Saturday 14 May 2016

NEW DISEASE HITS NIGERIA: STEVENS JOHNSON SYNDROME (SJS) IS IN NIGERIA, KILLS ONE, HOSPITALIZED ANOTHER

Man with Stevens–Johnson syndrome Photo credit: Wikipedia


🇹he Federal Minister of Health, Issac Adewole, has revealed that there is a new disease in Nigeria which has killed a Nigerian while another is currently undergoing treatment at the National Hospital Abuja.
Briefing journalists in Abuja, on Friday, Mr. Adewole said the health condition known as Stephen Johnson Syndrome (SJS) was an unusual allergic reactions in Nigeria and some parts of Europe.

He said, “We have to find a means to communicate with Nigerians,so they should all be aware of this dangerous disease and it is the sole business of government to enlighten the society by trying to increase their awareness, knowledge and to improve their quality way of life.”

Dr. Olanrewaju Falodun a Senior Consultant Physician/Dermatologist at the National Hospital, Abuja, shed more light on the disease and the cases being handled in his hospital.

“Stephens Johnson Syndrome, is an immune complex mediated hypersensitivity reaction that typically involves the skin and mucous membranes and was first described in 1922 by Albert Stevens and Frank Johnson,” Mr. Falodun said.

SJS is a rare and unpredictable reaction, and is also a minor form of toxic epidermal necrolysis with less than 10 percent body surface area involvement, the consultant said.

“SJS is a rare but serious and potentially life-threatening contagious drug reaction. Incidence of SJS is estimated between 1.1 and 7.1 cases per million per year and is more prevalent in women than men. Incidence in Europe is two per million per year” Mr. Falodun said.

He confirmed that two cases were being treated at the Abuja National Hospital, saying one patient already passed while the other was still undergoing treatment.

He said the incidence was higher in Africa due to extensive use of herbal preparations and the prevalence of HIV.

He listed the symptoms of the SJS disease to include fever, sore throat, running nose, fatigue, general aches and pains, ulcers in mouth, genitals, anal regions as well as conjunctivitis.

The health complications, Mr. Falodun said, are pigmentation problems, skin scarring, scarred genitals, joint pains, lung diseases, obstructive disorders and eye complications, adhesions, ulcers, and blindness.

He however said the cause of the disease remained unknown in a quarter to half of cases but that self-medications appeared to be one of its causes.
He advised Nigerians to avoid misuse of drugs, while individuals with previous drug reactions should always inform healthcare practitioners so that in future they would be able to predict who is at risk of the disease using genetic screening.

Here are ways Mr. Falodun said SJS could be managed by hospitals:

1. Cessation of suspected drugs
2. Hospital Admission: Preferably in burns unit/intensive care
3. Nutritional and Fluid replacement
4. Temperature maintenance
5. Pain relief
6. Mouth-care

Sunday 8 May 2016

POLICE IN LAGOS HAVE COMMENCED MAN HUNT FOR MAN THAT BEAT HIS WIFE TO DEATH IN LAGOS.

The Lagos State Police Command has launched a manhunt for Mr. Lekan Shonde, who allegedly killed his banker-wife, Ronke, in Lagos on Thursday night.

Ronke Shonde, a mother of two, was found dead in their apartment located on Tiemo Close, Off Awori Street, in the Egbeda-Idimu area of Lagos State on Friday morning.

The husband was said to have fled with his wife’s mobile phones after the incident occurred.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos Command, Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident on Saturday, adding that the matter had been transferred to the Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba.

She said “marks of violence” were found on Ronke, suggesting that she was murdered in cold blood.

The police spokesperson further said the command had launched a manhunt for the husband of the deceased.

Badmos said, “Yes, I confirm the incident. It was reported on Friday at about 8am by the landlady. She said at about 7am, she heard the screaming of Mrs. Ronke Shonde’s children, who is one of her tenants, as they couldn’t find the key to open their door from inside.

“When the door was forced open from outside, the lifeless body of the victim was found on the floor.

“Police operatives visited the scene and the corpse was removed and deposited at the Isolo General Hospital mortuary for autopsy.”

The police spokesperson explained that the deceased’s husband was at large and could not be reached on his telephone lines, which had been switched off.

“Effort is on to get him. The command will certainly get to the root of the case. The case has been transferred to the homicide section of the SDCI for discreet investigation,” she added.

Some residents of the street on which the couple lived, lamented that the deceased had been enduring an abusive marriage.

It was gathered that Ronke was the second of three siblings to die within two years.

A neighbour, who has a shop on the street, said Ronke died on Thursday night but the neighbours did not know until Friday morning.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the neighbour said, “It is a very unfortunate incident. The man had serially abused and assaulted his wife until the Thursday attack led to her death.

“He would tie her, beat her and take her mobile phones away. She should have left him long ago.”

The neighbour said the couple lived comfortably, as the wife worked with Guaranty Trust Bank while her husband works at the Apapa depot of Mobil.

The neighbour also said,
“The husband is much older than the wife; the woman was in her 30s while man should be in his 50s.”

The neighbour further said, “Some people heard when she screamed on Thursday night but nobody knew what happened to her until her nanny raised the alarm on Friday morning.

“I was one of those who packed her remains. She had injuries on her head, neck and around her private parts. There were blood stains on the walls, which indicated that she must have struggled with him until he overpowered her.

“She was a light-skinned person but by the time we broke into their apartment, her body was already becoming dark and swollen. A doctor who conducted some tests on her said she must have been killed around 11pm on Thursday.”

According to the neighbour, Ronke’s mother had three children, while her younger brother died about a year ago. He lamented that her death might have been prevented if her brother’s wife, who had been living with them, was home on Thursday night.

When one of our correspondents sought to speak with the couple’s immediate neighbours on Saturday, their residence, which had two buildings one of which was said to be occupied by the landlady, was shut.

Another resident in the area, who also declined to be named in print, said the police had sealed up the couple’s flat, while other occupants of the building had shut the gate to visitors ever silive
“The flat was not just sealed. The police called a welder to weld the doors, which are made of iron to protect the crime scene,” the souce said.

The neighbour added that Ronke’s uncle came to take the children to their grandmother who is based in Kwara State.
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LEARN HOW TO SING "YOU ARE GREAT"..BY STEVE CROWN..(LYRICS)

INTRO:

You are great, yes you are,
Holy ONE ,
Walked upon the sea,
Raised the dead.
You reign in majesty,
Mighty God,
Everything written about you, is great
(Repeat)

CHORUS:
You are great (Response)
You are great (Response)
You are great (Response)
You are great!!!
(Repeat)
Everything written about you, is great
(REPEAT CHORUS)

MUSICAL INTERLUDE

Worship you today!
Give you all the praise,
Eeeh!!!.

Mighty mighty God,
Worship you today,
Give you all the praise,
As we lift our hands to you,
With pleasure in our heart,
We raise our voice to say,
Everything written about you, is great

Isi ike’ndu
Worship you today,
Give you all the praise,
As we lift our hands to you
With pleasure in our heart
We raise our voice to say
Everything written about you, is great

REFRAIN:

Demon trembles at your presence
What a mighty God we serve
Glory, glory Alleluia,
Everything written about you, is great
(Repeat)

(Repeat chorus)
You are great, so great.
We worship you lord, king of kings,
And lord of lords
Oh so great you are,
Doing marvelous things,
Everything written about you is great

Friday 6 May 2016

EXTEND RAILWAY TO EKITI; FAYOSE TELLS FG

Ekiti State Government has appealed to the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, extend the railway system to the state in a bid to boost its participation in international trade and achievement of the ongoing diversification of economy.
State Commissioner for Commerce, Michael Ayodele, said the rail line extension was necessary because “a lot of agricultural products are being wasted in Ekiti State because of lack of opportunities to move them out en-mass for export purpose.
The Commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Babatunde Akilo, spoke in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, yesterday at a one-day enlightenment seminar organised by the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) with the theme: “Ports Regulation: A Panacea to a Cost Effective Import/Export in Ekiti State”.
He said: “There is a limit to which evacuation can be done by road. Extension of railway system to Ekiti State would definitely increase the export potentialities of the Shippers Council”, calling on the council to use its position “to influence the establishment of more industries in the state”, saying such would serve as catalyst to its events”.
This was as stakeholders in shippers activities at the programme requested for the establishment of a warehouse in the state where their products and commodities would be housed for export rather than resorting to use of warehouses in Lagos for that purpose.

PRESIDENT BUHARI SIGNS 2016 BUDGET INTO LAW

President Muhammadu Buhari has finally signed the 2016 budget.
Buhari’s assent finally brings an end to the controversy surrounding the budget.

The National Assembly had in April transmitted details of the budget to the president after it had passed the bill on March 23, but the President returned the document back, citing omission of certain capital projects. 
This was corrected  and sent back to the president, but again the Presidency still refused to sign.
Recall that the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Jonathan Gaza, yesterday said the corrected version of the 2016 budget has been resent to the President for consideration.

Speaking with journalists at the National Assembly complex, Gaza said the budget was transmitted to the Presidency through the Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senate, Senator Ita Enang.

Available report reveals that all grey areas have now been addressed and the budget has been signed by the president into law. 

CORRECTED VERSION OF 2016 BUDGET SENT TO PRESIDENCY FOR ASSENT.

Reports reaching our publishing desk reveals that the corrected version of the 2016 budget was, yesterday, being Thursday 5th April, handed over to the Presidency through the Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters Senate (Senator), Ita Enang.

The final conclusion and onward transmission of the corrected version of the budget, which had suffered delay, was disclosed by the Deputy Chairman of House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Jonathan Gaza, while briefing journalists at the assembly complex.

Though Gaza did not give details on how and when the budget was transmitted to the Presidency, sources close to the Presidency confirmed that it was Senator Ita Enang who collected the budget from the 10-man committee of the National Assembly, headed by the Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Yusuf Lasun.

Recall that earlier in the day, it was scheduled that the deputy speaker would hand over the corrected version of the budget in the presence of journalists, but the plan was later cancelled and was submitted quietly.

While fielding questions from journalists on the position of the budget, Gaza said: “It is the same media that has kept the whole country abreast. Don’t forget that we are equally Nigerians and it is our desire for the country to move forward.

“A committee was set up, which was in the papers and was headed by the deputy speaker. Members from the Senate as well as the executive arm looked at the budget and I believe the resolutions have been transmitted or rather the resolutions have been submitted to the President.

“I am quite optimistic and I enjoin all other Nigerians, including yourselves, to be as optimistic as me that in the very near future, this budget will be signed into law.”

On when the budget was submitted and whether it was an amendment that was submitted, the House Deputy spokesman said: “Well, I honestly believe that we have to be quite careful with our choice of words.

“Over time, there have been differences and both arms of government had sat down to look at what those issues are. Most importantly, what we want is to see our country and our economy moving forward.”

Thursday 5 May 2016

NIGER DELTA MILITANTS BLOW UP CHEVRON VALVE PLATFORM IN WARRI


 MILITANTS in the Niger Delta region have continued their onslaught on oil installations in the area with the blowing up of the Chevron Valve Platform in Abiteye, Warri North council area of Delta State. The incident it was gathered occurred at about 10:40pm on Wednesday. Though the company’s Public Affairs Manager, Deji Haastrup could not be reached for comments on the incident, on official of the Department of Security Services, DSS who spoke on anonymity, confirmed the incident adding that the platform was totally destroyed with the use of dynamites. 

The security source further hinted that the platform is a major connecting point where all other platforms link up and serves as a fulcrum to chevron BOP and the Chevron Tank farm thereby halting all operations of the company in the region. Claiming responsibility for the incident, the Niger Delta Avengers, a militant group in the region in a statement on Wednesday night, while attributing the incident to the effort of its strike Team 6, stated that attack on the facility is in line with its promise to the Nigerian government to cripple the economy. 

The group which had earlier claimed responsibility for destroying the Forcados 48-inch Export Pipeline, also threatened to attack oil facilities in Lagos and Abuja, the nation’s capital. “We want to pass this message to the all international oil companies operating in the Niger Delta that the Nigeria Military can’t protect their facilities. They should talk to the federal government to meet our demands else more mishaps will befall their installations. “Until our demands are met, no repair works should be done at the blast site,” the group added.