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Tag: Amala

  • SAD: 4 die after eating amala in Kwara

    SAD: 4 die after eating amala in Kwara

    The Kwara State government has confirmed the death of four persons in Eruda community in Olorun West Local Government Area after eating Amala, a popular local delicacy.

    The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam, who disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday in Ilorin, said that another person also also died of gastroenteritis.

    Consequent upon the incident, El-Imam said that the state government had placed health care in the state on Outbreak Response Mode.

    She said that the entire health team of the ministry had visited the community after report of the family that lost some members after consuming yam flour.

    “On getting there, the claim was that there was an instance of food poisoning where a 70-year-old woman fell ill and died after consuming amala.

    “Unfortunately, her son and grandchildren also consumed the same food, fell ill and died.

    “They were taken to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital where they passed away,” she said.

    El-Imam stated that the amala with ‘Lafun’ could have been responsible for the deaths.

    She further stated that those who consumed yam flour without lafun were fine.

    “However, those who consumed the mixture of both lafun and amala mixture fell ill and some of them eventually died,” she said.

    The commissioner said that the survivors were receiving treatment in the hospitals where they were admitted.

    “Some are doing well and hopefully, following intensive medical treatment, they should be able to recover fully.

    “It was observed that they are residing in a place where personal and environmental hygiene is not really optimal,” she said.

    El-Imam attributed the incident to food poisoning, occasioned by under-processed cassava used in the production of the meal.

    She said that an initial rapid diagnostic test was conducted on the suspected case of cholera, which later turned out to be gastroenteritis.

    She said that one death was recorded at Osin Gada in Ilorin West Local Government Area from gastroenteritis.

    “The community had a few cases of stooling and vomiting, particularly among children.

    “The vomiting and stooling drew the attention of the state’s disease reporting structure.

    “On getting there, treatment was immediately commenced and all the affected patients have received standard treatments to stop the symptoms and restore their health,” she said.

    The commissioner said that the state government would provide the community with potable water to prevent future re-occurrence.

  • 2023: I hawked amala, rice to support my parents – PDP Rep candidate

    2023: I hawked amala, rice to support my parents – PDP Rep candidate

    Alhaji Ibrahim Ajia, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for House of Representatives in Kwara, has said that he hawked ‘amala’ and rice as an indigent child to support his parents.

    Ajia is seeking to represent Ilorin West and Asa Federal Constituency in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly.

    He stated this on Wednesday in Ilorin while unveiling his “Presentation of Offer to Serve” to the constituents.

    Ajia assured voters that he identified with their plight because of his poor family background and would not disappoint them.

    His speech was tagged “Responsible and Effective Representation with Honesty, Openness, Patriotism, and Excellence”.

    Relating his experience, Ajia explained that he was not born with a silver spoon and went through rigours of life while struggling to get formal education.

    He recalled his school days when he traveled in truck loads full of goats and rams up North.

    According to him, as some body who has passed through rigours of life, he will never abandon his people.

    Ajia promised that he would strive towards service of his people in order to better their lives.

    “My vision is a safe, secure, and prosperous Asa and Ilorin West Federal Constituency.

    “My mission is to give the good people of Asa and Ilorin West a responsible and effective representation in the Green Chamber,” he said.

    Besides, Ajia added that growing in his constituency, he has seen mothers struggle to feed their families everyday.

    He expressed sadness to see desperation and fear in the eyes of the youths about what tomorrow holds for them.

    “What our people need is basic support from the government that will empower them to fend for themselves.

    “My commitment is to deploy public and private sector experience and networks with people and institutions across all levels of government to atract projects, amenities and programmes that will create a better life for the people,” he said.

    In their remarks, the state PDP Chairman, Mr Babatunde Mohammed, and the Iyaloja of Kwara, Hajia Adenike Lambe, said that the candidate’s desire to serve was borne out of constructive thinking and intellectual ideology.

    His life history as a person from humble background would make him perform well because he would be able to feel the needs of the people to make people oriented legislation, they said.

  • 5 persons die after eating Amala

    5 persons die after eating Amala

    Five persons have lost their lives after eating cassava flour meal popularly called Amala in Kogi state.

    TheNewsGuru gathered that the deceased family members prepared the meal on Friday at their residence in Usugnwe-Okaito, Okehi local government area of the state.

    It was reliably gathered that those who died after eating the meal include a father, mother and three of their children.

    According to the source, the three children died immediately after eating the Amala on Friday, while their mother died on Saturday, and the next day, Sunday, the Father also died.

    The source said the family hails from Omavi, Ohupe ward but are residing in Usugnwe-Okaito.

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    Recalled that such incident happened some years back in Okene – Eba where a whole family were killed and just recently in Ogaminana and Osara, another incident traced to food poisoning took place.

    Efforts by our correspondent to speak with the epidemiology in the Ministry of Health for confirmation proved abortive as he was said to be out of town and his phone number was not reachable, but a senior staff confirmed the incident.

    According to him, a team was working on the case with the hope of ascertaining the actual cause of the incident with a view to forestalling reoccurrence.

    “We do not want to alarm the public and cause unnecessary mass hysteria towards any foodstuff seller, but we are working with locals to ascertain the cause of the sudden deaths,” the Epidemiologist stressed.

  • Oritsefemi becomes ‘Amala’ seller

    Afro-pop star, Oritsefemi has opened a local restaurant in the Ajegunle area of Lagos to broaden his horizons and expand his source of income asides music.

    The ‘Double Wahala’ crooner made this known in a chat with Hip TV.

    “People say food is essential and I believe them. I know lots of people working towards their businesses. I decided to make a great place for people to come to have a great time,” he said.

    “It’s called amala Worldwide. It’s something to not just do entertainment; I decided to do something aside from entertainment, something different from singing and dancing.

    “…2020 is going to be a great one for me because I just got to sign some new fast-rising artistes. I would also be dropping a couple of music videos to be directed both in Nigeria and abroad.”

    TheNewsGuru recalls that the sonorous singer got many talking after he criticized internet fraudsters (yahoo yahoo) in Nigeria for not being supportive of musicians like himself.

    “Since I’ve known some of my yahoo friends, they’ve never helped me. If they can help me, I’ll agree,” the 35-year-old singer had said.

    “We see artistes struggling but yahoo boys are out enjoying themselves. If they can help the industry, I’ll be happy.”

     

  • Iya-Oyo: Legendary Abuja amala spot, where customers queue in hundreds, clean plates before buying meals

    Iya-Oyo: Legendary Abuja amala spot, where customers queue in hundreds, clean plates before buying meals

    Are you willing to wait in line, at least for a little while (between 20- 30mins) just to enjoy the taste of good food or otherwise quench hunger? If yes! You’re qualified to join hundreds of Abuja residents at Matosh Kitchen, popularly called Iya Oyo, in performing the daily rites of queuing and cleaning your plates to get served legendary delicacies that you then pay for in cash- no POS, no transfers are accepted here.

    Despite the rate at which Amala restaurants are springing up in Abuja, Iya Oyo’s uniqueness remains unparalleled; It is located at the Wuye District, which is just a three-minute drive from the Berger roundabout and about ten minutes drive from Area One roundabout.

    A long line of exotic cars parked outside this famous restaurant is one benchmark which greets and tells a first-timer how important the ‘Amala joint’ is in Abuja.

    More shocking, is to access the entrance and witness the queue of hundreds of customers waiting patiently in line for their turn to be served lunch or eating en-masse after beating the long queues to get the highly prized meal – here has become one of the few places in the nation’s capital city where Nigerians act truly united; Iya Oyo’s food effortlessly draws several classes of people under one roof.

    From low income earners to top managerial staffers; from contractors and civil servants to bankers and several other persons from every walks of life…this local buka serve them all.

    Iya Oyo draws major customers due to its nearness to major institutions like, Wuye modern market; Family Worship Centre, Pacesetter Schools and the Finance Quarters.

    One of the restaurant’s customers, Tunde Aduloju said the place has become a go-to place for lovers of tasty meals.

    “ For me, it is not just about eating Amala, what I come here for is the quality of their yam flower (Elubo). I can tell you that several people who come here to queue for lunch are also aware of other places where these same meals are served. They make it so well, I love the meal (Amala) because it is easy to swallow and light.

    “If the amala is well prepared but lacks the right soup, it is not always tasty; here, they always serve varieties of soup that accompany Amala well – Iya-Oyo’s gbegiri and ewedu soups are always hot and ready. Apart from the quality, the price is very affordable; anyone with 1000 naira can eat to their satisfaction, whereas this same amount can’t get you similar experience elsewhere.

    Another customer, Bunmi was asked about the long queues and plate cleaning rites, she answered “here is a local restaurant, I have gotten used to it. In fact, If I walk into Iya Oyo and I don’t see the queue, I will almost feel something has gone wrong. what I like about their service is that they equally have the high numbers of workers who help to ensure that customers on queues can get prompt attention.

    The arrangement is orderly. As regards plate cleaning, I don’t see it as such, the plates are washed already, what we do is to use serviettes to clean the plates.” She replied.

    Audu, from Nasarawa, said he joined the Iya-Oyo club over a year ago, stressing that he is now a bona fide candidate of the Amala shop.

    “I presently stay in Garki, but that doesn’t stop me from driving down to this place to enjoy my meals. Sometimes, I can come here four times weekly. All their meals are tasty, Amala, Pounded Yam, Rice, you just name it. he did not like the meal but since a friend, a lady from Oyo State, introduced him to it, he has not stopped taking it.It was a friend who introduced me to this place over a year ago, after I relocated to Abuja from Nasarawa, now I come here alone, I am now a bona fide member” says Audu

    However Mr Victor Adamu, a native of Kogi State who has spent several years in Lagos before moving to Abuja said what stands Iya Oyo out of the several Amala joints in the FCT is originality. “To get the right Amala spot in Abuja can be difficult, you go to some, they will give you good ambience but poor meals; some will serve you good meals but not with the local exactitude they do here. I will rather drive down here, stay in queue and get the best rather than waste my money on just any meal.

  • Tragedy! Mother, two children, dogs die after ‘Amala’ meal in Ekiti

    A 45-year-old mother and her two children died on Saturday after consuming suspected poisonous yam flour in Odo-Ayedun Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Areas of Ekiti State.

    The eldest of the children was 14 while the younger one was 12.

    It was gathered that yam flour, which they consumed, was procured by the husband and prepared by the mother of two.

    All members of the family who ate the meal were found lifeless after dinner, except the father who is in a critical state at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Ido Ekiti.

    A source, who craved anonymity, said two dogs, which reportedly ate crumbs of the food, were also found dead in the apartment.

    It was gathered that the neighbours, who were thrown into mourning after discovering the incident on Saturday, alerted the police.
    Lawmaker representing Ikole constituency II at the Ekiti State House of Assembly , Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, confirmed the tragedy to newsmen on Thursday in Ado Ekiti.
    Aribasoye had raised the issue at the plenary of the House where he called for sympathy and investigation into the matter.

    Recounting the sordid scenario to newsmen, he said: “A great tragedy occurred at Odo Ayedun Ekiti on Saturday. it was a mournful day for us as a family of three died mysteriously.

    “ A mother and her two children all died after eating yam flour. The remote cause of the incident is still unknown as members of the community are still in shock.”
    Speaker of Ekiti Assembly Funminiyi Afuye sympathised with Aribasoye and the entire people of his constituency for the tragic incident.
    He, however, directed the House Committee on health to launch investigation into the matter with a view to unravelling the causes of the mysterious incident.

    When contacted, the police public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu confirmed the incident.

    He said the police will join hands with other institutions to investigate the cause of the deaths.

  • Four family members die after consuming `Amala’ in Ilorin

    Four members of a family in Ilorin were feared dead after the consumption of `Amala’ meal, suspected to be poisonous.

    lt was reported that four others who took from the meal, had also been hospitalised at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH).

    The incident happened at Magaji-Ogo community behind Kwara State College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies, in Ilorin West Local Government Area.

    A source said the victims took the meal on Sunday night before three of them were found dead the following morning.

    According to him, the fourth casualty, who was the head of the family, died on Wednesday.

    “Those feared dead are the family head, his sister and two children, while those recuperating in the hospital are the mother and three other children.

    “The corpses of the deceased had been buried in accordance with Islamic rite. They were eight that took the meal.

    “Though we are not sure yet of the cause of death, the meal was taken alongside amphibian and there is a suspicion that they died of poisoning.

    “Officials from the state Ministry of Health were in the community to take samples of the meal for test but nothing was yet to be said of the findings,’’ the source said.

    The family, it was learnt is an extension of the District Head of Adewole, popularly known as Alangua Adewole in Ilorin.

    Meanwhile, Dr Oluwatosin Fakayode, Di rector, Public Health and Disease Control in the state Ministry of Health, confirmed the incident.

    He, however, said that the ministry was yet to identify the cause of the “ugly and unfortunate occurrence.”

    Fakayode told our reporter that samples from the meal were taken for laboratory investigation, which would be out within the next 24 hours.

    “As it stands, it is difficult to say the cause until the result is out.

    “However, we are definite that it is food poison because of the symptoms, but we are not sure of the food item that is culpable.

    “We learnt they took these amphibian that they hawk around with it. So we are not sure if it is the source of the death because some of them are poisonous.

    “Though we have not identified the culprit in terms of whether it is organism or chemical, definitely, it is a symptom of food poison.

    “But our suspicion is the amphibian. It could be preservatives that were used on the items that were used for the meal,’’ he said.