EVERYONE IS CRAZY IN LAGOS WRITTEN BY ETCETERA

Etcetera takes on an interesting topic in his weekly piece. Read and enjoy;

Few weeks ago, I got a call from a friend asking me out for a drink, but I was already at the Lagos airport. “I’m not going to be around for the next few days,” I told him. “I’m going to Abuja.” His immediate reaction was: “Why? What’s wrong? Do you want to bore yourself to death?” That’s the typical response I get whenever I tell someone I am travelling to Abuja. Abuja is a beautiful city with a terrible reputation for boredom. I have heard people in other cities speak of Lagos as a noisy, dirty and dangerous city filled with crazy people. In truth, everyone in Lagos is crazy.

What else do you expect in a state crammed with 22 million people?
It must be a hell of a job for the governor and his officials keeping everyone under law and order daily. Lagos has a peculiar vibe that can’t be found anywhere in the world, so much that “Lagos Hustle” is a commonly used phrase among Nigerians. I would rather go crazy living in Lagos than be bored to death in Abuja, Ibadan or Enugu. Abuja leaves you chewing your finger nails out of boredom. If you doubt me, whenever you have a visitor from Abuja, check his/her finger nails. They are always short and well chewed. Even the Hausa local nail trimmers have all migrated elsewhere due to the nail scarcity.
It is said that people in Lagos argue for at least two hours daily. It is true; we love to generate arguments out of everything. We argue everywhere; in buses, during church services...

WORD FOR TODAY...INSPIRATIONAL

Every act needs a stage to display its performance but when you do not have a stage start at the hallway.

About few months ago, my nine year old cousin and I went to the Amusement park so she could play. while we were there, My cousin, Chisom said to me " I will want to be great musician when i grow up, i want to sing my heart out and make people happy". Obviously, i encouraged her but Chisom said she wanted to start singing now at friends birthday and school shows. She was so passionate about starting her dream at the age of nine. Chisom has a strong voice and sings with the children choir in the church so it was not out of place as the hunger for singing emerged. 

REUBEN ABATI: NIGERIA'S MOST EVIL GENIUS?

By Dr. Peregrino Brimah
Nothing is more dangerous than when a good man goes rogue. Most of the worst criminals in history were good men in society who either voluntarily or by virtue of circumstance, went rogue. We all know the award winning, chairman of the editorial board of the Nigerian Guardian, Dr Reuben Abati, our guy, a staunch truth shooter and government critic bar none.

But when Reuben was sucked into the Jonathan Government, Lord have mercy! 

DEADLY EBOLA VIRUS IS IN TOWN; HOW TO PREVENT IT

The fast killer, Ebola virus, has been confirmed in a hospital near Obalende in Lagos on a 40years old Liberian. There is panic in the air but you can stay free from the deadly virus. Check out the details:

WHAT IS EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE?
Ebola virus disease (EVD) or Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) is the human disease caused by ebola viruses. Symptoms start two days to three weeks after contracting the virus with a fever, throat and muscle pains, and headaches. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the disease has a

case fatality rate of up to 90 per cent, this means about 90 per cent of individuals that suffer from the disease could die.

TREATMENT

No vaccine for EVD is available. Several vaccines are being tested, but none are available for clinical use.

MILITARY ARRESTS KADUNA BOMBER DISGUISED AS A WOMAN

The Nigerian Military in a statement released today said they  who is responsible for the Kaduna bomb attack. The man who was dressed in a female attire is suspected to be connected to the attempted assassination attack on Gen. Buhari on the 23rd of July. Read the statement below,

Troops are holding a man suspected to be connected with the explosion targeted at General Buhari on Wednesday. The young man who was apprehended by military patrol team that swooped on the area immediately after the explosion, had disguised as a woman clad in female garb to exude femininity with a brazier affixed to his chest. 

The suspect was arrested while trying to fizzle into a crowd of onlookers when the patrol team arrived the scene. Youths in the area attempted to mob him while he was being arrested but were restrained by troops who quickly whisked him away in an armoured personnel carrier. 

He is currently being interrogated by security agencies in a bid to ascertain his links. 

See more pictures below....

UN SHELTER IN GAZA HIT, 16 DEAD, MANY INJURED

The Gaza bombardment is far from over with a recent attack on the UN shelter in Gaza. At least 16 people have been declared dead and many more injured in an attack of a UN school in northern Gaza which was used as shelter for the Gaza civilians. Most of the injured are women and children.

It is uncertain who is behind the attack as both sides are still trading blames but investigations are on going.

According to Israeli spokesperson, most of the rockets launched by Hamas have landed in Gaza.

In interview with Al Jazeera, Chris Gunness, the spokesman for UNRWA, the UN's humanitarian organisation in Gaza, said his organisation had been in contact with Israeli forces as fighting closed in on the shelter.
"We gave the Israelis the precise GPS coordinates of the Beit Hanoun shelter. We were trying to coordinate a window [for evacuation] and that was never granted," he said.

It is not clear how many people were in the shelter at the time of the attack but the UN shelter is known to hold 1500 people. More Pictures...

UPDATE ON KANO BLAST WITH MORE PHOTOS FROM THE SCENE OF THE BLAST

Update On the Kano Blast: The explosion which occurred in Kano today along the Sabon Gari Motor Park has killed a woman and injured several others. It was gathered that the Bomb explosives were concealed in a Refrigerator which was brought to the Park by a truck pusher. Eye witnesses say the fridge was disguised as part of the luggage to be loaded into the bus, and exploded alongside other luggage to be loaded into the bus. 

The affected bus is owned by Ifeanyi Chukwu Industrial Services with registration number KTT 164 XA, the bus was supposed to convey passengers from kano to Port Harcourt.

This is the second time the busy market has been bombed since the insurgents started their attack. Majority of the residents of the Sabon Gari area are said mostly from the Southern part of Nigeria. More Photos......

BREAKING NEWS: BOMB EXPLOSION IN KANO STATE

A bomb explosion has rocked the Popular Sabon Gari Motor park in Kano state today, 24th July. The Number of casualties and details of the attack are unknown. Will bring more details as the news unfolds.
God help Nigeria...

NINE(9) NIGERIAN STUDENTS KIDNAPPED IN EASTERN UKRAINE

On Monday, 21st of July, 9 Nigerian students were kidnapped in in the eastern city of Ukraine, Luhansk. A recent update states that the Ukrainian Government is making efforts to ensure their safe release.

According to VOA, Colonel Andriy Lysenko, who is a spokesman for Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, told a news conference Wednesday that people with experience conducting negotiations were making contact with what he called "the terrorists."
He said Ukrainian officials hoped the talks would end "successfully in the near future."
Ukrainian news agencies say militants abducted the Nigerian students in Luhansk on Monday and have been holding them as prisoners at an occupied government security building.

The Nigerian Students have been held for three days, we do hope the Nigerian government and the Ambassador in Ukraine takes quick steps to ensure they are released safely.

NEWSFLASH: ALGERIAN PLANE WITH 116 PASSENGERS DISAPPEARS

An Air Algerie flight with about 116 passengers and crew on board has disappeared from the radar. According to reports, Flight AH 5017 lost radar contact 50 minutes after it took off from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Presently the staff and Engineers are working to find the plane. On board are 110 passengers, four crew members and two pilots. More details later...

IT WAS AN ASSASINATION ATTEMPT ON MY LIFE SAYS BUHARI

General Muhammadu Buhari released a statement yesterday after his convoy was attacked, he claims the attack was an assassination attempt on his life. Read his statement below:

I was personally involved in a clearly targeted bomb attack today along Ali Akilu Road, Kawo – Kaduna about 2:30pm on my way to Daura.
The unfortunate event, clearly an assassination attempt, came from a fast moving vehicle that made many attempts to overtake my security car but was blocked by my escort vehicle. We reached the market area of Kawo where he took advantage of our slowing down and attempted to ram my car and instantly denoted the bomb which destroyed all the three cars in our convoy. Continue...Unfortunately, when I came out of my vehicle I saw many dead bodies littered around. They were innocent people going about their daily business who became victims of mass murder.
Thank God for His mercy, I came out unhurt but with three of my security staff sustaining minor injuries – they have been treated in hospital and discharged.
Signed: General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) GCFR”


Meanwhile the PDP has accused the APC of faking the attack. See tweets below

JONATHAN MEETS CHIBOK PARENTS

President Goodluck Jonathan addressed the parents of the Chibok school girls, during their meeting in Abuja on Tuesday where he told them his government is doing everything to rescue their daughters. More photos...

GEJ SWEARS IN CHIDOKA AS MINISTER OF AVIATION

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday swore-in the former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr.Osita Chidoka, as the new Minister of Aviation. 

He also named Dr. Suleman Abubakar, a former lecturer at the University of Abuja, as the Minister of National Planning and Deputy Chairman of the National Planning Commission.
Jonathan made this announcement after shortly before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting.

The President also named Deputy Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi as Chidoka’s successor in the FRSC. He urged the new officials to ensure that they leave their footprints in the offices they were deployed in.

Jonathan said he decided to appoint Oyeyemi from the commission in order to ensure stability.

BOKO HARAM: TWIN EXPLOSION ROCKS KADUNA STATE, BUHARI'S CONVOY ATTACKED

There was a twin blast today in Kaduna state. According to reports, the first blast which occurred this afternoon July 23rd, was concealed in a red Volkswagen golf car along Alkali road which leads to the Murtala Square in Central Kaduna killing at least 15 people.

According to eyewitnesses, the bomb went off as Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi a prominent Islamic cleric(pictured on the left), drove past the road. The witnesses believe the bomb was target at his convoy though the cleric escaped unhurt while passersby were killed and properties damaged. The cleric who was on his way to the Murtala square for Ramadan Tafsir has constantly criticized the Boko haram on their attacks.

The second bomb blast which happened at the Kawo area of Kaduna state this afternoon was targeted the at former Head of State and Chieftain of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari.

PHOTOSTORY: PRINCE GEORGE OF CAMBRIDGE TURNS ONE

Official Photos of the Royal Household as Prince George of Cambridge turns one year old today. A Year ago, Prince George was gently carried out of St Mary’s Hospital in London and introduced to the world. We say Happy Birthday to the Young. Continue to see more pictures of Prince George taking his first steps without any help from his parents....... Such a cute baby

"WE KNOW WHERE THE CHIBOK GIRLS ARE" SAYS DG SSS

Its been over 2 months since over 200 girls were kidnapped, yet security forces still claim they know where the girl's are. 
While fielding questions from newsmen yesterday at the National Security Council meeting held at the Presidential Villa, the Director General of the Department of State Security, DSS, Mr Ita Ekpeyong said that security forces know where the kidnapped Chibok girls are but are being very careful in their rescue efforts so as not to endanger their lives.

"The issue of the Chibok girls, government is making efforts. We know where they are but we don't want to endanger their lives, that is the truth. We want to take it gradually and release them at the appropriate time. We know where they are" he said

Mr Ekpeyong also stated that the Federal Government has directed all the state government planning to register non-indigines in their state by issuing them means of Identification, to stop forthwith and warned military officers not to work with states that may want to go ahead with the process. (Picture above showsNational Security Council Meeting at the Presidential Villa, in Abuja today)

"IT IS TIME TO PULL THE BRAKES" GEN. BUHARI WARNS

''History will not be kind to me if I sit back while things turn bad, just so that no one will accuse me of partisanship. These were the words of former Nigerian Head of State Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as he urged President Goodluck Jonathan to ‘still the storm’ on his Administration's doorway of impunity, in the interest of Nigeria's survival and the maintenance of Nigeria's democracy.

According to Sahara reporters, In a statement issued in Kaduna on Sunday, Gen. Buhari said the recent induced impeachment or threats of impeachment of Governors of opposition states, just to decapitate the opposition, does not augur well for the survival of a fragile nation like Nigeria, or the survival of its tenderfoot democracy.

''Whether or not President Goodluck Jonathan is behind the gale of impeachment or the utilization of desperate tactics to suffocate the opposition and turn Nigeria into a one-party state, what cannot be denied is that they are happening under his watch, and he cannot pretend not to know, since that will be akin to hiding behind one finger. "In my capacity as an elder statesman rather than a politician, I have spoken to President Jonathan in private over these issues, but indications are that the strategy has not yielded positive fruits. I cannot, just because I am an opposition politician, fail to do what is expected of me as an elder statesman to help rescue our nation in times of great trouble and palpable uncertainty,” Muhammadu Buhari said.

INNOSON SET TO LAUNCH NEW AUTOMOBILES AT N1.5 MILLION

The foremost Indigenous car manufacture in Nigeria, Innoson Group is set to launch its new automobiles at the cost of N1.5 million.
The firm, which manufactures cars, buses, tankers and other products, would from August 8 introduce brand new cars into the Nigerian automobile market.

Chairman and Chief Executive of the company, Mr. Innocent Chukwuma, who announced this in Enugu yesterday, said the cars which would be fully air conditioned and come with other gadgets were made for Nigerians to have access to brand new cars.

The costliest of the coming cars, according to him, would be bought at N3.5 million.

MH17: NAMES OF THE MALAYSIAN VICTIMS RELEASED

The names of the 298 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 777 that was shot down in eastern Ukraine on Thursday has been released.

The list of passengers is organized alphabetically by last name and lists each passenger's name, nationality and gender.

1 Alder/John Mr United Kingdom M

2 Allen/Christopher Mr Netherlands M

3 Allen/Ian Mstr Netherlands M

4 Allen/John Mr United Kingdom M

5 Allen/Julian Mr Netherlands M

6 Anderson/Stephen Leslie Mr United Kingdom M

7 Anghel/Andre Mr Canada M

8 Anthonysamy/Mabel Ms Malaysia F

9 Avnon/Ithamar Mr Netherlands M

10 Ayley/Robert Mr United Kingdom M

11 Baay/Joyce Mrs Netherlands F

12 Baker/Theresa Mrs Australia F

13 Baker/Wayne Mr Australia M

14 Bakker/Willem Mr Netherlands M

15 Bats/Rowen Mr Netherlands M

16 Bell/Emma Miss Australia F

17 Binda/Natashja Mrs Netherlands F

18 Bintambi/Muhammad Afruz Mr Malaysia M

19 Bintambi/Muhammad Afzal Mr Malaysia M

20 Bintitambi/Marsha Azmeena Ms Malaysia F

BOKO HARAM TAKES OVER DAMBOA, BORNO STATE, KILLS OVER 80 PEOPLE

Something has happened. The deadly boko haram sect have taken over the north-eastern town of Damboa in Borno state, killing over 80 people in the process.

According to reports, the Islamists sect, Boko Haram have hoisted their black and white flag over the north-eastern town of Damboa that was left undefended by Nigeria’s military, civil defence spokesman and a human rights advocate said.

According to PM NEWS, Hundreds of people in another north-eastern area, Askira Uba, are fleeing after receiving letters from the Boko Haram threatening to attack and take over their villages, Abbas Gava, spokesman for Nigerian Vigilante Group said, adding that: “nine major villages are on the run.”