Nedu Echianu's Blog

Foreign doctors in the UK will face a more rigorous assessment, after figures showed a high proportion of doctors who are disciplined are from overseas. The BBC reports that in the last five years, 63% of doctors either struck off or suspended by the General Medical Council (GMC) were trained outside the UK. Yet they make up only 36% of doctors on the medical register. The GMC said new reforms included an induction programme, better checks and a review of the present testing system. Niall Dickson, chief executive of the GMC, said: "We absolutely acknowledge that when it comes to the serious end of the scale, those from overseas are more likely to appear, and we have set about a series of reforms to address this." A new induction programme for all arriving doctors is due to launch as a pilot scheme in early 2013. It will combine online training in British medical practices with a one-day course covering some of the key issues facing new arrivals.

Governor Idris Wada of Kogi state, North central Nigeria who survived an auto crash on Ajaokuta-Lokoja Road on December 28, will not be flown abroad for further treatment.  Speaking to a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, the Governor's Senior Special assistant on media, Jacob Edi  said contrary to reports, Wada is recuperating in a private hospital in Garki, Abuja. Edi named the Hospital as Cedarcrest Hospital in Garki II,  and called on Nigerians to pray for his quick recovery.

Reports just coming in says Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada, is seriously injured following  a fatal road accident today and has been admitted in the intensive care unit at the Kogi State Hospital in Lokoja, the state capital. The ADC to the Governor is said to have been killed in the crash. Governor Wada was on his way back to Lokoja from a function in Ayingba.

If you have given up hope on the Administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to deliver on promises made to Nigerians prior to his election, then you need to see remarks made by his Special adviser on new media, Reno Omokri on his tweeter handle .

According to EVERYWHERE NIGERIA group, these are the top ten most beautiful women in Nigeria, 2012 Edition. 1 0. Adaora Akubilo ( Pictured Above) The Igbo beauty made waves this year, when she had a full spread that was featured in the prestigious American magazine, Sports illustrated: Swimsuit Edition . The rest of the beauties after the c ut...

A former President of the United States, George W. Bush, is in the intensive care unit of a Houston hospital and is in “guarded condition,’’ family spokesman, Jim McGrath, has said. “The president is alert and conversing with medical staff, and is surrounded by family,’’ Mr. McGrath said in a statement.

The United States government has banned all its citizens from travelling to 10 states in Nigeria during the Yuletide – no thanks to insecurity. The states are: Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Yobe, Kaduna, Bauchi, Borno, and Kano states. The United States has also restricted its officials from visiting all the 19 Northern states and directed the officials to obtain clearance if the mission is essential. It, besides, alleged that there is increasing attacks on commercial and private vessels by pirates off the coast of Nigeria in the Gulf of Guinea with the Nigerian Navy lacking the capacity to check the menace. The US said it decided to take the step because the security situation in Nigeria “remains fluid and unpredictable”. These observations are contained in the latest travel warning by the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the US Department of State. The latest advisory has replaced the last one which was issued June 21.

Gun owners in suburban New York are incensed after a local newspaper, the Journal News, published an interactive Google map showing their names and addresses. The Journal News received the data, which includes the identities of every registered handgun owner in Rockland and Westchester, via a Freedom of Information Act request. 

Controversial Muslim cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, has declared that Christians are more deadly than Boko Haram, the Islamic terrorist sect which has killed thousands of people mostly worshippers in places of worship.  According to Naija Pundit, Gumi made this declaration on his facebook page. He also said some Christians have hidden under the guise of government apparatus to perpetrate the murder of many prominent politician of northern extraction. Gumi also linked the insecurity in the country to the activities of unidentified Christians whose motives have been to take over the leadership of the country. Below is the full statement from Sheikh Gumi's facebook page 

A fire cracker warehouse yesterday sparked a major fire outbreak in the Jankara area of Lagos state, South West Nigeria. According to Sahara Reporters, the massive fire gutted eight houses and injured forty people according to Ibrahim Farinloye, the National Emergency Management Agency spokesperson in Lagos. Explosions from the "knockouts" caused panic amongst residents of the area. NEMA said the army, navy and airforce joined in putting out the fire by midday. One person was reported to have been confirmed dead from the fire, eventhough there could be more.

Wishing all readers of Nedu Echianu's blog, merry Christmas and a Prosperous new year ahead, thanks for your support .

Mitt Romney hugs his son, Tagg, at a campaign stop.  Mitt Romney didn't want to be president, anyway. That's what Tagg Romney, Mitt's oldest son, told the Boston Globe for its big post-mortem on his father's failed presidential bid published on Sunday. “He wanted to be president less than anyone I’ve met in my life," Tagg Romney told the paper. "He had no desire to ... run. If he could have found someone else to take his place ... he would have been ecstatic to step aside. "He is a very private person who loves his family deeply and wants to be with them," Tagg continued. "He has deep faith in God and he loves his country, but he doesn’t love the attention.” Romney's reluctance to become commander in chief has been hinted at by his sons before.  Before their father sought the 2012 GOP nomination, several said they tried to convince him not to run. "I tried to convince him not to," Matt Romney told Conan O'Brien in June.

Pop star Rihanna has donated $1.75m (£1.08m) to a hospital in Barbados in memory of her grandmother. BBC reports that th e 24-year-old said the gift, which will pay for three pieces of medical equipment, was her way of "giving back to Barbados".

Super Eagles and Wes Brom Albion striker, Peter Osaze Odenwingie took to twitter yesterday to express his anger at not being invited by Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi to be part of the squad in next year's Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by South Africa. He tweeted the following...

A bomb exploded near a drinking parlour in Badawa Quarters in Kano State, North West Nigeria on Sunday , the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN )  reports . NAN says an eye witness told it that the bomb was  planted near the local drinking parlour.   The spokesman for the Joint Task Force in Kano , Capt. Ikedichi Iweha, confirmed the incident, but however, said nobody was injured. He said it was a small can of Improvised Explosive Devise (IED), which was planted near a local drinking parlour in Badawa that exploded around 7:20 pm Sunday. ``It was a small IED that was planted at the local drinking parlour  and it did not kill or injure anybody,’’ he said.

Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday said his Special Assistant on Public Affairs and Nollywood,   Nkiru Sylvanus was released hale and hearty. Daily Trust Online reports that the Okorocha said this at the end of the expanded security meeting at Ahiuajoki convention center near Owerri where she was kidnapped with a siren vehicle and hidden at the back of Imo Concord Hotel Owerri where she was until her release. He said no ransom was paid for her release but that N7m ransom out of the N100m demanded was dropped for the kidnappers as a trap through which they could be caught by the security agency but they failed to come up. He said the state government was getting the kidnappers red-handed not knowing that the family has already paid an undisclosed ransom to the kidnappers for her release. The governor blamed some parents and relatives whom he said do not exercise patience in paying ransom each time their relations were kidnapped, adding that this attitude

Four South Korean employees of Hyundai Heavy Industries have been freed days after being abducted by gunmen in Bayelsa state, South South Nigeria.   Gunmen kidnapped the four foreigners and two Nigerians working on Hyundai’s operations in the Niger Delta region on Monday. Officials in Seoul said in a statement that the four Koreans had been freed, but gave no details of the fate of the Nigerian workers. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said the four workers were released after “persistent persuasion.” The four hostages had been handed over to South Korean officials in Nigeria late on Friday, Yonhap news agency and YTN TV said. There was no immediate comment from either the South Korean government or Hyundai Heavy Industries.

There are indications that the sum of 8 million Naira was payed by the family of Nollywood actress, Nkeiru Sylvanus for her release from kidnappers den where she had been since the 15th of December along side her personal Assistant. Police in Owerri, the Imo state capital informed journalists at a press briefing yesterday after her release  that Nkiru Sylvanus' family paid the money to the kidnappers before she was released on Thursday night. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Adisa Bolanta, said the family did this without the knowledge of the police. He said they had warned the family not to negotiate or deal directly with the kidnappers but they defied their orders. The kidnap saga is a big blow to the aspiration of the Imo state government to eliminate the menace of kidnappings which has witnessed a resurgence in recent times. Nkeiru is the  special assistant on public relations to the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha.

Al-Qaeda, or an allied group, was probably behind the kidnapping of a French engineer in Nigeria's North Western State of Katsina, French President Francois Hollande has said. Nigerian Police said a group of about 30 gunmen snatched the Frenchman from a heavily guarded compound in the Northern state.

Reports just coming in says Nollywood Actress, Nkeiru Sylvanus who was kidnapped alongside her Personal Assistant on Saturday the 15th of December has been released and reunited with her family.   Nkeiru, who is the  special assistant on public relations to the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha. Nedu Echianu's blog will bring you details of her release later.

Most kids would be thrilled by a trip to Disney World. But for Suri Cruise a trip to the Magic Kingdom isn't complete without a night in the invitation-only suite at Cinderella's Castle. And she isn't even the most spoiled kid on this list. Take a look at the rest of the list...  

Former Governor of Kogi State, North Central, Nigeria, Abubakar Audu has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with alleged misappropriation of the sum of 4 billion naira public funds. In a statement signed by Wilson Uwajuren, EFCC Acting Head of Media and Publicity yesterday, the action was as a result of the inability of the embattled ex-governor to respond to invitations sent to him.

Manchester United have been drawn against Spanish champions Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League. The mouth watering clash will see Cristiano Ronaldo return to Old Trafford for the first time since his £80m move from United to Real in June 2009. Celtic will play Italian side Juventus, while Arsenal take on last year's beaten finalists Bayern Munich. Four-times winners Barcelona take on seven-times champions AC Milan, while Valencia face Paris St Germain. Borussia Dortmund have been drawn against Shakhtar Donetsk and Porto take on Malaga, while Galatasaray will play Schalke. But the undoubted tie of the round sees nine-times winners Real take on United for the first time in nine years. Culled from BBC

While efforts are ongoing to rescue a special adviser in the Imo state government and also Nollywood Actress, Nkeiru Sylvanus from Kidnappers den, do you know that the Principal Secretary to the Deputy Governor of the state, Architect Emenike Ihekwoaba has been in captivity for over four months. This shocking revelation was made by Imo state Blog, an online news blog with special interest in activities in and around Imo state. The blog stated that Ihekwoaba was kidnapped at gunpoint four months ago at Amaraku Junction in Isiala Mbano LGA in the state, he was said to be heading to Nkwerre, his hometown in company of his wife when he was abducted. It was also reported that the kidnappers demanded for ten million Naira, but after the family made the payment, the kidnappers demanded for extra ten million naira, which from all indication is yet to be paid. The alarming rate of kidnappings in South South and South East Nigeria is coming at a time when the governments in the states

Nigeria's anti-graft A gency, t he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is reported to have turned its attentions to the multi-billion Asaba International Airport built by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, South Souith, Nigeria.   Online News medium, Sahara Reporters claims that EFCC sources who confided in them revealed that, “The state Tender Board chairman for the award of the contract and the Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, Mr. Austin Ayemidejor, members of the Board and Airport Director, and other members of the Board excluding Prof Utuama because of immunity had been requested to report at the commission’s headquarters, Abuja. 

US President Barack Obama has met senior officials to discuss how to respond to Friday's school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, in which 20 children and six adults died. The White House said curbing gun violence was a "complex" problem that required a comprehensive solution.

The following Communique was issued by the Central working Committee of the Nigeria Labour Congress , the umbrella union of Labour in Nigeria after its meeting of Friday, December 14th where it deliberated on the ongoing industrial crisis in Plateasu state, North Central, Nigeria where the state Government is currently in a running battle with Local government workers over the implimentation of the 18,000 naira minimum wage.   It will be recalled that the Local Government workers ha d embarked on a strike demanding the implimentation of the new wage structure.

Mario Balotelli is taking Manchester City to a Premier League tribunal to overturn a £340,000 club fine. The controversial Italian striker will appear before an independent two-man panel in London on ­Wednesday after being docked two weeks’ wages by the champions. Sunday Mirror Sport reports that City handed down the fine after deciding that Balotelli was guilty of a series of breaches of discipline.

  Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Mike Omeri has described as inaccurate the recent rating of Nigeria as the 35 th most corrupt country in the world by Transparency International , saying the activities of a few individuals cannot be used as a general assessment for the whole country.   Omeri made the remark in his office in Abuja while receiving in audience a delegation from the Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Transparency and Good Governance led by its president Alhaji Ali Abacha.  

Reports just reaching Nedu Echianu's blog say Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State and former National Security Adviser Andrew Owoye Azazi apparently died in a helicopter that crashed today in Bayelsa State. Governor Yakowa and Mr. Azazi, a retired military general who served as chief security adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, were among passengers in the ill-fated helicopter.

Nigeria's finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has released a statement today shortly after the release of her mother from kidnappers in Delta state.  The statement below did not offer much detail about Professor Kamene Okonjo release from kidnappers 5 days after the 82-year woman was kidnapped from her home in the state.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is believed to have arrested one of the sons of the Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido. Reports say the  governor’s son, Aminu Sule Lamido, was arrested by officials of the Commission at the Mallam Aminu Kano international Airport, Kano, Wednesday, on his way to Egypt. He was reportedly arrested on suspicions of money laundering. Sources at the Airport said Aminu declared that he had only ten thousand dollars on him, but further search and scrutiny by the anti graft officials revealed that he had a large undisclosed amount. Efforts to reach both the spokespersons of the governor of Jigawa state, Umar Kyari and the EFCC Wilson Uwujaren were unsuccessful. Culled from Premium Times

The Governor of Katsina State, North West Nigeria, Ibrahim Shehu Shema has described the indigeneship factor in the country as divisive and contrary to the peace and unity which majority of Nigerians preach and desire. He stated this when the Director General, National Orientation Agency, Mike Omeri paid him a courtesy visit in government house, Katsina.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Waziri Tambuwal yesterday signed a warrant of arrest on heads of 16 revenue collecting agencies over their refusal to appear before the House Committee on Finance on non-remittance of N1.3 trillion revenue.

A political ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin is taking legal action against American pop star Lady Gaga for promoting gay rights to minors during a concert on Sunday. Vitaly Milonov, a member of the ruling United Russia party in the St Petersburg assembly and the architect of a city law that bans gay "propaganda", accused the singer of breaking the law at the beginning of her show.

The company that owns the radio station responsible for the Kate Middleton radio prank says it has "terminated" the show ... and will implement "a company-wide suspension of 'prank' calls." TMZ Reports that Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) issued the statement this morning saying it still feels "deep regret" for the death of hospital nurse Jacintha Saldanha following the prank ... and "take the events of the last few days very seriously."  

President Goodluck Jonathan has described the death of his younger brother, Chief Meni Jonathan as too painful to bear. Jonathan made the statement on Saturday at Meni's funeral, held at St. Stephen's Anglican Church, Otuoke in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa state. It will be recalled that Meni died on November 20 at the National Hospital, Abuja. Jonathan said he had ordered that Meni be flown to Abuja after he noticed that the young man was looking frail when he visited home on a Friday, sometime last November. Jonathan said he would particularly miss his younger brother as he has been covering the home front in his absence. Governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Martin Elechi of Ebonyi, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta and Peter Obi of Anambra state and other top government officials were at the funeral. May his soul rest in peace.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is considering its options in replacing Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State as it is becoming clearer he is unlikely to recover from his head injuries.   The governor, who was in a plane crash at the Yola International Airport in Adamawa two months ago, is currently in hospital in Hanover, Germany.  

Lanoise, born in Haiti, started gaining weight aged 16, following the birth of her first daughter, Witelane. “I used to be skinny, but after I had my first baby I got so big,” the woman says. As her weight skyrocketed to more than 600 Pounds, she spent her days sitting in bed wrapped in sheets as she couldn’t find clothes to fit.

The hospital receptionist who was hoaxed by a prank call from a DJ claiming to be the queen asking about Kate Middleton has been found dead. "It is with very deep sadness that we confirm the tragic death of a member of our nursing staff," the hospital said in a statement released today.

Washington state made history on Thursday as the first in the United states to legalize marijuana possession for adult recreational use, an occasion celebrated by dozens of users near Seattle's famed Space Needle tower amid blaring reggae music and a haze of pot smoke. Reuters News Agency reports that t he public gathering defied a key provision of the state's landmark marijuana law, which forbids users from lighting up outside the privacy of their homes. And it underscored mixed messages that law enforcement officials have conveyed about the new statute. Hours earlier, Seattle's city attorney issued a stern warning that pot puffing in public would not be tolerated and that violators faced citations carrying $100 fines.

Information Nigeria.org claims a source has informed it that the authorities in Covenant University in Ota, Ogun state, South west Nigeria, known to be very strict in terms of moral upbringing and general discipline dismissed about 200 of its students for not living up to the schools ethos. The online news portal said trouble for the affected students began when the Chancellor of the institution, Bishop David Oyedepo visited the school chapel unannounced and noticed that some students were loitering around the chapel, some talking and others playing while the Vice Chancellor was giving a speech in the school’s chapel.

A British arms dealer who helped ship thousands of guns including ammunition from China to Nigeria without a license was jailed for seven years at London’s Southwark Crown court on Wednesday. Gary Hyde, 43, from Yorkshire in Northern England was convicted for two counts of breaching UK trade controls and concealing criminal property.  In 2006, he got involved in the deal between China and Nigeria which involved the transfer of 40,000 AK47 assault rifles, 30,000 other rifles and 10,000 nine-millimeter pistols to Nigeria along with 32 million rounds of ammunition.

Despite rigorous attempts by the government to play down the impact of terrorism, a global think thank, Institute for Economic and Peace, has ranked Nigeria as the seventh country most affected by terrorism in 2011. The country received this scary rating in the organisation’s first Global Terrorism Index (GTI) meant to measure the impact of terrorism and the associated economic and social dimensions, published last Tuesday.

Reports just coming in says veteran Nollywood actor, Enebeli Elebuwa is dead. The actor was said to have died last night at an Indian Hospital where he had been receiving treatment after suffering a stroke.  May his soul rest in Peace.

Mrs Folorunsho Alakija, a Nigerian billionaire oil tycoon, Fashion designer and philanthropist is now the richest black woman in the word, according to report published by Ventures Africa, an African business magazine and news services. Alakija, 61, is worth at least $3.3 billion- contrary to a recent Forbes Magazine ranking which pegs her net worth at only $600 million. She is $500 million richer than media mogul, Oprah Winfrey, whose wealth estimated at $2.7 billion in September. Folorunsho Alakija is the founder and owner of Famfa Oil, a Nigerian oil company which owns a 60 percent working interest in OML 127 that produces about 200,000 barrels a day.

D aily trust newspaper is reporting that a n explosive device was detonated around 7:30 am on Wednesday, near Filin Hockey Police Station off Zoo road in Kano. Eyewitnesses said the device was planted beneath a street light opposite the police station. The explosion was followed by sounds of gun fire, presumed to have been a response from the police to ward off any potential attack. An ambulance belonging to the state fire service was seen leaving the scene with two civilians in the back, one lying and clearly gravely injured with a bandage around his head which was supported on the thighs of the other. The street leading to the site of the explosion was promptly cordoned off.  

The Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, Dr. Hans-Rudolf Hodel Tuesday in Abuja said the Swiss government has so far returned $700 million USD to the Nigerian government from the billions looted by late military dictator, General Sani Abacha. Abacha is believed to have stashed at least $2 billion dollars in Swiss and Luxemburg bank accounts during his reign as military head of state, which ended abruptly following his mysterious death in office.  

Nigeria remained rooted to the bottom of the global corruption ranking Wednesday as global corruption watchdog, Transparency  International, rated it the 35th most corrupt country in the world. In a report released at 6 a.m. Wednesday,  Nigeria scored 27 out of a maximum 100 marks to clinch the 139th position out of the 176 countries surveyed for the report. It shared that position with Azerbaijan, Kenya, Nepal and Pakistan.

A Director in Ojukwu Transport Company Limited has said the wife of the late Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu, Bianca, has no place on the directorship or trusteeship of the company. Mr. Ifeukwu Ojukwu, said on Monday that since OTL was owned by the late Sir Louis Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the late Biafran warlord could not dictate who the trustees or directors of the company should be.