Abuja blasts: Death toll rises to 18, says NEMA

The death toll in the multiple bomb blasts in Abuja on Friday night has risen to 18, the National Emergency Management Agency has said.
The Senior Information Officer of the agency, Sani Datti, told one of our correspondents that two victims of the blasts, which occurred in Kuje, lost their lives on Saturday, while one of those caught in the Nyanya explosion died at one of the hospitals.
Datti said, “The casualty figure has risen to 18; it was 15 as of yesterday (Friday), but two victims of the Kuje blasts died today (Saturday). One of those caught in the blast at Nyanya also died today (Saturday) at one of the hospitals. So three more deaths were recorded, bringing the total figure to 18.”
The Federal Government had earlier stated that the number might change as some of the victims were in critical condition at different hospitals where they were being treated.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, disclosed this at the Trauma Centre of the National Hospital, Abuja.

ADVERTISEMENT

Lawal visited the hospital alongside other senior functionaries of the Federal Government after they received a directive from the President to visit the locations.
He said, “The President directed us to go round and assess the damages arising from the bomb blast of yesterday (Friday). The suicide bombers operated at three locations, Nyanya motor park, the Kuje Police Station and the Kuje market.
“The main purpose of our visit is to commiserate with those that have lost their loved ones, some of whom are going through identification process.”
On the number of casualties, Lawal explained, “The tentative figures that we have indicate that there were a total of 17 deaths as at the time we visited the hospitals. At the Nyanya motor park, there were three deaths that included two of the suicide bombers. At the two Kuje scenes, we recorded 14 deaths including one suicide bomber.
“Scores of people were injured at all three sites. Some were with minor injuries and were treated and discharged at the several hospitals. Those with serious injuries were brought to this Trauma Centre and they are receiving treatment. Of course, the level of treatment will be diverse because the injuries are different.”
Our correspondents observed the presence of security operatives at the National Hospital on Saturday as they thoroughly searched vehicles and pedestrians visiting the hospital.
While a group of policemen were stationed at the main gate of the National Hospital, others were sighted some meters away from the main gate as they strategically positioned their pick-up truck in the area.

Buhari "My govt’ll crush B’Haram"

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday condemned the latest terror attacks in Abuja, Maiduguri and Yola.

In a statement he personally signed, Buhari observed that the Friday attacks in the three cities were apparently timed to coincide with Independence Day celebrations when Nigerians should be rejoicing.

The President commiserated with the families of the dead and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

He said he had instructed security forces and other local authorities to maintain extra vigilance to forestall future attacks.

The President said his government was determined to stamp out the Boko Haram sect and bring all sponsors to justice.

Buhari said, “These cowardly attacks expose the real face of the planners and perpetrators of these crimes.

“What quarrel do they have with the good people of Nyanya motor park? What issue do they have with innocent people in market places in Maiduguri, Yola and Kuje?

“It is clear this battle is not ideological. It is between the forces of peace and order and the evil forces of murder and destruction.

“Security forces and other local authorities have been instructed to maintain extra vigilance to forestall future attacks. The Armed Forces have been empowered to crush what remains of Boko Haram.

“This government is determined to stamp out Boko Haram and all other terrorists of whatever persuasions and bring all sponsors to justice.”

Aguero fires City top with Five-goal

Sergio Aguero plundered five goals in a dizzying 20-minute spell as Manchester City demolished Newcastle United 6-1 on Saturday to reclaim first place in the Premier League table.

Aguero 5 goals - Shobizz Blog

 

Earlier, Crystal Palace climbed to third place, three points below City, with an impressive and hard-earned 2-0 home win over West Bromwich Albion.
City had lost their previous two league games and went behind in the 18th minute when Aleksandar Mitrovic headed home, but Aguero equalised in the 42nd minute before hitting the net again four more times.
Kevin De Bruyne also scored, as well as teeing up two of Aguero’s goals, as Manuel Pellegrini’s side provisionally moved two points clear of Manchester United, who visit Arsenal on Sunday.
Aguero, 27, became the fifth player to score five goals in an English top-flight game since the launch of the Premier League in 1992 after Andrew Cole, Alan Shearer, Jermain Defoe and Dimitar Berbatov.
But Pellegrini’s decision to withdraw him in the 64th minute, with Wilfried Bony going on, denied the Argentina international a chance to set a new record.
Mitrovic had opened his Newcastle account with a header from Georginio Wijnaldum’s cross, but from there on it was all about Aguero at the Etihad Stadium.
He nodded in the equaliser after David Silva’s cross was headed back across goal by Fernandinho and put City in front four minutes into the second half with a deflected left-foot shot.
He raced onto De Bruyne’s pass and dinked a shot past Tim Krul to complete his hat-trick, before De Bruyne looped a volley over Krul from substitute Jesus Navas’s cross.
Aguero’s fourth goal, on the hour, saw him curl a shot into the bottom-right corner from the edge of the box and two minutes later he had a fifth after tapping in De Bruyne’s low cross.
– Zaha stars –
At Selhurst Park, Yohan Cabaye crossed for Yannick Bolasie to head Palace in front in the 68th minute and then netted a late penalty won by man-of-the-match Wilfried Zaha.
Leicester City returned to the top four after winning 2-1 at Norwich City.
Jamie Vardy claimed his seventh goal of the campaign from the spot and Jeff Schlupp rifled home early in the second half before Dieumerci Mbokani reduced the deficit with his first Premier League goal.
West Ham United slipped to fifth place following a 2-2 draw at second-bottom Sunderland, whose manager, Dick Advocaat, is reported to be on the brink of leaving the club.
Steven Fletcher and Jeremain Lens, who scored a classy chip, put Sunderland 2-0 up, but Lens was then sent off for two bookable offences and goals from Carl Jenkinson and Dimitri Payet earned West Ham a point.
Full debutant Glenn Murray scored but then squandered a late penalty as Bournemouth were held to a 1-1 draw by fellow promoted side Watford, for whom Odion Ighalo netted for the fifth time this term.
Meanwhile, Marko Arnautovic earned Stoke City a 1-0 win at Aston Villa.
Struggling champions Chelsea are in action later on Saturday when they host Southampton, with Jose Mourinho’s side seeking to close the 10-point gap that now separates them from City.

Kelechi Iheanacho back for Newcastle clash

Kelechi Iheanach - Shobizz Blog

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed that Kelechi Iheanacho is available for selection against Newcastle United on Saturday, and maintained that his team can win without influential skipper Vincent Kompany.
The Nigeria youth international, who has a goal in three Premier League appearances this term, has been nursing a problem that ruled him out of his side’s 4-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur.
However, Pellegrini has declared his midfielder fully fit, while revealing that Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri and Kompany are out to injury.
"Vincent Kompany, Clichy, Delph, Nasri and Toure are injured. Mangala is on the squad list and so are Kelechi and Bony,” Pellegrini told the club’s website.
 "Kompany's calf is still injured - we'll see if he's fit after the international break.
"It's not been a normal situation to have so many injuries - against Sunderland we had 11 injured, then it's been seven or eight. I hope after this break, most of them will be fit.
"I never complain about the players who can't play. I don't think that one name can change the performance of this team. We also win a lot of games without Vincent.
"He's an important player for us of course - we hope we will play again soon of course,” he concluded.
Manchester City are second on the English Premier League log with 15 points from seven games, and could return to the summit should leaders Manchester United falter at Arsenal on Sunday.

Onazi returns to Super Eagles

The Lazio midfielder scored in his club’s 3-2 defeat of St Etienne in Thursday’s game in Rome and gives himself good vibes ahead of Nigeria’s next internationals.

Ogenyi Onazi - Shobizz Blog

Ogenyi Onazi scored his first goal in European club competition during Lazio’s 3-2 defeat of St Etienne in the Europa League at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Thursday night.
The midfielder scored the equalizing goal in the 22nd minute after Moustapha Sall had put the visitors ahead earlier in the sixth minute.
Onazi pounced on a rebound in the St Etienne box and shot past the goalkeeper before the French side had two players sent off as the Italians scored twice more to seal victory.
The Nigerian was subbed-off in the 74th minute as coach Stefano Pioli sent on striker Danilo Cataldi in search of more goals.
He later dedicated the goal to Nigeria’s 55th independence anniversary celebrations on Twitter.

Buhari "Why we delayed appointment of ministers"

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said the need to restructure the Federal Government ministries and to effect his party’s mantra of change in government processes and operations accounted for why he did not send names of ministerial nominees to the senate until Wednesday, September 30.
The president, who said he was aware of anxiety and impatience exercised by Nigerians, said those feelings were unfounded and that he intended to do things ‘methodically and properly’.
“Fellow Nigerians, there have been a lot of anxiety and impatience over the apparent delay in announcement of ministers. There is no cause to be anxious.
“Our government set out to do things methodically and properly. We received the handing over notes from the outgoing government only four days before taking over.
“Consequently, the Joda Transition Committee submitted its report on the re-organisation of Federal Government structure after studying the hand over notes.
“It would have been haphazard to announce ministers when the government had not finalised the number of ministries to optimally carry the burden of governance.
While confirming the submission of the list of ministerial nominees to the Senate, the President acknowledged that more names would be sent to the National Assembly for confirmation for ministerial appointment.
“The first set of names for ministerial nominees for confirmation has been sent to the senate. Subsequent lists will be forwarded in due course. Impatience is not a virtue.
Buhari assured that his government was prepared to meticulously execute projects that would impact on the lives of Nigerians and asked Nigerians to be patient with his government.
“Order is more vital than speed. Careful and deliberate decisions after consultations get far better results. And better results for our country is what the APC government for CHANGE is all about, ” he said.

South African King Dalindyebo jailed for 12 years

South African King Shobizz Blog

A South African king has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a series of charges including kidnapping, assault and arson.

Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, from Nelson Mandela’s Thembu ethnic group, was jailed by the Supreme Court of Appeals.

He had approached the SCA to overturn a 2009 court ruling on the matter, which had sentenced him to 15 years.

The charges relate to a dispute he had with some of his subjects more than two decades ago.

He was accused of kidnapping a woman and her six children, setting their home on fire and beating up four youths, one of whom died, because one of their relatives had failed to present himself before the kings’s traditional court.
The king has never denied the charges but believed his actions were in line with disciplining his subjects, reports say.
In Bloemfontein in the Free State Province, a panel of judges looked at his case in August and the evidence presented before sentencing.
The Eastern Cape High Court had sentenced him to 15 years for the charges, along with one of culpable homicide, which has since been dropped.

Cancer machine is down "LUTH"

The Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, has explained why its cancer machine (Linear accelerator) has not been functioning in the last two months, blaming it on technical faults. Meanwhile, the hospital  has faulted the recent call for the removal of the Hospital’s Chief Medical Director, CMD, Prof. Chris Bode from office by the Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA querying the legality of such call.
Addressing a press conference in Lagos,  alongside  top LUTH Management Officers in Lagos, the Chief Medical Director disclosed that  not less than N18 million is required to fix the problem. Bode who also explained that money was not the reason why the machine has remained unrepaired, said the work on the machine was stalled due to lack of local expertise and the materials needed for the repairs.
“The machine broke down two months ago when the iron pump failed and it is not about money because we want it to be repaired like yesterday.  It will cost us N18 million to repair, as we speak we are holding onto the money.  When the company will import what they need we will give them the money. “Infact,  there is plan now to engage another private investor to put the second linear accelerator in operation because of the enormity of the number of people that require it.
“We have the money is just for us to release it to them but we must follow government guideline,” he explained. Reacting to the call for his removal,the Chief Medical Director alleged orchestrated efforts by the Lagos State NMA to forment trouble. Bode who said LUTH only functioned for six months in the last one year due to incessant strikes, warned resident doctors who are not ready to be trained to stay away from the hospital.
Further, he alleged that the hospital is being persecuted because it did not join the last  strike called by the National Association of Resident Doctors. “LUTH remained open and worked throughout the last six -week strike period in July /August because gallant consultants, residents, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, lab workers, etc kept the hospital open.
“We stopped the salaries of those on strike. We all, for once, decided that uninterrupted services should be available for Nigerians if you do not wish to train, stay away. Services are paramount and should be given whether or not training takes place. We also stopped the salaries of striking workers as we considered it fraudulent for anyone to continue receiving taxpayers’ money while denying the same taxpayers their entitled essential medical services in our hospital.”
On allegation of over age, he explained that the post of CMD is appointed by the President for tenure, adding that the current LUTH CMD is an academic staff of UNILAG and is only on leave of absence to take up the political appointment. He said an academic professor cannot be retired because an association says so and that LUTH does not report to NMA.  “The retiring age of academic staff of the University was formerly 65 but was later amended in 2012 to 70 years for full professors.

Diezani Alison arrested in London

The former minister petroleum resources under the administration of ex president Goodluck Jonathan, Diezani Alison-Madueke was on Friday morning, along with four others, arrested by the United Kingdom National Crime Agency.

The Press and Public Affairs Officer of the  British High Commission in Nigeria, Joseph Abuku, confirmed that some arrests were made Friday but declined to disclose the identities of those involved.
“This morning, five people between the ages of 21 and 60 were arrested on suspicion of bribery and corruption offences. The crimes are being investigated by the National Crime Agency.
“The National Crime Agency does not confirm identity at arrest nor provide information that could be used to corroborate the identity of an arrested individual,” Abuku said.
It is not clear now if and when the ex-minister would be extradited to Nigeria. But President Muhammadu Buhari had in his Independence Day address to Nigeria said he was intent on ridding the petroleum industry of corruption.
He said that already preliminary steps had been taken to sanitize the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and improve its operations so that the inefficiency and corruption could be reduced to a minimum level.
“Those of our refineries which can be serviced and brought back into partial production would be enabled to resume operations so that the whole sordid business of exporting crude and importing finished products in dubious transactions could be stopped,” he said.
According to him, in addition to sanitizing the NNPC, his administration has ordered for a complete audit of other revenue generating agencies mainly CBN, FIRS, Customs, NCC, for better service delivery to the nation.
The president stressed that prudent housekeeping was needed now more than ever in view of the sharp decline in world market oil prices.
“It is a challenge we have to face squarely. But what counts is not so much what accrues but how we manage our resources that is important.
“We have seen in the last few years how huge resources were mismanaged, squandered and wasted.
“The new APC government is embarking on a cleanup, introducing prudence and probity in public financing,’’ he added.
On power, the president said government officials had held a series of long sessions over several weeks about the best way to improve the nation’s power supply in the safest and most cost effective way.
He noted that the current improvement in the power supply was moderately encouraging.
“By the same token, supply of petrol and kerosene to the public has improved throughout the country.
“All the early signs are that within months the whole country would begin to feel a change for the better,’’ he said.
Buhari further reassured that his administration would continue to address challenges facing the three tiers of government to ensure peace and speedy transformation of the economy.
He noted that at an early stage, the Federal Government addressed the issue of salary arrears in many states, a situation, he said, was capable of degenerating into social unrest.

Korede Bello “Somebody Great’ My new song

Korede Bello, the rave of the moment in the music industry, has said that his new song entitled “Somebody Great’’, is a prophesy to inspire people to greatness.
Bello said that he wrote the song to make people visualise success in their minds and then work hard to achieve it.
The new song currently enjoys massive airplay on radio just like the first single, entitled “Godwin’’.
“ (It’s) about the people, how we were born into this world and we don’t know how the journey will go and how one love will take us from nobody to somebody.

”How I one day hoped that my voice would unite people and stop bombing and fighting and tribulations.
“That my voice would command authority; it’s not just me, it’s about alleviating people from oppression and mental poverty.
“You can be somebody great from nobody to somebody, you can be anything you want to be: have love for God, love for people, one love.
“But also one of the reasons why I wrote that song is for people to see themselves as great.
“Because before you can be somebody great, you need to first see it in your mind and you need to prophesy it to yourself, you need to say it to yourself.
“And I guess, those are one of the privileges of being a musician because you can put things out there in a melodic form that can change people’s lives forever.
“The song is more like a prophesy for everybody that listens to it to be able to command authority; command respect and most of all, have mental wealth.’’
Korede also told NAN that the song was about his personal struggles, and how he triumphed to become a star from nothing.(NAN)