The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Stakeholders advocate flexible migration laws

    Stakeholders advocate flexible migration laws

    Mindful of the strategic position of Lagos as economic capital of West Africa, experts and researchers have called for softer migration laws in Lagos State and other parts of Africa that are experiencing serious immigration challenges.

    For four days, stakeholders in immigration issues converged on Ota, Ogun State for the 2015 conference of the West Africa Migration Development and Regional Integration (MIGDEVRI) programme which held at Covenant University (CU), Ota, Ogun State. They urged governments across the continent to comply with stipulated protocols of free movement of persons, right of establishment and residency of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). National Coordinator of the programme, Dr Oluyemi Fayomi urged the Nigerian government to strengthen all necessary institutions to comply with the ECOWAS protocols to curb bottlenecks posed by security agents, including Customs and Immigration officers, among others when people are trying to cross borders.

    Fayomi, a Lecturer in Political Science at Covenant University, said the conference whose themed was “Migration, Mobility and Development in Africa,” aimed at proffering academic and scientific solutions to migration challenges in West African countries by setting up scientific and professional discussions among West African Francophone and Anglophone academics and policy actors on the links between migration, mobility and development, with emphasis on original and empirical researches.

    Researcher of International Development Studies of Roskilde University, Denmark, Prof. Eric Hahonou said: “People always view migration in a negative connotation, especially with the migration crisis in Europe. But with this workshop, we want to show that migration has positive impacts on societies. It allows people to transfer technology, culture, ideas; religious beliefs and make good economic impact on the host countries. It also has positive impact on the citizenship aspect.”

    He urged governments across the world to desist from rejecting immigrants because “there are extremely high risks involved when countries promote xenophobic ideas. Not only will it damage the people, it will also damage the economic aspect. There would be loss of economic value, because they would be difficult to access and create a gap that will be difficult to fill. So it is important to realise the added value of people coming together.”

    Prof. Hahonou, who is the Director of the International Migration Institute at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom (UK), added that migration can only lead to problems when resources and facilities are not available in the migrants’ home countries, thereby hindering immigration.

    Meanwhile, Technical Advisor of the ECOWAS Department of Free Movement, Corinne Massardier decried non-compliance of ECOWAS protocols by member states, even as he appealed for better co-operation and funding assistance.

    She said Director of the Department, Sanoh N’faly has begun to implement mechanisms to monitor compliance of the free movement protocol in eight member countries. She noted that having begun in other countries would commence in Nigeria next year by planting free movement buses at the borders of ECOWAS member states, with which migrants could move freely without encountering unnecessary checks and Customs’ challenges.

    Massardier said the buses would bear ECOWAS identification tags, therefore allowing its occupants free access into the country.

    Sub-themes examined at the conference included South-south mobility and West African Higher Education; mobility and informal sector; mobility and sub-regional economic and financial exchanges; mobility brakes and hassles; mobility and family strategies; cross border trade of women and mobility in the oil and mining regions, among others.

     

  • ‘How to prepare council budget’

    ‘How to prepare council budget’

    EVERY council’s budget must reflect the policies and programmes of the state government,  Executive Secretary of Agege Local Government Area, Mr. Omofunmilewa Adejombo has said. It should also weave its expenditure around the expected income for the year. This is so because it is unlawful for any entity to spend more than it can earn.

    Mr Adejombo stated this while addressing residents of the council during a stakeholders’ meeting on preparation of the council’s budget.

    Highlighting the importance of the stakeholders’ meeting, the council chief said it was necessary that residents contribute to the preparation of the budget because it would be in line with government’s policy on Local Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (LEEDS).

    According to the council chief, in the new budget system of the medium-term expenditure framework, stakeholders’ inputs are very important if the local government is to have a realistic budget that would impact meaningfully on the lives of the people.

    Mr. Adejombo noted that the stakeholders’ meeting which was aimed at allowing the people to tell government what is of paramount importance to their different communities is a sign of transparency and commitment on the part of government to improve people’s standard of living.

    He disclosed that the stakeholders’ meeting was a means of identifying ways to improve the standard of living of the people, reduce rate of unemployment, improve standard of education, youth and sports, rural infrastructure, provide good health facilities and enhance agricultural development.

    “We are gathered here to present to the council the various needs of your communities. You shall work with the officials of the council to prioritise the various needs of your communities.

    “Stakeholders’ meeting is a deliberate attempt to give room for grassroots participation in the decision-making process because we are all stakeholders in the process of building a virile society. We have duties and responsibilities to perform,” he said.

    Hinting that each local government has its own set objectives which it intends to carry out, he said this time around, it has to be in line with the specific needs of the communities because all the communities may not be in need of the same amenities at the same time.

    He further stated that gone were the days when government at all levels decided what development programmes particular areas would have without minding whether the communities need them or not.

    “This is a deliberate policy initiative by government to empower the people economically. It is a bottom-up approach as well as participatory form of governance. All suggestions and requests from the various communities will form components of the budget,” he said.

    He, however, stressed that residents should not be unmindful of the economic challenges confronting the nation while making demands of projects the council should execute for them.

    Mr. Adejombo said such challenges are in the areas of high inflation rate, decrease in crude oil prices at the international market, high exchange rate and so on are signals for all that we should prudently manage our resources and at the same time ensure service delivery in a more accountable, transparent, responsive and responsible way.

    The head of administration in the local government area, Mrs Mayowa Ikuforiji, urged all residents to assist the local government in performing its responsibilities through prompt payment of their bills and rates; as this would go a long way in ensuring availability of funds for the local government with which it would execute development projects for the people.

    Various communities and Wards used the opportunity to present to the council proposals for projects which are vital to the development of their communities which they want the council to budget for.

  • Golden jubilee for a teacher

    Golden jubilee for a teacher

    Arrangements have been concluded for the 50th birthday anniversary of Pastor Olaniyan Bolatito Christianah on Saturday. The anniversary will feature church service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Sanctuary of Divine Favour, Ilupeju Estate, Gbagi Olorunda Abaa Road, Akobo Ojurin Ibadan Oyo State at 11:00 a.m.

    A reception will follow immediately at the Mayor’s Place Centre, Gbagi Olorunda Abaa Road, Akobo Ojurin Ibadan.

  • Expert seeks free eye screening for pupils

    The founder of Mission to Save Sight Africa Foundation (MTSSAF), Dr. Oluwafunke Ani has called for the provision of free eye screening services for pupils in public schools in Nigeria.

    Ani made the at the Gala Evening and Dinner in the Dark organised by Mission to Save Sight Africa Foundation held recently at Planet One Lagos.

    The programme brought together medical practitioners, the visually-impaired persons, film producers, talks, awards, eating in the dark and launch of a communication behavioural change film called “Avoidable Blunders.”

    According to her, there is an estimated 1.4 bilion blind children worldwide, one million of which live in Asia and 300, 000 in Africa. This number will reduce considerably if there is early detection and management of visual impairment.

    She said children aged between 0 and 16 years constitute 45 per cent of the total population of 160 million and if truly they are the future hope of Nigeria, their health status should be of utmost importance to all.

    She also noted that 325 million people are visually impaired, and 39.8 million people are blind worldwide, a child goes blind every minute in our world, 80 per cent of blind cases is avoidable and 90 per cent of all visually-impaired worldwide live in developing countries, one of which is Nigeria.

    She stated that vision screening is an efficient and cost-effective method of identifying children with visual impairment or eye conditions that can lead to visual impairment. It enables referrals to be made to appropriate eye care professionals for further evaluation and treatment of serious eye problems, saying such facility would be beneficial to all.

    She noted that unlike adults, children with visual problems often do not know that the way they see the world is not the way everyone else sees it; as such they are unlikely to complain about it.

    Continuing, she said: “Their complaints may not be taken seriously by their parents who may feel that the child is pretending, as they may not want to spend much money on an eye test ‘in vain.’”

    Ani, who is an ophthalmologist, added that most parents that send their wards to public schools are economically disadvantaged and so may not be able to pay for eye tests, which to them may seem a luxury.

    “The benefits of early identification of visual problem are far-reaching, as childhood visual impairment can have a significant developmental, social and emotional impact,” she said.

  • Tinubu-Ojo urges market leaders to be security conscious

    Tinubu-Ojo urges market leaders to be security conscious

    The Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Chief Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, has urged market leaders in Lagos State to give sanitation and security maximum priority.

    She said market leaders were expected to be environmental and chief security officers in their various markets.

    Mrs. Tinubu-Ojo, who spoke in Lagos at the installation of Mrs. Risikat Philip as the Iya Oja and Hajiya Sidikat Mayegun-Yekin as the Otun Iya Oja of Folashade Tinubu-Ojo Ebute-Ero Market, Gorodom, Lagos Island, enjoined the new leaders to ensure the safety of lives and property.

    She urged them to form a committee that will ensure all-round security in the markets.

    Chief Tinubu-Ojo said market leaders should ensure that no one was allowed to sleep in markets at night, and the committee should be saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that electrical appliances were switched off after the day’s business to avoid fire outbreak.

    She said to avoid being disturbed by environmental officers; market leaders should ensure that markets were kept clean.

  • Owonifari Market: Eze Ndigbo sues for peace

    Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu has sympathised with traders whose shops were demolished at Owonifari Market, Oshodi. He said the demolition would, no doubt, affect their economic activities. He urged them to accept the exercise in good faith in the interest of peace, unity and good neighbourliness.

    Eze Nwachukwu spoke with reporters  at the Lagos State Igbo Community Centre, Okota Lagos.  He said the demolition was not meant to punish the Igbo, who he noted are contributing to the development of the state and its economy.

    On whether there was pre-information before the demolition exercise, Eze Nwachukwu noted: “findings before me indicate that there were several meetings between the Lagos State Government and the leadership of the Owonifari Market. The problem could be that of inadequate dissemination of information on the part of the market leaders; to inform the traders about discussions between them and government on the need to demolish the Owonifari Market.

    “If there was sufficient flow of information from the leadership of the market to its members, there would have been understanding as much as necessary for the traders to take advantage of the chain of dialogues and agreements reached among representatives of the traders and government officials on the proposed demolition of the market.”

    Eze Nwachukwu went on: “If those doing business in Owonifari Market, Oshodi were Igbo alone, anyone would be justified to claim that the action was targeted at the Igbo alone. But since there are other people from other ethnic groups that were affected by the demolition exercise, there is no basis to claim that the action was ‘anti-Igbo’.

    “In the light of this, I plead with the leadership of Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) to reason with government in its explanation on the said demolition. It should be cautious of the kind of comments it makes so as not to portray government as wicked. I don’t think the demolition was ‘an act done in bad faith’ as government had explained that the demolition was carried out in pursuit of the proposed mega city status of Lagos State.”

    Pleading with the traders to move into the new market provided by the Lagos State Government, Eze Nwachukwu urged the leadership of markets to ensure that their members were properly informed about government’s discussions with them to avoid misunderstanding.

    “In the course of making inquiries into whether the traders were aware of government’s intention about the market, it was discovered that there were several meetings and discussions among representatives of the traders and government. It was in one of such meetings, I was informed, that the traders asked government to give them the shops at the new Isopakodowo Market, at the rate of N5, 000.

    “Inasmuch as I know that costs of  s are more than N5, 000 in any part of the country, I plead with Governor Ambode to consider the plight of the affected traders and give out the shops  at a very reasonable rate, in such a manner that government does not lose out and the traders do not pay through their noses.”

    Eze Nwachukwu appealed to traders to relocate to the new market to enable government to carry out its developmental projects. He also appealed to Governor Ambode to be guided by his usual humane principles to regard residents of Lagos as his sons and daughters.

    He also appealed to all parties to show understanding on issues concerning development, adding that “for development to be realistic, something must give way, but not to the extent of making the people affected lose hope on their leaders. Nigerians should believe in oneness and co-habitation irrespective of our political and ethnic inclinations”.

  • MTN fights breast cancer through sports

    MTN fights breast cancer through sports

    The fight against breast cancer in Nigeria received a boost as Nigeria’s leading ICT Company, Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN), sponsored the 2015 edition of the African Patrons Cup Tournament.

    The tournament, which focused on sensitising individuals to the dangers of breast cancer, brought together female polo players from Nigeria, South Africa and the US participating in the two-day tourney.

    Speaking at the event, wife of Niger State Governor, Dr. Amina Abubakar Bello and Ambassador of the Pink Polo Day commended MTN for its sustained efforts in the fight against breast cancer.

    She said: “Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers. On behalf of the Nigerian women, I would like to commend MTN for being a strong advocate against the breast cancer scourge.”

    Also speaking on the tourney, Hajia Hadiza Nasir El-Rufai, Chief Host of the event and wife of Kaduna State Governor, expressed optimism that the Pink Polo Day would draw awareness to the devastating effects of breast cancer in the country. She also called on other corporate bodies to emulate MTN’s commitment towards fighting breast cancer.

    She said: “We hope that well-meaning Nigerians, especially in the private sector, will emulate MTN’s efforts at confronting the challenge of breast cancer in Nigeria. The truth is, it is possible to defeat breast cancer. But it is a fight that requires collaborative effort. MTN has led the way and we urge others to join this fight. This is the only way we can win the fight against the disease.”

    In his response, Events and Sponsorship Manager, MTN Nigeria, Dola Bamgboye, who represented the General Manager, Consumer Marketing, Richard Iweanoge, assured of MTN’s constant support in the fight against breast cancer.

    “Mammograms are critical for early detection thus lowering the risk of death from breast cancer. To complement government’s efforts in reducing the death rate from cancer, MTN, through its Foundation (MTNF) established six mammography centres and embarked on several awareness campaigns across the country,” he said.

    Richard further said MTNF Mammography centres are located within public hospitals across the six geo-political zones as follows:  General Hospital Marina Lagos; Specialist Teaching Hospital Irrua Edo State; Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto; Federal Medical Centre Nguru Yobe State; Federal Medical Centre Lokoja Kogi State and University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu.  The MTNF Mammography centres offer affordable breast cancer screening services.

    In the opening day exhibition of the MTN African Patrons Cup Tournament, the South Africa female polo team defeated their USA counterpart on toss, after the tense match had ended on a 3-3 deadlock at the end of four chukkers.

    The USA/5th Chukker team comprising Kailey Eldredge, Terri Brennan, Devin Cox and Kylie Shehaan had hit the Kangimi Resort turf running with the first goal of the match. But the South African/MTN quartet of Jessica Henrich, Sansy Gabriella Sarmaek, Dominique Thoenes and Erin Morgan Jones fought back to equalise before the first chukker break.

    The second and third chukkers were ding-dong affairs with USA and South Africa sharing the lead, until the decisive last chukker when South Africa took an early 3-2 lead and hanging on till the last two minutes of the game when USA secured a 30 yard penalty to end the game at 3-3 draw.

    Dignitaries present at the event included wives of governors of Katsina, Kebbi and Niger states.

  • Family of slain okada rider seeks justice

    Family of slain okada rider seeks justice

    Members of the family of a 24-year-old man, Benjamin Okoli, allegedly shot dead by a Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) officer in Ondo State five months ago, have petitioned the Commissioner of Police through their lawyer, Mr. Orlu Mills. They are seeking justice on their son’s death.

    Okoli, who was a commercial motorcyclist (okada rider) and his family’s bread winner, was allegedly killed at the premises of Olukayode Magistrates’ Court in Akure, the state capital, by a prison officer whose identity is yet to be known. He was said to have been shot while attempting to escape from the court.

    It was learnt that the deceased was arrested by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) along Arakale where he had gone to buy fuel. It was also learnt that he was on his way home when he was arrested and handed over to men of the Ondo State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).

    He was said to have contravened an order by the government temporarily banning okada riders from operating at that time.

    According to Emmanuel, the deceased’s elder brother, Okoli was detained for 10 days before he was arraigned last August 5.

    Emmanuel said: “We engaged a lawyer and he was able to secure his bail. But when the lawyer was working on his bail, Benjamin tried to escape as a result of the inhuman treatment he had experienced during his illegal detention at Olokuta Prison before he was arraigned before the court.

    “He was, however, caught immediately and returned to the Black Maria that brought him to the prison that day. He was badly beaten and mercilessly tortured in the presence of everybody.

    “Some minutes later, we heard some gun shots right there and that was the last we saw or heard about our brother.

    “We want the warders to tell the world why they killed our brother in cold blood.”

    Emmanuel further said the health of their parents has deteriorated since the incident while their other siblings have not been finding it easy to pay their school fees.

    He said Benjamin’s fellow suspects rushed him to the state specialist hospital where he was confirmed dead by doctors and his corpse was dumped in the hospital’s mortuary.

    “We were forced to pay the sum of N42, 000 for the autopsy ýafter which we had to raise money for his burial in Kogi State.

    “He was a very hard working young man. He was into tiles fixing and had used the okada business to augment the family’s finances,” Emmanuel said.

    However, Mr. Mills has vowed to pursue the case to a logical conclusion.

    Mills said: “Information at our disposal showed that the Warder who shot Benjamin was just overzealous as he was not among those who pursued him in the initial place.

    “We are aware the police have commenced investigation into the matter and we have requested the prison authorities to hand over the alleged warder for proper investigation.

    “But we foresee a conspiracy by the authority of Olokuta Prison and, by extension, the Nigerian Prisons Service to sweep the matter under the carpet.

    There must be an end to impunity and extrajudicial killings if this country must progress. Nobody is above the law of the land.

    Spokesman of the State Prisons Service, Tunde Ogundare said investigation into the matter is ongoing, even as he refused to speak further on the matter.

    Also, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph asked for more time in order to get more facts and give better clarification on the matter.

  • Stakeholders advocate flexible migration laws

    Stakeholders advocate flexible migration laws

    Mindful of the strategic position of Lagos as economic capital of West Africa, experts and researchers have called for softer migration laws in Lagos State and other parts of Africa that are experiencing serious immigration challenges.

    For four days, stakeholders in immigration issues converged on Ota, Ogun State for the 2015 conference of the West Africa Migration Development and Regional Integration (MIGDEVRI) programme which held at Covenant University (CU), Ota, Ogun State. They urged governments across the continent to comply with stipulated protocols of free movement of persons, right of establishment and residency of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). National Coordinator of the programme, Dr Oluyemi Fayomi urged the Nigerian government to strengthen all necessary institutions to comply with the ECOWAS protocols to curb bottlenecks posed by security agents, including Customs and Immigration officers, among others when people are trying to cross borders.

    Fayomi, a Lecturer in Political Science at Covenant University, said the conference whose themed was “Migration, Mobility and Development in Africa,” aimed at proffering academic and scientific solutions to migration challenges in West African countries by setting up scientific and professional discussions among West African Francophone and Anglophone academics and policy actors on the links between migration, mobility and development, with emphasis on original and empirical researches.

    Researcher of International Development Studies of Roskilde University, Denmark, Prof. Eric Hahonou said: “People always view migration in a negative connotation, especially with the migration crisis in Europe. But with this workshop, we want to show that migration has positive impacts on societies. It allows people to transfer technology, culture, ideas; religious beliefs and make good economic impact on the host countries. It also has positive impact on the citizenship aspect.”

    He urged governments across the world to desist from rejecting immigrants because “there are extremely high risks involved when countries promote xenophobic ideas. Not only will it damage the people, it will also damage the economic aspect. There would be loss of economic value, because they would be difficult to access and create a gap that will be difficult to fill. So it is important to realise the added value of people coming together.”

    Prof. Hahonou, who is the Director of the International Migration Institute at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom (UK), added that migration can only lead to problems when resources and facilities are not available in the migrants’ home countries, thereby hindering immigration.

    Meanwhile, Technical Advisor of the ECOWAS Department of Free Movement, Corinne Massardier decried non-compliance of ECOWAS protocols by member states, even as he appealed for better co-operation and funding assistance.

    She said Director of the Department, Sanoh N’faly has begun to implement mechanisms to monitor compliance of the free movement protocol in eight member countries. She noted that having begun in other countries would commence in Nigeria next year by planting free movement buses at the borders of ECOWAS member states, with which migrants could move freely without encountering unnecessary checks and Customs’ challenges.

    Massardier said the buses would bear ECOWAS identification tags, therefore allowing its occupants free access into the country.

    Sub-themes examined at the conference included South-south mobility and West African Higher Education; mobility and informal sector; mobility and sub-regional economic and financial exchanges; mobility brakes and hassles; mobility and family strategies; cross border trade of women and mobility in the oil and mining regions, among others.

     

  • Ex-Speaker’s love for kids, youths

    Ex-Speaker’s love for kids, youths

    Former Ogun State House of Assembly speaker, Basorun Muyiwa Oladipo lost his parents when he was a toddler. Members of his family assisted him to realise his dream. ERNEST NWOKOLO reports that through the Kokumo Oladipo Memorial Foundation established in rememberance of his late father, he is empowering children and youths to be self-sufficient.

    They did not expect it. All they knew was they were invited by the former Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Basorun Muyiwa Oladipo. But they did not know why he called them. Curiously, they rushed to the football pitch of the Makun High School at Sagamu, venue of the day-long community empowerment and children’s party.

    From different places they met one another. They hugged and exchanged pleasantries, even as some asked: “you know why they called us?” And some would answer: “I just heard they called us”.

    As if to keep the children thinking why they were called, Basorun Oladipo somewhat delayed the commencement of the event. They kids became more inquisitive. But good things were ready waiting for them.

    The waiting game over, the over 2,000 kids were all smiles. Hope suffused on the faces of the pupils from public primary schools in Sagamu, the headquarters of Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State. They were feted again by Basorun Oladipo.

    The football pitch of the Makun High School, Sagamu, the venue of the day-long community empowerment and children’s party, came alive as the children sang and danced to the rhythm of various Nigeria songs, even as they made merry.

    Also, train coaches, stunt boards of different designs were provided for the kids to showcase their stunt skills while the Santa Claus added much colour and excitement to the event.

    Aside the special meals and drinks, gift items ranging from school bags; writing materials to T-shirt were also given to them. The Christmas cake of variegated colours was jointly cut by Basorun Oladipo and the kids.

    Adults were not left out in the bash. No fewer than 25 youths of Sagamu received slots for leadership training in a reputable leadership training centre. This is to enhance their chances of realising their aspirations to become future leaders.

    The yearly event, which began three years ago, is being sponsored by Kokumo Oladipo Memorial Foundation.

    The foundation was put in place by Muyiwa Oladipo to commemorate his late father, Papa Kokumo who died in a fatal motor accident four years after the death of his  mother; leaving him and his other four siblings orphans at tender age when parental love and guidance were most needed.

    Speaking at this year’s edition, Oladipo, who is a serving Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Ogun State, said it was his own way of giving back to the society.

    He noted that his affection for kids dates back to his teenage years. He added that when children, particularly the needy and other less-privileged people are lifted from deprivation or lack, the society is lifted as well.

    Oladipo noted that in spite of the death of his parents, God was on his side by using kind-hearted members of his family to help him.

    He further said there were lots of less-privileged children and orphans who may be going through similar ordeal. He urged them to have courage, trust in God and have the determination to succeed irrespective of the challenges.

    Oladipo said: “Having lost my parents early in life and considering the fact that I would not have gotten to where I’m today. Well-meaning individuals picked me up and helped me to have access to education. I felt I should also give back to the kids, especially some of them that are no so privileged.

    “I love children right from my teenage years and the best way I can give back to them is to make them have  a sense of belonging and better their lots.

    “They are our leaders of tomorrow; some of them will be governors, senators, commissioners and professionals in various fields.”

    Also speaking, the Majority Leader in the Ogun State House of Assembly, Yinka Mafe praised Oladipo for his yearly childen and youth-friendly gestures, saying it should be emulated by other well-meaning individuals in the society.

    Mafe, who represents Sagamu State Constituency in the Assembly, however, urged parents and guardians to priotise their expenses and plan for their children’s  education against the backdrop of the nation’s dwindling economy.