Dangote set to build world’s best 1000-bed capacity hospital in Kano

The richest man in Africa Aliko Dangote is set to build the world's best 1000-bed capacity hospital in Kano via his Dangote Foundation. The 1,000 bed capacity ultramodern medical theatre complex will be constructed within the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano and will cost N2billion to build. It has been named Mariya Sanusi Dantata.

The hospital would comprise of a diagnostic laboratory, 10 operating theatres, 3 intensive care units, patients’ wards and administrative/service rooms for doctors and nurses. On Tuesday October 1st Aliko Dangote explained why he's building the hospital...

“It is not just about building a best in class medical facility in Kano state, it is about fulfilling our commitment to sustainably improving the health and well-being of Nigerians. We believe that every Nigerian has a right to quality healthcare, we also believe that it is our collective duty to rally our resources to improve health infrastructure, support the development of health care professionals and improve preventive health measures in Nigeria,"

Update on Associated Airlines Crash: Photos + The Manifest

A 30-seat plane belonging to Associated Airlines carrying the remains of Ondo state former governor Olusegun Agagu and 20 other passengers crashed this morning shortly after take off from the domestic wing of MMIA. An aviation official confirmed the plane suffered engine failure after takeoff. It's also been confirmed that at least five passengers of the ill-fated flight survived, (including Agagu's son and son in-law) and have been taken to hospitals, while 14 bodies have been recovered from the crash site. The black box of the plane has also been recovered.

The casket bearing Agagu's corpse (pictured above) was recovered almost intact at the scene of the crash. Rescuers said almost all parts of the aircraft was burnt except the back where the casket was kept. The full manifest of the occupants of the plane has been released by aviation authorities. Find it after the cut...RIP to the departed.

Famous Author Tom Clancy Dead at 66

Best-selling thriller author Tom Clancy has died at the age of 66, according to his publisher.

While the president of G.P. Putnam’s Sons did not indicate a cause of death, The Baltimore Sun reports that Clancy died “after a brief illness at the Johns Hopkins Hospital,” in Baltimore.

Clancy has been credited for expanding the thriller genre so that, according to Pulitzer Prize–winning film critic Stephen C. Hunter, “a lot of [writers] were able to publish such books who had previously been unable to do so.”

Seventeen of Clancy’s adrenaline-packed thriller novels were No. 1 New York Times best-sellers, and four of those were adapted into Hollywood feature films.

Clancy’s most popular character, Jack Ryan, has been portrayed by Alec Baldwin (Red October), Harrison Ford (Patriot Games,Clear and Present Danger), and Ben Affleck (The Sum of All Fears), the former of whom released a statement this morning upon learning of Clancy’s death.

Nollywood Actor Flavian Okojie Murdered 3 Weeks After Wedding

Flavian Okojie, an Edo -born Nollywood actor has reportedly been murdered.

Okojie’s death, caused by gunshots from unknown gunmen, came just 3 weeks after his marriage to NTA Benin presenter Adeola Omo-Kivie.

He was also a staff of Edo State Board of Internal Revenue.

His wife shared the information via her Facebook page. May his soul rest in peace.

Boko Haram attacks College of Agriculture in Yobe, over 30 students killed

Boko Haram gunmen this morning Sunday September 29th stormed the student dormitory of the College of Agriculture in Gujba, Yobe State, shooting students as they slept, killing at least 30 of them. The death toll could be way higher as several dead bodies were recovered from hostels, classrooms, bushes and corners around the school.

Area Military spokesman Lazarus Eli confirmed the incident and said that security forces have been deployed to the school to protect surviving students until they can all leave the campus. Eli said the attack was carried out by “Boko Haram terrorists who went into the school and opened fire on students while they were sleeping".

GOD help us all.

President Jonathan to speak on current national issues

  

President Goodluck Jonathan will host another edition of the Presidential Media Chat today Sunday, September 29, 2013 at 7pm. See the State House Press Release below

President Jonathan will in the course of the programme, answer questions from a panel of journalists on current national issues and events, as well as policies and actions of his administration. Members of the public who have questions they will like the President to respond to on the programme may send them in via Twitter to @mediachatng1.

The programme will be broadcast live on the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the Voice of Nigeria (VON). Other television and radio stations are enjoined to hook up to NTA and FRCN to relay the programme to their viewers and listeners.

Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) September 28, 2013

Okada man flings himself in front of oncoming trailer over seizure of his bike

A desperate, angry Okada man tried to kill himself yesterday Thursday September 26th by throwing himself in front of a trailer and then, an SUV after his motorcycle was seized in Oyo State.

According to a report by Nigerian Tribune, the unidentified Okada man was stopped by officers of the Oyo State Commercial Vehicle Registration Unit and upon checking his papers, alleged they were fake, after which they seized his Okada.

According to eyewitnesses the man pleaded with the officers for a while but when his begging fell on deaf ears, he attempted suicide by flinging himself in front of two on coming vehicles.

Fortunately there were people around the area to rescue him both times. He later went into shock and started foaming from the mouth. Some policemen arrived the scene and took the man to the hospital.

Boko Haram linked to group behind Kenya mall attack • US report says Nigerian sect may have anti-aircraft missiles

A report by a committee of  the United States House of Representatives has linked the  fundamentalist Islamist sect, Boko Haram,  to al Shabaab, the terror group that carried out the September 21 Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi, Kenya.

Al-Shabaab is a Somali-based group whose members are said to be highly proficient in suicide bombing.

The  report dated September 13, 2013 and  entitled,  ‘Boko Haram: Growing Threat to the US Homeland’, also acknowledged the growing relationship between the  Nigerian sect  and another terror group, the Al Qaeda in the land of the Islamic Maghreb.

The  39-page report noted that “while there is no evidence that Al Qaeda’s core in Afghanistan and Pakistan commands Boko Haram’s operations, it is clear from the words of multiple US  officials and  media reports  that Boko Haram is supportive of, and supported by  Al Qaeda networks such as AQIM.”

It noted that “it is the unity of ideology and mutual hatred for the West between the Al Qaeda networks that exposes the danger Boko Haram poses to the U.S Homeland.”

The committee described Boko Haram as a “hardened and sophisticated terror network” that required  multiple simultaenous local and international efforts to enhance the capacity and capability of the Nigerian Police and the military to curtail its activities.

It said there was an urgent need by the US to designate the sect as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation because it has shown  no signs of ending its aggression  against the government of Nigeria and the Western world.

Source: The Punch Newspaper

Bomb scare at Nigeria House in New York

There was a bomb scare at the Nigeria Permanent Mission House in New York on Thursday.

Panic engulfed the atmosphere at the house located on Second Avenue, 44th Street when the bomb alarm was raised by security agencies.

People scamper for safety as the American Police cordoned-off the place to conduct a search which lasted for about 30 minutes.

A source said the alarm came after the police discovered a bag carelessly dropped close to the Kudirat Abiola corner of the house. The strange bag was suspected to be containing an explosive.

Although the content of the bag was not disclosed, normalcy, however, returned after the environs were cleared and the security agencies asked people to resume their daily business.

Source: Punch 

Over 8000 Women Protest Husband Scarcity In Zamfara

Over 8000 women were involved in a protest yesterday in Zamfara state, demanding that the government assist them in getting husbands.

Led by the Chairperson of the Zamfara Widows Association, Hajiya Suwaiba Isa, and the patron, Alhaji Sa’idu Goshe, the women said they were not living a normal life and needed husbands to become whole.

“Many of us cannot afford two meals in a day because there are no men to support us,” they said.

The patron said the association had over 8,000 women, comprising 5,380 divorcees, 2,200 widows, 1,200 orphans and 80 others, whom he said, were looking for men to marry.

He said the women also needed assistance to purchase household items such as beds, mattresses and other basic necessities needed to move to their husbands’ houses.

Goshe appealed to the commission to assist the association in screening suitors for the women.

He said the screening would determine the suitors’ health status, source of livelihood and ability to maintain a family.

INTERESTING:Chinese man has new nose grown on his forehead after losing his nose in a car crash

A 22 year old Chinese man named Xiaolian has had a new nose grown on his forehead after loosing his original nose in a car accident. Xiaolian had the treatment to create a replacement for his original nose which was infected and deformed following the accident in 2012. He actually left his damaged nose unattended to after the accident which led to the infection and eventual deformity, leaving the surgeons unable to repair it.

Surgeons in China were left with no option than to create another nose for the man to breathe properly and then transplant it to the original place. The nose was created by placing a skin tissue expander onto Xiaolian’s forehead. This was cut into the shape of a nose and was supported by cartilage taken from the man’s ribs. Continue...

Son of Tasty Fried Chicken boss Olubunmi Adedayo dies

The only child of Tastee Fried Chicken boss Mrs Olayinka Adebayo, Olubunmi Adedayo has passed away. Bunmi, who until his death was the executive director of TFC, died yesterday September 24th in the US. Heard he fell ill here in Nigeria and was flown to the US for treatment where he died.

He's survived by his parents, wife and two kids. May his soul rest in peace...amen. 

Photos: President Jonathan and Obama in New York

President Goodluck Jonathan being received by President Barack Obama of the US at the Waldorf Hotel, New York on today Monday September 23rd. More photos after the cut...

Kenyan massacre: Body of white woman terrorist found at scene after final assault

Has British 'White Widow' Samantha Lewthwaite, suspected to be the leader of the Islamic terrorists that attacked Westgate mall in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday September 21st, been killed?

It was claimed yesterday that the terror attack in Kenya was being led by Samantha, the widow of one of the 7/7 bombers, Jermaine Lindsay, who with 3 others killed 52 people in a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks in London using the public transport system during the morning rush hour in 2005.

Soldiers said a white woman wearing a veil was shouting orders to gunmen in Arabic during the bloody massacre inside the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi on Saturday.

Samantha may have been killed today as a dead white woman was found among Islamic terrorists killed by soldiers as they stormed the mall this evening. Kenyan authorities haven't confirmed that the woman is really Samantha. Her name was first linked to the attack after Al Shabaab praised her on their Twitter account for leading the attack at Westgate mall.

Moments after the news of Samantha's demise broke, Al Shabaab, took to Twitter to claim that she's safe. Eleven soldiers were also wounded in the fight with the terrorists this evening. Kenyan police said that more than 200 civilians were rescued as troops took control of all the floors of the mall.

Breaking News! Oyo governor, Ajimobi, sacks all commissioners, advisers

The Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has sacked all his commissioners, assistants, and advisers. He announced the dissolution of his cabinet this afternoon. Details coming. Source: Premium Times  

Somali militant group alShabaab claim responsibility for Kenyan mall attack

Hours after gunmen stormed Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, killing over 50 people and injuring over 150, Somali militant group, al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack via their twitter page, HSM Press Office @HSM_Press. After quite a number of Tweets explaining their actions and threatening to carry out more attacks, Twitter suspended the account.

Fortunately someone munched the entire tweet before the twitter account was suspended yesterday. See their tweets after the cut...

Famous Ghanaian poet, Kenyan president's nephew among those killed in mall attack

Ghanaian poet and diplomat Kofi Awoonor, (pictured left) was among the 59 killed during the attack on Westgate Mall in Kenya yesterday. He was in Nairobi as a participant in the Storymoja Hay Festival, a 4-day celebration of writing, thinking and storytelling. The Ghanaian govt confirmed his death early Sunday morning. He was 78 years old. His son was also shot, but was not killed.

Also the president's nephew, Mbugua and his fiance Wahito (both pictured right) were killed in the attack yesterday.

Over 1,000 people have so far been evacuated from the mall, but an unknown number of hostages are still trapped inside with the terrorists believed to be about 15. Kenyan security forces have been locked in a standoff with gunmen since yesterday. Gun shots have been heard all morning in the area.

Heavily armed Islamic extremists pulled up in several cars yesterday and shot their way into the most upmarket shopping centre in Nairobi, ordering Muslims out if they could prove their religion by reciting a prayer or answering a question on Islam. They started killing those who failed the test.

BBC reported that at least one of the attackers was a woman who had some kind of leadership role.

President Jonathan sacks two special advisers

About a week after President Jonathan sacked nine ministers, he has again sacked two more people. In a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media & Publicity) Mr Reuben Abati, Pres. Jonathan announced the sack of two special advisers - Mrs. Joy Emordi, the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters and Dr. Tunji Olagunju, the Special Adviser to the president on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)

The  statement said the sack is with immediate effect.

Afterlife Enjoyment Prep: Man Buries N80million Bentley So He Can Have A Ride In The Afterlife [PHOTOS]

62-year old Brazilian entrepreneur Count Scarpa has no desire to queue for the celestial buses, so he’s burying his £310,000 Bentley convertible so he can have a car to cruise around heaven.

He made his intentions known on his Facebook page where Scarpa declared that he plans to do as the Pharaohs of Egypt did and take his riches with him when he dies by burying them. His decision to start storing up his treasures for the life beyond came after watching a programme on Ancient Egypt on Sunday. The funeral ceremony, he promises, will be at 11am in Sao Paulo.

SSS foils plot to kidnap Yar’Adua’s daughter

 

THE State Security Service on Thursday said it had foiled a plot to abduct one of the daughters of late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

The SSS said two suspects, Hamza Abubakar and Lawrence Okoro,(Pictured above) had been arrested in connection with the foiled kidnap attempt.

Deputy Director, SSS, Public Relations, Ms. Marilyn Ogar, told newsmen in Abuja that the two suspects had on August 21,2013 attempted to kidnap the late President’s daughter at a construction site belonging to her at the Kado area of the Federal Capital Territory.

Ogar did not reveal the name of the targeted ex-President’s daughter.

Source: Punch