LAGOS FIRE OUTBREAK.

17/07/23

PRESS RELEASE

BENEDICTA TD

What would have a great tragedy was averted in Lagos On Sunday following the rescue of Seven Children from a storey building housing Motherless Babies in Aguda Area of the State.

According to the statement issued by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos state Emergency management agency (LASEMA) Olufemi Oke-Osanyitolu, the Fire which reportedly started from an Air conditioning unit in the house located at 7, Wole Madariola street, off Enitan Kusimo Street Aguda was as a result of power surge .

The timely intervention of Emergency Responders led to a quick containment of the inferno from spreading any further.

The boys aged between one and seven years he explained were quickly evacuated from the Home and relocated to a safe shelter.

According to the LASEMA boss, no injuries, nor casualties were recorded in the near fatal incident

ZOONOTIC DISEASE OUTBREAK ACROSS POLAND THREATEN HUMAN LIVES WITH UNUSUAL RECORDS IN DEATH OF CATS …W.H.O

17/07/23

PRESS RELEASE

SHINA J.O

Influenza A(H5N1) in cats – Poland

Situation at a glance

On the 27th Of June 2023, the IHR National Focal Point of Poland notified WHO of unusual deaths in cats across the country. As of 11 July, 47 samples have been tested from 46 cats and one captive caracal, of which 29 were found to be positive for influenza A (H5N1).

Fourteen cats are reported to have been euthanized, and a further 11 died, with the last death reported on 30 June. The source of the exposure of cats to the virus is currently unknown and epizootic investigations are ongoing.

Sporadic infection of cats with A(H5N1) has previously been reported, but this is the first report of a high numbers of infected cats over a wide geographical area within a country.

As of 12 July, no human contacts of A(H5N1) positive cats have reported symptoms, and the surveillance period for all contacts is now complete.

The risk of human infections following exposure to infected cats at the national level is assessed as low for the general population, and low to moderate for cat owners and those occupationally exposed to  H5N1-infected cats (such as veterinarians) without the use of appropriate personal protective equipment.

WHO continues to monitor the situation and work in close collaboration with the animal and public health sectors, regional agencies, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and other partner agencies in Poland.

Description of situation

On 27 June 2023, the IHR National Focal Point of Poland notified WHO of unusual deaths in cats across the country. As of 11 July 2023, a total of 47 samples have been tested from 46 cats and one caracal (Caracal caracal). Of these 47 samples, 29 (62%) were positive for influenza A(H5N1). Positive samples were reported from 13 geographical areas within the country.

Some cats developed severe symptoms including difficulty in breathing, bloody diarrhoea, and neurological signs, with rapid deterioration and death in some cases. In total, 20 cats had neurological signs, 19 had respiratory signs, and 17 had both neurological and respiratory signs. 

Fourteen cats are reported to have been euthanized, and a further 11 died.  Post-mortem exams on a small number of cats are suggestive of pneumonia. According to the information available, the last known death among cats was reported on 30 June.

Genomic analysis of 19 viruses sequenced from this outbreak showed that they all belonged to the H5 clade 2.3.4.4b and Viruses which have been circulating in wild birds and which caused outbreaks in poultry recently in Poland. 

The source of exposure of cats to the virus is currently unknown and epizootic investigations are ongoing. There are several possibilities for the source of infection, among which the cats could have had direct or indirect contact with infected birds or their environments, ate infected birds, or ate food contaminated with the virus. Authorities are investigating all potential sources and to date have not ruled out any. Of the 25 cats for which the information is available, two were outdoor cats, 18 were indoor with access to a balcony, terrace, or backyard, and five were indoor cats with no access to the outside environment. Seven cats are reported to have had the opportunity for contact with wild birds. 

This is the first report of high numbers of cats infected with avian influenza A(H5N1) spread over a wide geographical area within any country.  Sporadic infections in domestic cats with A(H5N1) viruses, including A(H5N1) H5 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses, have been reported previously, following close contact of the cats with infected birds or from ingesting meat of infected birds.

GOSPEL CORNER: IF YOU ONLY KNEW WHO IT IS WHO COMES TO YOU IN YOUR DARKEST AND WEAKEST MOMENTS.

17/07/23

John 4 tells the story of a shunned Samaritan woman who encountered Jesus when she came to draw water at a well. When she asked Jesus why He (a Jew) would ask her (a despised Samaritan) for a drink of water, this was His amazing response: that she would ask Him for living water, the only thing that would satisfy her from within and slake her deep thirst for acceptance and love forever.

What an amazing Savior! Although this woman had a past of looking for love in all the wrong places that imprisoned her in shame and self-loathing, Jesus met her at her point of greatest need with the offer of Himself, the living water. He knew all that she had ever done and yet offered her the true intimacy that fully satisfies every aching need. He invited her to discover, taste, and experience His perfect and unconditional love.

Jesus is saying the same thing to you today: If you only knew who it is who comes to you in your darkest and weakest moments. If you only knew this gift of God who will never leave you nor forsake you, who has gone before you and who comes to you in the midst of your storms. If you only knew the One who reaches out to you even when you have failed and who doesn’t hold your past mistakes or present failures against you.

Beloved, if you only knew this gift of God who offers the living water of His unconditional, endless love to you and you drink of that love, you will never thirst again. You won’t need to look for love or acceptance in all the wrong places, have your heart broken and fearful about the future, and have your life derailed. You can wake up with a fresh expectation of good every day.

Jesus was essentially inviting the woman to ask Him for the living water of His love. Will you do that today? Your life will never be the same again when you personally experience His love!

https://www.josephprince.com/meditate-devo/if-you-only-knew

N8,000 MONTHLY PALLIATIVE HANDOUT EXPOSES THEREALITY OF TINUBU’S RENEWED MISGOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION

PRESS STATEMENT

16/07/23

The United Action Front of Civil Society expresses deep concerns over the deceitful Palliative Pill of Bola Tinubu led Administration of the All progressives Congress (APC), following its arbitrary and inexcusable hike of the price of premium motor spirit (PMS).

The leadership of organised Platform of the Nigerian Civil syociety unequivocally decries as another grand deceit; the N8,000 Monthly handouts proposed by Government for the yet to be disclosed (or otherwise covertly selected) 12 million poor and Vulnerable Households.

It is no longer in doubt that the N500 Million approved by the House of Representatives on Thursday 13, 2023 as part of the amendment to the 2022 supplementary appropriation Act for the provision of palliative would be funded through an additional $800 million World Bank loan approved by the Senate.

It is therefore worrisome that the New Administration is treading in the erroneous indebtedness of its Predecessor. The United Action Front of Civil Society however laments the reality of making the same poor citizens of Nigeria take the bitter pill of repaying a wrongheaded loan supposedly being acquired in their interest in the nearest future.

It is also beyond doubt that the meagre monetary Palliative could barely feed a family of two for five days considering the fact that the fuel price hike in the name of subsidy removal has deepened the proportion of multi-dimensional poverty in the country.

The leadership of the organised Civil society therefore considers the supposed intervention as erroneous and a poorly conceived ploy to hoodwink the Masses, who have been unduly trampled and pauperized by the policy of the APC Government under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari; a trend that is sadly being renewed under the new Administration.

There are indeed enough reasons to conclude that the N8,000 Monthly handout to a mere fraction of the poverty-stifled Masses would end up another avenue for the corrupt enrichment of a few clique in Power, as witnessed with previous supposed poverty alleviation programmes of the APC, namely the Tradermoni Scheme, the direct Cash transfer and the school feeding Programme supervised by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management.

The United Action Front of Civil Society bemoans the ridiculous tokenism which the new Government is trying to foist on the country. It is indeed unfortunate that the Government could be contemplating a meagre N8,000 six-monthly handout per tiny fraction of the Several Millions of Households across the country at a time that a whooping N70 Billion has been voted for 469 Member-National Assembly.

We make bold to assert that the N8,000 Monthly handout is therefore not only insufficient but ludicrous and therefore can’t and won’t be the remedy for the deep hardship attributable to Government reckless economic policy.

It therefore speaks to lack of compassion and utter display of insensitivity and arrogance on the part of the leadership of the new Administration to have concluded that the N8,000 Monthly per Household could sufficiently ameliorate the profound hardship aggravated by the hike in fuel price across urban and rural communities in Nigeria.

It is also a matter of serious concern that the new Administration is evidently unmindful of the overriding implication of the worsening debt burden under which the Nigerian economy continues to asphyxiate.

Unfortunately, the chocking debt profile has further been worsened by the $800 Million World Bank loan which is bound to widen 2023 budget deficit. It is however not surprising that the Senate speedily approved the $800 Million World Bank loan on Friday 14, 2023 in pretence of supporting poor and vulnerable Nigerians under the guise of National Social Safety Net programme.

What is however evident with the new loans is that the N8,000 Monthly Palliative proposed for 12 Million Households for a period of 6 months is a Greek gift after all.

While desperate attempts are being made to hoodwink Nigerians that the N8,000 Palliative is for the collective best interest of the masses, it has however become expedient to lament the inevitable reality ahead, in not too distant future, to the effect that the masses would be forced to endure further pains that come with repayment of corruption laden loans that would only increase the debt Burden of the Nigerian people rather than alleviate the multidimensional poverty line in the country.

Signed:
Olawale Okunniyi
(Veteran Che)
08033993867
Head, National Coordinating Centre,
United Action Front of Civil Society

EUROPE BOUND TEENAGE STUDENT ARRESTED AT ABUJA AIRPORT WITH METHAMPHETAMINE CONSIGNMENT.. FEMALE LAWYER, OTHERS ARRESTED…

16/07/23

PRESS RELEASE

BENEDICTA TD

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja have arrested a 19-year-old Student, Benjamin Nnamani Daberechi for alleged attempt to Export 7.2 kilograms of Methamphetamine Concealed in crayfish to Europe where he was going for undergraduate studies.

The NDLEA’S spokesman, Femi Babafemi, in a statement said, the Teenage Suspect was intercepted on Wednesday 12th July, 2023, during an outward clearance of Passengers on Turkish Airlines flight TK 0624.

While being interviewed by operatives, Daberechi claimed he was a student on his way to Cyprus for studies, but upon a thorough search of his luggage, he was found in possession of 7.2kg of whitish substance neatly concealed inside a sack of crayfish.

A field test of the substance, however, proved positive to Methamphetamine.

Similarly, operatives of the Tincan Port Command of the Agency on Tuesday 11th July intercepted 116.5kg consignment of Colorado, a strong strain of cannabis concealed in bags hidden in a heap of used vehicles parts on the floor of a container marked FCIU 8459700, bearing three units of used vehicles imported from Toronto, Canada.

Based on intelligence, the Agency had requested a 100 per cent Examination of the container, which arrived at the TICT terminal of the port on 14th June.

A joint examination with the Nigeria Customs, DSS and other stakeholders on Tuesday 11th July however led to the discovery of 233 parcels of the illicit substance stashed inside travelling bags on the floor of the container, covered with used vehicles spare parts.
Also, attempts to export various quantities of illicit substances through courier companies were equally thwarted by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigations, DOGI in Lagos state.
While 336 grams of skunk stuffed inside computer hard drives going to Dubai, UAE, were seized at a courier firm, a suspect, Ibrahim Analu, 28, was arrested at Iddo motor park, Lagos while attempting to send 151,700 pills of opioids to Kaduna.

In a related development, a total of 4.830kg skunk was also discovered at another courier firm in a shipment from Douala, Cameroon passing through Nigeria to Oman.
The drug was concealed in 10 of 12 cans of palm fruits paste, locally called Banga, packed in a carton.

Meanwhile, a Lekki Lagos based female lawyer, Ebikpolade Helen, who specialises in production and distribution of skuchies, a mixture of cannabis, opioids and black currant has been arrested in a follow up operation in Awka, Anambra state following an earlier seizure of 5kg cannabis and 12 bottles of prepared skuchies in her apartment at Lekki.

While Abubakar Shuaibu was arrested on Thursday 13th July at Cappa, Mushin/Oshodi road with 86 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup weighing 8.6 litres in his Toyota bus marked FFA 241YB, two other suspects: Razak Ogunbo and Adeola Idowu were nabbed Tuesday 11th July at Ikorodu with 51 litres of skuchies.

This is even as 372kg cannabis sativa and 48 bottles of skuchies measuring 48 litres were recovered from the home of a fleeing drug dealer at Akala, Mushin Lagos on Wednesday 12th July.

In Ondo state, operatives stormed a building at Ehin-Ala, Akure South LGA where they arrested one Abubakar Zayanu Gyambar, 28, with 162 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 1,944 kilograms, while another suspect, Henry Wilson, 50, was nabbed at Ogume town, Ndokwa West LGA, Delta State with same substance weighing 216.5kg.

A total of 45.41kg cannabis was recovered from Adam Hassan, 27, along Inga wa-Mani – Mashi road, Katsina enroute Niger Republic, while 70kg of same substance was seized from Mamman Nur Shettima on Saturday 15th July along Kano – Nguru road, Yobe state. In Kano, a suspect, Abdulhamid Lawan Bayaro, 48, was on Friday 14th July nabbed at Dan Agundi area, Kano with 114 blocks of cannabis, weighing 71.7kg, just as operatives recovered 50,000 pills of Tamol, a brand of Tramadol at Kofar Waika area of the state.

While a total of 912,600 pills of pharmaceutical opioids including tramadol were recovered from two commercial vehicles; one coming from Lagos to Kano, the other was intercepted along Abuja-Jere-Kaduna expressway, with a suspect, Sahabi Lawal, 25, arrested. In Borno state, 32-year-old Umar Tijjani Mustapha was arrested at Gangamari, MMC, with 55.25kg skunk on Thursday 13th July.

DSS FILES CHARGE AGAINST EMEFIELE

Credit: NAN


16/07/2023

The Department Of States Security, DSS, has charged the suspended Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

This is in compliance with Judgment delivered by Justice Hamza Muazu, ordering the DSS to release Emefiele or charge him to court within Seven days.

The Counts are as follow

(1) That you Godwin Emefiele Male of No 8 Colorado Street Maitama Abuja on or about the 15% June, 2023 at No. 3b Iru Close, Ikoyi, Eti Osa Local Government, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court had in your possession one (1) Single Barrel shot Gun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without licence You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1)(b)(i) of the same Act.

Count Two also states ;That you Godwin Emeficle Male of No 8 Colorado Street Maitama Abuja on or about the 150 June, 2023 at No. 36 Ir Close, Ikoyi, Eti Osa Local Government, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court had in your possession One Hundred and Twenty-Three (123) Rounds of live ammunition (Cartridges) without licence. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1)(b)(ii) of the same Act.

Emefiele was arrested on June 10, 2023, a day after he was suspended by President Tinubu, and he is still being held in the custody of the DSS.

MATTHEW 27:46). THAT IS WHERE THE DIVINE EXCHANGE TOOK PLACE. AT THE CROSS, JESUS TOOK OUR SINS AND GAVE UP…

16/07/20

There was a time under the law in the Old Testament where God would be with you only when you were in complete obedience. But when you failed, He would leave you. Today, however, you and I are under a completely different covenant and God will never leave us. Why? Because of what Jesus did on the cross. At the cross, He became our burnt offering. He bore our sins and carried our punishment. God’s judgment against our sins fell upon Jesus, who was forsaken at the cross by His Father so that today, we can have God’s constant, unceasing presence in our lives.

Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” so that you and I will know exactly what happened on the cross (Matthew 27:46). That is where the divine exchange took place. At the cross, Jesus took our sins and gave up the presence of God, while we took Jesus’ righteousness and received the presence of God that Jesus had. God’s presence is now ours for eternity. What a divine exchange!

Take a look with me at what the Bible says about our inheritance in Christ: “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'” (Hebrews 13:5–6). What confidence we can have today! Do you know what “never” here means? It means that when you are up, He is with you. When you are down, He is with you. When you are glad, He is with you. When you are sad, He is with you. When you are doing right, He is with you. Even when you have failed, He is still with you! That is what it means when Jesus said that He would never leave you nor forsake you!

Because Jesus, your prosperity, peace, provision, and wisdom, is always with you, you cannot help but prosper!

https://www.josephprince.com/meditate-devo/you-can-never-forfeit-the-presence-of-god

KATSINA GOVT PARTNERS UK INSTITUTE TO TACKLE INFECTIOUS DISEASES

15/07/23

PRESS RELEASE

VICTORIOUS TD

Katsina State has initiated a partnership with the Wellcome Sanger Institute at the prestigious School in Cambridge, United Kingdom to revolutionize health Care Delivery In the State

Governor Dikko Radda, who made this known, said the collaboration aims at establishing a centre of excellence in Katsina, to become the first of its kind in the Northern part of Nigeria, dedicated to combating infectious diseases.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Muhammed, this is a result of Radda’s recent visit to the Wellcome Sanger Institute, where he demonstrated his commitment to improving healthcare and fostering international collaborations.

According to the statement, the Wellcome Sanger Institute was founded, to sequence the human genome, and today it is a Biomedical Research Centre, recognised globally for undertaking large-scale science, that forms the foundations of knowledge in biology and medicine.

By harnessing this knowledge, Governor Radda aims to establish a state-of-the-art centre of excellence in Katsina, where the groundbreaking initiative will serve as a hub for cutting-edge research, advanced diagnostics, and innovative treatment strategies.

“The proposed centre of excellence will address the pressing healthcare challenges faced by the northern region of Nigeria, specifically focusing on infectious diseases.

Through strategic partnerships, the centre will leverage the expertise of international and local researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers, to develop sustainable solutions, and strengthen the healthcare ecosystem in Katsina State”, Radda said.

The Governor expressed excitement about the partnership, stating that the collaboration with the institute, marks a significant milestone, in his effort to transform healthcare in Katsina State.

“NO DESTRUCTIVE PLAGUE WILL TOUCH YOU WHEN I STRIKE EGYPT.”EXODUS 12:13, NIV

15/07/23

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
Today’s Word

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.”
Exodus 12:13, NIV

No Harm
In the Old Testament, God sent plagues on Pharaoh and his people for not letting the Israelites go free from slavery. The final plague was that the firstborn sons were going to die. God told the Israelites they had to put blood on the doorposts of their houses. When the death angel came, as long as they had blood over their house, no harm would come to their family. That night thousands of Egyptian lives were lost but none of the Israelites who lived nearby. What was the difference? One had the blood, and the other didn’t. One was under the shelter of the Most High, the other wasn’t. When you keep the blood over your house, when you honor God, He hides you when trouble comes. Things that take other people out can’t take you out. Trouble that defeats others won’t stop you. You don’t have to live worried, fearing what might happen, fearing disease, fearing being laid off. You have blood on your doorpost. You belong to the Most High God.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that I am covered by the blood of Jesus. Thank You that I have Your protection over every area of my life and family. I believe that You have put a blood line of protection around me and no weapon formed against me will prosper. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

PART TWO

Jesus makes everything beautiful in your life. I want to encourage you to see Him in the midst of everything that you do and learn to bring Him into the picture. When you look at your past, the scars of yesterday may still be throbbing in your memories. Perhaps you were emotionally hurt by someone you trusted. Perhaps you grew up in a dysfunctional family. As you look back now, you may still feel angry, frustrated, and disappointed all at the same time, and the hurt still pierces your heart. But in the midst of your pain, start involving Jesus. See the Lord holding you, gently healing your wounds. Jesus is right there restoring you, putting courage into your heart and taking away all the sense of shame and guilt.

Beloved, He wants you to know that your past will not determine the future that He has for you. Once you involve the Lord and put Him into your bitter waters, He will turn the bitterness into sweetness. That is what the Lord did for the children of Israel. When they came to a place called Marah, they could not drink its waters because they were bitter. Moses cried out to the Lord and the Lord showed him a tree, which Moses cast into the waters. When he did that, the Bible says that “the waters were made sweet.”

Why did the foul-tasting, undrinkable waters become refreshing and sweet? The answer lies in the tree that was cast in. The tree is a picture of the cross on which our Lord Jesus hung, bearing every broken heart and every sting of betrayal. When you bring Jesus into your situation, He can cause every bitter experience to become sweet! Talk to Him and allow His presence to restore you to wholeness today!

ESCALATING INSECURITY IN AJEGUNLE: POLICE AND LAGOS STATE GOVT MUST PROTECT LIVES AND PROPERTY

14/07/23

ESCALATING INSECURITY IN AJEGUNLE: POLICE AND LAGOS STATE GOVT MUST PROTECT LIVES AND PROPERTY  —WEAJEGUNLE PEOPLES’ MOVEMENT (APM)

…dare to struggle, dare to win! Kojo Lane off Layinkja Street Ajegunle Apapa Lagos State, Nigeria Tel: 08035936663 07033775517

ESCALATING INSECURITY IN AJEGUNLE: POLICE AND LAGOS STATE GOVT MUST PROTECT LIVES AND PROPERTY —WE PROPOSE GENERAL MEETING OF COMMUNITY PEOPLE TO DISCUSS THE INSECURITY

The Ajegunle People’s Movement (APM), a community campaign organization of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM), calls on the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Lagos State government to be alive to their basic responsibility of protecting lives and property in the face of the worsening insecurity in Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGA. The residents of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area have found themselves trapped in a nightmarish cycle of political thugs’ violence and insecurity. The recent events have exposed the failure of the Nigerian Police to address the escalating violence that has led to the untimely deaths of innocent youths, the paralysis of local businesses, and a profound sense of fear and despair. Despite repeated calls for intervention, the response of the police has been lackluster and ineffective. This persistent lack of action has left the community feeling abandoned and disillusioned, eroding trust in law enforcement agencies. The situation becomes even more perplexing when we consider the role of Honourable Fatai Ayoola, the executive chairman of Ajeromi Local Government Area. Despite the signing of a substantial N4 billion Naira plus budget for 2023, the residents of Ajegunle have seen little to no improvement in their security and living conditions. Honourable Ayoola’s apparent indifference to the plight of traders and residents raises serious questions about his commitment to the welfare of the community Adding to the web of insecurity, reports have surfaced of an allegedly alarming alliance between the Nigeria Police in Ajeromi Police Station, Operation MESA (OPMESA) and political thugs/militia.

This allegation is not farfetched given that these criminal elements have not been arrested or prosecuted despite the recent escalation of their atrocities.

These individuals, armed with dangerous weapons, have instilled a reign of terror on the streets of Ajegunle, further exacerbating the community’s plight. Such collusion between law enforcement agencies and political militia is an affront to justice and demands immediate attention. In the face of this dire situation, the residents of Ajegunle must rise in unity to defend themselves and demand justice. They must organize peaceful protests with a firm demand on the police as well as both Lagos state and local governments to seriously address the insecurity. It is also important to convene a general meeting of the community people where a multi-ethnic, non-sectarian independent security committee will be elected. Such a committee should be saddled with the responsibility of mobilising a mass-based response against any form of insecurity and to also relate with the police and other relevant authorities over insecurity.

Only through unified and persistent efforts can the community hope to secure their rights to safety and justice.

e-Signed: Moshood Oshunfurewa Coordinator, Ajegunle Peoples’ Movement (APM) +234 8035936663