The Nation Newspaper

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  • ‘I’ll create 3000 jobs in six months’

    A council chairmanship aspirant in Edo State, Mr Roberts Akande, has pledged to harness the resources in the council to generate 3,000 jobs in his first six months in office, if elected.
    Ako-Edo Local Government Area, which Akande wants to administer, is one most endowed with mineral resources, although they remain largely untapped. Besides, the people are also blessed with a vast fertile land that also remains largely uncultivated.
    Akande, currently Senior Legislative Aide to Hon. Peter Akpatason, pledged to declare emergency on employment, a major concern in the area, should he win the election. He said he has already mapped out plans to generate employment for 3,000 people in his first six months in office.
    Speaking with Our Abuja correspondent on his political ambition, Roberts said: “Since the number of those unemployed in Ako-Edo today is embarrassing, we have to take a deliberate action to address this issue. And I already have the plan for this that if I am given the mandate by Akoko-Edo people in the first six months, our government will declare a state of emergency in the area of employment. We should be able to create a minimum of 3,000 jobs within the first six months.”
    Continuing, he noted that in view of the proximity of the local government area to different tertiaries institutions such as Federal University of Technology, Akure,  Auchincloss Polytechnic, Auchi, and the plans to establish a mining institute in Akoko- Edo, if he gets the mandate, his administration pave ways for the  youths to acquire mining skills in the institutes. According to him, if he gets his people’s mandate, his administration will take advantage of inter-governmental relation with both states and Federal Government to accomplish this dream.
    He said: “Like I said earlier, our government is going to partner with a lot of institutions. We are going to take advantage of the principle of inter-governmental relation by relating with both the state and federal governments in this area. My principal Comrade Peter Akpatason has even taken a step in this direction and we a going to compliment his effort. Now, he is working on a proposal at the highest level to bring the School of Geological Studies and Mining to Akoko-Edo in order to provide easy skill acquisition for people operating the mining sector of the local government. We are lucky that we have a technical school, Igarra Technical College in Akoko-Edo.  The Auchi Polytechnic is very close to us. The Federal University of Technology, Akure is very close to Akoko-Edo. Therefore, we are going to partner with these institutions in the area of training and retraining of the people in this sector to create an environmentally friendly situation for investment and generation of enough revenue for the government. “
    On revenue generation, the aspirant, said should he win, his administration would not rely solely on allocation from the Federation Account that is never sufficient. Thus,  he and his cabinet would exploit the resource to generate revenue internally for the optimum benefit of the people.
    Before unfolding his rescue mission plans for his people he lamented that there is nothing to show for the over a decade People’s Democratic Party (PDP) wasted in Akoko-Edo.
    He said “The PDP government in Edo State as far as I am concerned wasted about ten years.  They could not bring changes and they could not bring the dividends of democracy to the people. In my local government, for example, throughout the period the party  was in power, it was only one project the party executed . And it was the Somorika Electricity despite the laudable ideas the party had on papers,” said Roberts.
    The politician however opened up on why he considers himself the most suitable candidate for the most exulted position in the council as he said he is not learning the rope as far as Akoko-Edo politics is concerned.

    He added that besides his impressive academic qualification and other working experiences, he his highly experienced due to his tutelage under great politicians in the area.
    Hear him: “First, I am a native of Ogugu,in Akoko- Edo Local Government Area of Edo State. I have a first degree in Political Science from University of Ilorin and a Masters Degree in International Law and Diplomacy from University of Lagos. Presently, I am a Senior Legislative Aide to Hon Peter Akpatason, a member representing Akoko- Edo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, National Assembly.  Yes! I have had enough political tutelage that has prepared me for this onerous task of arresting this socio-economic dislocation and frustration of Akoko-Edo people.
    Between 2003 and 2005, I was a Political Assitant to Hon. Paul Fashanu Udofi, the then Commissioner for Finance and Solid Minerals during the administration of Governor Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State. In 2005, I became an Electoral Commissioner to the Edo State Electoral Commission. Like I said earlier, I am a legislative aide to Hon. Peter Akpatason.  Also, back to my Local Government, I am a leader in ward seven and my political tentacles are  spread round all the ten wards in Akoko-Edo.”

    Continuing, he recounted how his party rode to victory  at the pools ,stressing that he is a heavyweight politician in his area. He  said  “Yes. Without sounding proud, I believe that my electoral value is very high in Akoko-Edo. I know that my supporters and I command votes in Akoko-Edo. No politician in my unit will underrate my electoral value in Akoko-Edo .They know me.  Incidentally, I am from the same ward with the former House Leader, of the National Assembly, Hon. tunde Akogun and we were able to defeat him in almost every election in Akoko-Edo by giving our support to Peter Akpatason. During the last election we won my unit, so the people all know that my electoral value is very high. And I believe they will vote me to deliver the dividends of democracy to them.”
    Robert said he is a core member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)  and even if the party denies him the ticket he will remain in the party.
    “I am a core party member. I am an ACN man. If the party denies me ticket I will remain  a member of this party. It is a party that is developmentally oriented . It is  a party I love so much so that will not change my membership of ACN because it is not a do or die affair,” he said.

  • Kwara’s N70b rice project begins December

    Kwara’s N70b rice project begins December

    The Kwara State government says her N70 billion joint venture rice cultivation and processing project with Vasolar S.L 2006 of Spain will begin in December.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Alhaji AbdulWahab Oba, stated this in Ilorin in an interview with reporters

    He said the project had an initial life span of four years.

    Oba explained that a letter received by government last week from Vasolar S.L. 2006, stated that the company had secured fund to execute the project.

    “Following its board’s earlier approval of the project, it (the company) is ready to begin operations within the next 90 days.

    “Consequently, the desire of the Kwara State government to establish herself as a hub for agriculture in the West African sub-region has finally materialised.’’

    Also, Mr. Abayomi Ogunsola, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Investment, Policy and Strategy, said that under the terms of the joint venture, the company would invest N70 billion in the project in the next four years.

    He told reporters that the state government would provide 20,000 hectares as well as infrastructure support for the project.

    Ogunsola said that it would operate under a registered joint venture company, Vasolar-Kwara Limited.

    According to Ogunsola, each annual module of the project will see the company cultivating 5,000 hectares, producing 40,000 tonnes of rice for local and international consumption.

    “Following satellite and laboratory soil analyses earlier in the year, Vasolar-Kwara has decided to site the projects in communities along the River Niger in Kwara North, namely: Tsonga, Pategi, Bacita and Lafigi.”

     

  • ‘Jonathan needs good advisers’

    ‘Jonathan needs good advisers’

    General Leader of C&S Movement Church, Prophet Gabriel Olubu Fakeye has said that he is not competent to assess President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, saying there are no bad leaders, but bad advisers. He said bad advisers are the worst enemies any nation can have at the corridors of power, adding that there are enemies around and the President is doing his best.
    Fakeye, however, urged Nigerian political leaders to sit right, think right and act right if the nation must survive the increasing threat to its existence. He identified corruption and insecurity as major threats, which must be tackled by all, noting that if ‘we are not careful, corruption might lead us into revolution.’ He said corruption gave birth to Boko Haram and militancy, and has consequently ruined the image of the country. He spoke on Building an enduring future for the Nigerian youths in Lagos at the opening of the 25th anniversary of the church’s youth fellowship in Lagos.   He reiterated his call for a day of national mourning to appease the blood of the hundreds of Nigerians killed by Boko Haram terrorists. He noted that so long as these killings are left unresolved and justice is not done, the nation shall continue to be under curse.
    “We continue to ask in this nation who killed Dele Giwa?, who killed Pa Alfred Rewane? How do we appease the blood of the hundreds already killed by Boko Haram terrorists? So long as these killings are left unresolved and justice is not done, the nation shall continue to be under curse.  The way out as I said, is to call for a day of national mourning. When we have done this, then we must sit down to tackle the educational crisis in the nation, the energy problem, poor industrialisation, lack of basic infrastructures and poor health facilities,” he said.
    He stressed that the nation must destroy the monster called corruption, which has grown into a plague that affects even the hearts of most political leaders. The C&S leader said Nigeria cannot continue to allow greed and lack of fear of God to dominate the life of the people as they are the roots of corrupt tendencies. “It is sad to note that we are the laughing stock of the world because we are among the most corrupt nations in the world,” he added.
  • Council prioritises education

    Council prioritises education

    The chairman of Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area, Mr. Hakeem Bamgbola has said the provision of basic education to the people of the council is the corner stone of his administration because of its importance to human development.

    Bamgbola, who spoke to Newsextra explained that without the prerequisite education, human development will be hampered. This, according to him, is the reason for the renovation and building of new classroom blocks with modern teaching aids.

    He said one of the schools upgraded was the one which pupils would terminate their school at primary three and thereafter move to Surulere Local Government to complete their learning but with the council new effort pupils would complete their learning with the council.

    He said: “One of the schools is made up of 18 classrooms which could accommodate primary one to three pupils. They had to go to Surulere Local Government to complete their primary education. The classrooms are provided with magnetic boards, modern toilet and boreholes for the pupils’ convenience. Her Excellency Mrs Abimbola Fashola will be there to commission these projects.”

    Apart from education, the council has equally tasked the Primary Health Care (PHC) administrators to make judicious use of the council efforts in providing health materials to the people.

    This, he said, is necessary to build a sound body and mind in order to the proactive in the development of area. And in view of this, the council has engaged part time doctors and others which the state put at their disposal, so at every point in time doctors were available to attend to the peoples’ health.

    “We have a mini laboratory, scanning machine, we engaged doctors on part-time, we are able to train youth corpers attached to handle our health facilities. The Lagos State government has also added some doctors to galvanise the health sector. So, anytime people come here to attend to their health problem there is be a doctor on standby.”

    The council chairman equally expressed his support for the call for state police in order to check the menace of armed robbery. According to him, the recent incident which occurred in the state affected his council as the robbers shot sporadically while the operations lasted.

    He maintained that the council do have regular security meeting with the police in order to ensure the council was well protected. This, he believes, would be better channelled if the request for state police is taken serious because the locals understand the terrain very well and will nip in the bud any unforeseen security challenges.

    Bamgbola said: “The case for state police is very important; we you do not need to seek undue protocol before we can combat crime.

     

     

     

  • ‘Local councils should have guided autonomy’

    ‘Local councils should have guided autonomy’

    The Chairman of Ido Local Government in Oyo state, Professor Joseph Olowofela has canvassed for “guided autonomy” for the 774 local governments in the country.
    He explained that instead of full autonomy which could lead to abuse, guided autonomy would ginger growth at grassroots level.
    The Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Matters in the state, Hon. Peter Odetomi also lent his support to the call for guided autonomy for councils to fast-track development.
    Olowofela, a Professor of Geo-Physics and former Head, Physics Department, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, was the guest speaker at the 2012 press week lecture series of the Oyo State Correspondents chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) held at Lafia Hotel, Ibadan.
     Professor Olowofela who also called for the creation of additional councils in the state, argued that the existing 33 councils in the state   were grossly insufficient in driving development at the grassroots.
    He stated that having more local governments would give the needed impetus to improve on infrastructure, provision of social amenities which would in turn lead to accelerated growth at local levels.
    The guest speaker who delved into the topic:” Community Involvement in Grass-root Politics” , encouraged market women, members of the academia, artisans , students , trade and professional bodies  to participate actively in grass-root politics to be able to effect the needed change.
     Professor Olowofela, while answering questions after his lecture, recalled the role of Mrs Funmilayo Ransome Kuti between 1900 and 1978 as a foremost women leader.
    He said: “Ransome Kuti’s political activism led to her being regarded as “the Mother of Africa”; she was a very powerful force advocating for the Nigerian woman’s right to vote”.
     Speaking further on the need for additional councils in the state, the council chairman argued that some councils were too big to be evenly administered , saying  that “the more, the merrier”.
    In his goodwill message,the Oyo state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters , Hon Peter Odetomi  maintained that the meagre resources being allocated to the councils in the state were not enough to take care of the needs of respective council areas, stressing that, new councils being advocated would only end up becoming burdens on the governance, especially overhead costs of the personnel and other career officers.
    He criticised the administration of the Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala led administration for poor quality road construction throughout the 33 local government areas in the state.
    “The quality of road construction and materials used on the roads are far different from what we have in the past government. We don’t want to go to jail that is why we have been prudent and careful with what we do. We want to give the best to our people. That is why we have taken time to access everything before embarking on any project,” he said.
  • ‘Trust your leaders’

    ‘Trust your leaders’

    Sen. Sani Sale (CPC-Kaduna Central) has urged Nigerians to always trust their leaders in order to guarantee genuine national growth and development.

    He made the call on Saturday in Zaria, Kaduna State while monitoring the by-election for the Zaria constituency seat in the state House of Assembly.

    “By now, Nigerians should trust their leaders because they are there to protect and safeguard their interests.

    “They should remember that good leaders always make sure that only the right thing is done for the benefit of their own people.

    ‘So, for the first time, let us give the leaders that sense of trust especially in this election. I believe both government and security agencies have done the right thing,” he said

    The senator called on CPC members to conduct themselves properly as the Zaria constituency was one of the party’s stronghold and it would continue to win there.

    Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, (CPC-Zaria), while speaking on the election, told newsmen that about 88 ballot papers went missing at the Lemu 1 poling unit.

    “At Lemu 1, we learnt that there is a difference between registered voters and number of ballot papers available in the polling unit.

    “INEC should explain where the 88 ballot papers went to. Another thing is that the officials did not wait for the time slated for the election to begin. They just started without any explanation,” he said.

    When contacted by NAN, the INEC Electoral Officer for Zaria Local Government, Alhaji Hassan Lamido, said he distributed the materials supplied to him “religiously”.

    He said there was no ward given election materials less than the number of its electorate.

    “I have successfully done my job,’’ he said.(NAN)

    KLM/IA/OLAL

     

  • Free ICT training for unemployed youths

    Free ICT training for unemployed youths

    To boost capacity and help reduce unemployment, an Information Technology firm, Webhpro, has held a free training programme in Lagos to boost the computer skills of youths.

    Its Managing Director, Mr Taiwo Pillar, said the course is aimed at empowering those who attend.

    He said the eight set of web design students graduated on August 18; the ninth set is currently undergoing training and will graduate on September 29.

    Since the training began, about 1,000 students have graduated as website designers. Registration is ongoing for the 10th set, which can be done on webhproteam.com, Pillar said.

    The firm has launched a training programme named “Learn and Win”, in which participants will acquire skills in the use of Microsoft Office packages. This is as it has developed training software, which is in Compact Disc and can also be downloaded online.

    Pillar said the Webhpro Free Training Programme has received the support of a group, the Lifehouse Global Mission, as well as the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

    He said: “I have always had the passion to empower people, particularly young people. I didn’t start in life with a lot of money, so giving money was out of it. I finally settled for helping people with the skills I have developed over the years, the skills that have helped me to stabilise in life.

    “As web developer, I reasoned that if I could start helping people by giving them free training, I could have helped someone put food on his table, pay for his children school fee, be self-employed, increase his income, as well contributed my own quota to the development of my country.

    “We have had of testimonies of students that are now gainfully employed in reputable organisations and some are now their own bosses, courtesy of the web skills acquired from Webhpro Free Training Programme.”

    Pillar said since the training is free, it focuses on Web development due to financial constraints. He called for sponsorship support from organisations, religious bodies and individual.

  • Construction workers seek end to insecurity

    Construction workers seek end to insecurity

    A group, Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI), has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to arrest the insecurity in the sector to avoid its imminent collapse.

    Decrying the high rate of kidnapping, shooting and even killing of construction workers especially expatriates, FOCI in its last council meeting said there was need for adequate security to save its workers and Nigerians from everyday security challenges as they go about their activities.

    President of the association, Mr. Solomon Ogunbusola, said it was time for government to shun sentiments and bring all culprits fuelling insecurity in the country to book.

    “The time has come for the government to avoid being sentimental about challenges facing our security agencies. All hands must be on deck to arrest the perpetrators of these nefarious acts.

    “The people that engage in widespread killings are not ghost and they live among us. Therefore, our security agencies must identify them and bring them to justice,” he said.

    Ogunbusola identified such issues as inconsistent government policies; administrative and procedural red tape leading to escalating costs of contract; multiple taxation; delay in payment of certified jobs leading to incurred liabilities among others as some issues affecting the industry.

    According to him, “government should summon political will to address these problems because they are negatively affecting the construction industry and in turn the economy. These developments are seriously slowing down grown and maintenance of the country’s infrastructure and are capable of grinding them to a halt.

    “As one of the leading employer’s organization in the private sector, FOCI believes urgent steps must be taken to address these issues and prevent imminent economic tragedy, “he said.

  • Family of abandoned accident victim cries out

    Family of abandoned accident victim cries out

    Nineteen-year-old Abiola Agboola’s dream of going to the university after obtaining Ordinary National Diploma (OND), has suffered a major setback.
    For over five months, she has been on the sick bed after two surgeries. Even then, she still needs more professional attention to avoid losing her left leg.
    Her predicament began on March 24 after she was knocked down by a tanker loaded with diesel. The incident happened at Anthony Village, Lagos as she wanted to board a motorcycle to her examination centre.
    Her parents, Mr Kayode Agboola-Mathew and his wife, both petty traders in Lagos, have expended their earnings on the accident.
    So far, no less than N1.5m has been coughed out by the Agboolas.
    As Miss Agboola writhes in pain on hospital bed but the police at Anthony Village, where the case was reported, are yet to prosecute the tanker driver who perpetrated the evil.
    Sources said the culprit attempted to escape the scene but was caught  by a mob along the toll gate and was handed over to the Divisional Police Officer, DSP Archibong Dyong who in turn put a junior colleague on the case as Investigative Police Officer (IPO).
    Sources hinted that the culprit was released without a bail bond and that the case was not under the jurisdiction of Anthony but Somolu.      A written agreement was said to have made on March 27, 2012 that the employers of the tanker driver, Alhaji Abdul Kadiri and Sons Nigeria, pay the sum of N150,000  to the family being part payment for Abiola’s treatment.
    Part of the agreement also reads: “We all agreed that there will be more commitment in the treatment of the wounded person.”
    It was also said that both parties agree that the representatives of the company would visit the wounded girl in the hospital “to see to the development of her health…”
    This agreement was reportedly reached in the presence of the Divisional Traffic Officer.
    The representative of the firm, Mr Yisa Hassan was said to have relocated from Lagos while the owner Alhaji Abdul Kadiri was inaccessible to Agboola’s family.
    Abiola’s father, Agboola-Mathew told Newsextra that a certain officer has accepted the sum of N130, 000 from the oil firm to step down the case.
    According to him, the doctor’s report from the General Hospital, Ikeja said, “Abiola sustained severe soft tissue and bone injuries to the right lower limb and will need to undergo the third surgery as soon as possible.”
    He lamented that he has sold all his belongings, including a piece of land in Lagos, to meet up with the medical bill, saying the oil firm has not visited the hospital in the past five months.
    He decried the lackadaisical attitude of the police in handling the case, saying the family has been impoverished as a result of her daughter’s sickness.
    “My daughter has been confined to the hospital bed having undergone two surgeries and awaiting the third one,” he said.
    The native of Inisha in Osun State, said neither he nor his wife could continue in business since the incident took place as they have to stay with their daughter on her sick bed.
    Hassan, the General Manager of the oil firm, told Newsextra: “I am an employee of the firm and have tried my best; I have told the family to contact Alhaji Kadiri and sort it out with him.”
    Contacted on the telephone, DSP Archibong refused to give any  details of the case, saying he was away in Akwa Ibom State on his annual leave.
     “Tell Abiola’s father that he is a fool; I am exercising my human right in Akwa Ibom and I don’t need any disturbance.”
    When contacted, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said she was not aware of the case and referred Newsextra to the Divisional Police Officer of the station Superintendent of Police Adeola Raji, who was on leave when the incident was reported at the police station in March.
    Raji promised to look into the case and ensure the culprits are brought to book while necessary steps would be taken to ensure Abiola regains her health.
    Abiola is asking the public for help.
    Any assistance should be forwarded to Abiola Atinuke Agboola’s GT Bank Account Number: 237 2347 191 820.
  • Erosion threatens Bayelsa community

    Erosion threatens Bayelsa community

    Residents of Okpoama, an oil-rich kingdom in Bayelsa State, have cried out over the ravages of erosion.

    It is not the conventional kind. Located by the sea shore, salty waves constantly pound the coastline, washing land away. The people fear that, if not checked, their kingdom will disappear eventually.

    Their concerns are coming as the entire community warms up for the coronation of King Ebitimi Emmanuel Banigo, the Amayanabo of Okpoama Kingdom, Okpo XXI, in October.

    “Erosion has taken a major part of our town; our land has vanished; you know this is the last part of Nigeria,” Chief Emmanuel Beredugo-Elei, Secretary, Okpoama Council of Chiefs, said while taking journalists round parts of the eroded kingdom.

    Chief Beredugo called on the Federal Government to come to the community’s aid by building shoreline embankment in addition to sand-filling the affected areas.

    He noted that the remedy has become necessary considering the coming of the Liquefied Natural Gas project to the kingdom.

    “The Federal Government should embark on shore protection and sand-filling to reclaim and get more land as most of our land has vanished, especially now that the LNG and other multinational companies are going to be here,” he said.

    Beredugo said the area could also be developed like Dubai, through sand-filling.

    He also believes that protecting the shoreline does not necessarily mean laying stones or sandbags but building permanent structures that can stand the test of time as it is done in Dubai and other places.

    “If Lagos can develop a city inside the ocean, we can do it too,” the kingdom’s secretary said.

    Beredugo also urged Governor Seriake Dickson to continue from where his predecessor Timipre Sylva stopped in the area of tourism development in the kingdom.

    “Governor Sylva started something in the area of developing the rich tourism potentials in the area; I advise that Governor Dickson should continue from where he stopped,” he noted.

    Governor Dickson, while receiving delegates from the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, led by Dr. Jackson Gaius–Obaseki, had indicated the state government’s readiness to provide the enabling environment for the Brass LNG project to achieve its set objectives. Sylva had described the project as a centre of gravity for the development of the state.

    Okpoama has announced preparations for the coronation of the 21st ruler of the kingdom.

    Chief Ebi Johnson-Berebofa, Chairman of the Organising Committee, accompanied by other members of the Okpoama chiefs’ council, gave journalists a graphic account of how Banigo became the king.

    He said that in October 2010, the people of the kingdom came together and democratically elected him following the demise of King Justice Kesiye Sagbe, Okpo XX.

    Dr. Banigo, a business tycoon and banker, was presented with the Staff of Office last November by former Governor Timipre Sylva at a colourful ceremony that attracted the high and mighty in the country.

    Enumerating the qualities of Banigo which endeared him to the kingdom, Johnson-Berefabo said the former Minster of Science and Technology, was a worthy recipient of the crown.

    Banigo, he said, is a “man the kingdom believes can take it to greater heights”.

    The Committee also informed that the Okopama Kingdom had Sikaka, Ibelubelu, Nende, Tia, Kpekiya, Saikiri, Osungu, Onu, Akirigbo, Gboro, Bouyai, Orukari, Goli, Obasi, Obu, Okiringbo, Okparan Tubu, Eei Tamunobere and Kesiye Sagbe “as kings before the election of Ebitimi Emmanuel Banigo as king”.

    The coronation ceremonies will also be used to share the rich historical and cultural heritage of the kingdom, including its rich tourism potentials.

    “The Oil and Gas rich Okpoama Kingdom is the biggest tourism destination in the Niger Delta and an emerging investors’ hub in the Southernmost tip of the Niger Delta,” Johnson-Berebofa said.