#BringBackourGirls: Protesters Attacked, APC React?

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly condemned the attack by apparently-sponsored thugs against the ‘bring back our girls’ protesters, who have hitherto conducted themselves in a civil and peaceful manner, calling the attack deplorable and definitely orchestrated to shift the focus from ‘bring back our girls’ to ‘release our girls’.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the attack on the protesters in Abuja had confirmed its worst fears that the Federal Government was embarking on a campaign to shift the responsibility from the government to the abductors, in line with President Goodluck Jonathan’s admonition to the protesters to direct their protests at the abductors rather than his government.

 The party wondered why the government would be pushing its responsibility to ensure the welfare and security of Nigerians to a band of terrorists.
“When we said this Federal Government has abdicated its responsibility to Nigerians, the government’s apologists twisted that statement of fact to mean that we are insulting the president. Well, what does one make of a government that has now rented a crowd of delinquents to attack the ‘bring back our girls’ protesters and counter their message?

“Nigerians voted for Goodluck Jonathan as president, and not for the terrorist called Abubakar Shekau. It is therefore right for them to demand action to return the girls safely from their president, rather than from the anarchist, Shekau,’’ it said.

 APC said the fact that the ‘release our girls Boko Haram’ hooligans who invaded the Unity Fountain gathering of the ‘bring back our girls’ protesters allegedly came in SURE-P buses and were not restrained by the police, even when letters had been written to the security agency alerting it to the attack, had shown that they enjoyed some protection from the authorities and were being sponsored to harass the decent and focused protesters who had helped call global attention to the plight of the innocent girls.

“This obnoxious campaign to shift the responsibility for the safety and security of the girls from the government to the terrorists started with the sponsored protests to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja and has continued with the depressing attacks on a women-led group by a band of paid ruffians,’’ the party said.

 It urged the government to focus its energy on how to bring back the girls safely, more than one-and-a-half months into their abduction, warning that the entire people of Nigeria as well as the international community would definitely frown upon the government’s tactics to confuse the issues. The party called on the president to publicly condemn the attack on the peaceful protesters and order the police to provide round-the-clock security for them, failing which it would be safe to assume that the attackers had his blessings.

Here are the 10 most corrupt police forces in the world.

10. Pakistan Police.
Pakistan’s police has been ranked among the most corrupt institutions in the country in a survey by an international anti-graft watchdog. Many citizens believe that the police is the most corrupt sector of the Pakistani government. Police brutality, extortion bribery and arresting innocent citizens are all crimes that have been committed among Pakistan’s police forces.

9. Russia Police.
Russian government is no stranger to corruption, especially within its police force. Within recent years, facts have surfaced about the corruption and crimes being committed by Russian police officers. Police brutality, extorting bribes and arresting innocent citizens are all crimes that have been committed among Russian police forces. In order to ensure monthly quotas and make ends meet, Russian police turn to corruption and bribery.

8. Sudan Police.
Sudan is one of the most corrupt countries for various reasons. Not only has their former president Oman Al-Bashir been indicted for war crimes and genocide, but this nation suffers from a corrupt police force. Sudanese police have been known to extort bribes from civilians in order to supplement their incomes. Police rarely file reports or investigate crimes, and often use violence and retaliation against people who complain about police abuses.

7. Afghanistan Police.
Afghanistan has had one of the most corrupt police forces in the world, and it seems like it’s only getting worse with time. Graft has made it impossible for Afghan police to improve and effectively do their job, but corruption is witnessed within the police force, as well. Afghan police have been known to extort money and inflict violence on civilians at police checkpoints around the country. Police also bribe civilians into paying them for their release from prison or to avoid arrest. Although police corruption has gotten slightly better with international efforts and retraining, it continues to suffer at the whim of governmental corruption and power.

6. Somalia Police.
The Somali police force is at No. 4 amongst the most corrupt in the world. This war-torn country continues to face great difficulties and people are at the greatest risk. The Somali police have been popular to be ineffective and crooked, because they are underpaid. Most of Somali police officers involved in steeling, extortion, bribery and they harass individuals to get money.

5. Iraq Police.
The Iraqi police have had a long history of corruption and, despite funds and retraining efforts, they’ve managed to maintain their corruption. Iraqi police continue to be highly sectarian and participate in kidnappings, ransom payments and bribery. They have proven to be ineffective at controlling terrorism efforts and protecting civilians in the ways they need to be.

4. Burma Police.
Burma ranked 4 amongst the countries with a troubled agency. Corruption among police force is most common here. The Burma police has been known to make victims pay for criminal investigations. They are popular for extortion money from civilians. Burma is ruled by a highly authoritarian military regime, therefore the Burma police and the rights of citizens are under direct hold of military.

3. Kenya Police.
Kenya ia at No.3 amongst the most corrupt police forces in the world. According to a recent survay report of Transparency International, the 92 percent civilians of Kenya ranked their police as the most corrupt and many of them have paid a bribe to their police during the last 12 months. Civilians are bribed into paying police for access to various services, like Customs, healthcare, education, police, registration and permits. They paid a bribe even on utility services.

2. Mexico Police.
Mexico hold second spot amongst the most corrupt police forces. One of the most troubled police and it continues to get worse every day. Crime is at an all-time high in Mexico City and border towns, but many police officers are only making it worse. Mexican police turn to corruption to find other means of money because the pay is low. Police will bribe criminals and extort tourists and have been known to give victims the option of “plata o plomo,” which means they can either accept a bribe or be killed. Mexican police also work with drug cartels to protect them and enforce drug trafficking. They often ignore reported crimes and do not investigate them, often imprisoning innocent citizens to cover up their dirty work.

1. Haiti Police.
World’s most corrupt police force is of Haiti. The Haitian police have negatively influenced society and Haitian culture with their unethical practices for quite awhile. In recent years, the Haitian National Police have violated various human rights and broken numerous laws, such as kidnapping, drug trafficking and police brutality. They have even resisted preventing or responding to gang-related violence. The lawlessness of the HNP appears to have died down slightly after the catastrophic earthquake in January 2010, but only time will tell if it will stay this way

SOURCE: http://www.wonderslist.com/10-most-corrupt-police-forces-in-the-world/

What Are the Causes of Red Skin?

If you blush because you are embarrassed or shy, you have a temporary condition that turns your face red. It's nothing to worry about. But some people have other, more serious conditions that turn their skin red---some short-term and some long-term.

 

Rosacea
Rosacea is a skin condition that includes bumpy skin, acne-like breakouts and red skin that gets worse if you drink alcohol or eat spicy foods, according to experts. Rosacea tends to occur in fair-skinned people, who blush easily. Rosacea starts slowly and persists until a person's face is always red, pimples occur and blood vessels in the center of the face (cheeks, chin, nose and forehead) become visible. Skincarephysicians.com reports that rosacea may be caused by Demodex folliculorum, a mite that lives in hair follicles. The mites clog oil glands and this results in inflammation or red skin. The medical community also believes that Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that results in intestinal infection, may be the cause. Rosacea afflicts mostly women; however, when men have this condition, it causes rhinophyma, which makes the nose appear extremely red, deformed and too big, according to sbmedex.wordpress.com.

 

Contact Dermatitis
If you have sensitivity or an allergy to certain substances and your skin turns red when you come in to contact with these substances, this is contact dermatitis, according to revolutionhealth.com. Contact dermatitis can cause your skin to hurt, swell, heat up and become scarlet. Some soaps and detergents may have this effect, as can household cleaning products. Other culprits include rubber products, latex, elastic and dyes.

 

Sunburn
A sunburn can turn your skin red. When skin is overly exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays, the skin becomes inflamed and turns red. Although summertime sunburns are well documented, your skin can burn anytime you are exposed to the sun without wearing sunscreen.

 

Red Rashes
Psoriasis results in red, scaly, itchy patches on your joints, according to medicineplus.com. Diaper rash will turn an infant's bottom red. Poison ivy will result in a red rash anywhere that your body has been exposed to the plant. Cradle cap, which newborns sometimes get, is called seborrheic dermatitis. The baby's scalp is affected by this condition because of overproduction of skin oil and irritation caused by yeast (malessizia), according to medicineplus.com. This can cause red skin, but not always. Other rashes that can turn a child's skin red include milia, heat rash, eczema, a yeast infection and baby acne, according to righthealth.com.

 

Additional Causes
A high temperature can cause a person's skin to become flushed. Cellulitis is a skin infection caused by bacteria that can make your skin feel hot to the touch. Cellulitis is painful. The infected area will become red. Scarlet fever is a sickness that is caused by a bacteria called group A streptococcus. It will result in a rash consisting of tiny red bumps that appear on the abdomen and chest. People who drink excessive amounts of alcohol may develop a red nose.

 

Medication
According to wrongdiagnosis.com, Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a rare condition that is often caused by medications and can result in red patches on the skin, in addition to rashes, blisters in the mucous membranes, persistent fever, swollen eyelids, flu symptoms and conjunctivitis. Whenever a patient starts on a new medication, he and his doctor should be on the lookout for these symptoms, because this syndrome can be fatal.

Brad Pitt Attacked

The guy who attacked Brad Pitt on the red carpet last night violated a cardinal rule of fighting -- never hit a guy with glasses ... especially when he's surrounded by a team of security goons.
TMZ broke the story ... Ukrainian troublemaker Vitalii Sediuk lunged at Pitt at the "Maleficent" premiere ... hitting him in the face and breaking the designer sunglasses he was wearing. Sediuk was immediately subdued ... and hauled off to jail.
Law enforcement sources tell us ... Brad wasn't hurt in the attack -- just stunned -- but a temporary emergency restraining order is now in place ... ordering Sediuk to stay at least 500 feet way from Pitt for the next 5 days.
We're told the case has been sent to the L.A. City Attorney for possible prosecution.
Sediuk is already on 3 years probation for crashing the Grammys in 2013 ... when he appeared on stage and tried to accept Adele's award.
 

10 Simple ways to lose weight with Nigerian Food

1. Eat less Carbohydrate
The typical Nigeria Diet is heavy on Carbohydrate, a sample daily food consumption might include: Yam for breakfast, Eba/garri for lunch and Rice for supper. Most food guides recommend 6-7 servings of grain products (Carbohydrate based) for adult female and 8 servings for adults male.
To put things in perspective, daily carbohydrate requirement for the average adult, based on a 2000Calories diet will be 300g/day. In food Lingo, 300g of carbohydrate will consist of: 2 slices of bread for breakfast (70g), 2 cups of garri (156g) for lunch and 11/2 cups of rice for supper (68g).

The body (through an elaborate process) store excess carbohydrate as FAT and continuous excess carbohydrate consumption result in increase weight gain. when trying to lose weight, it is extremely important to watch carbohydrate intake, consuming below the daily carbohydrate requirement means that your body will be forced to access stored energy (fat) which translates to weight loss.
Sample Heavy Carbohydrate Nigerian foods: Garri, yam, pounded yam, semovita, spaghetti, Rice, cornflakes, bread, cocoyam.

2. Consume less palm oil

Palm oil and palm kernel oil are high in calories and saturated fat, Click here for the nutrition profile of Palm oil. Due to the high fat and calories content in palm oil, avoid using Palm Oil when you don’t have to, and if you must, use only a small amount. Also look at ingredient list when purchasing pre cooked items (e.g plantain chips), most chip companies fry their sweet chips in palm oil, avoid these as much as possible.

3. Watch the salt (magi)

When we cook with packaged seasoning mixes, we introduce lots of salt into our diet. The typical seasoning like Maggi, Knorr, Adobo e.t.c contains high amount of salt in them, adding extra table salt to dishes that already contain these seasonings means salt overload.

Salt in itself has little to no calories, but Over-consumption of salt leads to temporary weight gain as it causes the body to retain water. Conversely, low consumption of salt will result in temporary weight loss as it causes the body to expel water. It is important to note that salt has no direct interaction with fat gain or fat loss, however excess water retention will make a person appear bigger than they actually are.

4. Watch What You Drink

We consume loads of excess calories from drinks, as we are more likely to pay more attention to what we eat than what we drink. Drinks are equally as important when it comes to weight loss. Pop (Soda/minerals) should be avoided all together. Some drinks that are perceived as Healthy drinks can also contribute to excess weight gain, a typical 300ml of malt drink for example contains 48g of Carbohydrate, this is the same as 1 cup of white rice. The point isn’t that you shouldn’t consume health drinks (malts and juices), but do not neglect the calories in these drinks when it comes to your daily diet.


5. Choose Meat Wisely

It is extremely difficult for Africans to ignore red meat; it is a staple in most soups and sauces. If you must eat red meat, make sure to trim off as much excess fat as possible. The recommended red meat option for dieter is goat meat; goat meat is comparable to beef in protein but contains 50% less calories and significantly less fat. See the chat below for meat comparison:

6. Oven bake and oven fry (avoid deep frying)

I am sure it’s a no brainier that we should avoid fried foods when trying to lose weight. Fried foods introduce high amounts of oil, calories and fat into our diet which makes it more difficult to lose weight. An alternative to frying is oven roasting and oven frying. With a fraction of the oil required for deep frying, oven frying helps to save a bundle of calories and fat.

7. Avoid high calorie snacks (Fan Yogo, gala, lacasera, chin chin, buns, Puff puff, plantain chips)
The typical snack on the Nigeria street contains >225 calories. When trying to lose weight, snacks are a diet sabotage. It’s extremely easy to consume high calories snack and ignore the calorie count. It is okay to indulge every now and again but do not underestimate the effect of small snacks and small chops on your diet. Carry healthy snacks in your purse, so you are not forced to buy unhealthy street snacks. High fibre snacks like granola bar will help you lose weight. I will do a post on homemade health bars that can be stored for weekly use.

8. Eat Spicy Foods

Hot peppers have been shown to raise your metabolism, but the real Benefit of peppery food is that they slow your eating. When you eat too fast, as many of us do, by the time your body signals it’s full, you’ve overeaten. Eating more slowly is a good weight-loss strategy, and making food spicier is an easy way to do it. Also spicy foods requires water; by increasing your water intake you feel full faster.

9. Eat More Fiber

Fibre helps you feel full sooner and stay full longer which means less snacking and binge eating. Foods that are high in fiber includes Beans and legumes.

10. WALK WALK WALK and exercise
This last point isn’t about food, but weight loss cannot be achieved with food alone. To lose weight, you must expense more energy than you consume and an easy way to expense energy is to exercise. Exercising doesn’t always require gym memberships; try home workout DVDs, walk for 30mins a day, go to the playground with your kids (or nieces and nephews) , join a sport league like soccer or volleyball, take the stairs. Any activity that elevates your heart rate for an extended period of time counts as a workout (all you married folks can get creative). It doesn’t really matter what exercise program you chose, you just have to be consistent.

Good Luck with your weight loss goals!!!

Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith Under Investigation By Child Services After Photo Of Daughter Goes Viral (REPORT)

RadarOnline is reporting that superstar couple Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith are under investigation by the Los Angeles Department of Children & Family Services after a photo of their 13-year-old daughter, Willow, lying in bed with a 20-year-old friend went viral online earlier this month.

“The investigation was formally opened last week and is being taken very seriously by the department. Will and Jada Pinkett Smith have been extremely cooperative with officials. Of course, they aren’t happy that their parenting skills are under scrutiny, but they understand," a source told the website, adding that social workers will be speaking to Willow separately, as well as former Disney star Moises Arias, who was pictured with her in the photo.

The Huffington Post has reached out to both Smith and Pinkett Smith's reps for comment, but has yet to hear back at this time.

Meanwhile, the 42-year-old actress and matriarch of the family, brushed off the notion of any controversy after the photo of Willow sparked attention, telling TMZ's cameramen:

"Here's the deal: There was nothing sexual about that picture or that situation. You guys are projecting your trash onto it and you're acting like covert pedophiles, and that's not cool."

Will Smith has yet to make any comment regarding the photo, but viral photos seem to run in the family, as a photo of him helping a fan announce her pregnancy has exploded online.

Fibre-rich Foods are good for you

UNHEALTHY weight gain is the of poor food habits. But you can also use food to lose weight. Here
is a list of food which is high in fiber and can help you lose weight.
 Dietary fiber-rich foods swell up in stomach and reduce the felling of hunger.               

 Fibre are are capable of binding toxin, cholesterol and bile salts, and help the body to get rid of them.

Foods which contain a huge amount dietary fibre can slow down the digestion of carbohydrates in your intestines.

When soluble fibre is consumed, it get dissolved in water and transform into gel. This gel reduces and bind fats to lower cholesterol. Soluble fibre is also beneficial, as it also slows down the absorption of sugar, which can help manage and prevent diabeties mellitus.

Dietary fibre not  only  protect  our intestine but  also insulates them  from  cancer  by transporting  anti- oxidants  to the large intestine.  Fibre  binds up to 80  percent  of cancer-inhibiting antioxidants  polyphenols in fruit and vegetables,  thereby protecting  the antioxidants from early digestion  in the  stomach  and small intestine, the study  found.

Anneline Padayachee  at  the  university  of Queensland  and the Commonwealth  Scientific  and Industrial  research orgarnisation  found that  fiber acts  as an antioxidant  trafficker by safely
transporting antioxidant  nutrient to  the colon  where they provide  protection  against  cancer  like 
colon cancer.

Antioxidants  are  substances  that  may protect  your  cell  against the  effect of  of free  radicals-molecules  produced when  your  body  breakdown  food. They can damage cells,   and may play a
role in heart disease, cancer and  other diseases. 

SUSPENSION SAGA: Sanusi, Go To National Industrial Court - Judge

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain a suit filed by the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, challenging his suspension by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole held in his judgment that the matter was a labour and employment -related suit and therefore ordered that it be transferred to the National Industrial Court.
The judge held that, in line with Sections 251(1) and 254(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the proper court where Sanusi ought to have instituted the suit was the NIC.
He directed that the case of Sanusi, whose tenure as the CBN governor officially expires on June 1, “be heard and determined with utmost urgency” by the NIC.
Justice Kolawole delivered a joint judgment in the substantive suit and the separate notices of preliminary objection filed by Jonathan and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, who were both the first and second defendants.
He struck out the name of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, as the third defendant, holding that the case did not disclose any cause of action against the police IG.
The judge however said that the plaintiff had the liberty to challenge his judgment at the Court of Appeal.
He rejected the prayers of the defendants in their separate notices of preliminary objection to either dismiss or strike out the suit.
The judge, rather than granting the defendants’ prayer, made the order of transfer, relying on Order 56 Rule 3 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules, 2009 and section 24(3) of the NIC Act, 2006.
“In conclusion, the plaintiff’s case is hereby transferred to the National Industrial Court, subject to Section 24 (3) of the National Industrial Court Act 2006 and shall be heard and determined on the direction of its President in accordance with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) as well as other relevant and enabling Acts as a matter of utmost urgency,” Justice Kolawole ruled.
The judge added that he deliberately refrained from deciding the substantive suit on its merit so as to be fair to the NIC, which he said was entitled to hear the matter afresh and to avoid making any pronouncements that could deny justice to any of the party at the NIC.
He said, “All the issues which I earlier pencilled down that I would have to resolve will now be shifted to the National Industrial Court.
“This is to ensure that the fundamental issue which the plaintiff’s case has thrown up can be resolved by the National Industrial Court.”
The judge held that only public officers whose tenure and appointment was specifically mentioned in the constitution could approach the Federal High Court for such judicial interpretation.
He held, “The plaintiff’s application is rooted in the CBN Act 2007 and not in the Constitution.
“In view of the conclusion which has been inevitably reached, the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction to entertain the case, causes and action of a plaintiff as an employee of a statutory body like CBN.”
Source: Punch

BORNO STATE: Governor Shettima Release N150 Million Over Missing Girls?

Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday said the initial doubt over the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls and the theory that the kidnap was staged managed by his government was as painful as the actual abduction.
He also said that the state government would spend N150m to rehabilitate the 53 students who escaped from their abductors and the parents of those still being held.
The governor said it was a sad tale that Nigeria pays more emphasis on politics than finding solutions to the nation’s problems.
Responding to the address of the Chairman of the Presidential Fact Finding Committee on the abduction of Chibok schoolgirls, Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo (retd.), Shettima said, “I didn’t create Boko Haram, I inherited it in 2011 when I was sworn-in amidst near complete breakdown of security in Maiduguri, the largest and most populated part of the state. But I normally say that a leader is elected or appointed to solve problems, it doesn’t matter whether the leader created the problem or not. A leader is elected to find solution, this is governance. There is a whole difference between politics and governance.
“In politics, you tell the general public and victims about a problem, you tell them the gravity of the problem; and with emphasis, you tell them who to blame for it. But in governance, you identify a problem and work hard to solve it. Unfortunately for us in this country, we all appear to lay more emphasis on politics than on governance. The Chibok incident, for me, has grossly exposed our weighty weakness as leaders in terms of assuming our shared responsibilities.
He lamented that a former Minister, Mrs. Kema Chikwe, came out to cast doubt over the abduction of these schoolgirls. “That woman completely disregarded the sensitivity of that issue, the pains of the agonising parents and our pains as a government, to whom, the parents of these girls, cry out in desperation and unimaginable confusion and anguish.
“Every other unreasonable Nigerian that came to adopt that view, only anchored the unfortunate view that was first expressed by Mrs Kema Chikwe. Doubt over that abduction pained me as much as the incident itself. Doubt over that abduction pained me far more than the childish theory that as a government, we staged that abduction in order to create basis to stop the extension of emergency rule in Borno.”
He said that theory did not make the slightest sense, saying, if a government did not want extension of emergency and chose to fake happenings, the state government would rather deny that the abduction ever took place.
The governor, said he had approved N150m for the rehabilitation of the 53 girls who escaped from the Boko Haram captivity and for the assistance of the traumatised parents daughters are still held in captivity.
Earlier Brig.-Gen. Sabo had assured the state government that the committee was ready to carry on with the task with absolute patriotism and fear of God.
He condoled with the people and government of Borno State who have been traumatized as a result of the loses that have resulted from the Boko Haram insurgency over time.
Source: Punch

N20 MILLION FRAUD: Mohammadu Buhari’s Son Arrested?

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested Mr. Mohammed Buhari, an adopted son of a former Head of State, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, for an alleged N20m scam.
A source at the EFCC said that the young Buhari obtained the said N20m from one Mrs. Nwokocha Florence to invest in an oil and gas business with a promise to make mouthwatering returns to the lady.
It was gathered that the adopted son of the former Head of State and presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change in the 2011 elections also promised to pay the lady 30 per cent annual interest on the N20m.
It was gathered that the relationship between the two turned sour when Buhari reneged on the agreement to pay the 30 per cent annual interest on the N20m to the investor said to have been introduced to him by his accounts officer at ECO Bank.

It was leant that once the money was transferred, Buhari cleaned out the account but never paid any interest to the woman.
The EFCC source said that Buhari claimed that he had some problems which emanated from his lost of the bank’s guarantee which he secured from a new generation bank.
He was said to have explained that the guarantee was cancelled because the bank felt that the branch from which he secured it lacked the competence to give it.
Investigation revealed that Buhari was still being held by the operatives investigating the case at the Lagos office of the EFCC as of the time of filing this report
When our correspondent contacted the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, he confirmed the arrest but would not give any further details.
He said, “It is true but I don’t have the details.”

General Muhammadu Buhari has distanced himself from one “Mohammed Buhari” arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for scamming a woman, Mrs Florence Nwokocha, of N20 million in a ponzi scheme.
A statement issued by the General through Com Jasper Azuatalam, Chairman of the "Buhari Vanguard” stated that the tenuous link between the former head of state and the scammer in EFCC detention was aimed at smearing the general.
SaharaReporters had earlier published a report today concerning the detention of Mohammed Buhari by the EFCC, our sources within the agency claimed the detained Buhari claimed he was General Buhari's adopted son.
Read Full Disclaimer:
It is regrettable to note that after several unsuccessful attempts to smear the hard earned respect, popularity, dignity, and enviable image of Muhammadu Buhari, mischief makers have resorted to a laughable tactic of linking Muhammadu Buhari to a crime just because someone who has been alleged to have committed a crime somewhere bears the name “Buhari”.
Muhammadu Buhari wishes to state categorically that he does not have any adopted son called “Mohammed Buhari” and had no need to adopt a son at any time having been blessed with choice children, both male and females. Muhammadu Buhari and his family do not know the said “Mohammed Buhari” who is alleged to be involved in a #20M scam and is being held by EFCC.
Muhammadu Buhari is blessed with very descent and disciplined children who obviously took after their father. His children have no single record of stealing and an inordinate behavior anywhere in the world. They do not seek attention, but have proven the stuff their father is made of any time their character is put to test.
However, this is understandable, since the entire attempts by mischief makers to discredit Muhammadu Buhari as an individual has failed. We frown at these poorly articulated gimmicks to indirectly link Muhammadu Buhari and his family to a crime allegedly committed by someone unknown to him and his family just for the fact that the said suspect bears the name “Mohammed Buhari”.

DEADLY SEX: Female Banker, Lover Dead?

Tragedy struck at Eziudo autonomous community in Ezinihitte, Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State when a female banker, Mrs. Adejoke Ayeola of Iperu Remo in Ogun State and her lover, Mr. Wilson Ugwunna perished during lovemaking.
Wilson, 42, had two children while his lover, who was 44 years old, was a mother of two children. She was said to have been married to a traditional ruler in Ogun State.
But the medical director of Obizie People Medical Centre, where Wilson was rushed to for medical attention, Dr. Ohanyere Alex Chibuike, said the rumour about magun was baseless. He said the real cause of their deaths was the carbon monoxide they inhaled from a generating set throughout the night, explaining that he conducted tests on the deceased.
“I repeated the tests and there was nothing suggesting that any other damage was done to his body,’’ the medical director said.
He, however, said that members of the deceased’s family were yet to pay the hospital bill and collect his corpse for burial.
The lovers had returned from Lagos on Saturday, April 26, 2014 and went to bed, but were not seen throughout the following day, a development that drew the attention of Wilson’s family members.
Sunday Trust gathered that when the door to the room where the lovers slept was forced open, Adejoke’s body had started decomposing while her lover was in deep coma.
Speaking to our reporter, indigenes of Eziudo community, who expressed surprise at the incident, said they strongly believed it was caused by magun, a Yoruba charm usually set against a woman suspected of illicit affairs. The practice is common in Yorubaland.
The traditional ruler of Eziudo community, His Royal Majesty, Eze Desmond Oguguo, who confirmed the incident during an exclusive interview with our reporter in his palace, recalled that on Saturday, April 26, Wilson, who claimed to have returned from Malaysia, brought a Yoruba lady home from Lagos and introduced her as his future wife. This was despite the fact that he already had a wife and two children who he reportedly abandoned for at least three years. He described Wilson’s action as grossly shameful.
Eze Oguguo said the matter was reported to the police who deposited the woman’s corpse in the hospital mortuary while Wilson, who was still in coma, was taken to the hospital for medical attention, but he later died.
Also speaking to our reporter, a member of the community disclosed that the lady’s husband came and took her corpse to Yorubaland.
“Her eyes were bulging out of the sockets, her face was swollen, while her tongue was gushing out. She looked like a dragon,” he said, adding that he could not bear the sight of the lady when her body was being removed.
The late banker’s husband had reportedly said that the only condition for Wilson to live was if he could walk to the mortuary to see the woman’s corpse.
It was further gathered that the lady, who worked in a new generation bank, had lied to her husband that she was attending a meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital while she went to Mbaise with her lover.
Speaking further, Eze Oguguo warned young men against anti-social activities, saying, “The way young people of these days behave is very embarrassing. They don’t respect themselves, they don’t respect anybody, and they don’t have the fear of God. They do whatever they like. They should be honest to themselves and live honest lives. It is quite unfortunate.”
It was learnt that Wilson’s children are currently staying with his mother in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
“Such boy is uncontrollable. Even his mother, who is in Owerri, has not visited home since the incident. If the boy had good manners, his mother would have rushed home,” the traditional ruler added.
The commissioner of police, Imo State command, Mr. Abdulmaheed Ali confirmed the incident.
Source: Daily Trust

EXPOSED: Immigration Officer, A Boko Haram Member?

Nigerians have consistently maintained that the dreaded sect Boko Haram must surely have sympathisers in government and security agencies, considering how effective their attacks have been. Finally, there is proof.
A high profile Boko Haram member, who is an officer of Nigeria’s Immigration Services, Ahmed Grema Mohammed, has named some security personnel among those carrying out terrorist attacks in the country. His confession came after he was arrested by the men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Mohammed, who is an officer of the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS) attached to the Nangere office of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Yobe State, was apprehended at a checkpoint on the Maiduguri-Damaturu road while on his way to kill a former special adviser to the immediate past governor of the state.
Most of the personnel named by Mohammed have been arrested, while security agencies are on the trail of others.
The news of Mohammed’s arrest was contained in a JTF statement signed by the task force spokesman, Lt. Col Sagir Musa.
According to the statement, Mohammed had been on the wanted lists in the country and was arrested on August 17, this year for impersonating a lieutenant in the Nigerian Army.
“Mohammed confessed to be actively involved in the killings of some senior civil servants, security agents, and politicians in Damaturu who spoke against the activities of Boko Haram, particularly the former chairman of Damboa Council, Alhaji Lawal Kawu.
“He also took part in the attack on the old Police Headquarters in Damaturu, where some policemen were killed and large quantity of arms and ammunition carted away.
“In addition, he was among the terrorists that attacked Damaturu Prison, burnt some primary schools, the State CID office and the Police Safety Vehicle, among others.
“The suspect revealed to JTF that he and 15 other members of the organization were intensively trained for three months on G3 and AK 47 rifles, as well as in assassinations and special operations in Niger Republic.
“He also revealed names of some security personnel that participated in terrorists’ attacks in Borno and Yobe states.”
Source: JTF

FACTS: The End Of Boko Haram Is Near

The declaration of ‘war’ on Boko Haram extremists by African leaders at a security summit in Paris is a major step to tackle the regional threat posed by the group as well as help end the insurgency if properly implemented, analysts say.

“It’s a good thing that the leaders have agreed to work together to fight Boko Haram,” said Nwolise Osisioma, a professor and head of political science and international relation at the University of Ibadan, southwest Nigeria.

“But the leaders must have the political will to execute the decision with one mind. If they do, it will go a long way in checkmating Boko Haram,” he said.

“The leaders will also have to tackle the issue of logistics, that of intelligence gathering. Nigeria for instance, has military capability to fight Boko Haram. What is lacking is intelligence,” he said.

“We hope, France as the facilitator of the summit, will assist with intelligence and satellite.”

Osisioma said he believed dialogue rather than force was a better option.

“If the government had entered into negotiation with Boko Haram and met their demands in 2009 when they started their rebellion, the crisis would not have festered to this point.

“The lesson is that when internal groups make demands, government should attend to those demands. If not, those demands can transform into other things which can be more devastating,” he said.

“The inability of the Nigerian government to meet the initial demands of the group such as reconstruction of their damaged Mosque, compensation for their slain leader and release of their members in custody has emboldened it to be more violent.”

Dapo Thomas of Lagos state university sees the Paris deal as a “game changer” in the five-year-old Boko Haram violence.

“It will see an end to the Boko Haram menace if the agreement is faithfully implemented,” he said.

“There is no way Nigeria can win the battle alone. It needs the cooperation of neighbouring countries,” he said.

He said it had been established that Boko Haram fighters usually flee across the borders after launching their deadly attacks in Nigeria.

“It is not a coincidence that most of the Boko Haram attacks in the northeast occur around the border areas and a joint military operation along those frontiers will go a long way in stemming such attacks,” he said.

“With the Paris accord, the days of Boko Haram are over.”

Thomas said there are speculations that the kidnapped schoolgirls were being held around the border with Cameroon.

He therefore called for a full implementation of the Paris deal.

“The leaders should put aside their individual differences and ensure that the terms of the agreement are implemented to the letter,” he said.

Simon Kolawole, a columnist with the independent daily ThisDay said it was “a shame” that it took the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls from the remote northeastern town of Chibok by Boko Haram extremists before the leaders could agree to work together.

“President Goodluck Jonathan had in the past sought the intervention of French President Francois Hollande to talk to our franccophone neighbours, especially Niger, Chad and Cameroon where the militants gain access to Nigeria,” he lamented.

“Better late than never, and I think the Paris summit has redefined the war against Boko Haram,” he said.

“It is now left for the countries to draw up their strategies and show sincerity and commitment to the war,” he added.

Last month’s abductions of the teenage girls and the Nigerian government’s slow response to the incident sparked global outrage and street protests in Nigeria and across the world.

Hollande, who hosted the regional summit at the instance of Jonathan, slammed the Islamist group, with the African leaders declaring war on the sect, blamed for 2,000 deaths this year as well as the abduction of girls.

Just hours ahead of the summit, the Islamists carried out another brazen attack, this time killing one Chinese worker and kidnapping 10 others in Cameroon — underlining the regional threat posed by the group.

“We have seen what this organisation is capable of,” Hollande said at the close of the half-day summit on Saturday.

“We are here to declare war on Boko Haram,” Cameroon President Paul Biya said, while his Benin counterpart Thomas Boni Yayi added: “Religious intolerance has no place in Africa.”

Chad’s Idriss Deby warned: “Terrorists have already done enough damage. Letting them continue would run the risk of allowing the whole region to fall into chaos.”

Jonathan stressed his commitment to find the abducted girls.

“We are totally committed to finding the girls, wherever they are,” he said.

“We’ve been scanning these areas with surveillance aircraft,” he added, saying Nigeria had deployed 20,000 troops to find the girls.

“Boko Haram is no longer a local terror group,” he said.

“From 2009 to today it has changed and can be described as Al-Qaeda in western and central Africa,” he said.

The countries also agreed to push for UN sanctions against the leaders of Boko Haram and another Nigerian Islamist group, Ansaru.

Source: PM News

Photos of Police averted bomb blast incident in Kano this morning

This afternoon, the Nigerian Police released a press statement claiming to have averted what could have been another devastating bomb blast in the ancient city of Kano this morning. Read that here.
Well, they've just released photos from the incident.

Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima has replied Asari Dokubo

Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima has replied Asari Dokubo who has in recent times alleged that the missing Chibok girls is all a scam and the handiwork of the governor. In a statement by the Governor's spokesperson, Isa Gusau, Shettima described Dokubo as a jester who no serious minded Nigerian should take serious. The statement below...

"Governor Shettima is too serious minded to reply Asari Dokubo who is just a joker as most Nigerians regard him. As a onetime journalist covering the Niger Delta, I had come in direct contact with Asari when he organized a rally in support of late Gaddafi in Port Harcourt and also when he organized the 2011/2012 Isaac Boro lecture in Port Harcourt which he kept interrupting, taking over the microphone from people like respected lawyers like Festus Keyamo, intermittently speaking without protocol and without shame like a child. He is just a joke, no reasonable Nigerian takes him serious. He was reported saying Chibok abduction was a sham, I won’t be surprised if by next week the same Asari Dokubo leads another rally to counter the one he just held. Last year, Asari was reported speaking against Presidency, then he changed tune now we don’t know what happened but that is how he is, he uses the media for personal interest and some sort of blackmail." Continue...

“He wants to be regarded as a hero but I tell you that no one sees him as such in the Niger Delta that I had covered. He is trying to force unwilling public to see him different from who he is but like a say goes, ‘you can fool some people all the time, you can fool all the people sometime but you cannot fool all the people all the time. Asari dubiously took advantage of Isaac Boro event which attracts participants to say what he said so that the procession would seem like a support base for his isolated opinion. I saw some pictures of some girls in one house displaying some placards, from the faces, I think he probably assembled some of his immediate and extended family members and gave them placards. One person wrote on all the cards, the same writing, all of which look like a sort of Mickey Mouse scene in cartoon series. How can Governor Shettima reply a jester, how can he respond to such a play by Asari that falls far below the standard of Nollywood when he is busy working very hard with all relevant bodies finding ways on how to secure the freedom of his and Borno’s precious daughters in captivity?” Gusau said.

Gusau advised the President to distance himself from Asari...

Spinach

Spinach is loaded with vitamins A, K, D and E and is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids.  It also has anti-cancer properties and is loaded with antioxidants, besides alkalizing the body and nourishing the eyes. Read on to learn more about the health benefits of spinach.

Like green, leafy vegetables, spinach is an excellent source of beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant, which can reduce one’s risk of developing cataracts. Studies show that it also fight heart disease and cancer.

Spinach also contains phytochemicals, which helps prevent age-related macular degeneration and lipoic acid which may regulate blood sugar levels.

It is also a good source of dietary magnesium, which is necessary for muscle and nerve function, heart rhythm and maintaining a healthy immune system.

Spinach in packed with vitamin A, which is necessary the growth of bodily tissues, including skin and hair. It also helps build and maintain collagen, which provides structure to the skin and hair.

What Causes Menstruation Pain

Menstruation Pain

Menstruation brings about a number of unpleasant symptoms such as cramps, mood blues, bloating etc. Not many know but these menstruation symptoms are influenced by the food you eat. In order to keep a check on them and get through your periods with the least amount of pain, avoid the following foods.

Caffeine: Caffeine is a stimulant and can worsen mood blues, menstrual pains and can also disrupt sleep. It is recommended that you control your caffeine intake or avoid it completely during menstruation. Caffeine rich foods include coffee, tea, energy drinks and chocolates.

Fatty meat: The fats found in meat are saturated and can influence and worsen pain and inflammation during menstruation. If you can’t avoid meat completely, make sure you only consume lean meat and not the fatty kind.

Snacks and chips: Although snacks and chips may seem like the perfect comfort food, avoid them during your menstruation days. These snacks contain sodium, which can cause bloating and discomfort. Instead, opt for healthy snacks like salt-free nuts and seeds or even fruits.

Sugar: Sugary foods also seem like the ideal comfort food. But sugary foods like candy, cookies or cakes only cause a temporary mood elevation and can soon cause a crash in your mood. Apart from that sugary foods can also worsen cramps. If you need to munch on something sweet, try fruits like melon or mango.

Alcohol: Avoid alcohol completely during menstruation as it causes the blood to thin out, thereby increasing your flow. Alcohol also increase other PMS symptoms like cramps and pain. 

Is Soy a Fertility Food?

Does soy increase fertility or deplete your baby making potential?

Several weeks ago, I received a generous thank you note from a holistic practitioner who works with fertility issues. She was thanking me for clearing up some conflicting information on fertility foods and soy products. Her note note made me realize just how contentious a subject soy is, even among experts in the fertility field. So I thought it might be useful to offer a quick summary of what I have come to in the last two  decades of observing my own, as well as my clients’ response to soy.

Over eighty percent of the women I’ve worked with as a fertility educator, wrestle with various levels of digestive difficulties. A large percentage battles impaired thyroid function.

The good news is that as we begin to view food-related adjustments not as restrictions but as a source of power, dietary changes become easy. A baby is the one shiny apple, most of us will do just about anything, to reach.

During the pre-conception cleansing phase—fresh, live, high-water-content, easily digestible combinations of fertility foods (see recipe section of The Fertile Female), a close attention to individual nutritional needs and a supplementation with specific high potency, absorbable fertility supplements—is where we begin.

My article Fertility Supplements documents some of my research on the link between supplements and fertility.

As far as soy goes, my clients do best with fermented soy products such as tempeh, tamari, miso and nato.

The protease inhibitors in unfermented soy foods, such as soy milk, tofu, processed soy cheeses, inhibit the key enzymes that help us digest protein and can cause bloating, intestinal disorders and impaired pancreatic function. Fermentation on the other hand adds beneficial microorganisms that help break down complex proteins into highly digestible amino acids and fatty acids.

Women who, like myself, have been diagnosed “irreversibly infertile” due to high FSH and low estrogen levels, and generally most women over 35, do well with incorporating fermented soy in their food plan.

Fermentation also deactivates the soy’s mineral depleting phytates and other anti-nutrients. Otherwise the impaired mineral absorption—of calcium for example—especially for women with fertility challenges such as depleted ovarian reserve, can be a serious concern.

Women with thyroid related issues have done well with a moderate amount of fermented soy, combined with iodine rich foods such as seaweed. (See the Hijik Joy Salad recipe and other fermented soy recipes in The Fertile Female.)

Of course, no fertility food adjustments or fertility supplements will “get to where the trouble is” unless our entire Holy Human Loaf cooperates with the repairative process. Which is why I passionately encourage using the Ovum tools around food to reveal the hiding places of our inner Orphans, learn to love them through the choices we make, and call on our Visionary and the Ultimate Mom to plan the menu of the day. When we do that, the perfect “fertility diet” unfolds for us one bite at a time.

Last night in our fertility food-centered Visonary Mom Teleconference we decided to make one Visionary-rooted change that involves food. I am letting go of the Organic Nectar Pistachio Gelato I’ve been attached to lately. It’s great stuff, non-dairy, agave sweetened and there is really nothing wrong with a treat, but just as an experiment, I want to see what comes up for me as I let go of it for a while.

Perhaps you want to embark on an experiment of your own, making one fertility enhancing food change as you plan your menu for tomorrow.

Whatever you ultimately choose to place on your dinner table, let go of guilt and eat it with pleasure and gusto, and it will become the most potent fertility food!

By Julia Indichova.

Sleeping Position Of A Baby

As a mother, you are mindful of numerous developments and habits related to your tiny tot. Your checklist includes things like the food she eats, the medicine she is prescribed and the colour of her poop, among other things. While getting enough sleep can be challenging, until your baby finds her cosy nook, watch out for the sleeping position. Sleeping on the stomach can raise a few alarms. Here’s the dope on what might happen.

Paediatricians will almost always discourage parents from making infants sleep on their stomach. This has been a cause of concern for doctors all around the world since the revelation of Sudden Infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Dr. Ashu Sawhney, Consultant, Neonatology, Fortis La Femme, Delhi, says, “Infants should not be put to sleep on their stomach as it increases the risk of SIDS. The exact causes for SIDS are not clear, but putting babies to sleep on their back has reduced its incidence worldwide.”

We asked around a little more and found that there is a specific age after which parents can ease up on the position their infants sleep in.

Dr. Shailesh Patil, Paediatrics, Seven Hill Hospital, Mumbai, informs, “Babies can sleep on their stomach only after six to nine months when their movements are defined and nothing should obstruct their breathing.”

What is SIDS?

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is a phenomenon which results in the death of the infant all of a sudden. It is also known as cot death or crib death. The reason is yet to be medically explained, but infants under four to six months of age are at a higher risk of SIDS and are mostly affected in their sleep.

Dr Bijal Srivastava, Pediatrician at Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital, Mumbai says,“Several studies state that the cause for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sleeping position of babies. Sleeping on the stomach has led to higher deaths in babies lesser than six months of age. Hence, doctors today caution parents not to let babies sleep in the prone (on stomach) position.”

Safe to Sleep Campaign:

A campaign called the Safe to Sleep campaign previously popular as the Back to Sleep Program was started by the US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) to make parents aware of the dangers of babies sleeping on their tummy and encourage them to make their babies sleep only on their backs or the supine position. As mentioned earlier, this position decreases risk of SIDS in kids.

Dr. Himanshi Kashyap, Paediatrician, Rockland Hospitals, Manesar shares, “SIDS is a fatal fear but results have shown a 50% decreases in SIDS cases since the Back to Sleep Program was initiated.”

The downsides of the supine position:

However, Dr Srivastava adds, “There are also some disadvantages with the supine position. It may lead to mild delay in motor milestones and there are higher chances of torticollis or stiff neck. Also, plagiocephaly – flat head syndrome – may be caused. It is advisable that parents supervise the sleeping position of babies while awake, and try to keep them in prone position (on the stomach) atleast 15-20 mins two to three times during the day.”

Although not all sleeping positions are harmful, but parents need to take care not to obstruct the breathing of their child through external factors.

“Babies can sleep sideways but parents should make sure that they do not get suffocated in anyway. Parents have a habit of making kids sleep in decorated cribs stuffed with soft toys. They should be careful of anything that can cause the child harm. Beds should be clear of all clutter,” explains Dr. Kashyap

Thus, we conclude that it is not ok for babies to sleep on their stomach. As responsible parents, make sure your tot sleeps only on the back to avoid any risks of SIDS at least until the baby is six months old.

Importance of Calcium

Many people know that adequate calcium intake is important to health. However, national nutrition surveys show that less than 50 per cent of adults aged 20 and older are consuming the calcium they need to maintain bone health and minimise bone loss that occurs with ageing. Unfortunately, many do not know how much calcium they need and many mistakenly believe that they are consuming enough.

Calcium is an essential nutrient your body needs every day. And, it's not just important for women. Optimal intake is crucial for children, adolescents, men and the aged too. The majority of calcium in the body makes up your bones and teeth and keeps them strong. However, beyond bone health, calcium is also needed to regulate certain body functions. Without calcium, muscles would not contract normally, blood would not clot and nerves would be carry messages.

Calcium and bone health go hand-in-hand. Increasing scientific evidence indicates that adequate calcium intake reduces the risk of several major chronic diseases, most notably osteoporosis, a potentially crippling disease of thin and fragile bones. If you do not get enough calcium from your daily diet to regulate body functions, your body will leech or “rob” the calcium from your bones to make up the difference. Over time this can reduce bone strengh and lead to osteoporosis. Optimal of calcium throughout life, from early childhood and adolescence though the postmenopausal and late adult year, reduces the risk of osteoporosis.

Research suggests that calcium also helps protect against colon cancer, high blood pressure and recurring premenstrual sydrome, and possibly cardiovascular disease and kidney stones. Your calcium needs extend throughout your lifetime. It is essential during childhood to young adulthood, the year that bones are forming and growing. The calcuim that you provide to your bones when you are young is one factor in determining how well they will hold up later in life. Gender plays a significant role in the need for calcium too. Pregnancy increases calcium requirements because of the needs of the devloping baby and because alterations in calcium absorption and metabolism occur throughout pregnancy. Lactating women need calcium to meet their needs and the requirements for milk production. During menopause and post menopause, the body produces much lees estrogen the risk of osteoporosis, which in turn increases calcium needs.

Both women and men over the age of 65 years need more calcium to combat calcium deficiencies. ''A certain amount of loss is a normal consequence of ageing," stated Nancy Wellman, Ph.D., R.D., professor and director, National Policy & resource Center on Nutrition and Ageing at the Florida International University. For instance, the age-related decline in the body's ability to absorb calcium can interfere with calcium levels. Also, lactose intolerance can lead to avoidance of calcium-rich foods.

Most adults need between 1,000 and 1,500 milligrams of calcium every day. Requirements for young children and adolescents range from 800 mg to 1500 mg daily. Some good food sources with their calcium content are:

Recommended Product: Splina Chlorophyll
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6 Real-life Scenarios to Train Your Tiny Tot's Brain

“Mummy, are we there yet?” “Mummy, are we there yet?” “Mummy, are we there yet?”

Travelling with kids can be, well, definitely an experience! Let’s look at some examples that one will commonly encounter especially when you have parents travelling with young kids (read: birth to 10 years).

1. Young child excited about first trip abroad enters the airplane and starts pulling the mother towards the inside of the aircraft all the while asking nonstop questions,
•   'Where is our seat mom?'
•   ‘Check for 23’,
•   ‘Where is 23?’
•   ‘After 22?’
•   ‘Where is 22?’
•   ‘Check for the seat number.’
•   ‘Where are the seat numbers?
•   ‘Check for the seat number.’
•   ‘Where….?’
… And it goes on.

2. Young toddler wailing as he does not want to wear the seat belt. Both parents cajoling, "See daddy is also wearing the seat belt." Takes a whole 30 minutes of cajoling, threatening, bribing before the kids wears the seat belt.

3. Kid wants to run around in the aisle and go greeting all passengers. Parents are heard whispering veiled threats through clenched teeth. No impact on kid. Sounds familiar?

4. Version 2 of the same kid wants to run up and down the aisle and eat from others food tray while refusing to eat from his own. Parents have a ‘why did I have a child’ expression on their face. Mother  now holds the child and gives a soft (read: clutching the upper arm of the child in a vice like grip) shake and threatens dire consequences on landing or uses the airhostess as a threat, ‘she will take you to the police if you don’t stop doing that and sit down.’

5. Announcement at Heathrow and other international airports, "Parents are requested not to allow their kids to play on or near the escalator or walk ways, this is for their safety."

6. Snacks commonly seen with kids during travel- chocolates, wafers, soft drinks. “What to do he just won’t listen, so I only allow while we are traveling.” (read: traveling as any ride in a car, bus, train, plane)

The above is a common scenario with kids especially during travel. So what is the secret mantra to use if you want to avoid or at least reduce the above tensions of travelling with kids. The secret is in understanding the brain development of children. The only difference between us humans and apes is the presence of the ‘thinking brain’ or ‘prefrontal cortex’ that makes us human and the others, well, apes! So if your kid is behaving like a little monkey, the clue is right there for you. Maybe you need to give her some information and ‘appeal to her thinking brain.’ It’s easy if you try and will become easier with practice. So instead of kids asking us ‘are we there yet?’ let’s ask ourselves, ‘are we there yet, in understanding our kids?’

Let’s see how the above examples could have turned out differently if we use our knowledge of child development and how the ‘little’ brain works:

1. Children’s brain thrives on routine and needs to be prepared for the next activity, so while entering the plane the mother could have said, “Our seat number is 23 and this is seat number one, so why don’t we count and we will stop when we reach 23.” Because if you are going to tell the child to look up for the seat numbers then your child will be constantly tripping, stumbling and falling while looking up.

2. Young toddlers who have never been on an airplane need to be prepared for the same, days in advance. You need to talk about what will be part of the journey. An involved parent who is a keen observer of the child will also know the points that can lead the child to have a tantrum so it is important to have talked to the child beforehand that, “We will be sitting in a plane, it is like a car and like cars have seatbelts so do planes. The pilot wants us to be safe so we will put on our seat belts.” The child’s reluctance to put on a seat belt also shows that the parents have never ever spoken about seat belts, even while in a car. Because a child used to wearing seatbelts would not have found it so difficult.

3. Making an agreement with kids is a better way to ensure socially acceptable behavior. So before boarding a plane, have your mutual agreement of dos and don'ts in place. It sounds complex but it is very easy because if kids know what to expect they are better behaved. Young children especially need boundaries set firmly and informed to them.

4. Threatening kids never works, you are in fact increasing fears in your child and this can rebound on you by kids starting bed wetting, nail biting etc. as you have now introduced the concept of fear in your child. Threats also make the kids brain give only three reactions- Fight (where they fight back and repeat their tantrum) Flight (they run away from you) and Freeze (they stop listening to you).

5. Isn’t it sad that airports have to guide parents to keep their kids safe?

6. Sugar, salt and food with additives increases hyper activity in children. So yes a box of chips or a bar of chocolate will keep them quiet while they are eating it but then you will have double the activity! Most parents feed kids a lot of salt and sugar at the airport and by the time the child has boarded the plane, he is raring to go! So, for every chip, a carrot stick, for every chocolate bite a fruit slice. And absolutely no colas, lots of water for kids, it will help give them hydration during the flight and they will get their movement up and down the toilet.

Having kids is not the goal, it is the beginning of a beautiful journey. The goal is raising them to be happy, healthy people, and that is what every parent should aim for. Let’s ask ourselves often, “Are we there yet?”

LEADERSHIP LANE: UAC of Nigeria and the Incredible Jews by Martin U...

LEADERSHIP LANE: UAC of Nigeria and the Incredible Jews by Martin U...: We will come to the Jews shortly. But first, my Special Interview Guest tomorrow is Mr. Larry Ettah, Group MD/CEO of UAC of Nigeria Plc. ...

Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebola virus disease) facts

Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a disease caused by four different strains of Ebola virus; these viruses infect humans and nonhuman primates.

It is also referred to as Ebola virus disease.
Ebola hemorrhagic fever has a short history since it was discovered in 1976. There have been a few outbreaks, including the current (April 2014) "unprecedented epidemic" in Africa.

Ebola viruses are mainly found in primates in Africa and possibly the Philippines; there are only occasional outbreaks of infection in humans.

Ebola hemorrhagic fever occurs mainly in Africa in the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Sudan, Ivory Coast, and Uganda, but it may occur in other African countries.

Ebola virus can be spread by direct contact with blood and secretions, by contact with blood and secretions that remain on clothing, and by needles and/or syringes used to treat Ebola-infected patients.

Risk factors for Ebola hemorrhagic fever are travel to areas with endemic Ebola hemorrhagic fever and/or any close association with an infected person.

Symptoms of Ebola hemorrhagic fever include an incubation period of two to 21 days, starting with abrupt fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat, and weakness; progression of symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, hiccups, and rash with more devastating symptoms of internal and external bleeding in many patients.

Early clinical diagnosis is difficult as the symptoms are nonspecific; however, if the patient is suspected to have Ebola, the patient needs to be isolated and local and state health departments need to be immediately contacted.

Definitive diagnostic tests for Ebola hemorrhagic fever are ELISA and/or PCR tests; viral cultivation and biopsy samples may also be used.

There is no standard treatment for Ebola hemorrhagic fever; only supportive therapy is available.
There are many complications from Ebola hemorrhagic fever; the prognosis for patients ranges from fair to poor since many patients died from the disease (death rate equals about 25%-100%).

Prevention of Ebola hemorrhagic fever is difficult; early testing and isolation of the patient, plus barrier protection for caregivers (mask, gown, goggles, and gloves), is very important to prevent others from getting infected.

Researchers are trying to understand the Ebola virus and pinpoint its ecological reservoirs to better understand how outbreaks occur. Researchers are actively trying to establish an effective vaccine against Ebola viruses by using several experimental methods, but there is no vaccine available currently.

Prof Dora Akunyili begins treatment in India

Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog: Prof Dora Akunyili begins treatment in India: Ailing ex-minister of Information and former NAFDAC boss, Prof Dora Akunyili who reportedly left for India on Sunday May 11th after h...

Lactose intolerant? Not all dairy is off limits

Myth: If you’re lactose intolerant, dairy is a no-no.

Truth: Chances are, you can tolerate some milk products.

Wait, what? If you have trouble processing lactose, a type of sugar found in dairy products, you’ve probably avoided milk, ice cream, and yogurt for good reason — namely, the uncomfortable symptoms that appear when you consume them. But it turns out, to the surprise of many people with lactose intolerance, that all dairy need not be off limits.

In most cases, lactose intolerance is caused by low levels of the enzyme lactase. Lactase helps your body break lactose down into the simple sugars glucose and galactose, which can then be absorbed into the bloodstream. If lactose is not broken down, it travels to your colon where intestinal bacteria ferment it, resulting in gas, bloating, and diarrhea. You are more likely to have lactose intolerance if you are of Black, Asian, Hispanic, or Native American descent; have an intestinal disorder like Crohn’s Disease or Colitis; were born prematurely; or have undergone chemotherapy. Your chances of developing lactose intolerance also increase as you get older.

Since in most cases a person with lactose intolerance has a limited ability to break down lactose rather than no ability at all, that person can tolerate some dairy — with a few considerations. Everyone has a different threshold, so the exact cutoff point for you is something you’ll have to learn by trial and error. But here are a few ways you — yes you, the one with lactose intolerance — can get some dairy back into your diet:

Yogurt: The healthy bacteria in yogurt and kefir (a yogurt-like drink) help your body to digest the lactose, meaning that many people who normally have trouble with dairy can actually handle a serving of yogurt. Strained Greek yogurt has even less lactose than regular yogurt, which makes it an extra good choice for a person with lactose intolerance. Just make sure the yogurt you’re eating has live active cultures.

Hard cheese: Thanks to the fermentation process used in cheesemaking, many aged cheeses like cheddar, parmesan, and asiago are virtually lactose free, meaning many people with lactose intolerance can eat it without experiencing any symptoms. Fresh cheeses, however, like mozzarella and cottage cheese, are higher in the milk sugar.

Lactose-free products: Several brands now offer lactose-free versions of dairy foods like milk, sour cream, and yogurt. How do they do it? Easy cheesy: They add lactase, the enzyme your body needs to break down lactose to the foods themselves.

Lactase pills: If you can’t find or don’t like products with the lactase added in, you can supplement with your own lactase any time you eat regular dairy products. This is any easy fix to safely enjoy a dairy-rich meal out or at a friend’s house; just be sure to carry lactase caplets with you so you can be ready at any time.

What about goat’s and sheep’s milk? While some people with lactose intolerance say they find it easier to process goat’s and sheep’s milk cheese, the milk from both animals contains roughly the same amount of lactose as cow’s milk. Still, it may be worth experimenting with in small amounts to see if it has the same impact on you.

Since everyone is different, and tolerance levels can change over time, only you can decide how much lactose is too much for you. Luckily, there are loads of non-dairy alternative products on the market now to make your low-lactose or lactose-free diet an easy one to adhere to. Almond-, coconut-, and soy-based nondairy milks can be a smart (and tasty) way to keep dairy to a minimum throughout your day so you can comfortably enjoy a generous sprinkle of parmesan cheese on your pasta, or a yogurt for snack.