66 Senior Officers Redeployed by the Nigerian Air Force

The Nigerian Air Force

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has redeployed 66 senior officers comprising of 22 Air Vice Marshals (AVM), 34 Air Commodores (Air Cdre), seven Group Captains (Gp Capt) and three Wing Commanders (Wg Cdr).

The Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), NAF, Gp Capt Ayodele Famuyi, in a statement yesterday, listed those affected by the new deployment include two Branch Chiefs, two Air Officers Commanding (AOCs) and one commandant.

Famuyiwa also announced the newly appointed Branch Chiefs as AVM Adebola Jekennu, formerly the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at the Tactical Air Command Makurdi, now the Chief of Administration (COA) at the Headquarters Nigerian Air Force (HQ NAF); and Air Cdre Clement Ogbeche who is now the Chief of Accounts and Budget, HQ NAF.

The new AOCs are AVMs Emmanuel Akogu and Emmanuel Agwungwu who now head the Mobility Command, Yenagoa; and Tactical Air Command Makurdi respectively. Until his appointment, AVM Emmanuel Akogu was the Director of Evaluation at HQ NAF while AVM Emmanuel Agwungwu was the Director of Training, HQ NAF.

In the same vein, AVM Christopher Gudi, the former Director of Air Traffic Services at HQ NAF now replaces AVM Mike Iloenyosi as the Commandant, Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi.

Furthermore, AVM Lawal Alao has been moved from the Defence Headquarters, where he was the Chief of Defence Communication, to head the Nigerian Air Force Holding Company (NAFHC) as the Group Managing Director.

Others affected by the new deployment include AVM Isiaka Amao formerly the Deputy Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole and now the Director of Policy at HQ NAF; the former Commander Nigerian Air Defence Corps (NADC), AVM Bernard Chiobi now the Chairman Air Expo & International Liaison Secretariat; AVM Bashir Saidu, former Director of Policy at HQ NAF now moved to DHQ as the Chief of Policy and Plans; AVM Muktar Magaji now redeployed as Chief of Defence Communication at DHQ.

Furthermore, AVM Emmanuel Anebi has been moved from Training Command to DHQ as Director of Production while AVM Ibrahim Umaru moves to DHQ as the Director of Space Operations. Likewise, AVM Charles Otegbade, formerly the Director of Search and Rescue at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) moves to HQ NAF as the Director of Air Traffic Services.

Others included AVM Olusoji Awomodu now Director Research and Development at DHQ; AVM Okechukwu Ntukogu (Director of Personnel Services at DHQ), AVM Sani Ahmed (Director of Plans, HQ NAF); AVM Stephen Onuh (Director of Evaluation, HQ NAF); Kingsley Lar (Coordinator Project Implementation and Monitoring Team, HQ NAF); AVM Christian Dii (Director of NAF Transformation); AVM Humphrey Okpala (Director of Museum & Achieve); AVM John Baba (Director of Training, HQ NAF); AVM Isyaka Bukar (Director of Air Engineering, HQ NAF) and Mohammed Muhammad (Director of Legal Services, HQ NAF).

The DOPRI noted that  recent deployment, as a routine exercise, is aimed at ensuring that the NAF is effectively manned for operational efficiency and effectiveness in line with the vision of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar.

Source: thisdaylive.com

 

Zika Virus: FG Says No Cause for Alarm over Nigeria’s Participation in Rio Olympics

The Nigerian Olympic Contingent was on Thursday given a clean sheet by the federal government to go ahead with plans to attend the 2016 Olympic Games taking place in Brazil, a country currently faced with the scourge of Zika virus.

Prof. Isaac Adewole, the Minister of Health, however, disclosed to journalists at a press conference in Abuja that there are substantial grounds to stop the Nigerian Olympic team.

According to him, “Should we discourage Nigerian contingent from going there? The answer is no as there is no sufficient grounds to discourage them.

“But I will discourage pregnant women from going to that region. Otherwise, all you have to do is to protect yourself. Zika virus is now in United Kingdom. The real challenge is to be on alert.”

As Nigeria was fighting to stop the spread of Lassa fever in the country, another health emergency of international health concern broke out in the South American country and has been spreading very fast.

It would be recalled that in the late 2014, Brazil detected a cluster of febrile rash illness related to Zika virus in its North-eastern region (Bahia) that was subsequently associated with the Zika virus in April 2015. The outbreak spread widely to other parts of Brazil and other countries and by February 2016, Zika viral transmission has been documented in 44 countries and territories already.

As of today, Brazil and Columbia have been the most affected with an estimated cases ranging between 600,000 and 1,700,000.”

The Minister noted that: “Although two African countries have reported Zika infection in the recent outbreak and in the past, many others, causal relationship between Zika virus infection, birth defects and neurological syndromes have not been established in this continent”.

It is worthy of note that as of now, there is no known specific treatment for Zika virus disease. Treatment is, therefore, generally supportive and it includes rest, fluids, and use of pain killers and antipyretics.

Despite the fact that some Nigerians are immune to the Zika virus infection as demonstrated by previous studies, Adewole urged pregnant women not visit the affected countries for now.

He said, “I advise all Nigerians, particularly pregnant women to avoid travelling to countries infected by this virus in these periods. If however, you are to visit any country where Zika virus is now being actively transmitted, you are advised to protect yourselves from mosquito bites.”

“All state governments are hereby advised to immediately embark on health education campaigns to empower communities to take action and protect themselves from Zika virus as well as other mosquito-borne diseases.

“I have instructed the Port Health Services of my ministry to immediately adjust and include points of entry screening to capture anti-Zika activities.

He called on the public to maintain good individual and community hygiene to discourage creation of mosquito breeding grounds near homes and nearby surrounding. All states are called upon to commence anti-mosquito campaign including engaging the services of sanitary inspectors with their appropriate deployment.”

Source: dailypost.ng

 

Bayelsa: A’Court Declares APGA Candidate Winner in Assembly Poll

The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Mr. Belemote Watson, the winner of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly seat in Brass Constituency 2.

In a ruling, the court upheld the earlier ruling of the State House of Assembly Tribunal and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, to issue Watson his certificate of return.

Also, the appellate court upheld the ruling of the Tribunal nullifying the election of Dr. Michael Awoli Anapurere of the Peoples Democratic Party, representing Ogbia Constituency 2 in the State House of Assembly.

The appellate court then declared Mr. Gibson Munalayefa of Labour Party as the winner of the election having scored the highest valid votes cast.

By the latest judgment, the number of opposition members in the House has risen to five in a twenty-four member State Assembly.

Only recently, the court sacked Ms. Naomi Ogoli of the PDP as member representing Ogbia Constituency 3 and declared Mr. Gabriel Ogbara of the African Democratic Congress, as the authentic winner of the election in the constituency.

In the 2015 general election, Mr.Ebiye Tarabina of APGA was elected for Kolokuma/Opokuma Constituency 2 while Mr. Sunny Israel-Goli of All Progressives Congress was elected as lawmaker representing Brass Constituency 1.

Source: punchng.com

FOUR CATHOLIC NUNS KILLED IN CROSS RIVER AUTO CRASH

By Isidi Monica

Four reverend sisters of the Catholic Church were killed in autocrash along the Nkarasi/Alok axis of the Ikom/Ogoja highway in Cross River State on Tuesday, The Nation gathered Wednesday.

Two other reverend sisters, who were critically injured, were rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Ikom.

The six reverend sisters were in a Toyota Sienna car from Ogoja local government area to Biase local government, when the unfortunate incident occurred, it was learnt.

The vehicle was driven by one of the Sisters.

An eyewitness said the accident occurred when a truck carrying soft drinks lost control and veered into their lane causing a head on collision.

PRESS RELEASE BARIGA CULT CLASH: POLICE ARRESTS GANG LEADER, 6 OTHERS ...Retrieves Three Power Bikes, Ammunitions Used For Operation

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested seven suspected cultists who engaged in supremacy battle in Bariga area of the State on Saturday, leading to the killing of a 65-year-old woman.

The deceased, Adejoke Adefuye was burnt beyond recognition when her house located at 19, Oshinfolarin Street in Bariga was set ablaze by the rival cult groups.

Trouble had started when members of Eiye confraternity led by one Ibrahim Balogun clashed with another rival cult group known as Aiye confraternity led by a man simply identified as Gideon in a supremacy fight at the area.

The cultists, according to reports, vandalized some vehicles parked along the road in the area, while two members of the Aiye confraternity known as Bobo and Abayomi Olubola lost their lives in the fracas.

A statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Dolapo Badmus, confirmed the arrest of the cultists, as well as some of the equipment used to carry out the operation.

Badmus said the second in command of one of the cult groups was among those arrested, while three power bikes, one live/expended cartridges and a tricycle popularly known as Keke Marwa used to get to the scene were also confiscated.

She said the cultists have been terrorizing the area for some days and that they were able to make some arrests due to the quick response to the distress calls received concerning the fracas.

Those arrested, according to Badmus include Afees Olaide Fagunwa, Nurudeen Lateef, Richard Ewa, Richard Abayomi, Mohammed Musa, Kayode Dada and Adams Adelakun. 

She said that the bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Gbagada General Hospital for autopsy by the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) while other occupants of the burnt building who sustained minor injuries were treated by the Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS).

She said that further investigation into the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti.

SIGNED

SHINA ODUNUGA

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY

JANUARY 24, 2016

Two Lassa Fever Patients die at FMC Asaba, Nurses Flee... January 24, 2016

By Isidi Monica

Tension over Lassa fever outbreak has continued to unsettle patients at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba following the death of two patients within four days.

While many of the patients and nurses have fled the hospital for fear of the unknown, over 55 persons have been reportedly killed across the country in the last few weeks of its outbreak.

Investigation revealed that it took the efforts of the Health workers at the FMC to remove the bodies of the two patients reportedly said to have died of the diseases.

The two victims (names withheld), hospital sources said died two days interval after being managed for a week plus but the State Health Commissioner, Dr. Nicholas Azinge who refused to confirm the incident, said “I know some persons have died, I cannot speak further on that because the Federal Ministry of Health is already doing something to sensitize the people and we in Delta State are also sensitising our people”.

With twenty-two patients quarantined at present at the hospital, further investigation revealed that there are palpable tension and fear of the unknown among the health workers, especially the doctors who feared that the disease may be something else.

A Doctor who did not want his name in the print, said “We too we are afraid of the present situation with over twenty two persons already quarantined and so far three have died, so the situation expresses deep fears of the unknown, but by the grace of God, we shall overcome the situation”.

But in a swift reaction, the acting Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. Victor Osiatumeh said “It is not as if Nurses or patients have fled the hospital, as for the nurses and doctors, they are careful with protective measures to ensure they too are not contacted, the situation as a matter of fact is precarious but we are managing it, especially the twenty two persons quarantined”.

Further investigation revealed that relations of the twenty-two quarantined persons are also careful with a view to ensuring they are not infected with the disease. 
Two weeks ago a 65-year old woman from Anambra State died of the disease at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba after being managed for a period of time. Since then there has been panic and fear of the unknown across the State.

Borno hunters appeal to Nigerian army to allow them enter Sambisa to fight Boko Haram

By Isidi Monica

Borno state hunters have appealed to the Nigerian Army to allow them access into the dreaded Sambisa forest which is believed to be the camp of the terror group, Boko Haram. The emir of hunters in the state Mai-Gana Mai-Durma while addressing the media in Maiduguri said they are very familiar with the terrain of the much dreaded forest and so should be allowed to go in and fight the terrorist.

“We are appealing to the military authorities to allow us join the fight against Boko Haram at the Sambisa forest. We are ready to pursue the terrorists because we know the terrain very well. We will overrun Sambisa in partnership with members of the civilian JTF if given the opportunity. This will help to complement the effort of military in the anti terrorism operation. Hunters from all the 27 Borno LGAs are all in Maiduguri with our leaders doing nothing at present because of Boko Haram. Rather than idling away, we will want to assist the military in crushing Boko Haram terrorists.”he said