The State Government of Ebonyi has banned sells of Tramadol in the state.

Mercy Lank

THE Ebonyi Government has totally banned the sale of tramadol and codeine-containing products in chemists, pharmacies and other health facilities in the state. Dr Sunday Nwangele, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Gov. David Umahi on Health Services, announced this in Abakaliki while briefing newsmen after the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting. Nwangele who said that the ban took immediate effect, added that restriction has also been placed on the sale of antibiotics and analgesics Over The Counter (OTC) in these health outlets.

“Henceforth, issuance of antibiotics and analgesics will be strictly on doctor’s prescription as this directive will be adequately monitored,” he said. “OTC drugs are not affected by the restriction as is obtained in the country, African continent and other parts of the world. “The OTC drugs such as paracetamol, minimal dosage of Ibuprofen, aspirin, among others, are basic analgesics and drugs used to treat fever but we are talking of serious analgesics. “These analgesics are orally administered, injected into the muscles or veins and can also be steroidal or non-steroidal. “This is the area doctor’s prescription comes in because such drugs such as tramadol are greatly abused and they reflect in the brain. “The state government is aware of the devastating effects of these drugs especially on the youths which have led to increase in crime and other social vices,” he said. He said that the government also regretted the failure of Ebonyi indigenes to pass the medical screening of various security and paramilitary outfits, during job recruitment. “We discovered that they fail because they test positive to hepatitis B surface-antigens, as the government will soon commence public screening over the issue. “The date of the screening will soon be announced but our people especially youths are advised to conduct individual screening to ascertain their hepatitis B surface-antigens status. “This will enable us effectively manage those already afflicted by the disease and properly prepare those who test negative, to undergo the outfits’ screening,” he said. Nwangele further said that the government has also declared war on adulterated kerosene and other petroleum products across the state by placing total ban on their sales. “The government, however, sympathises with the family which lost its dear ones at Ezza South Local Government Area due to kerosene explosion. “The governor further directs his special assistant on petroleum pricing and distribution to liaise with relevant security agencies and petroleum products-dealers in the state to enforce the directive. “The government will deal decisively with individuals or groups who sell tramadol and codeine-containing products, flout the restriction on the sale of antibiotics and analgesics and sell adulterated petroleum products. “The committee set up to check the sale of fake drugs and other substandard products are working assiduously with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). “It is our desire that the committee and these agencies work together to achieve a total stoppage to the sale and usage of fake products in the state,’’ he said.

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Chelsea FC ready to let Willian join Manchester United instead of Barcelona on one condition

Mercy Lank

Chelsea will allow Willian to join Manchester United this summer – if the club get Anthony Martial in return. Jose Mourinho is keen on signing Willian and failed in a bid to take him to Old Trafford last summer. However, the Brazilian fell out with Antonio Conte last season and even blocked the Italian out of a celebratory Instagram post after Chelsea beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final. Barcelona are interested in signing Willian as back-up but are unlikely to stretch to Chelsea’s £60m valuation of the Brazilian. Willian is valued at around £60m Chelsea would rather sell to Barcelona than strengthen a direct rival and the Blues would demand serious concessions to allow Willian to move to Manchester United. According to the Telegraph, Chelsea will allow Willian to move to Old Trafford if United offer Martial in exchange. Manchester United sign Stoke City ace Lee Grant Deal close: Manchester United set to complete third summer signing after holding medical Watching, Jose? Manchester United star cuts short holiday to put in extra training The Frenchman’s agent confirmed last month that he wants to leave Old Trafford after falling out of favour under Jose Mourinho. United want to keep Martial and like Chelsea would rather sell him abroad should he hand in transfer request. Martial wants to leave United Manchester United resume pre-season training at the end of the week and Martial is expected to report for duty given he missed out on France’s World Cup squad. The 22-year-old has 12 months to run on his existing deal at Old Trafford but United have an option to extend that by a further year.

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Killings in Nigeria:There is absolute no law that forbids Christians from self-defence

Mercy Lank

Although Christians have been victims of various killings in the country perpetrated by suspected Fulani herdsmen, the peace-making efforts of the church should not be misunderstood to be a weakness, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, has warned. The organisation on Tuesday said that there was no law prohibiting Christians from defending themselves because if pushed to the wall, the church could react. The President of PFN, Rev. Felix Omobude, issued the warning during a meeting with Christians at the Living Faith Bible Church (aka Winners Chapel) in Jos, after paying a condolence visit to Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State on the killing of over 200 persons in three Local Government Areas by suspected Fulani herdsmen. He said, “We call on the government to fish out the perpetrators of this evil across the land. We want to see them get punished; we want to see them answer for their crimes. What has happened in the past, and when it happens like this, is that the most the government will say is to condemn it. We want to see beyond mere condemnation. We want those shielding these evil men to be exposed.

“We will continue to call on Christians to follow the path of peace in line with the injunctions of our faith. I want to sound it unequivocally that the people perpetrating this evil should not think they have a monopoly of violence. The peace drive and peace-making efforts of the church should not be misunderstood to be a weakness. If pushed to the wall, the church can react. There is no law that forbids Christians from defending themselves. We cannot continue to be on the receiving end.” Omobude said the recent killings in Plateau State had touched the leadership of the PFN and “we are here to tender our condolences to the government and people of Plateau state.” He said, “On the occasion of this visit, the PFN is calling on the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari to rise to the challenge and secure the lives and properties of Nigerians. It is the primary responsibility that the government owes the people. “We call on the governments, federal and states, especially when we understand that one of the campaign promises of this present Federal Government was security, to protect lives and properties. Never in the history of this nation has innocent blood been shed across the land as we are witnessing. Our security agencies should rise to the challenge. A nation that cannot secure the lives and properties of her people is not yet free.” The cleric also called on Christians in particular and Nigerians in general to use the opportunity of the nation’s democracy to endorse good leaders and vote out the bad eggs in the 2019 general elections. Omobude also opposed the proposed ranching policy of the Federal Government saying in Europe, United Kingdom and America, people consume beef, adding, “yet, you don’t see cows being paraded on the streets.” Meanwhile, a former Governor of Plateau State and Senator representing the Plateau North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Jonah David Jang, has dismissed his alleged link with the recent killings in the state. He said, “Doesn’t that sound funny that Jonah Jang, a Berom man from Plateau State, is organising Fulani herdsmen to come and kill Beroms or which killings are they talking about? Over 200 people have been killed in some LGAs here including Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Bassa, Bokkos, Mangu and somebody is protesting in Abuja that I am behind the killings. So, I am the person who put the arms in the hands of Fulani herdsmen to come and kill my people so that I will be the only Berom man to live with my family or what? Does that make sense?” “It is a pity that politics is turning to what it is in Nigeria. I believe that everything is being done to find a reason to incarcerate me so that I will not participate in the ongoing politics. I am the Senator representing Plateau North, I may be re-contesting the Senate, and I may be contesting a higher position. That decision is in the making and the Peoples Democratic Party is working very hard to win the election on the Plateau and I am a key figure here on the Plateau.” Copyright PUNCH.

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I’ll support Igbo presidency at the right time – says President Buhari

Mercy Lank

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said he believed that the Igbo had the right to the Presidency and promised to back Igbo Presidency at “theright time.” He, however, solicited the support of the Igbo for his re-election bid in 2019, saying next year’s general elections would determine the future of the country.

Buhari, who spoke in Owerri, the Imo State capital, during a “mega rally” by his party, All Progressives Congress, South-East Zone, said that the elections were “make or mar” for the Igbo. Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Buhari pleaded with Ndigbo to support his reelection ambition in 2019. “The 2019 election is not about political parties; it is about the Igbo nation. You need a paradigm shift; it will determine the future of this country,” the President said. The APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, said four years was not enough for Buhari to deliver on all his campaign promises. Ostensibly referring to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Oshiomhole said: “for letter writers, we are happy that their evil plan of the third term did not work.” “I thank Senator Ken Nnamani who held the Senate and made sure that there is no third tenure. For 16 years, the PDP destroyed this country,” he said. According to him, judging by performance, Buhari deserves a second term in office. Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State assured Buhari that the South-East zone would vote massively for him in 2019. Meanwhile, the PDP has described APC’s Tuesday’s South-East zonal rally as a mockery on Buhari by the members of his party. The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Nigerians had a comic relief as speaker after speaker made a mockery of the President by ascribing non-existent projects as well as those initiated by others, particularly, the PDP, to him in furtherance of APC’s alleged renewed attempt to beguile Nigerians ahead of 2019 general elections. According to him, the crowd at the APC rally was rented. Ologbondiyan said, “Even the rented crowd showed and expressed a vote of no confidence in the ill-performed President and his party, as they refused to brandish the now famished APC brooms or respond to the party’s slogan, a development that signposts the rejection of the APC in the zone and of course, in other parts of our nation.

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Confirmed Deal:Liverpool have signed left-sided midfielder Isaac Christie-Davies

Mercy Lank

The organisation confirmed the move via their official Twitter account,as they player pledged himself to the Common Goal cause, donating a percentage of his wages towards charitable causes. As previously reported by the Liverpool Echo, this move has been in the works for a few weeks but it’s finally been confirmed after the 20-year-old’s contract at Chelsea officially expired. The player, whose main position is left midfield, made 19 appearances for the Chelsea academy last season in all competitions, scoring one goal and providing two assists (TransferMarkt).

It’s hard to say how this move will turn out. This is the second summer in a row that Liverpool have signed a youth player from Chelsea, with Dominic Salanke joining the club last year. The fact that Christie-Davies played so often for the Blues academy team suggests that he has the sufficient quality to succeed at Anfield but, at 20-years-old, the midfielder is a bit old to still be playing in a youth team. It’s a worrying sign that no club decided to take him on a loan deal so far in his career, as all his experience has come in youth football. However, Liverpool are normally very good when scouting youth players and they obviously feel he’s good enough to take a chance on. Fans at Anfield will be hoping that Christie-Davies can follow in the footsteps of players like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben Woodburn in pushing for a first-team place,

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Thibaut Courtois:I'm Not sure of my future at Chelsea'My Children lives in Madrid

Mercy Lank

Thibaut Courtois has refused to confirm he will stay at Chelsea after being asked about a potential move to Real Madrid this summer. The 26-year-old has just one year remaining on his current contract, which means Chelsea run the risk of losing their first-choice goalkeeper on a free transfer next summer. Real Madrid are keen on signing Courtois and reports in Spain claimed last week that the Belgian’s agent Christophe Henrotay has already been in talks with the Champions League holders.

Courtois had previously claimed that he was going to spend another season at Stamford Bridge but he now admits his children, who live in Madrid, are a key factor behind the decision over his future. Courtois helped Belgium secure a 3-2 win over Japan in the World Cup last-16.When asked about joining Real Madrid after Belgium’s 3-2 win over Japan on Monday evening, Courtois replied: ‘I’m not going to talk about that now. ‘The only thing I’ve always said is that after the World Cup I look at everything. ‘The only thing is that my children are the most important and I’ll make the decision that best suits me for everything.’

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FIFA WORLD CUP:Chelsea Star Eden Hazard glad to avoid Euro 2016 repeatn

Mercy Lank

The wake of Belgium's dramatic win over Japan, Eden Hazard says he was delighted to avoid another shock defeat like the one the Red Devils suffered at Euro 2016. Two years ago, Belgium eased through their Euro 2016 group only to crash out of the tournament in a stunning 3-1 defeat to Wales. They looked to be going the same way in their last-16 clash with Japan, trailing 2-0, only to mount a spectacular turnaround, with Nacer Chadli's 94th minute goal earning a 3-2 victory. "We were thinking it was going to be like two years ago against Wales, but we were also thinking, 'if we can score goals the game is on,'" Hazard said. "We have players that can change a game, we brought players from the bench who made the difference, so today we are just happy to have won and have gone through to the quarter-finals." Belgium will now face Brazil in the quarters in Kazan on Saturday morning (AEST).

"When it comes to the match on Friday, it is going to be magnificent because playing against Brazil is always amazing as a football player," said the 27 year-old. "We are going to rest really well and going to really try to win that match."

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