Ebola Virus in Nigeria

During a news conference in Lagos, Nigeria on Thursday, Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos, Dr. Yewande Adeshina told newsmen that a 40-year old Liberian, working for a West African Organisation in Moronvia, Liberia, who arrived Lagos last Sunday is suspected to have the disease.  Liberia has recorded 172 cases of the deadly disease and a total of 105 deaths.

She said details of the suspected case were obtained from  a private health facility in the state, which she refused to mention, saying that history taken revealed that the 40-year old man had no contact with EVD, did not visit any person with EVD in the hospital and neither did he partake in the burial of any person who died of the disease.

“However, on account of working and living in an endemic region for EVD, and the presentation of non-specific constitutional symptoms and signs (fever, malaise, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea etc) associated with EVD, a high index of suspension was raised.

     “Based on this, blood samples were taken to Virology Reference Laboratory, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, on Tuesday. Preliminary results necessitated the confirmation of EVD at a World Health Organisation, WHO Reference Laboratory in Dakar, Senegal which is actively in process,” she said.

   According to her, the patient’s condition is considered stale while the health facility had since initiated Universal Safety Precautionary measures to prevent spread of the disease and guaranteed safety of other patients in the hospital.

 “Early symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, chills, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, backache, and joint pains. Later symptoms include bleeding from the eyes, ears and nose, bleeding from the mouth and rectum, eye swelling, swelling of the genitals and rashes all over the body that often contain blood.  It could progress to coma, shock and death,”

  She stated that the Federal Ministry of Health, including Port Health Services were partners with the state government in areas of contact tracing and other specialised care, urging Lagosians to remain calm and take appropriate measures for the prevention of the disease.

The Special Adviser explained that Ebola virus disease is caused by a virus which natural reservoir of virus is not completely known, stressing that fruit bats have been considered to be the natural host of the virus.

 “The virus can be spread through, close contact with the blood, body fluids, organ and tissues of infected animals; direct contact with blood, organ or body secretions of an infected person. The transmission of the virus by other animals like monkey and chimpanzee cannot be ruled out,” she said.

She also noted that those at the highest risk of the disease include health-workers; and families or friends of an infected person who could be infected in the course of feeding, holding and caring for them.

 Dr. Adeshina stressed that Ebola virus disease should be suspected in persons who develop bleeding from the body openings like the mouth, nose, rectum and ear; a close contact of person who is infected; or health worker who had treated either suspected or confirmed infected person.

  “Early symptoms of  the disease include fever, headache, chills, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, backache, and joint pains. Later symptoms include bleeding from the eyes, ears and nose, bleeding from the mouth and rectum, eye swelling, swelling of the genitals and rashes all over the body that often contain blood.  It could progress to coma, shock and death,” Adeshina explained.

 Adeshina noted that presently, there is no specific treatment for Ebola virus disease stressing that infected persons will need to be admitted into the hospital for specialized care and treated in isolation in line with international standards.

  She urged residents of the State to reduce risk of infection by observing high standard of personal and environmental hygiene by washing their hands often with soap and water; avoiding close contact with people who are sick and ensuring that objects used by the sick are decontaminated and properly disposed.

    While noting that all fluids from an infected person are extremely dangerous, Adeshina advised health workers to be at alert, wear personal protective equipment; observe universal basic precautions when attending to suspected or confirmed cases; and report same to their local government areas or the Ministry of Health immediately or call the following numbers: 08023169485; 08033086660; 08033065303; 08055281442; 08055329229.

The epidemic is the worst-ever since the virus first emerged in 1976 in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Lagos government has begun rolling out an emergency response in a bid to contain any potential spread of the virus across the congested city of more than 20 million people, with poor sanitation and health infrastructure.

This is the first ever recorded case of Ebola virus in Nigeria and if not contained properly could lead to a full spread of the killer disease in the most populated black nation in the world, and could probably consume Africa entirely. For your sake and the sake of others, please follow the saftey precautions you read in this article in other to stay safe.

FIFA lifts suspension on Nigeria

World football governing body, FIFA, earlier today reached a decision to lift the ban placed on Nigeria on the 9th of July 2014 following a High court sitting in pleateu state in Nigeria, which dissolved the Aminu Maigari led board. This court action led to the suspension of Nigerian football teams from all international activities with a condition that Aminu Maigari and his board be reinstated before the suspension could be removed.
The minister of sports in Nigeria, Tanny Danagogo was later interviewed by the media, where he said that the lifting of the suspension by FIFA should not only be credited to him, but all the other parties involved, especially Mr. Baribote and his wife who agreed to withdraw thier case.
Mr Baribote, when interviewed, took the credit for convincing his wife to withdraw the case, saying that there were conditions reached between them and the NFF; Firstly, the 15 year ban placed on him should be removed and Secondly, his board which he claimed was illegaly kicked out should be reinstated to the NPFL and allowed to complete their tenure.
Aminu Maigari and his board will resume work and remain there till the next elections that will issue in another board, which is according to FIFA'S policies.

FIFA extends Nigerias deadline

FIFA has decided to extended the deadline date for Nigeria’s ban from July 15th to July 17th.The extension was granted due to the industrial action embarked on by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria.

FIFA extended the window in order get enough time to withdraw the court case that was instituted by Ruth Baribote, owner of Nembe FC, and also reinstate the Aminu Maigari-led Nigeria Football Federation board or risk an outright ban from the game.

The suspension, according to FIFA, will be lifted as soon as the court action is withdrawn and the properly elected NFF Executive Committee, the NFF General Assembly and the NFF administration are reinstated and able to work without government interference.

FIFA suspends Nigeria indefinately

The Fifa Emergency Committee has finally announced the suspension of the Nigerian Football Federation with immediate effect due to alleged interference from the government.
The decision by FIFA follows a letter sent by to the NFF on 4 July 2014, in which it expressed its great concern after the NFF was served with court proceedings by a court in plateau state, preventing the president of the NFF, the NFF Executive Committee members and the NFF Congress from running the affairs of football in Nigeria ” a statement read.“The said court order compelled the Nigerian Minister of Sports to appoint a senior member of the civil service to manage the NFF until the matter was heard in court, without giving any date for such a hearing. The authorities then appointed a person who decided to convene an extraordinary general assembly on 5 July 2014. This extraordinary general assembly was convened in violation of the NFF statutes.“Originally, an elective congress had been planned by the NFF to take place on 26 August 2014.“The suspension will be lifted once the court actions have been withdrawn and the properly elected NFF Executive Committee, the NFF general assembly and the NFF administration are able to work without any interference from a third party in their affairs.“As a result of this decision, no team from Nigeria of any sort (including clubs) can have any international sporting contact (art. 14 par. 3 of the FIFA Statutes). During the period of suspension, the NFF may not be represented in any regional, continental or international competitions, including at club level, or in friendly matches. The most immediate effect is that Nigeria will not be entitled to participate in the upcoming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup (5-24 August 2014) should the suspension not be lifted by 15 July 2014.“In addition, neither the NFF nor any of its members or officials may benefit from any FIFA or CAF development programmes, courses or training during the suspension period.”
The last time Nigeria was sanctioned by FIFA, it affected the Nigerian football Negatively and jst as the nation has begun to shake off that monkey by winning the African cup of nations, FIFA’S hammer of justice seems to be looming dangerously once again.

Fifa threatens to ban Nigeria

African champions, Nigeria, could come under an international suspension from the world football governing body, Fifa.

This follows an order from a High Court in Jos, Plateau State restraining the Nigeria Football Federation [NFF] headed by Aminu Maigari, to control, command or manage football matters in the country pending the hearing on the Motion of Notice on July 11.

The order from the court to Maigari and other NFF executive committee members to step aside comes just days after the Super Eagles saw their Fifa World Cup ambition end with a 2-0 defeat to France.

The latest scenario is a deja vu of a 2010 episode when the NFF was dissolved by the Nigerian government.

Fifa did write to the Nigerian government to reverse its decision as it frowns at government intervention in running the sport.

The Nigerian government later rescinded its decision to remove its country's football managers. It also set aside the withdrawal of its national teams from international football for two years.

In the wake of the court order, the Nigeria sports minister, Tamuno Danagogo, appointed Lawrence Katken as sole administrator as the High Court instructed in its injunction this week.

There are now fears that Fifa's suspension looms on the African champions since the world football governing body prohibits any government intervention with its member association.

As at Friday, the NFF president, Maigari, had allegedly been picked up by security operatives for questioning and later released while the football federation's office in the country's capital, Abuja, was under strict surveillance by security men.

  The letter addressed to NFF President, Aminu Maigari and entitled, ‘Interference in the internal affairs of the Nigeria Football Federation,’ reads in part:  “We have learnt from various sources, and notably Nigerian newspapers, that different actions were taken with regard to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) which are worrisome.

  “We understand that the NFF has been served with court processes and that consequently an order restraining the President of the NFF, his executive committee members and the NFF congress from running the affairs of Nigerian football has been granted by a High Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  “We also take note of your detention carried out by representatives of the Department of Security Service and the latter is looking for other members of the NFF. We notice as well that the Minister of Sport has appointed an assistant director to take charge of the NFF. Finally, it is alleged that the members of the NFF have been convened top attend an Extraordinary Congress on July 5 2014 in Abuja.

  “In this regard, we would like to remind you that all FIFA members associations have to manage their affairs independently and without influence of any third parties as clearly stipulated in articles 13, par. 1 and 17, par. 1 of FIFA Statutes. Therefore, the above mentioned actions are preventing the NFF from managing its affairs independently and are considered by FIFA as undue interference in the NFF affairs.”

  FIFA said the body would not recognise “any person or organ not elected in compliance with the NFF statutes (article 17, par. 2 and 3 of the FIFA statutes and therefore, will not consider the appointment made by the Minister of Sports.”

  It added that the NFF president should inform “the relevant authorities that if the aforementioned NFF officials are not fully reinstated by Tuesday July 8 2014, we will have no choice but to refer the case to the appropriate FIFA organs  for sanctions, including the suspension of the NFF.”

  The letter lists the effects of the suspension to include that no Nigerian team could have any international sporting contact, as well as neither the NFF nor any of its members or officials could benefit from any development programme, course or training from FIFA or CAF.

Keshi debunks resignation rumor

Stephen keshi has debunked statements claiming that he has resigned as the coach of the super eagles. According to keshi, he expressed shock when he discovered that the media was circulating rumours of that he had resigned.

He said: “What I said to my players was that this maybe my last match at the helm of affairs in the national team, because my contract terminates with the World Cup and I have not been offered a new one.

“I was a bit shocked that the global media went to town to say I have called it quits with the national team. Resignations are not done on the pages of newspapers but formally.”

Stephen keshi still remains the coach of the Nigerian national side and is awaiting a new contract from the NFF after his contact expires after the world cup.

There has been positive comments by some members of the NFF board about keshi's performance at the world cup, he won the nation's cup and took Nigeria to the round-of-sixteen in less than 3 years which former Nigerian coach, Clement Westerhof 6 years to achieve.