Lagos schools resume as students undergo Ebola sensitization

Lagos schools resume as students undergo Ebola
sensitisation
on october 09, 2014 at 6:04 am in news
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LAGOS —Public and private primary and secondary
school students across Lagos State resumed
academic activities for the 2014/2015 session,
yesterday, with the first day of resumption
dedicated to sensitising them on the preventive
measures of the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD.
Candidates writing the UTME at the University of
Abuja, Saturday.
Following the outbreak of the the Ebola Virus
Disease imported into the country by American-
Liberian diplomat, Patrick Sawyer, Governor
Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, directed
schools in the state to postpone their resumption.
When Vanguard visited some schools in the state,
school heads expressed satisfaction with the level
of preventive and precautionary measures put in
place by the government.
According to the Administrative Head, Gloryville
College, Okoko, Mr. Obe Olubunmi, government
had kept its promise of providing some of the
anti-Ebola preventive facilities.
He said: “Everything is in order and we had our
students screened this morning before admitting
them into classes.”
Similarly, a staff at Staff Nursery and Primary
School, Ijanikin, who pleaded anonymity attested
to the fact that equipment such as thermo-
scanners and sanitizers had been provided to the
school. His words: “The government has provided
facilities to ensure preventive and protective
measures against the EVD. About 24 infrared
thermo-scanners were given to us and they will
be used daily by the school to screen entrants,
including pupils, parents and staff into the
school.”
Principal of United Christian Senior Secondary
School, Apapa, Mrs. Patricia Olujumu said: “We
have awareness seminar and workshop. The
principals and head teachers went to the seminar.
After the training we were given the infra-red
thermo-scanner. A new tap was fixed in the
school, buckets, soaps, jerry cans were also
provided.
“We thank God for what is happening around. All
we now have to do is be watchful. We know that
we don’t have Ebola around again, but because
neighbouring states have it, we must be alert and
highly hygienic.”
The Proprietor, Ansol Schools, Ejigbo, Evangelist
Michael Akanni, who advised that students should
be careful with what they touch, however,
commended the Lagos State government for its
contribution towards the fight against the deadly
EVD in the state.
Also a visit to schools in Ojo town, a suburb of
Lagos showed that there was full compliance with
the directives of the Ministries of Health and
Education on the need to provide anti-Ebola
preventive facilities.
At Great God’s Delight School, Ojo, the body
temperature of parents, guardians and their wards
were checked at the gate after which they were
asked to wash their hands with soap and
sanitizers.
Also Speaking, the Administrator, Elias
International Schools, Oke-Odo, Alimosho, Mrs.
Oluwaguno Oluwakemi said the school has
provided all the necessary anti-Ebola facilities
According to her; “We have taps at the gate for
the children, we have hand sanitizers, we have
hand-washing basins and infra-red
thermometers .”

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Arsenal paid £30 million to sign Sanchez

Arsenal paid £30million to sign Alexis Sanchez
from Barcelona in the summer, with the forward
signing a long-term contract worth £150,000-a-
week.
But life wasn’t always so plain sailing for
Sanchez, who has revealed all about his struggles
growing up in one of the poorest parts of Chile.
Along with playing football in the street, he used
to do all sorts of jobs to earn money for his
family, from performing flips, washing cars and
even boxing other kids.
‘As I could do somersaults, people would say to
me ‘do a somersault and we’ll give you 50 or 100
Pesos,’ he explained.
Sanchez got into football after the Mayor bought
him some boots (Picture: Getty)
‘I also used to clean cars. I got my first pair of
football boots from the local Mayor, who bought
them for me after my mum went to see him.
‘I was totally made up – like a dog with two
tails.’

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There are many fifth columnists in armed forces

There are many fifth columnists in armed forces
– CDS
on october 08, 2014 at 7:55pm in news
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The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex
Badeh, said on Wednesday there were “fifth
columnists’’ in the armed forces leading to
conflicting information emanating from the
military.
Badeh made the allegation in Abuja, while
reacting to some presentations at the start of a
three-day workshop on “Security/Media Relations
in Crisis Management’’.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that
the retreat was organised by the Office of
National Security Adviser in conjunction with Trim
Communications Nig. Ltd.
“If your people are misleading you, what do you
do? There are too many fifth columnists.
“There was a report which says oh, we have seen
some of the Chibok girls, only eight are missing,
it was a very senior officer that gave that
information from Chibok area.
“We are dealing with that situation. That was
when people started saying watch what Maj.-
Gen. Olukolade, the Director, of Defence
Information says. He was misled by one of us,’’
Badeh said.
Badeh urged journalists to be guided by national
interest while reporting the ongoing counter-
insurgency operations in the North east.
Badeh advised that although they might know
many things concerning the operations but they
should not report things that would hurt or create
panic in the people.
Asked to assess the performance of the media so
far, he said, “I would not say it has been what we
are looking for.
“Because without pointing accusing fingers, some
newspapers celebrate when anything bad happens
to this country.
“They really celebrate it, maybe because of
politics. President Jonathan cannot be doing
everything.
“When an institution has small problem, you do
not go and say the president has failed,’’ he said,
adding that journalists should endeavour to verify
their report before publishing.
“If you know how many condolence messages I
have received that my house is burnt, that my
whole village has been burnt; but no Boko Haram
has gone to my village.
“I do not know whether it is me they want to
bring down or the president that they want to
bring down, that is the media for you.’’ he said.
Also, the National Security Adviser (NSA), retired
Col. Sambo Dasuki, urged the media to be
diligent in their reportage of the operations.
He said that the country was facing “significant
security challenge’’.
Represented by Prof. Soji Adelaja of the NSA
Office, he said that terrorism was new to the
nation and cautioned against reports and pictures
that could affect the image of the country.
The chairman of the occasion, retired Gen. Martin
Luther Agwai, said that there was need for the
media and security agencies to partner in
handling the current situation.

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Akwa Ibom Chairmen, councilors are nonchalant

Akwa Ibom chairmen, councillors are nonchalant
9:09pm
By Chioma Onuegbu
THE broad impression in Akwa Ibom state is that
the third tier of government has local failed to live
up to expectation because of the indifferent
attitude of many of the chairmen.
Besides incompetence, council helmsmen also
take their inability to pay salaries and other
entitlements to workers as convenient reasons to
stay away from office.
Visit to Oruk Anam
When Niger Delta Voice visited Oruk Anam council
secretariat, penultimate Wednesday and last
Friday, the chairman Mr. Tony Akpan, was not on
seat, and none of the staff spoken to, was certain
of when he would be in office.
In fact, the impression from their reactions was
that they were not happy with his style of
leadership and happenings in the secretariat, as
some of them who spoke on grounds of
anonymity, lamented many months of non-
payment of salaries and allowances.
Akpabio’s alleged ‘sins’
Human rights activist, Mr. Saviour Akpan, blamed
the poor performance of council chairmen in the
state on ineptitude.
He said in talking about performance at the local
government level, one should first and foremost
look at the functions of local government council
as enshrined in the Constitution and bye-laws, if
any, enacted by the councilors.
His words: “Let all the local governments in
Akwa- Ibom state present one, one copy of the
bye-laws they have produced since they were
sworn into office.
“Okay, Oruk Anam produced one when they made
a bye-law that they should accept the cost of the
chairman, who died before swearing -in for burial.
That is all. Let them tell me any other law that
they have made.
”Is it not when the councilors sit that they make
laws for the good governance of the local
government? How many of the councilors even
know the name of their villages?
“Look at the security that Akpabio has built all-
round the local government, how many of them
are living in that place to cut expenditure on
accommodation and have money to do other
projects? It is an insult.
“The bottom line is that if there is anything that
Akpabio has done badly in Akwa Ibom state, it is
that he asked all the 31 local government
chairmen to be chairmen.
“He should apologize to the people for bringing
them on board, he should have allowed us to
choose whoever we want. Gone are the days that
you will use the name of local government
chairman as current affairs in school.
“This time around, nobody wants to know. If you
go to the village children will be telling you that
instead of them to be local government chairmen,
it is better they go and be cutting palm fruits,” he
asserted.
Accountability forum
Akpan said he would want Akpabio before leaving
office to organize an accountability forum (not
town hall) where members of the public would be
free without being tele-guided to ask each Council
Chairman questions based on their performance,
stressing that the reason Oruk Anam was
suffering because they know what they should do,
but kept quiet, instead of coming out to tell the
Chairman and his team that they are not doing
well.
Indigenes commend Ibesikpo Asutan chair
However, some indigenes of Ibesikpo Asutan local
government area commended the efforts the
current council leadership, especially in the area
of women, youth empowerment and facelift toe
the council secretariat.
A youth leader, Ernest Akpan said, “The chairman
has done marvellously well. His administration
has done so much in the area of human
development, youth and women empowerment.
“The people, especially women and youths are
happy with his administration. In fact, he is
among the chairmen that have utilized the SURE-
P fund well. So, I think he has tried with what is
available.”
A council staff, Mr. Patrick Akpan, said besides
empowerment of the rural poor, the chairman has
been able to pay salaries, adding, “That is why
they do not have issues with him like in other
councils across the state.”
Council chair defends self
Contacted, the chair, Mr. James Ekpe, said
despite the complex and challenging nature of
local government administration, his leadership
has tried its best to ensure issues that bring
about crisis between council administration and
the grassroots were tackled.
His words: “I have paid salaries up to date except
for negligible aspect of allowances which I am
preparing to clear very soon.
“Outside the payment of workers’ salaries,
allowances and entitlements, I have done a lot in
the area of human empowerment.
“Since I came on board in July 2012; I have
created temporary jobs for about 700 people that
I pay allowance, not salary.
“I also embarked on people oriented projects. We
have built 17- room office Complex, state-of-the-
art canteen, and perimeter fencing of our council.”
Problem not with joint account
Ekpe disagreed that the Joints Account
contributes to non-performance of chairmen in
the state, saying it depends on how prudent the
chairman is and ability to manage the available
resources at his disposal.
He said that some individuals (chairmen)
sometimes create problems for themselves
because by embarking on projects they may not
be able to complete usually brings problem in
local government administration.
It’s not true we don’t go to work—Ekpe
He however denied that council chairmen do not
go to office every working day, saying, “that can
only happen in a hostile environment, but Akwa
Ibom is peaceful.
“At least you have gone to some council and you
met with the chairmen on ground. Except on
Fridays that I may be engaged in occasions like
burial, that is when I may not be in office,
otherwise, I go to my office on daily basis.”

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