Security Council to help review their cases to either be re-absolved into the Nigerian Army or discharged accordingly.

It could be recalled that a process initiated by the former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), ACM Paul Dike (rtd) and Lt. Gen. Danbazo respectively, to review and subsequently re-absolve the dismissed soldiers into the Nigerian Army, has been suspended.

Blank NEWS Online gathered that those already recalled have been made to attend Refreshing Courses at the School of Infantry, Jaji and posted to their respective units, while others who who are yet to benefit beg that the process should be sustained for national interest.

A security analyst told Blank NEWS Online that “Our government has deliberately abandoned over 10,000 of our well trained Soldiers who were unjustly dismissed and we are crying wolf over insurgency by some unknown elements. These military best hands should be re-absolved to help contain the spread of insurgency.

“We appeal to the Federal Government to continue with the recall exercise started by ACM Paul Dike because they discovered that too much of their men were outside. Government should urgently recall these Soldiers who have families to take care of before they are hired by the wrong people”, the analyst appealed.

Also, a dependable security source revealed to Blank NEWS Online that some of the best Artillery handlers are among the yet to be re-absolved Soldiers who were recruited in 1979.

“It is very unfortunate and regrettable that these men have had their recall delayed because, even if sophisticated guns are purchased by the Federal Government, we still need these men to teach others how to operate the weapons. They were among the best handlers of our Artillery”, the source disclosed.

A letter of appeal, signed by some of the Redress Soldiers with email (onyeayanavokafor@gmail.com) reads:

“The undersigned soldiers have undergone Nigerian Military training in NIgerian Army drill School, Zaria and Corps training respectively and one way or the other, they were dismissed from the service.

“Please sir, we are appealing to the Nigerian Security Council to look into our affairs as a matter of urgency and temper justice with mercy and recall us back to the service or discharge us accordingly, as we have nothing doing to help our family.

“Some of us have undergone several training in the Nigerian School of Artillery, Kachia, Kaduna state and acquired unquantifiable knowledge during these trainings.”

The appeal letter was signed by BDR Onyeayana Okafor (79NA/9257), CPL Raphael Iyama (79NA/3370), L/BDR Michael Olisakaomam (79NA/18909), L/CPL Emovre Eugene, L/CPL Sani Musa (79NA/8537), L/CPL Thomas Odu (79NA/9619), PTE Bright Akpoghenta (79NA/30858), PTE Olusola Ogundipe (95NA/39/2347), L/CPL Zakarya (79NA/72792) and PTE David Rojowa Bernard (79NA/19358) among others.

Meamwhile, a particular case in question is that of one Bombardier (Bdr) Okafor Onyeayana (79NA/9257) who served at the 302 Artillary Regiment, Onitsha and was attached to the 341 Field Artillery Regiment (FAR) for the purpose of Operation Harmony 4 in the Bakassi Peninsula.

The ex- military officer was summarily dismissed for allegedly reporting circumstances in the gun position to 302 (GS) Artillery Regiment Commander at rear.

However, during his trial, no officer from his unit was made a member of the panel that tried him and the key witnesses to the case were not invited to the sitting by the Board of Inquiry (BOI).

Despite a letter from his then Unit Commander, Col. Bajen, calling for a re-trial and the need for the Army Legal Service (ASA) to carry out a judicial review in the interest of fairplay and justice, the case is neither re-visited nor the dismissed officer recalled.

The letter dated November 07, 2002 with Reference No. 302AR(GS)/03/2/A reads:

“The above named Ex-Soldier had a protracted disciplinary case while serving in “S” Bty in Bakassi Operation Harmony early part of 1998. He was subsequently given a 3 Count charge and the verdict of dismissed Regiment was awarded by the CO, The Battery was affiliated to (Lt. Col. B. Iganus).

“Not satisfied with the judgement, the soldier filed a petition to the ASA and a Board of Inquiry (BOI) was subsequently ordered to investigate the matter in details. Unfortunately the report of BOI proceedings from where the former commander drew his decisions did not do a thorough job, perhaps due to the revelation that most of the key witnesses to the case were not present during BOI sitting. However from the evidence of the few witnesses that appeared before the BOI, one could see that the Board omitted some vital facts and arguments in expressing its opinions and recommendations. Besides the recommendations of the Board were contradictory.

“The substantive offences committed by the ex-soldier that led to his dismissal were disobedience to particular order, insurbodination and impersonation. These offences from my own opinion were not properly investigated. There were procedural lapses that would require some legal interpretation. There is therefore the need for the ASA to carry out a judicial review of the case in the interest of fair play and justice. In doing this, the BOI document would be a useful Reference material.

“It will indeed be appreciated if the ASA re-visit the case and consider it on its own merit”, the letter from his then Unit Commander, Col. Bajen read.

Nigeria’s Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of a new railway line between Lagos and Calabar.

President Goodluck Jonathan who made the pronouncement on Tuesday, during the groundbreaking of the second cement line being constructed by the United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited in Mfamosing, Akamkpa Local Government Council of Cross River State, revealed that the railway line will run from Lagos to Calabar and also extend to the Obudu Cattle Ranch.

Jonathan, who was represented by Vice- President Namadi Sambo, said, “On the railway line, I am also glad to inform you that the Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of a new railway line from Lagos to Calabar has been signed, and we hope that any moment from now, work will commence.”

Speaking on the plan by UniCem to construct additional 2.5-million-metric-tonne per annum line, he said, “In 2002, the Federal Government formulated the backward integration policy for the cement industry to facilitate Nigeria’s drive in self-sufficiency for cement production. It should be noted that within a decade, there had been a phenomenal growth from two million metric tonnes per annum to 39.5 million metric tonnes per annum of installed capacity.

“We are impressed that just five years after the first line in UniCem, we are gathered here again today for the second line, which will add 2.5 million metric tonnes per annum to the company’s capacity. This is ample growth of operational efficiency and the resilience of the management of UniCem.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Board of UniCem, Mr. John Coumantaros, said the additional 2.5-million-metric-tonne per annum line would be constructed at the cost of N84bn, adding that the project, which is expected to be completed in 2016, would bring the production capacity of the company to five million metric tonnes per annum.

Faced with the leadership question and the crisis rocking the Nigerian Football Federation, Football Stakeholders in Delta State have thrown their weight behind the candidacy of Pinnick Amaju and urged all those who love the round leather game to vote for him in the election billed for Thursday.

Speaking with Journalists in Warri, Davidson Owumi, known as Okada in his hey days with the Super Eagles said Amaju has what it takes to manage Nigerian Football especially now that we are finding it difficult to get it right.
Owumi posited that he will support Amaju 100% and want Nigerians to give him a chance.

Also speaking, Chief Victor Shishe, a community leader who has been highly disturbed with what is happening in Abuja declared that Amaju is the right person to occupy the Glass House judging from what he has achieved managing Football and Sports generally in Delta State.

According to Shishe, Amaju without a kobo from the Government built the first State Football House nearing completion.

He said the Football House which is about 99% now if completed will rank among the best in the World and apart from that, he has succeeded in getting sponsorship for the State FA Cup for the past years.

Shishe who is known for his frank view disclosed that with Amaju, Government can as well forget about the sponsorship of the National team and without their funds, there is no way they can interfere with what is going on in the football arena.

“I want everybody to be sincere and give Amaju the ticket and I am sure once he enters, he will source for funds like the way it is in Delta. With no Government fund, nobody can interfere the way they are doing now. He has what it takes to manage Nigerian Football and I am happy that he has agreed to move on to that level.

“He is not a hungry man, he has a good position here in Delta State but he is a detribalized man. He has the connection with the private sector and will turn the National team into a brand. He is well travelled and that is the type of man we need. The young man will take us to the next level and that is why I want us to give him the chance,” said Shishe.

A coalition of forces under the aegis of Delta Progressive Movement (DPM) has urged Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and leaders of major political parties to base their choice of the next governor of the state on the core attributes of competence, integrity, courage, initiative and focus.

In a meeting held on Sunday being the 31 of August 2014 in Owa-Oyibu, the headquarters of Ika North East Local Government Area to discuss the political future of the state, the zoning arrangement and to assess the physical, social and institutional infrastructural provisions in the state, the group vowed to put stop to square pegs in round holes in leadership positions in the state.

The group also called for gender change at the governorship level.

It extolled the uncommon virtues of Olejeme, describing her as pragmatic and winsome.

“Olejeme is suitable for the governorship job. She has devoted her life to humanitarian and philanthropic services. She has provided employment opportunities for the people, especially the youths. She has been one of the most supportive and committed leaders of the PDP in the state”.

Spokesperson of the movement, Mrs. Josephine Nkenchor said Olejeme would address the near absence of infrastructures in some parts of the state, galvanize the people to self-development, energize the economy and also raise the standard of living of the people through adequate inter-village communication such as good road network, electricity, pipe-borne water, recreational facilities, etc.

“Olejeme will increase the material wealth of the people, establish capacity-building institutions, increase rural output, create employment opportunities and root out cases of poverty, diseases and ignorance”.

The groups also said Olejeme would stimulate rural industries and show the necessary leadership by matching words with action through evolving workable development approaches, proper co-ordination and funding.

“Olejeme has strategies to banish unemployment and insecurity. Her government will bring about sustainable development and progress” the group said.

Over 2,000 members across the 25 local government councils stormed the venue in representative capacity

The member representing Ndokwa East constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Friday Ossai Osanebi has called on Deltans to shelve aside ethnic and sectional divide and support the gubernatorial aspirations of Chief Godwill Obielum.

In a Press Statement signed by the lawmaker who is also the Deputy Chief Whip of the Delta State House of Assembly,

Hon. Osanebi said his call had become ne

ccesary because the state deserves a God-fearing man who is focused and development oriented to take over from governor Uduaghan in 2015.

According to him, Chief Obielum enjoys the support of all Deltans adding ”Chief Obielum is God’s will for our dear State in 2015”.

He urged all Deltans to rally round him to ensure that our collective dream of having a God-fearing, humble,peace loving and experienced person emerges as ourngovernor in Delta State.

He further described Chief Obielum as a detribilised Deltan with a track record of excellence in security,human and material resource management which has endeared him to Deltans.

Hon. Osanebi further lauded Chief Obielum’s social and political records which has created a niche for him and appealed to other aspirants to lay aside their personal interest and support Chief Godwill Obieum.

The law maker assured that Chief Obielum will consolidate on the achievements recorded by Gov. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan’s administration and take Delta State to the next level, because Chief Obielum is a man who takes the entire state as his primary constituency.

He also thanked all the different groups and communities including traditional rulers who has endorsed Chief Godwill Obielum to contest for the 2015 Delta guber race.

“Chief Obielum is the Will of God for Delta State in 2015,” Osanebi said.

Australian negotiator Dr Stephen Davis continues making shocking claims now alleging that Boko Haram pass a large amount of their finances through the Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN).

This comes days after the expert, who had spent 4 months in Nigeria’s North-East negotiating for the release of Chibok girls abducted by insurgents on April 14, said some politicians from the opposit

ion sponsored Boko Haram.

In an exclusive phone interview with the Nigerian TheCable, Davis insisted that Boko Haram commanders told him that a top CBN official (name not provided by TheCable for legal reasons) was involved in funding the insurgency in the country.

When asked by the journalist about where Boko Haram get the financial support from, the 63-year-old experienced negotiator said the source could not be traced because “it is done through a legal channel, through the gatekeeper, the CBN, and that makes it very easy to cover up”.

According to Davis, one of the biggest suppliers of arms and military uniforms to Boko Haram lives in Egypt and receives money sent by political sponsors from Nigeria. However the legal transaction of the funds is carried out with the help of the CBN, Davis added.

He also revealed that the involved official is a relative of Abuja bombings suspects.

“Meanwhile, the CBN official who handles the funding is an uncle to three of those arrested in connection with the Nyanya bombings. The three boys lived with him. They were arrested by the SSS (Department of State Security) after the bombings but they do not seem to have been interrogated about their uncle in CBN. Or if they have given up information about their uncle then the SSS has not moved against him… Also, a senior official of CBN, who recently left the bank, was very close to Sodiq Aminu Ogwuche, the mastermind of the Nyanya bombings who also schooled in Sudan. Boko haram commanders said Ogwuche’s wife used to visit this top official in his office at the headquarters of the bank in Abuja before the Nyanya bombings.

Explaining why he decided to finally make the revelation, Davis said it was because the Nigerian authorities were slow in handling the security issues, specifically the kidnap of Chibok girls. Davis, the father of 3 daughters, said it was “heart-breaking” for him to think of what the Nigerian school girls might be experiencing in Boko Haram captivity.

Davis, who was PhD in political geography, narrated that he first though that politicians might be involved in the insurgency, when his efforts to negotiate on girls release were sabotaged:

“The political sponsors are very powerful because they supply the finances and the arms. Until they are cut off from the group, those girls will not be released. We are talking about 200 Chibok schoolgirls, but there are over 300 other girls that have been kidnapped. There are many young men that they also kidnapped and turned them against their families. They asked them to go and slaughter their family members and they are doing it. Nobody is talking about those ones. They are the new child soldiers.”

The expert several times repeated that the first thing to do to enable children’s release was “to stop the bagman who supplies weapons and military uniforms. We know his name, location and associates. If the man is stopped, the slaughterers, the ritual arm of the group, would be demobilised. The girls can be released afterwards. This man controls these ritualists.”

It would be recalled that more than 200 girls abducted in Chibok on April 14 by Boko Haram insurgents are still held in captivity. Foreign analysts from all over the world provide their expert opinion on who might be responsible for supporting insurgency in the country. In one of the recent editorial a Russian expert spoke about how and why the Nigerian opposition might benefit from terrorism.

*Story published by Blank NEWS Online with agency reports

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has thrown its weight behind the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with a consensus plot to ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan is re-elected in 2015.

Speaking at a rally held at the Ekwueme Square in Awka and organised to mobilise support for the President ahead of 2015 presidential polls, APGA Chairman, Victor Umeh announced that it was the consensus of all the National Executive Council members of the party to endorse Jonathan.

According to him, all the 21 local council chairmen and 318 councillors in the state are also in support of the call for Jonathan’s re-election

“He needs to be re-elected for another four years.

“We have seen his striking humility and calmness in dealing with the affairs of the country,” he said.

Also, Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano, said the party having adopted Jonathan would only field candidates for other elective positions.

While revealing that the National Chairman of APGA, Victor Umeh has an automatic ticket to run for the Anambra Central Senatorial District seat, Governor Obinao said other aspirants would have to go through the regular primaries.

On his part, the Director-General of Join Jonathan Journey, Ben Oranusi, said, “Jonathan is a good brand. The base for JJJ is the Igbo race.

“We do not claim to have the entire nation but will carry our campaigns to other states of the federation.”

Others who spoke at the rally were a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; former Minister of Women Affairs, Josephine Anenih, among others.

It could also be recalled that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta state has insisted during the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) South South Rally In Port Harcourt, that the President Jonathan must be supported, having been endorsed to seek re-election, come 2015.

Rising to the wake up call by concerned Nigerians on the seemingly slurpy handling of terrorism situation in the North Eastern part of the country by the Federal Government and the International Community, the Nigerian military on Thursday, August 28, carried out airstrikes against the Boko Haram sect’s positions in Limankara and Gwoza in Borno State.

This is just as one of Boko Haram’s camps in Cameroon came under heavy bombardment by the Cameroonian army and killing many of the insurgents.

In Nigeria, hundreds of troops were also mobilised to the frontline in Gulak, Adamawa State against the insurgents.

A source disclosed that three military planes were sighted hovering and after a few minutes, they heard sounds of 15 explosions in the direction of Madagali, Limankara and Gwoza.

Other residents added that several armoured vehicles were deployed in Gulak between Wednesday and Thursday while military trucks conveyed soldiers to the town.

Recall that the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, recently released a video claiming to have created an Islamic caliphate in Gwoza which was seized by the insurgents earlier this month.

The insurgents had allegedly captured Limankara and some areas under Madagali LGA of Adamawa State as well as Buni Yadi in Yobe State and the Police Mobile Training Camp in nearby Limankara village.

In a similar development, one of Boko Haram’s camps in Cameroon has been bombed by the Cameroonian army, killing many insurgents.

A security official disclosed that the camp was shelled on Wednesday, August 27, by tanks stationed on the frontier at Fotokol (on Cameroon’s side of the border).

“Seen from Fotokol, Gamboru looks empty and smells of death. Nobody knows how many Boko Haram members were killed, but it is obvious that many were. We think they still control the town, because there are many of them and they didn’t all gather in the same place,” the source said.

This is coming less than a week after Boko Haram seized control of Gamboru-Ngala, a key township on the border between Nigeria and Cameroon.

Boko Haram fighters were reported to have crossed Nigeria’s border into Cameroon on Monday after attacking a military base and police station in Borno, North-eastern Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Federal Government has ordered the immediate, unonditional reinstatement of the 16,000 resident doctors sacked during the nationwide NMA strike.

The Nigerian Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, through his spokesperson, Dan Nwomeh, tweeted that the doctors had been reinstated saying this took effect from Thursday.

Nwomeh further said the Federal Government also lifted the suspension of the Residency Training Programme in all federal hospitals.

His statement directed all the Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of training centres to re-issue letters of reinstatement to the resident doctors.

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has expressed deep concern and worry over the new cases of Ebola Virus outbreak in Rivers State with call on the citizens to be on the alert and take their personal hygiene and other preventive measures seriously.

Governor Uduaghan who has already set up an emergency committee on the deadly disease in the wake of the index case in the country, condemned the action of the diplomat that spread the virus to Port Harcourt and the doctor that attended to him in a hotel.

Dr. Uduaghan during a Channels Television programme, Sunrise Daily, broadcast live from Asaba on Friday, as part of activities to mark the 23rd anniversary of the creation of Delta State also called for increased and sustained advocacy campaign by stakeholders to curtail further spread of the disease.

“I am not only concerned that the virus has entered Port Harcourt, I am worried and we need to step up advocacy programme for people to raise the level of awareness,” the Governor who is a medical doctor by profession said.

“I feel very sad, very bad as a professional that a colleague, a Medical Doctor went to a hotel to treat someone who was suspected to have Ebola Virus, this call for great concern and need for more awareness to be created.”

“It is ridiculous why a diplomat should leave Lagos for Port-Harcourt knowing that he has been in contact with the primary Ebola victim,” disclosing that Delta State government has set up isolation centres in different parts of the state to ensure proper management of the disease.

While expressing the hope that it would not be spread to Delta State, Dr Uduaghan called on the people to be vigilant since a lot of persons were still migrating to the state from different parts of the country.

Answering question about some persons protesting against the location of isolation centres in their locality, the Governor said such complaint has not been witnessed in Delta State and noted that there was no need for such protest as preventive measures would have been put in place to ensure the safety of those working in the centres and the people living in the area.

He also spoke of the strides recorded by the state since its creation 23 years ago, emphasizing, “at twenty three, Delta State has come a long way, this is time for celebration, time for reflection, time to look at the challenges we had and I can tell you that a lot has been done within the last twenty three years in terms of overall development.”

Dr Uduaghan expressed the confidence that the Delta beyond Oil economical development programme of his administration would free the state from overdependence on oil revenue from the Federation Account.

“The oil economy is not a sustainable economy not only in Delta State but in Nigeria. The United States of America is depending less on oil from Nigeria and again, the oil may not be there tomorrow,” the Governor said.

Governor Uduaghan identified inadequate funding as the bane of local government administration in the country and advocated for more funds for that tier of government to enable it meet its statutory obligation while also calling for a removal of the burden of payment of teachers’ salaries from councils.

“Funding is a challenge for local government councils, for instance, we (Delta State Government) have to augment local government funds with over six hundred million naira monthly for them to pay salaries of primary school teachers. There is the need to increase allocation to local governments to enable them pay primary school teachers or move their salaries to the states and increase allocations to the states,” he said.

The Catholic Church has been compelled to close down most of its churches in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states because of acts of terrorism, just as Christians and Christian institutions have become the major targets in the Boko Haram sect’s mayhem.

“Christian men are caught and beheaded; the women are forced to become Muslims and are taken as wives to the terrorists. The houses of Christians that have fled are now occupied by the insurgents.

“Their cars are used by the terrorists. Some Muslims around identify Christian homes to be occupied and the Christians in hiding were also identified and killed. Strict Sharia Law has been promulgated.”

These are part of the press statement issued by the Director, Catholic Social Communications in-charge of the Maiduguri Diocese, Rev. Fr. Gideon Obasogie, following the recent occupation of Catholic churches in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states by the Islamist Boko Haram sect.

The press statement tagged “Boko Haram on Rampage: Declaring A Caliphate in Gwoza the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri” also lamented that while the occupation by the terrorists lasted, many church structures have been vandalised, burnt and dozens of people, especially Christians killed.

“Saint Timothy’s Bama have been under siege since last year. The Parish Priest, Reverend Father Timothy Cosmas has long been relocated to a different Parish. At the early part of this year St. Peter’s Pulka was badly attacked. Thanks to God the Pastor Fr. James John was luckily unavailable. The terrorists searched and wanted to kill the holy Priest of God.”

The statement added that on the 22th August 2014, the dreaded group boldly moved around in Gwoza and even declared caliphate while the assisting priest of Saint Denis Madagali, Reverend Father Aiden Ibrahim fled with some of the parishioners to the mountains and trekked to Michika local government area.

Recall that the dreaded sect had annexed Gwoza, a border town in Borno state from Nigeria’s Federal Government and declared it an Islamic Caliphate, even as the Emir of Gwoza, whose father was earlier killed by the sect members had fled his kingdom into exile.

Also recall that a purported spokesman for Boko Haram who called himself Abul Qaqa had told reporters in the northeastern city of Maiduguri in a phone conference last year that, “We launched these attacks to prove the Nigerian security wrong and to debunk their claim that we have been weakened by the military crackdown.

“The Nigerian state and Christians are our enemies and we will be launching attacks on the Nigerian state and its security apparatus as well as churches until we achieve our goal of establishing an Islamic state in place of the secular state.”

Italy’s International Cooperation Minister Andrea Riccardi had also condemned these attacks and called for international action to stop Boko Haram, saying that “Christian blood has again been spilt in Nigeria according to a now clear plan of ethnic and religious cleansing. The international community can no longer look on at this massacre of innocent people without intervening.”

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan broke his silence on his successor with a charge on all aspirants for the gubernatorial election in the state to embark on issues-based campaigns rather than blackmail.

He charged aspirants to sell their purposeful programmes and policies to the electorate and desist from scheming on how to disqualify fellow aspirants with good intents for the state.

Governor Uduaghan who has been evasive on his likely successor noted that neither he nor any level of scheming could determine the candidate that would take over from him in 2015 but that the final choice rested in the hands of God.

Uduaghan, who spoke at an Interdenominational Thanksgiving Service held at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter’s (Anglican Communion), Asaba to mark the 23th anniversary of the creation of Delta State on Wednesday, cautioned aspirants to “stop running around trying to disqualify anybody because who God wants to give power, that He will give, whether you disqualify somebody at the screening stage and God wants that person, the person will succeed.”

The Governor recalled that in the build up to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries in 2006, he was disqualified by a screening committee in Port Harcourt before an appeal panel cleared him to contest the polls.

“As an aspirant who wants to take over from me, tell the people what you want to do, let us have a clean electioneering campaign. Who God wants, He will put in office,” Dr Uduaghan said, stressing, “let the campaign not be about me, about whom I am supporting or who I am not supporting, let the campaign be about what you can do for the people.”

He added, “I want to thank everybody that have indicated interest to take over from me in 2015, it is not easy to make up one’s mind to contest but, know that there is only a space for one person at a time for four years.”

The Governor said the state has recorded successes and used the occasion to declare August 27 as Thanksgiving Day for Delta State.

Meanwhile, a frontline political pressure group, Delta United has adopted Mr. Anthony Chuks Obuh to succeed incumbent Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan as the governorship election in the state draws near.

In a motion moved by Hon. Efe Ofoburuku, member representing Uvwie Constituency and seconded by Hon. Johnson Erijo (Isoko South II) at the Delta state House of Assembly respectively, the gathering of hundreds of personalities drawn from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) unanimously adopted Obu as their sole aspirant.

In their separate remarks, Chief Ayiri Emani, Chief Tony Nwaka, Chief (Mrs.) Faith Majemite, Hon. Johnson Erijo, Hon. Efe Ofoburuku, Hon. Olisa Imegwu, Hon. Nicholas Mutu, Mr. Mike Sekeigba, Hon. Misan Ukubeyinje, Daniel Mayuku, among a retinue of others drawn from all 25 local government areas of the state poured opulence on Obuh and resolved to give him full support in the coming governorship election.

DELTA State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has described anger as the greatest challenge facing Nigeria as a nation.

Speaking on the topic, ” Nigeria’s Biggest Problem: Corruption or Impunity?” Governor Uduaghan stated that while corruption and impunity were part of the problems of Nigeria, the greatest challenge facing the country was anger.

According to him, every Nigerian was angry to the extent that “five governors who were at a ceremony with the President walked out on the President and formed the Angry People’s Congress.”

The Governor who spoke Monday at the 54th annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at Owerri, Imo State, called for love for one another.

“One of the biggest problems we have in this country today is anger, we are angry with each other,” the Governor said, observing that the Angry People’s Congress has provided a platform for aggrieved members of the PDP to defect to.

“When you are angry with the President, you join the APC, when you are angry with the governor, you join APC,” he stated, adding, “there is too much anger in the land and we need to deal with it.”

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State urged leaders to be mindful of how their actions affect the common man.

Former President, Yakubu Gowon lauded the theme of NBA’s Conference which was, “Nigeria, A Hundred Years After,” and observed that “Nigeria is not yet 100 as an independent nation.”

Gen. Gowon challenged participants at the conference to discuss how to make Nigeria greater in the next 100 years.

The Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal called for credible elections as the solution to Nigeria’s problem.

Outgoing President of NBA, Okey Wali, (SAN) said “the NBA annual general conference continues to be the premier and veritable opportunity for lawyers from around the world to meet and hear firsthand about current trends and legal developments in various areas of practice.”

THE Onotu-Uku of Umusadege, Utagba-Uno, in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief Adoh Ugbomeh has decried the aof the community by successive governments in the country.

Chief Ugbomeh, while addressing members of Asaba Branch of Umusadege Family Union on Saturday, August 23, 2014, observed that there is no federal government project in the community.

According to him, “I am to report that we are serially neglected by successive governments at Federal, State and Local levels, in terms of development,” adding, “as I speak to you, there is no Federal Government project in Umusadege, our community is the headquarters of abandoned projects in Delta State and the water project is completely abandoned and our people still depend on Umu stream for water supply, the maternity centre is overgrown with weeds and comfortably inhabited by dangerous reptiles, the police station, which was designed to have barracks and other offices, is now functioning as a police post despite several efforts to upgrade it to a division.”

“The most painful aspect of all the government neglects is the Delta State Government transport buses that terminate their trip at Ekuku Agbor and we have a good garage and enough passengers,” the Onotu-Uku said, stating, “I appeal to government to extend the terminal point to Ndemili, about two kilometers apart and to give effect to this, I am hereby nominating your President, Mr. Ikechuku Otuya to head a three-man committee; which he should constitute, to liaise with government and ensure that the State government grants this request.”

The Onotu-Uku continued, “early this month, some officials came from Abuja from Ministry of Energy saying that they came to inspect a solar powered water scheme by the Federal Government located in Ndemili, we expressed surprise and told them that there was nothing like that and they left their details including telephone numbers and that of their boss at Abuja with the Secretary because, the case of Ndemili Electricity project, which was abandoned and the money allegedly collected is still fresh in our memory.”

He disclosed that the meeting was part of his tours of branches of Umusadege Family Union and urged them not to relent in their efforts towards developing the Umusadege community.

Chief Ugbomeh specifically commended the President of Asaba branch of the family meeting, Mr Ikechukwu Otuya stating, “let me publicly acknowledge the contributions of this great patriot who facilitated the establishment of Edike Oza Primary School in Ndemili.”

The Onotu-Uku disclosed that a lot of positive changes have been effected in the community since his assumption of office as the Onotu of Umusadege three years ago, reiterating that he is working with the blessings of the Okpala-Uku of Umusadege, HRM Ojugbeli Egboneowu, noting that efforts are on “for government to recognize the Okpala-Uku as our traditional ruler.”

Responding, the President of Asaba branch of Umusadege Family meeting, Mr Ikechukwu Otuya thanked the Onotu Uku and all the Onotus from Ndemili for their efforts towards developing their community, observing that the visit of branches by the Onotu-Uku will strengthen the unity among Umusadege people and also, let the people to be aware of what is going on in their community.

Mr Steve Uweh in an interview, said, “there is no doubt, our community, Umusadege is witnessing peace as a result of the transparent administration of the Onotu-Uku.”

A prominent socio-political group in Dwlta state, Defenders of Democracy Group (DDG) has described the entrant of Mr. Anthony Chuks Obuh into the state’s governorship race as a good omen in the polity of the state.

The group, through it’s Coordinators in Delta North, South and Central Senatorial Districts respectively, assured Deltans to queue up behind Obuh, whom they described as an enviable politician, technocrat and best option worthy of emulation for Deltans to sustain the inherent peace and development agenda of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

The coordinators, in an exclusive interview with Blank NEWS Online, urged Deltans to undermine sectional opposition and work with Obuh in his quest to transform Delta state.

The Delta North Coordinator of the group, Comrade Uzor Nwabuoku, a former Delta state youth leader of PDP national grassroots forum, enjoined Deltans from the three senatorial districts to join hands in making sure that Obuh becomes governor, considering his detribalised nature.

Also, the Delta South coordinator of DDG, Comrade Ejoor Umukoro and his Delta Central counterpart, Comrade Peter Emwakpor disclosed that “Mr. Anthony Chuks Obuh is a noble man who has a clean track record of not being involved in any form of either financial crimes or bloodshed, like other politicians, describing him as a good omen to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and a welcome development to Delta state.”

NATIONAL President of University of Ibadan Alumni Association (UIAA), Dr Kemi Emina has challenged members of Alumni Associations to contribute positively to the development of their alma mater.

Dr Emina who was speaking after his election as the National President of UIAA said his emergence as an alumni president signals a new dawn for the University of Ibadan and urged all the members of the alumni association to contribute towards the growth of the University.

“We are proud to have passed through the University of Ibadan and I thank the alumni association for finding me worthy to pilot the affairs of this great association, this is a new dawn for the University of Ibadan and by the grace of God and the cooperation of lovers of education, the University of Ibadan will not only witness positive developments but the Nigerian education environment, especially, the University system will witness positive changes,” Dr Emina who is the Special Adviser to the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly on Research and Documentations said.

The former lecturer of the Delta State University, Abraka who worked for years as a Journalist in The Pointer Newspaper’s stable polled 83 votes as against his opponent’s seventy three votes to emerge victorious during the 23rd National Election Congress of UIAA held at the University of Ibadan.

Dr Emina who was sponsored by the Asaba Chapter of the association and served as a national ex-officious member of the association, took over the mantle of leadership from Dr Nathaniel Merenu.

Dr. Adeniyi Adedoyin, Dr Uche Uzokwe and Pastor Mike Ejikeme were elected as 1st, 2nd and 3rd National Vice Presidents respectively, while Mr Samuel Obinyan emerged as the national secretary of the association and Mr Okezie Agbugba (1st Assistant National Secretary), Mr Olumoyegun Temidire (2nd Assistant National Secretary), Dr Elsie Adewoye (National Treasurer), Mr Joseph Akaanam (National Financial Secretary) and Chief Solomon Egwuenu (National Publicity Secretary).Also, Mr M.A. Bello was elected as National Socials Secretary, Barr. R.A. Eyinade, National Legal Adviser, while Engr. Abiola Ogunjobi and Chief (Sir) Francis Odion as National Ex-Officio members.

The Chairman of the Delta State Council of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has described the 43rd conference of International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) held at Sofia, Bulgaria as a good opportunity to deliberate on issues affecting the transport sector in the world.

Chief Obi who attended the conference, disclosed that it was a well organized event for the transport workers, stating that the theme of the conference: “From Global Crisis to Global Justice: Transport Workers Fighting Back!” was very important especially for Nigerian delegates because of the activities of insurgents and criminals.

The Delta State NURTW Boss who spoke in Asaba thanked the National President of the drivers’ union, Alhaji Najeem Usman for ensuring the full participation of Nigeria’s delegates at the conference.

According to him, “our national President mobilized Nigerians for the conference and any where we went, we were well respected as Nigerians,”
Chief Obi said, adding, “the conference was an eye opener and good exposure for those of us who attended the conference and I thank our Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan for making our state peaceful which made it possible for me to travel to Bulgaria.

“Peace and security is very important and if the state is not peaceful, our union will not be in peace and I would not have travelled,” Chief Obi said, reiterating, “our union in Delta State is peaceful, our people are cooperating and we will implement what we learnt in Bulgaria.”

An interactive dialogue with the private sector in Delta State on running businesses in Nigeria holds in Asaba on Monday, August 25, 2014.

A statement issued by Mr. Pius Mordi, Special Assistant to Delta Commissioner for Information, Barr. Chike Ogeah and made available to Blank NEWS Online on Friday, August 22, 2014 reads:

“The dialogue is part of an intensive national Business Registration (BR) Promotion Campaign to encourage businesses organisations to be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

“The campaign which is part of the strategy to reduce the cost of doing business and improve competitiveness is aimed at:
• Promoting the benefits of formalization to increase business registrations in Nigeria.
• Creating awareness of regulatory reforms that make it easier, faster and cheaper to register a business in Nigeria.

“The interactive Public Private Dialogue (PPD) holding in Asaba at Benizia Hotel is a collaboration between the Delta State Ministry of Commerce and Industry with CAC and Growth and Employment in States (GEMS3).

“Representatives of associations, unions and the private sector will have the opportunity to start the registration process as CAC staff will be present to carry out name searches and start business name or company name registration process.

“The PPD will be followed by five days of intensive campaigning in various micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) locations in Asaba, Agbor, Warri, Ughelli and Sapele.

“The Growth & Employment in States (GEMS3) programme in Nigeria is a partnership between the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), the Department of International Development (DFID) and the World Bank. GEMS3 aims to improve the business environment and reduce poverty in Africa’s most populous country by increasing growth, incomes and jobs across the Nigeria.

“The First phase of the campaign took place in Kaduna, Kano, Calabar and Lagos states. The second phase took place in Enugu, followed by Ebonyi and Imo States. The third phase of the campaign is ongoing in Abia, Delta and Anambra states respectively during which various activities and workshops targeted at MSMEs in those states were introduced.

“GEMS3 is also supporting CAC on an online registration process intended to upgrade and streamline the business registration processes. This will make for further reduction in the time, cost and number of procedures required to register a business in Nigeria. CAC is committed to efficient service delivery to all customers in Delta state and Nigeria.”

A world class film village that would change the face of the film industry in Nigeria is to be established in Delta State with the State Governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan already set to provide land for the take off.

Dr Uduaghan explained that the construction of a film village in Delta State was in line with his administration’s human capital development and would also serve as encouragement to the Nigerian film industry which he described as mirroring the ills of the society and marketing the country to the world.

The Governor who spoke during a courtesy visit on him in Asaba on Thursday by a Delta-born veteran film producer, Chief Eddie Ugbomah, observed that Delta State was playing key roles in the entertainment industry as most of the Nigerian actors, actresses, comedians, musicians, including journalists were either Deltans or have links to the state.

He reiterated that his administration was investing in different areas, especially, in the area of tourism, noting that the Film Village was based on the fact that Delta State remained Nigeria’s entertainment hub and pre-eminent destination for film producers and actors.

Dr Uduaghan commended Chief Ugbomah for producing films on the gains and challenges of the oil industry, adding that such films were in line with his administration’s Delta Beyond Oil programme.

“Some of your films like the Oil Doom and the Black Gold are in tandem with our development model of Delta Beyond Oil,” Governor Uduaghan said, adding, “they expose the negative aspects of crude oil because an oil economy is not a sustainable economy, it has its challenges.”

He emphasized, “though, we are oil producing state, we are using the oil money to develop other areas of the economy, so, we associate with the ideals of your films.”

Dr. Uduaghan congratulated Chief Ugbomah on his 74th birthday and 50th anniversary as a film producer and assured him of his administration’s assistance in the establishment of a gallery in the state.

Earlier Chief Ugbomah, accompanied by his colleagues in the film industry, had informed the Governor that he was celebrating his 74th birthday and 50th anniversary as a film producer and appealed to the Governor for land to establish a film village in the state.

Irked by the sloppy attitude of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in conducting a fresh registration exercise in Ika South local government of Delta state, the people have lambasted the Commission for possible plot of disenfranchisement.

INEC had earlier declared that the data-base of Ika South local government was infected with virus, after the 2011 voters’ registration exercise in the state and promised to conduct a fresh registration exercise in the area.

But appalled at the inefficiency displayed by INEC during the exercise, the people who turned out in their large numbers complained that they could not be re-registered due to the faulty computer laptops, scanners and other accessories provided for the exercise.

Although they appealed to INEC to facilitate the fresh registration exercise to enable them vote in the forthcoming elections, they urged INEC to provide the ad-hoc staff in the various units of the 18 Wards in Ika South with up to date computer equipment for efficient exercise.

However an INEC source in Delta state has confirmed to Blank NEWS Online that the computers and their accessories provided for the fresh registration exercise in Ika South were the same used during the 2011 voters’ registration exercise in the state, adding that they had been dumbed at the Commission’s headquarters in Asaba.

Speaking on behalf of the people, Hon. Martin Okonta, representing Ika South Constituency at the Delta state House of Assembly who lamented INEC’s failure to issue Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) to the people, solicited for an extension of time to enable them participate fully in the fresh registration exercise.

“We did all we could to mobilise the people who are predominately farmers for a fresh registration but unfortunately INEC equipment are obsolete and could not function effectively. The people are very pained about it. And as you can see this event ought to take the next one month considering the nature of the battered equipment they have. If the equipment were in order they would have been able to register about 10 persons in a day.

“We have been here since 08:00am till 01:00pm when the INEC ad-hoc officials arrived and at 04:00pm only one person has been registered. INEC should urgently provide efficient equipment for the exercise.

“We are appealing to INEC to take necessary steps to ensure that our people who came out for fresh registration are duly registered. It is the same problem in the 18 wards. They said they have virus in Ika South and could not deliver a single Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) and this is the dilemma we are in now.”

On INEC’s insistence that no electorate would be allowed to vote without the Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC), Okonta said, “I don’t think INEC can stop a local government from participating in a national election. In state elections too, they need the voters’ card to vote. I don’t think they have the constitutional power to disenfranchise a local government from participation. It is illegal and not obtainable anywhere. So however they are going to do it the nation is watching.

“I do not suspect any sabotage. It is just that the equipment they brought were no longer functional because they were not serviced. Urgent steps should therefore be taken to service these machines.”

In some of the polling units visited by Blank NEWS Onlineon Wednesday, August 20, 2014, people were seen milling around the INEC officials who frequently battle with the registration equipment in vain.

One of the officials told Blank NEWS Online that they have started retrieving some of the faulty equipment to the Commission’s offices at Agbor and Asaba for repairs.

When contacted, the Delta state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dame Gesila Khan on Wednesday, August 20, 2014, said that appropriate measures have been put in place by the Commission to ensure that the people of Ika South are provided with new Temporary Voters’ Cards (TVC).

The REC said the people of Ika South would be allowed to use their Temporary Voters’ Cards, instead of the Permanent Voters’ Cards during elections considering the peculiarity of their case.

According to her, “We have met with the Dein of Agbor and his council of chiefs and we promised to send two machines each to the 129 polling units and we have done that.

“The intention is to declare the first set of the machines which would be replaced with the alternate ones while the other one is being taken care of and that is exactly what we are doing in Ika South.

We have two experts from our head office who are stationed in Agbor specifically to fix broken down machines.

“You should also expect that on the very first day of an exercise, there is anxiety, leading to impatience.

“I know that you understand the workings of INEC. You must be given a document at the point of registration. Local government elections are coming in October, certainly since the Permanent Voters’ Cards aren’t ready yet, they will vote with the Temporary Voters’ Cards.”

Nigeria has lost a senior doctor to the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, announced Tuesday evening.

The doctor, Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, a senior female consultant physician at First Consultant Hospital, Lagos, participated in the management of the index EVD case, Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu made the pronouncement through his Media Assistant, Dan Nwomeh in a statement made available to Blank

NEWS Online.

The statement reads:

“The Honourable Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu regrets to announce the death, this evening, of one of the primary contacts of the index Ebola Virus Disease case, the most senior doctor who participated in the management of the patient, a female consultant physician.

“With this unfortunate development the total number of Ebola Virus related deaths in Nigeria now stand at five.

“The other two patients currently under treatment in the isolation wards are stable and are being taken care of.”

According to a source, the late Dr Ameyo Adedavoh could not make it due to the serious contact she had with the late Sawyer.

“She tried to fight the disease. She fought a good fight. She saved Nigeria from imminent Ebola epidemic. She was the one that stopped late Sawyer when he became violent and was able to stop him. It is unfortunate we lost her. She is a heroine, even in death,” the source stated.

Dr. Adadevoh was an experienced consultant physician and endocrinologist was Lead Consultant with First Consultants Medical Centre, Obalende, Lagos.

A holder of an MBBS from the University of Lagos, UNILAG, as well as a Diploma in Endocrinology from the University of London, the deceased practised in the United Kingdom and Nigeria for more than three decades.

She was a member of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, the British-Nigerian Association and a Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday in Abuja presented N500 million cheque to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and N260 million to his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Godswill Akpabio.

The fund is the states’ share of the disbursement of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s N220 billion funds for the development of micro, small and medium enterprises in the country.

The fund’s disbursement was the highpoint of the CBN’s 8th Annual MSME Finance Conference and Entrepreneurship Awards with the theme: “MSME Financing in Nigeria: Past, Present and Future.”

Uduaghan also won an award at the ceremony for the outstanding success Delta State has recorded under him in the MSME scheme.

The representatives of LAPO Micro-Finance Bank and Grassroots Micro-Finance received a cheque of N100 million and N9.9 million respectively from the President.

Speaking at the launch at the launch, Jonathan said that the Federal Government would establish a wholesale Development Finance Institution to provide long-term funds for industrial development.

The President said that the proposed institution was part of measures to enhance the contribution of MSMEs to the country’s economic growth and development.

According to him, the impending DFI would provide long-term finance spanning up to 15 years for relevant entrepreneurs and industrialists, especially people involved in tree crop production.

Jonathan also disclosed plans by the Federal Government to restructure existing DFIs for better performance and improved access to finance by MSMEs.

He said: “MSMEs are recognised all over the world as engine of growth in any development oriented economy.

“Besides their inherent labour intensive production processes, they also provide a viable platform for job creation globally.

“All over the developed world, the contributions of MSMEs to Gross Domestic Product average about 47 per cent.

“This shows clearly how important MSMEs are to us.

“As reported by SMEDAN (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria), there are about 17.3 million SMEs in Nigeria.

“However, this is quite small compared to countries like Indonesia that is slightly more than us in terms of population, but they have about 40 million.

“So, we must also get there and even go beyond.”

The President emphasised that a vibrant MSME sub-sector was indispensable for achieving sustainable transformation of the Nigerian economy.

He said as Africa’s largest economy with excellent prospects of becoming one of the world’s 20 largest economies by 2020, the challenges confronting MSMEs in the country must be addressed frontally.

Jonathan said: “The challenges called for more concrete and concerted measures to enhance and expand the activities of MSMEs in our country.

“The enormity of the task ahead demands immediate and dedicated action.

“That is why I am kick-starting today the disbursement of the N220 billion MSME Development Fund.

“The fund will be received by participating financial institutions and state governments for onward lending to MSMEs across the country.”

Jonathan described the conference as apt and appropriate in view of its focus on ways to resolve the problem of access to and cost of finance to MSMEs in Nigeria.

Besides limited access to finance, MSMEs in the country are also confronted by poor infrastructure, especially power, among other challenges.

Jonathan stated that the Federal Government was investing heavily on critical infrastructure such as electricity and road, among others to promote job creation and inclusive growth.

He said: “We are aware that inadequate infrastructure increases the cost of production by an estimated 30 per cent, making Nigerian goods quite under-competitive and we need to improve on that.

“The Federal Government believes that stable power supply is the bedrock of our industrial development and economic progress.

“It will not only reduce the cost of manufacturing and services significantly, it will also engender investments and create jobs.

“With these benefits in mind we are vigorously implementing the power sector reform programme.”

Jonathan noted that in spite of the initial challenges associated with the power reform programme, some of the successor companies to the unbundled Power Holding Company of Nigeria were currently doing well.

He lauded the CBN for collaborating with the Ministries of Power and Petroleum Resources as well as the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission to address the funding issues related to gas supply.

According to him, the collaboration is expected to boost gas supply that will increase the country’s power generation capacity to 5,000 megawatts within the next few months.

FORMER Deputy Chief of Staff to the Delta State Government, Chief Emma Ejiofor has said the level of political awareness in the country has contributed to the success of the collection of permanent voters card.

Chief Ejiofor who spoke on the outcome of the distribution of the permanent voters cards by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), observed that Nigerians came out to collect the cards without much publicity.

“I am happy that Nigerians are gradually coming to terms with democratic principles,” Ejiofor who is the Onishe of Ubulu-Uku, Aniocha South local government area of Delta State said, adding, “you can see that Nigerians are conscious of the fact that without the voters card, they cannot vote or be voted for and at Isho Primary School, Ubulu-Uku, where I collected my card, it was a smooth process.”

He also commended the INEC for being thorough in the distribution of cards, observing that there was no mis up as it concerns the distribution of cards unlike what was witnessed in the past.

“There is a lot of improvement in Nigeria’s democracy, the awareness is high and INEC is correcting itself and this has reduced the level of complaints by the electorates,” Chief Ejiofor observed.

He thanked the Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan for declaring a public holiday to enable workers in the state to collect the voters’ card which will ensure that workers in the state actively participate in the 2015 general elections.

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has harped on the need for effective collaboration of host communities with government to ensure maximum benefits of projects sited in their areas.

Speaking during an inspection of the 500 hectares cassava mechanised farming project at Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area of the State, the Governor said that project undertaken by the Federal Government in collaboration with the Delta State Government, would boost food security and create jobs for the people.

He said the project was an indication that the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan was on course, stressing that direct employment and the subsequent multiplier effect in empowering the people was unimaginable.

Accordingly, he enjoined the host community, Umiaghwa-Abraka, to remain peaceful and supportive of the cassava project in order to benefit maximally from it.

Governor Uduaghan who was conducted round the project by Dr. Martin Fregene, a Senior Technical Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, reiterated his commitment to the full development of the project particularly the timely construction of the processing plant and access road.

He said that the construction of the processing plant which was earlier delayed because of the initial challenges of the farm site, would be fast tracked to be ready to process the cassava in nine months time.

Dr. Fregene assisted by officials of the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation, Ilorin, Kwara State said one hundred and fifty hectares of land has been cultivated out of the five hundred hectares of the project’s first phase.

He said what has been cultivated would yield between twenty and twenty five metric tonnes of cassava daily per hectare adding that the project which was modeled after cassava projects in Southern Brazil would produce enough cassava flour to meet the federal government ten percent cassava flour requirement in bread.

Besides, Dr. Fregene disclosed that the plant would process cassava starch and ethanol for export thereby giving the nation foreign exchange noting that when fully completed the project would create a minimum of fifteen thousand direct jobs excluding the indirect jobs.

He thanked Governor Uduaghan for giving support to the project and assured Deltans that the project would revolutionize cassava production in Delta State and South-South at large.

Earlier at the palace of the traditional ruler of Umiaghwa-Abraka, Avwaeke I, Air Vice-Marshal Lucky Ararile (Rtd)

Governor Uduaghan informed the people that the project was put in place by President Goodluck Jonathan to expand the nation’s economic development base through agriculture adding that Delta State had keyed into the programme through the ‘Delta Beyond Oil’ policy.

While thanking the Umiaghwa-Abraka monarch for his support, Governor Uduaghan assured the traditional ruler of the commitment of the federal and state government to complete the project because of its potentials.

He disclosed that a committee of the stakeholders comprising the federal and state governments and the Umiaghwa-Abraka community would be inaugurated soon to interface on the project culminating in a memorandum of understanding.

Governor Uduaghan paid tribute to the traditional ruler for his contribution to the success of the federal government amnesty programme as well as the prevailing peace in the Niger-Delta region.

The Ovie of Umiaghwa Abraka, commended President Jonathan and Governor Uduaghan for the project saying the project would guarantee increased food production and the creation of jobs.

He advised the federal government to put in place a memorandum of understanding for the project to guarantee a sense of belonging for the community.

The Traditional ruler appealed to the federal government to increase the capacity of the plant to its original 250 metric tonnes and twelve thousand hectare landmass from its present 500 hectares.

Delta State Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah Esq., has enjoined Public Relations Officers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to be involved in the advocacy of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the state.

Ogeah, who gave the charge in Asaba while meeting with the Public Relations Officers of the MDAs in the state, urged them to disseminate adequate and accurate information about the killer virus.

The Commissioner stated that the PROs must have knowledge and information about the Ebola Virus Disease to enable them inform members of the public through flyers and handbills.

He said the state government has taken proactive measures to tackle any reported outbreak headlong since no vaccine nor cure has been identified for the disease.

In her speech, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Monitoring, Dr. Rukevwe Ugwumba said the State Government is putting everything in place to ensure that there is no outbreak of the disease in the state, even as she advised people to maintain simple personal hygiene of hand washing and to wash fruits before eating them.

She revealed that no case of the disease has been reported in Delta state.

ELECTED and appointed office holders from Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in Delta State have been challenged to facilitate the tarring of Asaba/Okpanam/Issele-Azagba road through the Catholic Church, through the Amachai Community, Okpanam in Oshimili North local government area of the state.

Chairman, Amachai Community, Okpanam, Comrade Emeka Egwuogu made the call while speaking about the community’s efforts towards grading the road.

According to him, it is a short stretch of road but, very important as it links three local government areas and will also, make people to travel to Asaba without passing through the busy Benin/Asaba expressway.

“Okpanam as part of the state capital territory is witnessing an influx of people and this our road will make people to travel to Asaba without passing through the airport and it will ease congestion on that part of the road,” Comrade Egwuogu said, adding, “we are calling on our member in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu; the members representing Oshimili South, Oshimili North and Aniocha North Constituencies in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Peter Onwusanya, Pat Ajudua, Victor Ochei respectively and all the sons and daughters of Aniocha/Oshimili to take the road as a priority project.”

He added that the Asaba/Okpanam/Issele-Azagba road through Amachai community will also facilitate movement for people who are residing in Okpanam and go to work in Akwukwu-Igbo, Asaba, Onitsha and other places.

Contributing, Comrade Friday Okonkwo said, “this road will make the people of Okpanam to also, go to our local government headquarter, Akwukwu-Igbo, Ugbolu and other areas within Oshimili North and Aniocha North local government areas, farmers and our people in general will find it easier to visit Asaba through this road,” emphasizing, “Amachai community have been grading this road, but, we cannot grade it beyond our land which makes it difficult to pass through. We want the Direct Labour Agency (DLA) to grade this road and make it motorable to Issele-Azagba because many people prefer to pass through this road than to pass through the expressway.”

Comrade Okonkwo urged concerned governmental organizations to take the road as a priority project, observing that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State is doing a lot for Deltans, especially in the area of road construction.

World Health Organization says untested drugs can be used to treat patients infected with the Ebola virus, considering the scale of the outbreak and more than 1,000 recorded deaths in West Africa.

The WHO made the statement after its medical experts met in Switzerland on Monday to discuss the issue even as officials warned there were very limited supplies of potential treatments.

Dr Marie-Paule Kieny from the WHO said that there has been “unanimous agreement” among experts.

The WHO said where experimental treatments are used there must be informed consent and the results of the treatment collected and shared.

In a statement, it said: “In the particular circumstances of this outbreak, and provided certain conditions are met, the panel reached consensus that it is ethical to offer unproven interventions with as yet unknown efficacy and adverse effects, as potential treatment or prevention.”

However, the drug has only been tested on monkeys and has not yet been evaluated for safety in humans.

Meanwhile Nigeria has recorded the third death as a result of the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country.

The ECOWAS Commission Tuesday night announced the passing of a staff member of its Lagos Liaison Office, Mr. Jatto Asihu Abdulqudir, aged 36 who had been under quarantine following the death of Patrick Sawyer.

A Protocol Assistant, Abdulqudir, was among those who assisted the Liberian delegate to a regional meeting Mr. Patrick Sawyer, who died from the Ebola Virus Disease at a Lagos hospital on 25th July 2014.

In a statement Tuesday night, the ECOWAS Commission said, “The Management of the Commission wishes to commiserate with Mr. Abdulqudir’s family and colleagues and prays for the repose of his soul.

“Before this sad event, the Commission working in collaboration with Nigerian health authorities, had disinfected all the facilities of the ECOWAS Lagos Liaison Office as part of precautionary measures to safeguard the health, safety and security of staff members, and will continue to monitor the situation.

“Management has also intensified awareness campaign among staff on the deadly virus and uses this opportunity to invoke the spirit of solidarity and mutual assistance.

“The Commission wishes to reassure staff of all Community Institutions all over the entire region that it is taking all necessary steps to guarantee their health and safety.

“Furthermore, Management enjoins all staff members and community citizens in general to intensify the observance of personal hygiene. They should also report any suspected case to health facilities and seek medical advice or attention for the effective containment and defeat of the Ebola disease.

“On the directive of regional leaders, ECOWAS has already set up a Solidarity Fund to fight the disease and has solicited the support contribution of Member States and development partners to the Fund to rid the region of the virus.

“The ECOWAS Commission wishes to reiterate its continued commitment to support Member States in confronting this deadly virus”.

Recall that few days after Sawyer died, one of the nurses that assisted him also died.

Also on Monday, Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, confirmed that another nurse who assisted Sawyer has tested positive to the deadly virus.