Ebola Setback: Liberia Steps Up Emergency Response After Virus Re-Emergence

An Ebola outbreak in Liberia, less than two months after the country was declared Ebola-free, has pushed the country into a massive emergency response. Health officials have also stressed the need to maintain active surveillance. At least three people are known to have contracted the virus, since Sunday.

Boko Haram Kills 53 In Fresh Borno Attacks

Screengrab from video by insurgents

. Slaughter 11 ‘defecting’ members

. 13 dead after female suicide bombers strike     

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have between Thursday and Friday killed no fewer than 53 people following sporadic attacks in villages in Askira Uba, Biu and Konduga Local Government Areas of Borno State, witnesses and security sources said.

The attacks were launched less than 48 hours after similar onslaught claimed the lives of 97 people in Kukawa Local Government Area and 48 others in Monguno Local Government, all in Borno State. Daily Trust Saturday reports that 29 people were killed yesterday (Friday) when suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked Mussa village in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

It’s Insanity To Create More States, Col. Umar Warns

Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, rtd (Images source: unstated)

Former Military Governor of Kaduna State, Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, rtd has tongue-lashed State governors who could not pay salaries of workers in their respective states, accusing them of living a lavish lifestyle that contributed to the economic crunch.

In a statement titled, “Insolvent State” and made available to journalists yesterday, Umar also blamed his immediate constituency , the Military for causing this financial mess by creating some states which were not economically viable and which depended only on federal government allocations.

He said, “In sum, it is evident that most of the states and local governments are not viable and should not have been created in the first place. One disservice to the nation by some military regimes was the creation of these revenue guzzling administrative structures. They have continued slow national development. But for its impracticability one would recommend a constitutional abrogation of some of them. It simply goes to show that any plot to create more states and local governments is plain insanity.”

UN: 29 Die In South Sudan Cholera Outbreak As Cases Rise

World Health Organization, Geneva

The U.N. children's agency says 29 people have died in South Sudan's latest cholera outbreak. UNICEF said Friday that cholera had sickened 484 people by the end of June and that the number of cases continues to rise in the nation's capital of Juba.

Children under 5 comprise 13 percent of the cases, UNICEF said, adding that funding is needed as the agency has been using its flexible internal resources to meet critical needs. Last year a cholera outbreak in South Sudan infected more than 6,000 people and killed 167, according to World Health Organization figures.

Cholera is a fast-developing, highly contagious infection that causes diarrhea, leading to severe dehydration and possible death.

Death Toll From Capsized Philippine Ferry Rises To 51

Passengers of the capsized MBCA Kim-Nirvana ferry (far L) are rescued by a tugboat of the Philippine coast guard near a port in Ormoc city, central Philippines July 2, 2015. Reuters/Ronald Frank Dejon

The death toll from a capsized Philippine ferry rose to 51 on Friday as rescuers tried to right the overturned vessel and found more bodies, a coast guard official said.

The motorized, wooden-hulled boat rolled on its side and overturned minutes after leaving the port of Ormoc City on Thursday. Coast guard Captain Pedro Tinampay said there were 141 survivors.

Reuters reports passengers said the ferry appeared to turn sharply to the right and was hit by a large wave before it overturned after leaving port in Leyte province, south of the capital, Manila.

“We were given life vests but we were not able to wear them before the ferry sank,” said survivor Rhe-An Garciano.

Panicked passengers crowded the right side of the ferry, causing it to tilt slowly before capsizing, a coast guard spokesman said.

Scores, sometimes hundreds, of people die each year from ferry accidents in the Philippines, an archipelago of 7,100 islands with a notoriously poor record for maritime safety.

Overcrowding is common and many of the vessels are in bad condition.

UPDATE: Buhari Backtracks, Appoints New SSS Chief “Acting” DG

Acting Director General of SSS, Lawan Daura. He takes over from Ita Ekpenyong who relieved of his appointment Thursday

The new head of the State Security Service, Lawal Daura, appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, will act in that capacity pending the appointment of a substantive Director General, the Head of Service has said.

Mr. Daura was appointed Thursday by the president after he fired the former DG, Ita Ekpenyong, who is accused partisanship.

APC Crisis : Oyegun Fumes At Allegations He Took Bribes To Back Saraki

John Odigie-Oyegun, APC National Chairman

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun, has denied taking bribe to support the agenda of the lawmakers who became principal officers of the 8th Assembly against the wishes of his own party.

Mr. Odigie-Oyegun made the denial when the leadership of the South-East, South-South Professionals paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja on Thursday.

He said the allegation in some media reports that he was induced to support Bukola Saraki’s bid to emerge senate president was false.

Twin Blasts Kill 10 In Northeast Nigeria — Police

Suicide bomb blasts

Two suicide bomb blasts along a highway in northeast Nigeria killed at least 10 people on Thursday afternoon, state police said, the latest in a string of almost daily attacks by suspected Islamist militants.

Reuters reports a female suicide bomber killed seven and injured 13 at a village called Malari on the main road from Bama to Konduga while a second suicide bomber killed three in blast along the same road, Borno state police chief Aderemi Opadokun said.

Buhari Recalls Kinsman From Retirement, Appoints Him DG SSS

New Director General of SSS, Lawan Daura. He takes over from Ita Ekpenyong who was removed Thursday

The newly-appointed Director General of the State Security Service, Lawal Daura, had retired from the service before he was recalled Thursday by President Muhammadu Buhari to head the organization, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report.

Mr. Daura, almost 62, who was born in Daura, Katsina State on August 5, 1953, retired from the SSS in 2013, having reached the statutory retirement age of 60.

President Buhari is also from Daura in Katsina state.

The new DG SSS joined the service in 1982 and was a one-time deputy director, Presidential Communication, Command and Control Center at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He had also served as state director at various times in many states of the Federation including Kano, Sokoto, Edo, Lagos, Osun and Imo.

APC Set For Frank Talks As Buhari, Saraki, Dogara, Others Meet Today

APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun faces the task of upholding party discipline.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) vowed yesterday to emerge strong from its first National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting after its post-election crisis.

The crisis, which has split the party’s leaders, erupted after the June 9 election of principal officers at the National Assembly.

Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara emerged against the party’s wish.

Buhari To Saraki, Dogara: I’m For Party Supremacy

Saraki and Dogara

President Muhammadu Buhari will tell Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara today that they should respect party supremacy in the choice of principal officers of the National Assembly, it was learnt last night.

Buhari will attend today’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of his party – the All Progressives Congress (APC)  - the first since it won the presidential election and the breakout of the crisis over the National Assembly’s principal officers’ elections.

Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu gave an insight into what the President will tell his party members today in a statement last night.

I’ll Build On Jega’s Achievements, Zakari, Acting INEC Chair Says

Ahmad Wali handing over to Mrs Amina Bala Zakari

The acting Chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Amina Zakari, has pledged to build on the successes recorded by her predecessor, Attahiru Jega. The Thursday edition of INEC’s daily newsletter, sent to PREMIUM TIMES, quoted her as saying she accepted her appointment with humility and dedication to serve.

“I believe it is just a continuation of what the former Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, has started which has been at a high level and there shouldn’t be any problem,” Ms. Zakari said. “I have been part of the process: I have known the problems, challenges and I have seen the successes. What is remaining is for us to build on the successes and try to tackle the outstanding challenges.”