The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Turkish airline adds Bali route

    Turkish Airlines has inaugurated its direct flights between its home base Istanbul and Bali, Indonesia. The scheduled flight commenced on July 17, 2019.

    Having operated with the airlines’ first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, which joined to its ever-expanding fleet a few weeks ago, TK 066 coded first flight conducted with 84 per cent load factor and carried 250 passengers.

    Commenting on newly commenced Istanbul-Bali flights, Turkish Airlines Senior Vice President Sales (2nd Region), Kerem Sarp said: “While our new generation aircraft continuing to join our fleet, we feel highly encouraged to launch new direct flights to farther destinations in the world. By inaugurating direct flights to Bali, our second destination in Indonesia, we keep strengthening our mission to reach all corners of the world.”

    Bali, Indonesia’s most popular holiday island, is flooded by tourists and explorers from around the world every year. Welcoming its guests with its exotic nature, the city offers cultural richness with its historical temples and palaces.
    Volcanoes and tropical forests in the inner parts of the city are the source of unforgettable memories for travellers going to the city.

    The centre of the island increases its charm with its cultural and exotic beauties as well as its beaches.

  • Give me a job, limbless corps member tells government

    The story of Nuraddeen Tahir is heart-rending. He was born normal like every other child.

    In 2003 when he was in primary six, he had an accident in Kano state and got his left arm amputated. Penultimate week he lost the remaining hand to another accident.

    The Nation Correspondent visited him at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Jalingo where he is receiving treatment Saturday.

    Tahir sustained deep wounds on his chest and forehead. His right eye was affected too.

    However, his legs and sex organs are not affected, which means he can marry and have children.

    Tahir, 27, graduated is from the Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano.

    He was posted to serve in Taraba. After the orientation in camp, officials of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) recommended his redeployment to Kano, given his condition -he had one hand then.

    But Tahir insisted serving in Taraba. He was thrilled by gists about the tourist attractions in Taraba. He wanted to experience a new environment, feel new weather and climate, meet and relate with new people.

    Thus, he was posted to Sardauna at his request. He had wanted to go and climb the breathtaking Mambilla Plateau and see where the sky appears to be kissing the earth.

    But that was not to be. On his way to Sardauna, at Sibre, just a kilometre away from the orientation camp, his vehicle had a head-on coalition with a Sharon. There were 17 in their ill-fated bus. One of them died two days after the mishap. Tahir and the 15 others survived.

    Read Also: NYSC donates relief materials to katsina IDPs

    But Tahir’s only hand got battered and was amputated in the hospital at doctor’s advise.

    He also lost his mobile phone and other valuables to the crash.

    He is now in Amenity ward now, having moved from Accident/Emergency and Surgical wards. He seen to be recuperating fast, even as he still suffers severe pains, mostly from the amputated arm.

    He has difficulty speaking and hardly sleeps, particularly at night. Beyond the wounds, he is depressed, physically and mentally. The double amputee needs proper rehabilitation. He needs to be loved too. His brother, Shamsu Tahir, has come from Kano to assist him.

    Taraba state government is paying the bills of Tahir and the other corps members involved in the accident, it was learnt.

    During this reporter’s interface with him, he asked government to give him a job. “I want a job from government,” he said. Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, who visited him during the week, has promised to import artificial limbs from Saudi Arabia for him.

    “All the predicaments the accident victims are passing through are as a result of their offer to serve Nigeria. The NYSC must do all it can to put smiles on their faces,” Gen Ibrahim said. Tahir, a holder of BA Islamic Studies, believes the artificial limbs will assist him do some activities by himself, including the work he is expecting from government.

    Some comedies heralded his tragedy. Tahir said they were helpless for several minutes when the accident occurred, until a Good Samaritan came to lift them to the hospital in his private car. But no sooner had the helper zoomed off with them, his vehicle ran out of fuel.

    “He left us in search of fuel. He later got it from ‘black market’ after so much time had been wasted,” Tahir said. At the FMC, another drama played out. Despite their condition, the victims were kept in the vehicle that brought them for long. Tahir recounted that the hospital officials said they had no stretchers to off-load them to the Emergency Ward.

    Tahir is no longer fascinated by the things that had attracted him in Taraba state. “I want to return to Kano,” he said.

  • No stockpiling of arms in Anambra community – Monarch

    Traditional ruler of Umueri, Anambra-East local government area of Anambra State, Igwe Sir Ben Izuchukwu Emeka has refuted alleged stockpiling of arms in preparation for war.

    The monarch also denied loss of lives of some youths in the area over alleged face-off between him and the President General of the community, Chief Pius Okonkwo.

    In a press statement issued on Saturday and made available to our correspondent, the traditional ruler described the allegation as malicious targeted at tarnishing his image and that of the community.

    Read Also: Suspected female robber arrested with gun in Anambra

    The statement partly read, “The allegations of an armoury in my domain is false and to all intents and purposes intended to tarnish the reputation of my peace-loving community as well as drag my name to the mud.

    “There is no war in Umueri and the President-General and traditional ruler are working harmoniously well to ensure a tranquil atmosphere of love and unity for all and sundry to thrive.

    “We have reported to security agencies in the state, and they are on the trail of those who concocted these lies, and will soon be apprehended.”

    The monarch however admitted a minor internal town union leadership squabble leading to attempted impeachment on the PG,
    but said the situation which government was aware of had been resolved.

  • NAFDAC shuts Bauchi package water factory

    The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut a package water factory in Azare, Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State for operating without registration.

    In a statement by the Director of Public Affairs, NAFDAC, Mr Abubakar Jimoh, on Saturday disclosed that the agency shut Ummi Salama Table Water during one of its routine inspections in Bauchi State.

    Jimoh said that the facility was shut for non registration of its facility with the agency.

    Read Also: Eva is safe for consumption – NAFDAC

    According to him, another table water factory in the same location, T-Cee Table Water, was placed on hold for producing with faulty UV light.

    He stated that the state office would ensure that all products regulated by the agency are produced under NAFDAC regulations and are safe for human consumption.

    Jimoh added that the action would serve as a deterrent to offenders who violates NAFDAC efforts in safeguarding the health of the nation.

    (NAN)

  • Edo Assembly: Constitutional lawyer urges Senate C’ttee to be guided by laws

    A constitutional lawyer, Barrister Adaze Andrew Emwanta, has called on the members of the Senate Committee on the resolution of the issues at the Edo State House of Assembly to be guided by the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

    Emwanta said the world is watching every step being taken by the committee members and advised them to shun overtures from Abuja politicians that may want to hijack the committee’s work.

    Emwanta said: “I urge the distinguished members of the Senate Committee set up to investigate the issues at the Edo House of Assembly to do a thorough job and rely on the Nigerian Constitution in carrying out their assignment.”

    He described the assignment “as an opportunity for the senators to etch their names in history and to defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    Read Also: Edo Assembly crisis: Senate Committee meets Oshiomhole, Obaseki, others

    He added: “If the senators do what is right, posterity will remember them and celebrate them even to their great grand-children, but if they allow themselves to be used by an aspiring godfather and power monger, history will document and replay such unholy role in the Edo Assembly saga.

    “Edo people expect the Senate Committee to be cold to emotions and proffer wise counsel that will reinforce the respect Nigerians have for the upper chamber of the National Assembly.”

    The constitutional lawyer, noted: “Edo people are aware of the pressure that some Abuja politicians are mounting on the senators. But we expect the senate committee members to avoid anything that could colour their assignment, human or material.”

    According to him, “Today, with the internet and the force of social media, our actions and inactions can now be documented with so much ease and replayed from time to time.

    “Edo people expect our distinguished senators to toe the path of honour and speak truth to power.”

    Recall that the recommendations of the House of Representatives Committee on the Edo Assembly issues, elicited negative reactions as several eminent Nigerian lawyers denounced calls by the House of Representatives Committee, on the police to take over the Edo Assembly.

  • Tribunal upholds election of Ibrahim-Umar Potiskum

    The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal for Yobe sitting in Abuja on Saturday upheld the election of Mr Ibrahim-Umar Potiskum, as member representing Potiskum/Nangere Federal Constituency.

    Delivering judgment, Justice U.S. Sakwa, a member of the three-man tribunal, dismissed the petition filed by Alhaji Sabo Garba of the PDP, for lacking in merit.

    The petitioner had challenged the return of Potiskum on the grounds that he did not score the highest number of lawful votes cast during the Feb. 23 House of Representatives election held in the constituency.

    He also alleged that Potiskum had at been convicted for a criminal offence by a court of competent jurisdiction.

    The petitioner clearly stated in one of the allegations that Potiskum had at one time been convicted by a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Damaturu in case No. YBS/CMC1/DT/105C/2016.

    Read Also: ‘Appoint retired judges to election petition tribunals’

    The petitioner also alleged that, Potiskum was also convicted on March 3, 1986 by an Upper Area Court 1, Potiskum, for Adultery and prayed the tribunal to declare him unfit to be elected.

    Sabo alleged that Potiskum has history of insanity and has been declared as a person of unsound mind, having being a patient at the Borno Psychiatric Hospital with patient No. 0268/05.

    But Justice Sakwa held that there was no document before the tribunal to back up some of these allegation raised by the petitioner.

    “The petitioner has failed to give particulars that the respondent is a man of unsound mind.

    ”Besides, an allegation of unsound mind is not a crime.

    “There is also no document before this tribunal that the first respondent is still suffering from such illness. This is hereby resolved in favour of the respondent.

    “On the issue that the respondent was not duly elected, the tribunal also resolved this in his favour because the petitioner did not adduce document to that effect.

    “The allegation of false declaration of age by the respondent was also discountenanced by the tribunal,’’ the Judge said.

    The tribunal however ruled against the respondent on the issue where he challenged its jurisdiction to hear the petition, saying that he misconceived the provisions of the law.

    Speaking after the judgment, Potiskum dedicated his victory the to the people of Yobe.

    The tribunal had equally adjourned until July 31 for adoption of written addresses in the petition filed by Sen. Mohammed Hassan of the PDP challenging the return of Sen. Ibrahim Bomoi of the APC for Yobe South Senatorial District.

    Hassan filed the petition on the ground that the Feb. 23 election that produced Bomoi was full of irregularities and that he did not score the highest number of the lawful votes cast during the election.

    Hassan had prayed the tribunal to declare him winner of the election.

    The tribunal also adjourned till July 31 for adoption of written addresses in the petition filed by Mr Isa-Suleiman Aminu of the Green Party of Nigeria (GPN).

    Aminu is challenging the return of Mr Zakariyau Galadima of the APC as member of House of Representative for Bade/Jakusko Federal Constituency in Yobe.

    Aminu is praying the Tribunal to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the Feb.23 election and order for a fresh one.

    Aminu alleged that the logo of his party was omitted from the ballot paper used for that election and that by the virtue of this; Galadima did not win the election.

    (NAN)

  • NGO seeks sustenance of peace in Kaduna

    Plan International, an International Non-Profit Organisation has ended its peacebuilding training for 30 youth in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna state in a bid towards ensuring that peace returns and is sustained in the communities.

    The Kaduna State Youth Peacebuilding Academy (KSYPA) project which was implemented by Child Rights and Girls’ Equality Organisation and Plan International Nigeria in partnership with The Kukah Center and the Kaduna state Peace Commission urged the state government to work with youth to ensure the sustenance of the gains recorded.

    Speaking at the end of project dissemination meeting in Kaduna on Thursday, the Head of Programmes and Business Development of Plan International Nigeria, Dr. Oji Ogbureke said it is sad that the 18 months’ peace building project is coming to an end.

    He assured that with appropriate support, the young people from across the five selected communities who participated are now well equipped to advocate and promote peace in the state.

    He urged the state government to build on the foundation of the project especially through the state’s Peace Commission which provided supported to the success of the initiative.

    Read Also: NGO seeks speedy development for Osun

    “We will however not pretend that we have solved decade’s long problem in two years. We will also not pretend that we have found the solution, what we are certain of however, is that we have together with these young people come up with some ideas that could address this frightening situation, and there is ample evidence they will work if more investment is made in the approach,” He added.

    Special Adviser to Kaduna state governor on Conflict Resolution, Dr. Ayo Adedokun, in his good will message called on the youth to come together to foster peace in Kaduna state saying, “The future of Nigeria depends on you (youth) and identified conflict entrepreneurs, poverty and strife for land as some of the key triggers of crisis in the state.”

    Dr. Adedokun said the state government is working hard to generate employment for youth and women to stem the tide of conflict.

    The Permanent Secretary, Kaduna State Peace Commission, Hajiya Khadijah Hawajagambo urged every stakeholder in the state to join the drive for a peaceful and prosperous state.

    “In peace building, everyone is important. No one is insignificant. The strength of anything is as strong as the weakest link. Nobody in Kaduna is unimportant. Youths, politicians, religious leaders, elders and all that are in Kaduna.

    “We don’t joke with Plan International, the Kukah center and all who come to Kaduna for the purpose of fostering peace. We are saying Plan International is dear to our heart because they supported us in delivery our mandate,” she noted.

    Focal Person, Sabon Gari Local, Professor Solomon Akuso said the programme has contributed in no small way to the peace that is currently being experienced in the communities.

    According to him, “Politics has contributed in no small measure to destabilizing our polity, before now, this was not the way we were living, there was peace, understanding and mutual respect for one another.”

    He identified some of the reasons that have caused mutual distrust and confusion in the society to include politicians using religion as a tool of dividing people to achieve their set agenda, lack of inclusiveness and nepotism when a government is thinking more of a certain people than others, which he said brings a divide among the people.

    He urged the youth to know that they have no other country but Nigeria and their future lies in their own hands.

    He expressed that if they do not understand that their future is at stake and join hands together for a better society, they may have to bear the brunt.

    The project was implemented in five communities that have been recording crisis in recent years including Birnin-Gwari, Dangoma, Kasuwan Magani, Rigasa and Sabon Gari in Zaria.

    The KSYPA cohort members which were largely young people were taken through various activities including town hall meetings, peace clubs to build peaceful co-existence and religious tolerance.

  • 4 ways to grow your business using technology

    In today’s world, technology has proven to be a leading factor in the growth of many giant economies. Technology has been an effective tool in the growth and advancement of many businesses.

    It has become very essential overtime due to its improvement of lives and livelihood. If you have a start-up business or you may be looking for ways to grow your business, here are ways to make optimal use of technology:

    * FOR COMMUNICATION

    Communication remains one of the most important factors in business. The need for business owners to communicate with their customers and publics has become of utmost importance in the world of business today.

    Technology however, has made it easy for organisations to communicate with their customers through the use of email, mobile phones, text messaging services and most especially social media.

    These tools would help you reach and communicate with your customers and prospective customers as well as make it easier for you to put your products and services out there, it would also help to introduce new products you have for your customers.

    This would in turn improve your business, communication technology has overtime proven to be a major factor in the growth of many businesses.

    Read Also: Ondo partners Facebook for business prospect

    * FOR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

    Use technology to have a competitive advantage over your competitors. Competition in business will eventually result in business growth. Technology helps businesses to have an edge over competitors.

    Technology has been made accessible to everyone unlike before where only the wealthy and big business owners could have access to advanced technology.

    You can use technology to best serve your customers by finding out their demands and finding ways to best serve those demands. Technology can be used to find out what your competitors are doing and what they have not done, this would give you an edge over your competitors because this way, you can do what they are not doing as well as do what they’re not doing right which would improve your business.

    * FOR EFFECTIVENESS & EFFICIENCY

    Technology helps to increase effectiveness and efficiency amongst employees, it helps employees to perform more than one task thereby making work easier and less stressful. This has produced good results ever the years for many businesses.

    You can use technology to improve the Interaction between employees, to make quick decisions that would benefit the company’s growth. Technology helps to provide more work accuracy as humans are prone to errors and mistakes. With internet, computer and telephone, a business is good to go.

    * FOR EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT

    Most times, it becomes difficult to keep track of employees especially when dealing with a big business with many staff. Technology will help you keep track of the performance of your employees so as to enhance more productivity.

    Observation has shown that humans perform better under supervision. This could be done with the use of CCTV and monitoring devices at work.

    Technology can be used to supervise the activities of employees and keep them on their feet so as to achieve better results for your business.

    You can also make use of technology to discover talented employees on job listing portals and job search platforms. Human resource managers can get talented employees with maximum qualifications through the use of technology that would help to grow their businesses

  • I was a celebrity in Atlanta, but became an upcoming act in Nigeria – Davido’s offical DJ, DJ Ecool

    Ebianga Ikpeme, better known by his stage name, DJ Ecool, is the official disc jockey for Davido Music Worldwide (DMW) boss, Davido. DJ Ecool, who was signed to the record label(DMW) years ago in this interview with OLAITAN GANIU, shares his experience working with the hip hop artiste, his latest single, ‘Personally’ among other issues.

    After your mega hit with Davido, fans have not heard from you. Is there any reason for the absence?

    No, after I released the single, Ada with Davido, I did another follow-up titled, 4u featuring Peruzzi and Davido. That was in November last year and I also dropped the visual. The song actually made wave but not as the first one.

    What influenced you to record your latest single, Personally?

    The single is titled Personally and I have to reach out to Peter of PSquare on it. Though, people don’t accept that you can diversify your craft. They will ask: ‘Are you not a DJ, when did you turn to an artiste?’ It was hard to convince people but we need to change that orientation. Since actors can sing, there is nothing wrong for deejay to also sing. I think, there should be no limits.

    People don’t really respect the disc jockey’s pricing. People prefer to pay artistes more than DJs who can also move crowd, but for whatever reason, artistes are of more value than disc jockeys and this is why I was trying to establish the other side of my brand. That is why I’m out with my latest single. Since I already have my fan base, I was like, let me invest my money into single and see if I could make some profit and benefit the brand.

    You grew up in Ojodu (Lagos) before becoming a global star. How did music start for you?

    My family is music-inclined. But I will say that I was introduced to music while I was in London in 2006, because my uncle is a music promoter. He used to promote Dru Hill and other big stars in that era. Though, I was very young,  I used to follow my uncle to most of the concerts because I love dancing and seeing Dru Hill perform on the big stage. This  made me lose my mind.  So, he made me have the dream that one day, I would  perform on a world stage. My uncle also owned a studio, so I started learning music production. I  later ventured into disc jockeying.

    Read Also: Artistes are human too, says Davido on Peruzzi, Pemilerin clash

    Why did you choose disc jockeying over dancing and producing?

    Aside being a deejay and dancer, I was into computer graphics and software engineering. With all these skills, people would always come around for me to  help them download songs and burn it into CDs because as a software engineer I have some apps that enable me  to download a lot of songs. So, I started do a mixtape and people started liking it. They are the ones who encouraged me to choose disc jockeying because at that time, I didn’t have passion for it. I preferred to be a dancer or music producer.

    At what point did you decided put your own song out?

    Funny enough, I put up a song the same year Davido dropped the smash single, Dami duro, in 2011, but my song did not get to my backyard (laughing).

    So how did you feel then?

    I feel like I was just testing the water (laughing).

    When did you actually start working as a dee jay and how lucrative was it then?

    I finished school in 2003, here in Nigeria before I left for London in 2004. After some months, I went to visit my aunty in New York and I never returned to London. I later travelled from New York to Atlanta to see another aunty of mine and I got stuck there too (smiles). On how lucrative disc jockeying was at that time, it was not a means to an end, it was just to create a niche for myself. I wasn’t thinking about the money. But because of my educational level, I found a way to go around with the business side of it. I was always negotiating deals and branding myself to make it look like I was already made. And as a graphic designer, I was able to brand myself with captivating designs. So whenever people see my posters, they will be like ‘who is the new guy?’

    Could you share some of your struggles as a DJ abroad?

    There was this popular disc jockey then in Atlanta, his name is  DJ MarryMic, who had to quit deejaying for school. So, there was lack of professional disc jockey  in city. As an undergraduate then, I felt this was an opportunity to showcase my talent. I took a major risk of quitting school. In fact, I was writing exams in Electrical Engineering and I had a year and a half to graduate. I just got up from the exam hall and went straight to admission office to withdraw from school.

    Then, I was famous in school because I was so brainy. I was studying Calculus 1, 2 and Differential Equations. I got home telling my mum to shift the choir practice from Friday night to Saturday because I didn’t want it to affect my every  Friday nights’ play. My mum happens to be a pastor in a church; she was like ‘how will she tell the congregation that my son is playing in a night club?’ It was a strong decision for me but I was determined to make money through disc jockeying. I was lucky to start making money from it just within a year and I started giving my mum some money.

    So, this was a struggle for me but I utilized the opportunity because Atlanta is occupied by different ethnic groups including Cameroonians, Ghanaian and other blacks.

    Any plan to back to school?

    (Sigh). No, but after sometime, I decided to take online classes but it still didn’t work. But I can still go back because I still have a year left in my former school.

    But if you were doing that well in Atlanta, why did you decided to come back to Nigeria?

    For me, disc jockeys from outside earn more money than the in-house one like me. Though, I get fame and recognition by people but I was just a household name. I was always playing in the clubs and I knew that playing in the club alone would  not bring more money. So I felt like everyone in Atlanta has recognized me. I had toured all the top clubs, so I decided to find a new challenge.

    At the same time, I was also freestyling gigs with Davido. Most times, they booked two of us together in the same event. Although, then he was rolling with Dj Olu but he mostly didn’t travel with him. So, Davido will be like: ‘You are booked here too now. You roll my P for me, make we run thing.’

    You know, every artiste needs that DJ who can really give them that hype to turn up their audience. Different events kept  joining us together and because I was already establishing as a disc jockey, he always respected my decision. His personal assistant, Kamal, would  call, ‘Hey, Ecool, David get gig tomorrow, abeg make you show ooo.’ Then, I didn’t ask for money for travelling from him. I would  just arrange the ticket and join them where he (Davido) was booked. I kept representing well which I saw like a sacrifice. One day, he just called me to join his team for the Sony Tour, in December, 2016 and during the show, people started commenting on my hyping energy.

    Immediately after the tour, he just messaged me that he wanted me to be his official disc jockey. I was so excited. I didn’t think twice to join his brand because we connect so well and we are both valuable to each other’s brand. And since then, we’ve toured round the world.

    What is it like working with Davido?

    He used to put pressure on me. David will just say, ‘Ecool, you know as e dey go now. Make we  kill this P’ and that simply means, I must put-in more energy to introduce the brand to the crowd. Like when he is coming out walking on water (laughing), so I have to deliver.

    Though, he makes me stronger because I have tackled my own battle, I have mastered how to introduce the brand to the audience, how I make the performance for the artiste.

    For example, as we were about to start the performance at the Wireless Festival in London last year, I noticed that my laptop was malfunctioning. I was like, they will abuse Africa here today because we were the one representing Africa on that global stage. Davido didn’t know what was going on with me, though with faith I went on the stage to do the hyping but thank God, with my little knowledge on how to troubleshoot computers, I managed to play audio from the laptop and the show went successful.

    As at the time you came back to Nigeria, we already had some established disc jockeys. What makes your brand unique?

    I think everything that is good would be expected and even though I was already established abroad. So, coming to Nigeria, I have to accept that I was up and coming because many people didn’t recognise me. And this was what made me hungrier and that is why you see me crack jokes, hyping, dancing and back-flipping at shows because I wanted to stand out a disc jockey. So, if you book me as a DJ that means you also invite Ecool the dancer, MC, comedian and not just DJ and this sets me aside from everybody else.

    And you know, there was a time when musician were only releasing through DJs and there was something called, Coalition of Nigeria DJs worldwide and I was part of the administrators. I already made name through that platform because many Nigerian DJs knew me.

    What is the craziest thing a fan has done to you?

    A fan has once bitten me on my back and they’ve also stolen my necklace too. I was wearing a Rolex that day and I didn’t want to pursue him with a Rolex. As I was trying to give Davido the Rolex to chase the guy, Davido was like: ‘No, no, leave them ooo.’

  • Edo, SON partner to check sub-standard products, sensitise artisans

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his administration will collaborate with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to check sub-standard goods and sensitise artisans on the dangers of fake products.

    The governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Hon. Yakubu Gowon, disclosed this at a one-day sensitisation programme organised for members of the National Association of Practicing Vulcanisers of Nigeria (NAPVON), in Benin City, on the role of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in curbing the menace of standard tyres on Nigerian roads.

    The governor said, “We place high premium in ensuring that Edo residents are prevented from exposure to sub-standard goods. The consumer protection unit of the State Ministry of Wealth Creation, Cooperatives and Employment undertakes surveillance, consumer education and seeks redress for consumers who suffer loss from using sub-standard goods.”

    Read Also: Police kill four teenage robbers in Edo

    He urged artisans including vulcanisers to support the SON in checking sub-standard tyres which have been identified as one of the causes of most road accidents, adding, “Sub-standard tyres are the cause of most road accidents with high fatality rate. These tyres are often cheap compared to standard tyres. But they are deadly. So, we need you to properly advise your customers.”

    Obaseki decried the dumping of sub-standard goods such as tyres in Nigeria from across the world, noting, “Sub-standard tyres lead to loss of revenue and foreign exchange to government, discouraging investment in local industries as well as the loss of income to local manufacturers.”

    State Coordinator of SON, Akogun Ojo, said the Federal Government has given the organisation the mandate to eliminate sub-standard tyres, adding that SON will not hesitate to impound sub-standard tyres from Nigerian markets and charge individuals in possession of the tyres to court.

    The Matron of the National Association of Practicing Vulcanisers of Nigeria in Edo State, Queen Obaseki, urged members of the association to make themselves available for biometrics capture to enable the government create a database for developing an effective policy guarding their business.