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July 17, 2023

July 17, 2023July 17, 2023 IFMNEWS

Deadly Anthrax Disease Outbreak Confirmed in Nigeria

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has officially verified the presence of anthrax in Nigeria.

The alarming discovery was made on a farm in Suleja, Niger State, where several animals exhibited symptoms suggestive of anthrax infection.

Located at Gajiri along the busy Abuja-Kaduna expressway in Suleja Local Government Area, the farm housed various animals, including cattle, sheep, and goats.

Disturbingly, some of these animals displayed visible signs of anthrax, such as blood oozing from their body openings, including the anus, nose, eyes, and ears.

To address this concerning situation, Columba T. Vakuru, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, issued an official statement on Monday, July 17, 2023.

Anthrax is caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus and primarily affects livestock like cattle, sheep, and goats. It also poses a potential risk to humans who come into contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products, such as meat, wool, or skins.

A Rapid Response team, comprising federal and state One Health Professional experts, was dispatched to the farm for initial investigations and to collect samples from the affected animals. Subsequent laboratory tests conducted at the National Veterinary Research Institute laboratory confirmed the diagnosis, marking the first recorded case of anthrax in Nigeria in recent years.

In light of this outbreak, the federal government urgently appeals to all Nigerians to remain vigilant and immediately report any instances of animals displaying bleeding from their body openings to veterinary authorities or agriculture extension workers.

They stressed the significance of not attempting to process or move any dead or sick animal and encouraged the public to promptly seek assistance from veterinary doctors or the Ministry of Agriculture in their respective states.

Prior warnings had been issued by the federal government following an anthrax outbreak in Northern Ghana, where all infected animals tragically succumbed to the disease.

Skin-based anthrax can result from open wounds or contact with contaminated objects, while inhalation anthrax occurs when spores are inhaled.

July 17, 2023

July 17, 2023 IFMNEWS

Adamu Reportedly Resigns Prior to APC NEC Meeting

According to multiple reports, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has tendered his resignation.

The resignation letter was reportedly sent to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, at 4 pm on Sunday, July 16, 2023, just before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's return from the African Union (AU) meeting in Kenya.

An anonymous source that spoke to the newspaper said, “He has resigned. The resignation letter signed by him has been sent to the villa. The letter was addressed to President Tinubu. But since the president is away in Kenya for the AU meeting, the letter was sent to his chief of staff.”

Sources indicate that Adamu forwarded his resignation letter to the Chief of Staff of the President, Femi Gbajabiamila. It's been suggested that the resignation came in response to a perceived gang-up against him by certain individuals close to the president.

“The national chairman resigned following a gang up by people around the president to embarrass him during the meetings of the party slated for tomorrow and Wednesday,” the source said.

However, despite the reports, another source close to the situation has denied claims that President Tinubu explicitly asked Adamu to resign ahead of the upcoming National Caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings scheduled for Tuesday, July 18, 2023, and Wednesday, July 19, 202

“He resigned because they have started to collate signatures to impeach him during the forthcoming meetings. He resigned to save himself from humiliation,” a source in the party told the newspaper.

Allegedly, the APC Chairman made the decision to resign upon learning that two influential figures around the president had mobilized against him ahead of these crucial meetings. While the exact details of the reported gang-up remain undisclosed, it has been a significant factor leading to Adamu's resignation.

In his response to Daily Trust, the APC Chairman said, “I won’t talk about the issue because the president is away,” Adamu who was the preferred candidate of former President Muhammadu Buhari for the chairmanship seat.”

Senator Adamu, known for his recent confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over the list of National Assembly's principal officers, has chosen not to comment on the matter at this time.

July 12, 2023

July 12, 2023July 12, 2023 IFMSPORTS

Zambia Women’s Manager Under Investigation for Allegations of Sexual Misconduct Prior to World Cup

Despite reports of sexual misconduct accusations against manager Bruce Mwape, Zambia Women's captain, Barbra Banda, affirms that the team is maintaining their focus on the football.

The Guardian recently revealed that Mwape is currently under investigation by the Zambian FA, with the matter subsequently referred to FIFA and the police.

During Zambia's arrival in New Zealand for the World Cup, Mwape declined to comment when confronted by the media. In contrast, Banda emphasized that the players' attention is firmly fixed on their upcoming tournament opener against former world champions, Japan, scheduled for July 22.

Despite reports of sexual misconduct accusations against manager Bruce Mwape, Zambia Women's captain, Barbra Banda, affirms that the team is maintaining their focus on the football.

The Guardian recently revealed that Mwape is currently under investigation by the Zambian FA, with the matter subsequently referred to FIFA and the police.

During Zambia's arrival in New Zealand for the World Cup, Mwape declined to comment when confronted by the media.

In contrast, Banda emphasized that the players' attention is firmly fixed on their upcoming tournament opener against former world champions, Japan, scheduled for July 22.

"I'm not in a position of answering that because I'm just a player, my job is to be on the pitch, not on the technical side," said Banda.

"Mostly, I think as players our mind is just on the pitch, the rest we leave to the management and whatever comes up it's up to them. Our job is just to work on the pitch."

One female player, who did not want to be named, told The Guardian: "If he [Mwape] wants to sleep with someone, you have to say yes.

"It's normal that the coach sleeps with the players in our team."

July 12, 2023

July 12, 2023 IFMNEWS

Dangote Retains Top Spot as Africa’s Richest Man for the 12th Consecutive Year- Forbes

Aliko Dangote, the President of the Pan-African Conglomerate, the Dangote Group, has once again secured the top spot as the wealthiest individual in Africa for the 12th consecutive year, according to the latest Forbes rankings.

In a statement titled 'Forbes 2023 Index: Dangote Still Africa's Richest for 12th Consecutive Year,' it was revealed that Dangote, renowned for his business empire including Dangote Cement Plc, the largest cement producer in Africa, remains the sole Nigerian to feature among the world's top 200 richest individuals. His estimated net worth has risen to $14.2 billion, a significant increase from last year's $12.1 billion.

It is worth mentioning that in June, South African entrepreneur Johann Rupert temporarily held the title of Africa's richest person, as reported by Forbes Magazine, with a net worth of $12 billion. However, Dangote has once again reclaimed his position at the summit of African wealth.

The statement said, “ Forbes, in its latest ranking of world billionaires for 2023 reported that falling stocks, wounded unicorns and rising interest rates translated into a down year for the world’s wealthiest people.

“Dangote, presently ranked 124th among the world’s richest billionaires, is the only Nigerian in the top 200 world billionaires and one of the two Africans within that bracket; with South Africa’s Johann Rupert, who deals in luxury goods ranked 157th with a net worth of $11.1bn.

“The Africa’s richest man founded and chairs Dangote Cement, the continent’s largest cement producer. Dangote Cement has production capacity of 51.6 million tonnes per year across ten countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, with integrated factories in seven countries, a clinker grinding plant in Cameroon, and import and distribution facilities in Ghana and Sierra Leone.”

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