Blood Donation Reduces Risk of Heart Attack, Cancer- Expert

Blood donation exercise

Dr Wilfred Ndifon, the Coordinator, National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS), Calabar Centre, on Friday, said voluntary blood donation would reduce risk of heart attack by 80 per cent.

Ndifon, who made the assertion in Calabar during a blood donation organised for policemen and officers in the state, also said it would reduce the risk of having cancer.

According to him, voluntary blood donors usually record low risk of heart attack, hence the need for healthy individuals to donate at least 500 milligrammes of blood four times a year.

He said that blood donors usually look smart, stronger, agile and flexible.

Coordinator said that when you donate blood four times a year, the level of iron in your body will be low and the risk of having heart attack is reduced by 80 per cent.

He added that when you donate blood freely, the risk of having cancer is 30 per cent.

Ndifon said that blood donated by the police officers would enable the NBTS to save it for those who might be in urgent need of blood during casualties.

Mr Henry Fadairo, the state’s Commissioner of Police, said “nobody needs blood donation more than the police because of the nature of their job.”

He added that the force had lost lots of its personnel due to the lack of blood in the blood bank.

The Commissioner encouraged the public to save as many lives as they can by donating blood.

NIMASA Fraud: Court Grants Order To Seize Tompolo’s Property

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has granted an order for the seizure of some properties belonging to former Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo. 

Justice Ibrahim Buba granted the order after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told the court that the whereabouts of Tompolo is unknown, Channel News reported.

According to the EFCC, a combined team of Nigerian Police and military officers had been combing the creeks for weeks without success.

Justice Ibrahim Buba had issued a warrant for the arrest of Tompolo on February 8, 2016 after he shunned repeated invitations to appear before the EFCC for questioning, in the report.

Last week, the Commission declared the ex-militant wanted.

Tompolo, Patrick Akpobolokemi, the former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and eight others are accused of a multibillion Naira fraud at the agency.

At the court sitting on Friday, no lawyer announced appearance for Mr Ekpemupolo, a situation the prosecution noted was disrespectful to the court.

With Tompolo still at large, Mr Keyamo then moved a motion for an adjournment to enable the prosecution separate the charges to enable the trial of the other accused persons go on.

The prosecution counsel also filed an application urging the court to order the seizure of all identified properties belonging to Ekpemupolo.

The assets listed include property at No. 1 Chief Agbamu Close DDPA Extension Warri (Effurun), Delta State, All property of Muhaabix Global Services Ltd; a River Crew Change Boat named MUHA – 15; the property known as “Tompolo Dockyard”, by the end of Enerhen Road, Effurun, Warri.

Others are; a property known as “Tompolo Yard”, at the end of Chevron Clinic Road, next to Next Oil, Edjeba, Warri; the Diving School at Kurutie, at Escravos River; the property known as “Tompolo House” at Oporaza Town, opposite the Palace; and any other property discovered by the EFCC, movable and immovable, belonging to the first accused person.

“This application is to further secure the attendance of the first accused person. The law says that the court can order the confiscation of his properties until he appears,” Mr Keyamo said.

“Any third party can bring an application later, but we have intelligence reports that those properties and companies belong to the first accused person.

“If he fails to appear within three months, the federal government will auction off all the assets,” he added.

‎In his ruling, the judge granted the order for the seizure of all the listed properties and adjourned till March 22, 2016 for the separation of charges on the defendants.

Kogi Assembly Plans Impeachment Of Deputy Governor

Mr Simon Achuba

The Kogi State House of Assembly has announced plans to serve an impeachment notice on the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Simon Achuba.

The Speaker of the House, Honourable Momoh Jimoh made the plans known at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

Honorable Jimoh denounced his impeachment by five members of the House adding that the notice of impeachment would be served on the Deputy Governor for allegedly instigating crisis among members of the House of Assembly.

The Speaker also announced the suspension of the five members who announced his impeachment saying their action is a clear violation of the rules of the House as the five members failed to form a quorum before announcing his impeachment.

Five lawmakers in a 20-member House sat on Tuesday and purportedly removed the Speaker.

The lawmakers also chose Umar Imam as the new Speaker of the House.

Friday Sanni, who briefed reporters about the impeachment, said the Speaker was impeached for not carrying other members of the House along in the affairs of the House.

He also claimed that since the new Governor, Yahaya Bello and the Speaker are both from the same senatorial district, the Speaker should vacate the seat.

Meanwhile, 15 members of the House who were seen at Hon. Jimoh’s residence insist Hon. Jimoh remains the Speaker and that their signature was forged to perfect the impeachment.

With Channel News

Kachikwu Forecasts Zero Fuel Subsidy in 2016

The Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachickwu on Thursday stated that the novel price modulation mechanism currently in place will ensure that the Federal Government records zero expenses on fuel subsidy in 2016.

Delivering the 45^th Convocation Lecture of the University of Nigerian Nsukka under the theme: The Petroleum Industry and the Future of the Nigerian National-Oil Resource Management and the Implication for National Security & Economic Survival, Dr. Kachikwu noted that the zero fuel subsidy regime is already in place and would be sustained based on the prevailing modified pricing template for petroleum products which has eliminated extraneous cost elements.

“Without necessarily removing subsidy the government will spend zero amounts in subsidy in 2016. This may sound unbelievable to some people but that is part of the change agenda of the present administration of President Mohammadu Buhari“ he said while noting that large chunks of vandalized pipelines are being  recovered which will supply more crude to the refineries .

The Minister enthused that despite the difficulties of yester-years the oil and gas industry in Nigeria is primed for greater achievements in the months and years ahead as a recent of landmark reforms being engendered and activated by the present administration.

Dr. Kachikwu outlined the central objective of the ongoing oil and gas reform agenda to include; increasing revenue for the country through sales of petroleum and petroleum products and taxes on profitable enterprises, maximizing value added on the crude oil and gas to establish linkages with other sectors through local processing and establishment of gas based industries thereby stimulating economic growth and development as well as providing employment opportunities for Nigerians.

“Significant improvement in governance macroeconomic and fiscal policies are key to harnessing oil and gas resources for the sustainable development of Nigeria through enshrining transparency and accountability, empowering good governance and transparency in expenditure and revenue management,’’ he said.

The NNPC GMD also noted that the ongoing reform is designed to create competitive framework for public private partnerships anchored on durable financial investments.

The minister expressed appreciation to the Management of UNN for considering him worthy to deliver the convocation lecture, adding that as alumni of the university he would continue to contribute his quota to the growth and development of the University. “Whatever I am today UNN contributed immensely to it, he said.

In his remark the Vice-chancellor of UNN, Prof Benjamin Ozumba said the 45th convocation lecture was unique because the lecture was delivered by  a guru in petroleum industry who had within  a record time transformed the  oil sector.

Describing Dr. Kachikwu as the pride and beacon of UNN, the Vice-Chancellor noted that University is glad to welcome a super lion and one of the profound thinkers in Nigeria.

More trouble for Manchester United

Manchester United produced another underwhelming display as they lost to Danish side FC Midtjylland in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie.

United were without a number of injured players, including Wayne Rooney, and lost David de Gea in the warm-up.

They took the lead through Memphis Depay's shot but Sergio Romero, who stepped in for De Gea, was unable to prevent Pione Sisto equalising.

United's Jesse Lingard hit the bar before Paul Onuachu struck the winner.

After losing to Sunderland 2-1 on Saturday, the Red Devils are six points shy of the top four in the Premier League, leaving qualification for next season's Champions League very much in the balance.

Winning the Europa League could represent their best chance of reclaiming a place in Europe's elite club competition, but if they are to do that they will have to be much better than they were against opponents who had not played for 71 days because of the Danish winter break.

That includes in the second leg of this tie, which is at Old Trafford in a week's time.

Midtjylland were only formed in 1999, the year United won their famous Treble, but what they lack in history they made up for with application and ability.

With 13 first-team players out and facing a side whose analytical tactical approach makes them a serious threat from set-pieces, United suffered a major setback when goalkeeper De Gea injured himself in the warm-up.

That meant a first United start in four months for Romero, but the Argentine proved an able replacement with three good saves.

One was a block to deny Vaclav Kadlec, who ran through unchallenged, just 56 seconds before United broke the deadlock through Depay's close-range finish from Lingard's cross.

Romero also produced a superb one-handed diving stop to keep out a powerful goalbound header from Onuachu in the second half.

Between those two saves, he could not stop Sisto pulling the hosts level with a shot that found the net via the shin of Chris Smalling.

Romero was equally powerless to keep out Onuachu's winner - a low drive after the substitute beat Juan Mata on the edge of the box.

A knee injury means United face a six-week insight into life without captain Rooney - an absence that could become permanent if reports of a move to China prove correct.

United have refused to comment on speculation about the striker's future, but his absence allowed Depay to make his first start since Boxing Day and gave Anthony Martial the chance to start up front.

Depay, the top scorer in the Dutch league last season prior to his £31m move to Old Trafford, had scored once in his previous 20 United appearances.

And while his display in Denmark was not a notable improvement on past performances in a United shirt he was able to add a goal to his modest tally of goals for the season, which now stands at six.

But the Dutchman, like the rest of the United team, offered little in the second half as the home side came back to win.

Martial, who has operated primarily on the left since joining the club for £36m in September, was largely anonymous in his central role.

Lingard struck the bar with a volley while the score was 1-1, but United rarely threatened as the clock ticked down.