The Queen is discharged

The Queen left hospital today after a spending just 24 hours being treated for symptoms of gastroenteritis.

Looking relaxed and smiling, she appeared on the steps of King Edward VII's Hospital in central London and walked to her waiting limousine.
The Queen was admitted yesterday for assessment by doctors after being struck down by the stomach bug on Friday.Her illness forced her to cancel a trip to Rome to meet the country's President Giorgio Napolitano for a private lunch on Thursday.
Being admitted raised concerns about the Queen's health generally as this was the first time the 86-year-old has been treated overnight at hospital in 10 years.But she looked well and cheerful as she said goodbye to a uniformed member of staff who curtseyed to her.The Queen, who wore a scarlet coat, was driven away by a chauffeur and is likely to spend time convalescing at her favourite home Windsor Castle.A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman declined to discuss in detail her condition and just said that she remained in “good spirits”.

Africa: Child cured of AIDS??

Africa: Child Cured of HIV, Researchers Claim. http://goo.gl/mag/1Ma4uQ1

Policemen knock down dispatch rider

A team of policemen attached to the Rapid Response Squad allegedly knocked down a dispatch rider with their patrol vehicle along Agege Motor Road, Lagos on Sunday.PUNCH Metro learnt that the victim, Pius Fagbohun, who is a dispatch rider for Independent Communication Network Limited, publisher of PM News and The News magazine, was on his motorcycle at the Sogunle end of the road when the policemen's vehicle hit him.Fagbolohun, who sustained bruises on his face, hands and legs, said the policemen attempted to help him but when they noticed the company's logo on his motorcycle, they fled.He said, "Around 12pm, I was riding towards Ikeja from Oshodi when the vehicle hit me from the side. The policemen attempted to help but probably because they saw the logo on my bike, they thought I was a journalist and fled. Luckily for me, I fell into the gutter so oncoming vehicle did not crush me."I remained in the gutter for about 10 minutes until some sympathisers came to my aid. My motorcycle meets the specification of the state government so it wasn't as if I was evading arrest when the incident occurred."The dispatch rider alleged that while he was still in the gutter, a patrol vehicle that bore the inscription, 'Area G Command', drove by and the policemen inside did not attempt to come to his aid.Fagbohun, who was later taken to Bodet Hospital, said it was unfortunate that policemen, who are paid to protect lives, could act in such a callous manner.When asked if he was able to get the vehicle registration number of the errant policemen, he said, "When the incident occurred, all that was on my mind was survival, one cannot remember such details in the circumstance."When contacted on the telephone, the spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, said Fagbohun's allegation would be difficult to prove because the matter had not been reported to any police station and the vehicle number of the said police patrol vehicle was not provided."I've called every Divisional Police Officer within that area and they have all said they are not aware of the incident since no one reported at any station. Let the victim report at the nearest police station and provide the police with all necessary information", she said

GEJ again, promises another grant to Nollywood

President Goodluck Jonathan has declared the creation of  N3billion grant geared to support the nation’s movie industry; Nollywood.
According to the President, a programme called “Project Nollywood” has being established by his administration to “support the key components of the industry’s value chain through a dedicated grant, totaling N3billion.”The grant will be launched in April.The President made this known while delivering his speech at a dinner to celebration Nollywood at 20 in Lagos, on Saturday night.The dinner was organized to celebrate the 20th  anniversary of the first Nigerian movie to be released on home-video; ‘Living in Bondage‘, which was released in September 1992.Giving more details about the grant, the President stated that the fund will include “grants for the best film scripts; a capacity development fund, and funds for supporting the industry’s infrastructure.”“The scheme which will be launched in the first week of April, will be managed by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism” he added.Dr Jonathan also made it known that he has directed both the NEXIM Bank and Bank of Industry to redouble their efforts in assisting the industry to access loans.According to him, “NEXIM has extended about N766 million in loans to a number of companies involved in film production, cinemas, and distribution, with another scheduled N1.4 billion for projects in the industry.”This he noted, “must be sustained.”The President in his speech commended all stakeholders in the movie industry for making Nollywood one of Nigeria’s export items in the last two decades.He challenged them to make Nollywood become the major export item in the next 20 years.“Our national income is currently dominated by the oil sector. I believe that with continued hard work, Nollywood could begin to challenge the oil sector’s domination in the years ahead” he concluded.Also pledging his support to the industry, the Governor of Akwa-Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio donated the sum of N50 million to the industry as the ‘President’s Award For Creativity.’One of the main challenges facing the movie industry as highlighted by foremost move director Amaka Igwe at the event was the issue of piracy and poor infrastructure which the President promised to look into.The event had in attendance numerous practitioners in Nollywood such as Genevieve Nnaji, Chidi Mokeme, Aki and Paw Paw, Olu and Joke Jacobs, Segun Arinze, Stephanie Linus, Patience Ozokwor, Zack Orji, Madam Kofo, Desmond Elliot, Chiwetalu Agu, Cynthia Amadi, Amaka Igwe, Dickson Iroegbu, Zeb and Chico Ejiro, Kunle Afolayan, Tunde Kelani, Andy Chukwu and several others.President Jonathan also unveiled a pictorial book titled ‘Icons of Nollywood‘.

Ladipo market remains closed

Governor Fashola in his usual no- nonsense stance has insisted that Ladipo market would remain closed except the traders yield to his demands.
First, the market must be thoroughly sanitised and secondly, an undertaking would be written - in there, no form of trading on the pavements and roadsides. I bet the traders would act fast.
Kudos to Fashola ojare.

PDP at it again!

I am sure we are all familiar with the hoodwink that the PDP led government has used on this nation in the last 14 years or so. This past week witnessed the formation of PDP's Governors' forum which is different from the already existing Governor's forum in that the latter comprises of only governors elected on PDP's platform.
These guys are always taking us for a ride and we just sit and watch. There are loads of problems facing the nation and all we see is political power tussle.
For how long?

Picture of lions drinking water

500px: Lions drinking. http://goo.gl/mag/H1W8Lo3

Duck meeting

500px: Duck Meeting. http://goo.gl/mag/EdbTFDh

Queen hospitalised

Queen admitted to hospital with gastroenteritis. http://goo.gl/mag/y8DoZKl

Nigerian artiste Damouche shot dead

Lagos State University( LASU) has been the scene of bloody campus gangs' rivalry since the 90's and the end may not be in sight;

A hip hop and also a student of the school, Olaniyan Ibrahim Damilola popularly known as " DAMINO DAMOUCHE" was shot dead by suspected fraternity gang members at LASU. It occured just opposite the LASU gate, he was alleged to have been shot by a high caliber weapon by assailants on a motorbike and also macheted to ensure his death.

It is sad but salient lessons should be learnt from this unnecessary waste.