110 nigerians of Lassa fever – NCDC- Okoro Obruche David

The Lassa fever death toll in the country has now reached 110 as scientists desperately try to contain the ‘unusually severe’ outbreak.

Fatalities from the killer disease in the country have rocketed by 22 per cent in the space of just one week, according to the latest official figures.

It comes just days after the UK Government announced that it had deployed a rapid response team to combat Lassa fever.

Global health chiefs say this is the worst outbreak of the deadly bug to have ever rocked Nigeria, with 1,121 suspected cases since January.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control confirmed this in an update on the disease it released on Tuesday, saying that the death toll in Lassa fever outbreak in country had hit 110, while 35 new cases had been recorded in five states.

According to the update, Lassa fever had claimed 20 more persons and 40 fresh suspected infections in 18 states within one week in 2018.

The NCDC showed that between February 26 and March 4, 2018, 19 new confirmed cases were recorded in Edo, five in Ondo, one in Bauchi, nine in Ebonyi and one in Plateau State.

It added that seven new deaths were confirmed from Ondo, Edo and Ebonyi states.

According to the report, from January 1 to March 4, 2018, there were 1,121 suspected cases.

“Of these, 353 are confirmed positive, eight are probable, 723 are negative and 37 are awaiting laboratory results as 18 states are active: (Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Anambra, Benue, Kogi, Imo, Plateau, Lagos, Taraba, Delta, Osun, Rivers, FCT, Gombe and Ekiti).

“Four health care workers have so far died this year from the infection, which can cause bleeding from the vagina. Two of these occurred last week.

“The Head of the NCDC’s Lassa Fever Emergency Operations Centre,  Elsie Ilori, described the situation as ‘overwhelming’ last week, “ the report added.

The NCDC also noted that since the onset of the 2018 outbreak, there have been 110 deaths: 78 in positive-confirmed cases, eight in probable cases and 24 in negative cases with Case Fatality Rate in confirmed and probable cases at 23.8 per cent.

EPL: Arsenal identify Petr Cech’s replacement- Okoro Obruche David

goalkeeper, Bernd Leno, as a potential replacement for Petr Cech.

Cech has struggled for form this season and was at fault for the two goals in their 2-1 defeat at Brighton last Sunday.

The 35-year-old will still have a year remaining on his contract with the Gunners this summer, but the club are understood to be in the market for a long-term successor.

According to Bild, Arsenal and Napoli have both expressed an interest in Leno.

Leno is contracted to Leverkusen until 2020, but has a release clause which would allow him to leave for €25million (£22m). Leno has also expressed an interest in moving abroad, but insists he would only leave Leverkusen if he was guaranteed as a team’s first-choice goalkeeper.

“If I go abroad, it would not be as a number-one contender, but only as clear number one,” he said.

BBNaija 2018: Dee-one speaks on Nigerians evicting talented housemates [VIDEO- Okoro Obruche David

Big Brother Naija 2018 evicted Housemate, Dee-one has asked Nigerians why talented housemates were being evicted.

Dee-one in a video on his Instagram page said viewers were evicting housemates that have one talent or another, instead of other housemate with little or no talents.

He was reacting to the eviction of Ahneeka and Angel on Sunday.

He queried why Nigerians evicted Ahneeka who is a TV host and Angel who has a singing career over other housemates in the house.

Dee- one said, “All the people that have talent or something to offer are leaving big brother house…Nigerians why?

“Dee one comedian you sent him outt,Bitto (Voice over artist), Vandora who is a skin care brand strategist and Ahneeka who is a host were evicted too.

“Angel wey they sing anyhow, una no pity say him hair they start from middle una send am comot.”

Recall that Ahneeka and Angel were evicted on Sunday leaving twelve housemates in the reality show.

BBNaija 2018: Daddy Freeze begins online campaign for Miracle- Okoro Obruche David

Controversial on-air personality (OAP), Daddy Freeze, has called on viewers of the Big Brother Naija 2018 reality show to vote for housemate, Miracle.

Recall that Miracle was among housemates that are up for eviction this week.

Also, Freeze had revealed why he likes Miracle.

This time, Freeze took to his Twitter page to campaign for the 23-year-old pilot after he was listed among housemates that are up for eviction.

He wrote: “Guys don’t let Miracle be evicted! I like the guy…. I don’t normally do this but I dey go vote…. make Una vote o!.”

Buhari’s visit: Plateau Govt declares Thursday public holiday- OKORO OBRUCHE DAVID

The Plateau government has declared Thursday, March 8, a work-free day to enable residents welcome President Muhammadu Buhari on a one-day working visit to the state.

Mr Izam Azi, Head of Service, announced this on Tuesday in Jos, after an emergency State Executive Council meeting.

“The holiday will afford civil servants and other citizens the opportunity to give the President a rousing welcome,” Azi said.

Commissioner for Information and Communication, Yakubu Dati, ‎also announced that there would be restriction of movement during the visit, especially around areas the President would inaugurate projects.

Dati said that government had created alternative routes in affected areas, adding that security agencies would guide movements during the day.

Champions League: Klopp speaks on Liverpool’s next opponent- Okoro Obruche David

Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp has said that it doesn’t really matter to him who the Reds meet in the last 8 of the Champions Leagu Post e.

Klopp said this after his side cruised to the last 8 of the competition, beating FC Porto 5-0 on aggregate.

The German said he ‘doesn’t care’ who his side face after praising their performance in the 0-0 draw with Porto on Tuesday.

He told reporters after the match, “I don’t mind to be honest, I don’t care, you have to take it as it comes.

“There’s five English teams in, so at one point you will meet each other if you stay in.”

Liverpool can also move back up to second in the Premier League if they beat Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Champions League: Real Madrid, Liverpool through to quarter-final- Okoro Obruche David

Real Madrid and Liverpool have booked their places in the quarter-final stage of the UEFA Champions League.

While Madrid made it a double over PSG; beating them 2-1 on Tuesday night after previously thumping the Parisians 3-1 at Santiago Bernabeu, Liverpool took their legs of the pedal in their game against FC Porto.

The Reds who had won the first leg 5-0 in Portugal only played out a barren draw at Anfield on Tuesday night.

It was nonetheless more than enough for Liverpool who are making it to the quarter-final of the Champions League for the first time in nine years.

While Jurgen Klopp will be hailed for his heroics, it will be the direct opposite for PSG’s Unal Emery who looks destined to lose his job on the heels of this latest Champions League ouster.

BREAKING: SSS frees detained Nigerian journalist- OKORO OBRUCHE DAVID

The State Security Service has released Tony Ezimakor, a Daily Independent journalist who was detained last Wednesday after honouring an invitation.

“Yes, he has been released,” Don Okere, the paper’s editor, told PREMIUM TIMES by telephone Monday night.

Mr. Okere was released around 10:30 p.m. to his lawyer, according to Sahara Reporters who broke the news Tuesday night.

Mr. Ezimakor’s release came a few hours after PREMIUM TIMES reported that some rights activists had planned to stage a major demonstration outside the SSS headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

Mr. Ezimakor, who was arrested over a story on ransom payments to Boko Haram,  was said to have been released unconditionally.

Details soon…

U.S. announces $533 million for Nigeria, others- Okoro Obruche David

The U.S. has announced about $533 million in humanitarian assistance for Nigeria, Ethiopia, Somalia, and South Sudan, as well as countries in the Lake Chad region.

U.S. Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, said millions of people were facing life-threatening food insecurity and malnutrition as a result of ongoing conflict or prolonged drought in the countries.

Of the newly announced funds, more than $128 million is for affected populations from Nigeria and countries in the Lake Chad region.

About $184 million is for affected populations from South Sudan and more than $110 million for affected populations from Ethiopia.

The humanitarian assistance includes more than $110 million for affected populations from Somalia.

Mr. Tillerson said: “today I’m announcing $533 million in additional humanitarian assistance to fight famine and food insecurity and address other needs resulting from conflicts in Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and the Lake Chad Basin.

“The alarming levels of hunger in these areas are largely man-made, as conflicts erupt and people flee their homes.

“Under these conditions, people cannot produce crops and often lose access altogether to food, education, and health care. Many lose everything.

“And regrettably, Mother Nature can still be cruel, such as in the Horn of Africa, where a prolonged drought is contributing to grave food insecurity”.

According to him, these additional funds will provide emergency food, nutrition assistance, and other aid.

This includes safe drinking water, thousands of tons of food, and deliver health programs to prevent the spread of deadly diseases like cholera to millions of people, he said adding “This will save lives”.

“The American people, as we always have been, are there to partner with African countries to ensure their most vulnerable populations receive life-saving assistance.

“We also call upon others to join us in meeting the growing humanitarian needs in Africa. We hope these initial contributions will encourage others to contribute aid to increase burden sharing and meet the growing humanitarian needs in Africa.

“However, this assistance will not solve these ongoing conflicts, but only buy us time – time to pursue diplomatic solutions,” Mr. Tillerson stressed.

According to him, ultimately it is up to the leaders in these countries, particularly in South Sudan, to stop the violence and put the welfare of their citizens at the forefront of their actions.

He said millions would continue to be at risk as long as parties to these conflicts continue to engage in violence, calling on all parties to allow aid workers safe and unhindered access to help communities in need.

The U.S. is the largest donor of humanitarian assistance for these crises in Africa, providing nearly three billion dollars since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2017.

Review Nigeria’s tax laws, Oshiomhole tells FG- Okoro Obruche David

A former Edo Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has called for a review of the Nigeria’s tax laws for an effective tax administration.

Mr. Oshiomole, also a former President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), made the call at the 26th Convocation Lecture of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu.

The lecture was entitled, “Crisis of Governance, Governance of Crisis: The Role of Education in Nibbling Governance Crisis in Nigeria.”

He said the federal government must put necessary machinery in place to ensure that those who are expected to pay tax do so as and when due for improved infrastructural development of the country.

Mr. Oshiomhole regretted that the only group of people who pay tax regularly are salary earners whose taxes were deducted at source.

The former governor expressed disappointment that millions of taxable adults had devised means of evading tax.

“How do we justify tax payment because most people say why do we pay tax when they will steal the money, what are they doing with it? Look at the roads they are bad,” he said.

According to him, such statement were mere excuses as the first step to be taken is to pay the tax to get moral and legal right to demand the judicious use of the money by the government.

Mr. Oshiomhole urged the federal government to take a cue from the effective tax system of the Lagos State Government which had devised a means of identifying those who are expected to pay tax and ensure that they comply.

“The developmental strides and successes recorded in Lagos State is a result of proper tax collection and judicious use of the fund.

“Government must ensure that those who are at advantage pay their taxes and the fund generated should be used to deliver infrastructure for those who are at disadvantaged and everyone.

“You can’t expect good roads, water and other social amenities if you don’t pay tax; once you pay then you can begin to probe the authorities and demand accountability for your money,” he said.

On the rights of the citizens, Mr. Oshiomhole noted that the logic of democracy enables citizens to have not only the weapon to vote once in four years, but to “police and interrogate” those they voted for in between the elections.

In his remarks, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State lauded the former governor for honouring the invitation of the state polytechnic and expresses optimism that he would do justice to the lecture.

Mr. Ambode, represented by Abdullateef Abdulakeem, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, described him as a ‘protagonist and an antagonist’.
He said the role played by Oshiomhole in crisis management as a labour leader and governor negotiating potential issues with government and in government could not be overemphasised.

The Rector of the institution, Samuel Sogunro, noted that government was all about service delivery and once it fails at any level, the entire society would be affected, stressing the need for transparency in governance.

Mr. Sogunro said education in governance was key and if ignored could lead to crisis in governance because “education is the nation’s bulwark.”