"Boxes containing dead and injured animals were strewn over a 160-metre stretch while thousands of chickens ran onto the motorway on both sides," police said.
It is reported the driver admitted having a "second-long sleep", causing him to veer right and hit a bridge pillar on the Vienna-bound side of the A1 autobahn near Linz in the north of the country.
Image:Firefighters removed the chickens from the carriageway near Linz
Image:Emergency workers had to deal with the unusual call out
The carriageway was closed during the morning rush hour, leading to long traffic jams in both directions as drivers on the other side slowed down to look at the chaos.
It took more than 100 emergency workers, including firefighters, to crack the problem and return the surviving birds to their cages.
Those chickens that managed to make a run for it have enjoyed a double helping of luck, as the next stop for the poultry was the slaughter house.
In its renewed efforts at bringing an end to the marginalisation of Oyo State Cental
Senatorial District in the top echelon of the Executive Arm of the government in the
4th Republic of 1999 till date, a coalition of like-mind socio-political presure group
known as the Liberation Movement of Oyo Central Senatorial District vehemently
ready to pursue their aim of ensuring equity,fair-play,fairness and social justice in
the political clime of the state.
Comrade Victor Olabamiji Oyelayo.Coordinator of the movement made the declaration at a press conference recently.
Comments on historical perspective. Comrade Oyelayo noted that both Oyo North and South Senatorial Districts continueously represented in the governorship position of the state since 1999 up till date.
While advising on agitations by any local government area or micro-zones of Oyo, lbadan less city,Oke-ogun,lbarapa,lseyin,lbadan city Ogbomoso and others to stepped down.
He therefore urge all political parties in the state to zone their governorship position to Oyo Central Senatorial District of the state.
Adding.'Oyo Cerntral Senatorial District has been greatly deprived,cheated, marginalised,'and implore all stake holders in the state to give their maximum support to the Senatorial District and made it togovern Oyo state come 2019.
Governors of south-west region of Nigeria met in Abeokuta, Ogun state, yesterday to discuss the menace of herdsmen attack in the region and debate on how to end the crisis.
Our source gathered that present at the meeting were all the governors of the six states in the south-west.
According to our source, we reliably gathered that the governors also assessed the disturbing issue of kidnapping particularly of school children in the region.
They agreed to look into the issue of creeks through which militants move captives.
The governors decided to put a permanent end to the menace of herdsmen in the region. Photo credit: Vanguard
Reports said the governors at the meeting acknowledged the Ekiti state government’s template in dealing with the menace of herdsmen to curb the incessant killings by cattle rearers.
The governors acknowledge the Ekiti state government's approach to handling the herdsmen crisis. Photo credit: Channels TV
The governors agreed to the following:
1. That the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) should develop a revenue optimisation strategy for constituents states of the region.
2. That in order to improve food security of the region, DAWN should convey a regional agric summit to be held in Ibadan.
3. That approval is given for the establishment of Western Nigeria Export Development Initiative to drive the export potentials of the region.
4. That synergy of DAWN Commission, Oodua Group and critical stakeholders should develop a framework to drive the commercial and industrialization competitiveness of the region.
5. That a Committee be set up for the codification of our values and ethos as an instrument of Yoruba uniqueness to strengthen our identity and unity of purpose.
6. And finally, that this forum should be known henceforth as Western Nigeria Governors’ Forum”
Meanwhile, the ever busy Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway was blocked on Monday, July 24, by residents of Ozalla communities in Nkanu West local government area of Enugu state over Fulani herdsmen activities.
Reports have it that the mob action of the community paralysed vehicular movement in the area.
According to report, trouble started after the body of a Fulani herdsmen was recovered by his people.
Residents of the community were allegedly blamed for the death of the herdsmen.
In a counter allegation, residents of the community not only refuted killing the herdsmen but alleged that the Fulani herdsmen stormed their area and threatened to wipe them out.
The newly elected Lagos state local government area chairmen are currently being sworn in at the Lagos Secretariat in Alausa.
Also being sworn in are the 37 chairmen of the Local Council Development Areas.
The swearing in of the chairman is taking place at the Lagos secretariat. Source: Twitter, @followlasg
Some of the people present at the event holding today include: the Lagos state governor, Akinwumi Ambode, the council of Obas and some members of the Lagos state House of Assembly.
The swearing in of the chairman is taking place at the Lagos secretariat. Source: Twitter, @followlasg
The swearing in of the chairman is taking place at the Lagos secretariat. Source: Twitter, @followlasg
During the election, a number of voters in Lagos defied the rain to cast their votes despite flooding in some areas in the state.
The swearing in of the chairman is taking place at the Lagos secretariat. Source: Twitter, @followlasg
The Lagos state governor who spoke after casting his vote said he was glad that the elections were peaceful and calm.
The swearing in of the chairman is taking place at the Lagos secretariat. Source: Twitter, @followlasg
President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the chairman of the African Union (AU) and president of Guinea, Alpha Conde, concerning his health status.
Buhari who has been in London over an undisclosed ailment said he was making progress in London where he is receiving medical attention.
In the letter on Tuesday, July 25, 2017, the president said he was prepared to resume work but was waiting for instruction from his doctors.
Buhari made his status known in the ‘thank you’ letter to Conde, according to his special adviser on media and publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.
In the statement from Adesina the spokesperson said Buhari had earlier called Conde on the phone.
He said the in the letter to Conde dated July 24, 2017, Buhari said: “I thank you for your kind and thoughtful action in organising nationwide prayers for my good health.
“It is a gesture that I will forever cherish and treasure.
“Your Excellency will be pleased to hear that I am making good progress, and as soon as doctors advise, I shall return to my duties and continue serving the Nigerian people who elected me and are daily praying for my recovery.”
The president also accepted his nomination as the leader of the ‘2018 AU theme on the fight against corruption’ which came from African leaders at the 29th session of the Assembly of Heads of state and government of the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 4, 2017.
Buhari said in the letter: “While thanking you for the kind words and for the nomination, I wish to express my readiness to accept this new important role and to reiterate my commitment to contribute towards our collective efforts to strengthen good governance and development on the continent.
“I, therefore, look forward to working closely with you in the realisation of this objective.
“I am making good progress, and as soon as doctors advise, I shall return to my duties and continue serving the Nigerian people.”
Demi Adesina's statement released on Tuesday, July 25.
The less-celebrated riddle of why the chickens blocked the road is solved, as firefighters scramble to round up the birds.
Video:Poultry problem: Chickens recovered from highway Around 7,000 chickens found their own free range after the truck transporting them crashed and they broke out onto a major road in Austria.
"Boxes containing dead and injured animals were strewn over a 160-metre stretch while thousands of chickens ran onto the motorway on both sides," police said.
It is reported the driver admitted having a "second-long sleep", causing him to veer right and hit a bridge pillar on the Vienna-bound side of the A1 autobahn near Linz in the north of the country.
Image:Firefighters removed the chickens from the carriageway near Linz
Image:Emergency workers had to deal with the unusual call out
The carriageway was closed during the morning rush hour, leading to long traffic jams in both directions as drivers on the other side slowed down to look at the chaos.
It took more than 100 emergency workers, including firefighters, to crack the problem and return the surviving birds to their cages.
Those chickens that managed to make a run for it have enjoyed a double helping of luck, as the next stop for the poultry was the slaughter house.
As an immunologist and allergist, I'm often asked, "How can I strengthen my immune system naturally?" In reality, it’s about training our immune system to do its job correctly. That is, we want to be able to fend off the things that can hurt us—such as viruses, pathogenic bacteria, and parasites—while remaining un-reactive to benign things like pollen and foods. In addition, we want to prevent our immune system from attacking our own body, as is the case in autoimmune disease.
The bottom line is that a healthy body is dependent on a strong immune system; the good news is that there are many ways to perform immune-system upkeep and not just by avoiding some destructive habits, stressors, and toxins but by embracing natural immune boosters and adopting behaviors that support immunity.
The most important thing one can do to cultivate strong immunity is to start where the immune system really resides: the gut. Whether you have chronic allergies, frequent infections, or autoimmune problems, you likely have some damage to the health of your microbiome and digestive tract. This is where about 80 percent of your immune cells hang out, and it's where our bodies decide what is friend and what is foe. By strengthening our gut health, we are much less likely to get sick, have allergies, and develop autoimmune disease. These are some of the key immune-boosting tips I recommend for all of my patients:
1. Take a probiotic that has a broad array of species.
Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are two of the most important families of bacteria that populate our gut from birth, and they have been shown to positively affect our immune health. Look for one that has at least 30 to 50 billion colonies and at least eight strains of bacteria. Double this dose if you're coming down with a cold or have to take antibiotics. Remember, these are live organisms, and it pays to spend a little more on a good-quality brand. Most probiotics should be kept refrigerated to extend their shelf life. In addition, adding fermented foods—like sauerkraut, naturally fermented pickles, yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, kimchi, tempeh, miso, natto, and kombucha—to your everyday routine is crucial.
2. Avoid drugs and over-the-counter medications.
It takes three to six months for our microbiome to recover from one week of antibiotic treatment, so avoid antibiotics if you aren’t sure that you're treating a bacterial infection. Most upper-respiratory infections are viral and won’t get better any faster with antibiotics. In addition, if you eat meat, make sure that it’s organic so you won’t be ingesting antibiotic residues from chemically treated animals. It's also important to avoid drugs that lower stomach acid, such as proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec and Nexium. You need healthy stomach acid to kill parasites, viruses, and bacteria that we accidentally ingest on a daily basis. Limit your use of painkillers like ibuprofen and other NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories) that damage the gut and weaken our immune health.
3. Take this triad on a daily basis.
Although there are several vitamins and minerals that support our immune system, these three really pack a punch. Take them daily if you suffer from chronic infections, get sick frequently, or are feeling run down:
Zinc: 15 to 30 mg a day. Zinc affects multiple aspects of the immune system and even acts as an antioxidant by fighting off free radicals. It's also a very common deficiency worldwide.
Vitamin D: 2,000 IU daily. Although you can get vitamin D through some fortified foods and sunlight, our modern lifestyle doesn’t always allow for a lot of time outdoors, and many adults don’t get the levels of vitamin D required to modulate the immune system. This is a very important vitamin for the treatment and prevention of autoimmune diseases, in particular.
Vitamin C powder: 1,500 mg daily. Vitamin C is really a powerhouse vitamin for immunity. A deficiency in vitamin C has been associated with an increased frequency and duration of colds, along with immune system defects. It’s also a crucial free-radical scavenger that significantly protects against infectious disease.
4. Try colostrum.
One of the benefits of being breastfed as a baby is the protective antibodies we get from our mother. These antibodies get us through the first years of life while our own immune system is learning the ropes. This is why breastfed individuals are generally healthier and have fewer allergies as they get older. Colostrum is the "first milk" from nursing mammals, and it’s a rich source of these protective antibodies, as well as anti-inflammatory substances like lactoferrin. Luckily, we can harness the power of colostrum even as adults to help fight inflammation and strengthen our immune system. In powder form from grass-fed cows, goats, and other mammals it can be mixed in smoothies, water, and juice. My favorite is Mt Kapra Colostrum from grass-fed goats.
5. Incorporate bone broth.
Our grandmothers knew what they were talking about, seeing how bone brothshops are cropping up left and right. The benefits of drinking and cooking with organic bone broth have far-reaching effects on the immune system. The natural gelatin, collagen, and amino acids tend to the gut, improve wound healing, and help support the health of individual immune cells such as lymphocytes. There is good reason to drink homemade chicken soup when dealing with a cold or the flu.
6. Investigate fungi.
Photo: Jason Doly
Some of the most powerful immune-boosting, antiviral, and anti-cancer substances are found in mushrooms.
Reishi: Although not edible, these mushrooms have powerful antiviral and anti-cancer properties. They are best taken as a dried capsule supplement or in a tea or tincture.
Shiitake: The delicious mushroom easily found in grocery stores contains substances called beta glucans, which stimulate the immune system and strengthen our white blood cells.
Maitake: My personal favorite, these are also called "Hen of the woods" and are not only delicious but increase our immune cells' ability to engulf bacteria.
Mushroom supplements should be organically sourced and can be taken in tincture form as well as dried capsules. My personal favorite is the Host Defense line from the company Fungi Perfecti.
7. Harness the power of the sun.
Immune cells are favorably affected by vitamin D levels, and natural sunlight is the best source of natural vitamin D. In fact, vitamin D deficiency is associatedwith increased frequency of infection as well as autoimmune disease. More reason to book a vacation in a sunny spot during cold and flu season.
8. Sweat it out in a sauna.
Several studies show that using an infrared sauna on a regular basis not only improves the health of our protective white blood cells, but the increase in body temperature can actually make it harder for bacteria and viruses to survive. Theymay also have the power to decrease incidence of the common cold. In addition, when you sweat in a sauna you're removing many toxins that would cause increased inflammation. Do you need any other excuse to jump into a toasty sauna on a freezing winter day?
9. Use natural antimicrobials to ward off infection.
One of the best ways to build your immune strength daily is through superfoods. These foods can be incorporated on a daily basis so that you are constantly improving and boosting your immunity while eating yummy foods.
Raw garlic: This superfood has very strong antimicrobial and antiviral properties. The potent sulfur compound allicin is known to treat serious GI infections such as SIBO (small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth) and kill parasites and yeast infections. At the first sign of an infection, start taking one raw garlic clove daily or use concentrated allicin extract.
Oregano oil: This oil has a long history of being used and an antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal. It can also be used topically to treat antibiotic-resistant staph infections of the skin (MRSA) as well as taken internally to combat yeast infections.
Manuka honey: Quite a bit of research exists on the benefits of honey as a natural immune booster, natural anti-inflammatory agent, and antimicrobial agent. Manuka honey in particular—native to New Zealand and Australia—is even registered as a wound-care product in those countries. Manuka honey has substances that can kill bacteria topically, and when ingested, it can even work synergistically with antibiotics to improve their efficacy.
10. Get your exercise on.
Beyond the obvious cardiovascular, mood, and weight management benefits of regular exercise, moderate physical activity can improve our antibody response to infections. It's important not to overtrain, however, as chronic strenuous exercise without recovery days has been associated with an increased susceptibility to infections, as well as frequency of injury.
11. Take to your bed.
Chronic sleep deprivation and disruption of the sleep-wake cycle cause an activation of the inflammatory immune response. Lack of sleep decreases the activity of T-cells (a crucial type of immune cell) and weakens our immune response to vaccines. Studies of identical twins show that the sleep-deprived ones had increased inflammation markers and worse immune markers. Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep on a regular basis and avoid all-nighters. If you travel through time zones frequently, use small amounts of melatonin (2 to 3 mg) to reset your circadian rhythm.
12. Manage your stress.
Chronic stress actually suppresses our immune response by releasing the hormone cortisol. Cortisol itself interferes with the ability of specific white blood cells called T-cells to proliferate and get signals from the body. In addition, Cortisol also lowers an important antibody called secretory IgA, which lines the respiratory tract and gut and is our first line of defense against invading pathogens. In fact,studies show that even a short course of meditation can increase levels of IgA and improve immune function.
For both men and women, taking stock of the health of your immune system on a regular basis is not only going to keep you from getting sick, but it will help you age more gracefully, look better, and prevent the development of diseases such and cancer down the line.
Weah, a politician in Liberia, ranks the Super Eagles legend above himself and Ghana legend Abedi Pele
- Okocha ranked one of the best 125 players ever, never won the CAF African Player of the year award
Liberian legend George Weah says former Super Eagles number 10, Austin Okocha is the most skillful African footballer ever, even more than Abedi Pele.
Weah, the only African player to ever win the Ballon d'Or ranked Okocha as a more skillful player than himself annd Ghanaian legend Abedi Pele.
George Weah ranked Okocha Africa's most skillful player ever. Photo: thenff/Twitter
“Abedi is a strong player, he’s a creative player but Jay Jay is more skillful. Even me, Jay Jay has more techniques than me,” said Weah.
“All the things that Jay Jay does on the field, we don’t even do one percent of it.
“So Jay Jay is a legend when it comes to that; he is very creative, he is very smart and he knows how to do tricks.
"For me I don’t do tricks, I will score a good goal and when I am squeezed up, I know how to run around. But to put the ball on the ground and play with it, I give it to Jay Jay; he is an entertainer,” adds the 50-year-old.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted morning thunderstorms over the Central states of Yola, Abuja, Bida, Mambilla Plateau, Minna, Southern Kaduna and South of Jos.
NiMet’s Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office (CFO) on Monday in Abuja also predicted localised thunderstorms over the entire region later in the day.
It added that the central region would also have day and night temperatures in the range of 22 to 30 and 15 to 23 degrees Celsius respectively.
The agency predicted that Southern states would experience morning thunderstorms over Obudu, Ogoja and Ikom with cloudy conditions over the inland of the southwest.
It also predicted intermittent rains and thunderstorms over the coastal states with day and night temperatures of 25 to 31 and 19 to 24 degrees Celsius respectively.
According to NiMet, northern states will experience morning thunderstorm over Maiduguri, Bauchi, Yelwa and Gombe with localised thunderstorms over the entire region in the afternoon and even hours.
“The northern states will also have day and night temperatures in the ranges of 30 to 35 C and 22 to 24 degrees Celsius respectively.
“Moisture availability is expected to further spur formation of weather activities across the whole country in the next 24 hours,’’ NiMet predicted.
NiMet’s Weather Outlook issued by its Central Forecast Office (CFO), on Sunday in Abuja, also predicted thunderstorms over Makurdi, Lafia, Mambilla Plateau, Jalingo, Jos, Kaduna, Zaria and Abuja later in the day.
