Dana DNA release

Dana Plane Crash: Bodies of Ajuonoma, Aikhomu’s Son, 19 Others for Release Thursday

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/dana-plane-crash-bodies-of-ajuonoma-aikhomu-8217-s-son-19-others-for-release-thursday/121943/

Former Group General Manager, Public Affairs of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Levi Ajuonoma

By Steve Dada

The bodies of former Group General Manager, Public Affairs of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Levi Ajuonoma, and that of Ehime, son of former military vice-president, the late Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, are among those of 21 victims of the June 3 Dana Airline plane crash to be released Thursday.

The 21 bodies will be released in the first batch to relatives of the victims following the conclusion of DNA tests on 132 bodies of the victims who perished in the crash.
Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) authorities said Wednesday that the bodies of the victims would be released to relatives of the deceased persons after they have properly identified themselves.

Besides Ajuonoma and Aikhomu, others whose bodies are ready for collection today are: Aisha Abdu, Datoru Abikailo, Kaitum Abubakar, Jonathan Abiodun, Ike Abugu, Adekunbi Adebiyi, Oluwadamilare Adeleke and Abraham Adijolola.

Others are: Inusa Ahmed, Ehi Joel Ailente, Obinna Akubueze, Elizabeth Akweze, Martin Alade, Mahmud Aliyu, Joy Allison, John Amadu, Raphel Anuaka, Oluwatosin Anibaba and Onyeka Anyene.

The Dana Air plane, which crashed into the densely populated neighbourhood of Iju-Ishaga, a Lagos suburb, killed all 153 people on board and at least 10 on the ground.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, at a meeting with the relatives of the victims to inform them of the arrival of results of 132 body specimens sent abroad for identification, said that with the conclusion of the DNA tests on the bodies, LASUTH authorities would begin to release the bodies from Thursday in batches of 20 a day.

Idris, who did not disclose why some bodies were still being held abroad, said those ready for collection would be released in alphabetical order and assured them that since a thorough identification exercise had been carried out overseas, it would reduce the chances of relatives being given the wrong bodies.

“We are going to be releasing another 132 bodies that have been identified today. We have gotten some of the results of the DNA analysis from the United Kingdom. The experts have revealed the results and we felt it’s necessary to brief the victims on the processes and documentations needed to claim the bodies,” he added.

The government, through LASUTH, had suspended the release of the bodies to the relatives shortly after the plane crash following allegations of a mix-up in the identities of the victims that had led to some families being given the wrong bodies.

Also speaking at the meeting, LASUTH Chief Pathologist/Chief Medical Examiner, Prof. John Obafunwa, said the DNA test had not been concluded on 16 bodies, adding that the 132 bodies already received by the state government would only be released to relatives upon presentation of authentic documents.

Obafunwa said the most appropriate person to claim the body of any victim is the next of kin, but reiterated that in a situation where the next of kin is not available, the body would be released to spouses, parents, siblings, half sisters and nephews who present legal documents that have been authorised by the next of kin.

The re-birth of Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort

The re-birth of Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/the-re-birth-of-ikogosi-warm-springs-resort/121490/

Ikogosi

Ikogosi, the hub in the tourism corridor of Ekiti state with a waterfall about ten kilometers ahead in Ipole-iloro and religious tourism hills in Erio-ekiti offers an arguably rich blend of interesting places. Currently under rehabilitation, Ikogosi is transforming into a prime world-class resort in its bid to retain its status as be a prime tourism spot. OMOLOLA ITAYEMI writes

Ikogosi Warm Springs and Resort natural attractions has as much allure as its history. Though yet to be verified, these myths run whole gamut, from wives of the same husband turning into warm and cold springs to a hunter discovering the spring on a hunting expedition.
Scientists on the other hand, give the possible and plausible explanation that the deeper a body of water goes underground, the hotter it becomes and if by chance it is forced back to the surface through some earth fault, the temperature will be relatively high.

Like any natural wonder, it has its own devotees, mostly members of the immediate community who swear by the healing and therapeutic nature of the warm water.

Over the years, its allure diminished with the neglect it suffered from previous administrations, despite its good start with the Baptist mission, which established a youth and conference centre and other conveniences on a hill adjacent to the warm spring area, attracting both local and foreign tourists in the 50’s.

However in 1978, Ondo State acquired it from Baptist Mission putting in a few infrastructures before the resort centre was acquired from them by Ekiti State government after it was carved out of Ondo state. It however, suffered a lull as until the administration of Kayode Fayemi started the rehabilitation process in July 2011.

Like any work site under construction, workers and equipments common to construction sites were strewn all over but that didn’t take a shine away from Ikogosi as its rich fauna, rolling hills and awesome view are still stunning. Coupled with the serenity that comes with areas like this, Ikogosi is the perfect getaway for couples, retreats and meditations especially with the chaotic lifestyle presently imbibed by many.

Part of Ikogosi’s attraction is the quaint colonial buildings dotted all over adding to its picturesque aesthetic. In other climes, such buildings would have been done away with during such rehabilitations, but not Ikogosi who prides itself as a historic location. Hence, retaining most of the things naturally habitat to it without losing the essence of their uniqueness such as the chapel.

The rooms have been redesigned to meet international standards, 3 to 5 star to hostel accommodations (24 units for educational purposes such as excursion trips from school). There will be internet availability, ample car parking space, shopping malls, amphi-theatre, good road network, security with CCTV, security gadgets and personnel, warehouses, laundry, restaurants and all other amenities that make up a world-class resort.

Makoko: A Lagos Venice in the Making

Makoko: A Lagos Venice in the Making

Makoko community

Unfazed by the outrage that trailed its recent ejection of Makoko waterfront community settlers, Lagos State Government has its sights set on transforming the slum into another Venice, writes Olawale Olaleye

Both the Makoko and Oko-baba residents in Lagos State share similar fate. They are not just slum-dwellers with a high degree of vulnerability to disaster and diseases, their living conditions also sully the image the state aspires to attain on its march towards the mega-city status. Then, there is also the fact that the lagoon, which gave Lagos its name, is its invaluable economic asset.

The lagoon, as a receptacle of the city’s several canals, is a natural drainage. Unfortunately, the lagoon had begun to shrink on account of alleged illegal encroachment by the water-dwelling communities. Yet, the drainage channels from different parts of the state like Oworonsoki, Somolu, Bariga, Akoka, Ikorodu and Ajegunle that flooded two years ago, are all served by the lagoon as indeed Lekki, Ajah and Victoria Island axis of the state.

Buoyed by concerns over a shrinking lagoon, and the obvious implication of this, the state swung into action to avert the possibility of a natural disaster. Its intervention later gave rise to the idea of relocation which was the other critical excuse upon which the state had sustained its intervention. Thus, between the people of Makoko and Oko-baba, the state had caused an engagement about planned resettlement.

While the phased resettlement programme – solely funded by government – is being concluded for the people of Oko-baba in Agbowa, the Makoko residents have remained adamant about relocating. The waterfront is, after all, the only place known to them as home. But the Lagos State government opted to conclude the relocation of the Oko-baba community before resuming talks with Makoko residents.

“So, we thought, let’s solve half of the problem as we already have people who have bought into our relocation programme,” the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, explained in an exclusive chat with THISDAY. “But, because we haven’t compelled you to move is no justification to invite more people to come and expand.”

The relocation programme, he argued, could only be for those Makoko residents who had been living there before the eviction order. “It is the new people we are ejecting. You’ll see that the frontiers of the place are ... expanding into the lagoon every day. We are not moving everybody; it is the new ones that we are moving.”

N368, 000 PER SEAT IN KENYAN PARLIAMENT

N368,000 per chair: Kenyan parliament vs. Nigerian parliament – Which is more bad ass?

http://www.ynaija.com/368000-per-chair-kenyan-parliament-vs-nigerian-parliament-which-is-more-bad-ass/

by Stanley Azuakola
Hear the big story from Kenya today: Kenyans are angry with their parliamentarians because they took tax payers money and used it to fit the parliament with 350 plush hi-tech chairs, at the cost of 200,000 shillings/2,300 dollars/368,000 naira per chair.
This is more than the average Kenyan earns in a year (1,800 dollars/288,000 naira.)
This news does not concern us in Nigeria at all, but let’s just talk about it so that the Kenyans don’t start feeling ‘unsupported’.
By the way, a Kenyan parliamentary spokesman has defended the action in a way that will make the Okupe/Abati combo proud. He said, “The chairs have been made by prisoners, so that means that the money is going from one arm of government to another, and it will not be lost.”
Plus, the building the Kenyan parliament uses is a 1950s building, so they felt it needed to be “fitted with electronic voting systems and other gadgets that will bring Kenyan politics into the digital age.”
Well, let’s allow Kenyans sort themselves out. We have our own cross to carry: refresh your memory with this data of what our own dear “honourables” earn.
Basic Salary (BS) = N2,484,245.50
Hardship Allowance: 50% of Basic Salary = N1,242,122.75
Constituency allowance: 200% of BS = N4,968,509.00
Furniture Allowance: 300% of BS = N7,452,736.50
Newspaper allowance: 50% = N1,242,122.70
Wardrobe allowance: 25% = N621,061.37
Recess Allowance: 10% = N248,424.55
Accommodation: 200% = N4,968,509.00
Utilities: 30% = N828,081.83
Domestic Staff: 35% = N863,184.12
Entertainment: 30% = N828,081.83
Personal Assistance: 25% = N621,061.37
Vehicle Maintenance Allowance: 75% = N1,863,184.12
Leave Allowance : 10% = N248,424.55
One off payments (Severance gratuity): 300% = N7,452,736.50
Motor Vehicle Allowance: 400% of BS = N9,936,982.00
Total per month = N29,479, 749.00
A senator’s anual salary = over N182 million
PS: (1) The above is for just one senator alone.
(2) The above is the official/legitimate ‘pocket money’. By the time we add the other spare cash they earn from Farouking, then… case closed.